Download David P. Saia

David P. Saia
411 E. Buckingham Road, #1127
Richardson, TX 75081
Phone: 469-263-4094 (m)
415-508-5328 (Skype-In)
Email: [email protected]
SUMMARY
An innovative, knowledgeable, creative problem-solver who works well with a team of writers to maintain and develop
high-quality, accurate, usable technical documentation. A senior contributor and project lead who brings to bear rich
experience in writing, editing, management, and development. As of As of Aug. 1, 2012:
 Fifteen years of experience in writing and editing
 Eight years of paid, professional experience as a writer or editor of technical information
 Eleven years of experience working in the software field
 Seven years of experience working as a software technical writer
WRITING SKILLS
 Well-developed writing and editing skills with grammar and style expertise.
 Planning complex documentation efforts, including the use of Microsoft Project and Excel.
 Interviewing subject matter experts and managing the review cycle.
 Adobe FrameMaker, including indexing, creating and maintaining templates, PDF settings (.joboptions file
and otherwise) and use of conditional text, text insets, and variables (6 years).
 RoboHelp, including glossaries, TOCs, DHTML elements, preparing help file maps, and troubleshooting for
bugs relating to use on non-Windows/Internet Explorer platforms (6 years).
 Adobe Acrobat, including generating PDFs, tweaking TOCs, editing and responding to PDF markup comments
via Acrobat server, setting document properties, and security settings.
 Graphics programs, including Adobe Photoshop, PaintShop Pro, and SnagIt. Tasks include taking screen
shots, cropping, manipulating, and creating images for use in FrameMaker and elsewhere.
 Developing and maintaining documentation standards (7.5 years)
 Handling several documentation projects concurrently, working according to priority and availability.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Matrix Resources (Dallas, Texas) 4/07 – 2/08 and 5/11 – 7/12, Web and Technical Writing Consultant
For client VHA, Inc. (Irving, TX) 5/11 – 7/12:
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Writing policy and procedures documentation for a SharePoint 2010 installation
Updating content and format of SharePoint-driven websites
For client Agile Software/Oracle, Inc. (Irving, TX) 7/07 – 2/08:
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Developed and maintained documentation standards, including FrameMaker templates
Planned for, updated, and reviewed user guides for product lifecycle management software
Interviewed subject-matter experts and wrote and revised content based on those interviews
Created and manipulated graphics as needed
Potlikker Technical Services 01/08 - present, Web and Technical Writing Consultant
For client WireFilter, 1/11 – present:
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Updated Administrator’s Guide for a URL-filtering network appliance
Created network diagrams for deployment options
For client Trend Micro, Inc. 1/08 – 12/09 and 06/10 – 01/11:
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Wrote end-user documentation for an email encryption offering and for a number of anti-spam projects based
on a cloud computing (“software as a service/SaaS”) platform.
Coordinated localization activities for two projects.
From my base in Dallas, Texas, worked entirely remotely with a team of developers in Nanjing, China, a
product and marketing team in Cupertino, California, and a localization team in Munich, Germany.
For client Tsirigo’s Orbit (Alameda, CA) 1/09 – present:
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Maintained and enhanced client’s Web presence using html, Javascript, and php
Customized client’s WordPress blog theme; added and configured several widgets and plug-ins.
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For client SensorLogic, Inc. (Dallas, TX) 4/07 – 7/07:
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Produced entirely Wiki-based documentation for an open-source developer community
Interviewed subject-matter experts and administered Atlassian Confluence wiki server
Trend Micro, Inc. (Taipei, Taiwan) 10/04 – 3/07, Technical Writer
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Wrote technical manuals for software administrators who used our network security products. (For samples of
major documentation work, please see http://davidsaia.net.)
Daily use of Adobe FrameMaker and RoboHelp.
Worked closely with Quality Assurance and R&D teams to produce accurate documentation that met our
customers' needs.
Served as lead technical writer in the Small and Medium Businesses segment.
Spearheaded extensive internal research project to gain better insight into customers’ documentation needs.
Performed peer reviews of other writers' work. Served as a resource for issues of grammar and style.
Hess Language Schools (Taipei, Taiwan) 9/02 – 3/04
(Native-Speaking English Teacher, 9/02 – 8/03; Curriculum Writer, 10/03 – 3/04)
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Taught English language speaking, reading, and writing to Taiwanese children aged 5 to 17.
Wrote curricular material for native Taiwanese learners of English.
Primary author, Level 10 reading book: Stanley Learns to Duck. Wrote "Festivals" chapter of Cultures and ME
book.
Aquent, Inc. (San Francisco, Sunnyvale, CA) Web Developer, 6/00 – 8/02
For client Western Multiplex (Sunnyvale, CA) 2/02-3/02
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Built HTML pages from design comps; implemented and enhanced DHTML navbar; using VBScript, implemented
ASP functionality to dynamically load form elements.
For client WeddingChannel.com (San Francisco, CA) 6/00-4/01
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Implemented new functionality in Java/Oracle-driven site using HTML, DHTML, ASP scripting, Java Server
Pages, XML, Jscript, and JavaScript
Key contributor in large-scale project integrating two sites, one MS/IIS/NT/ASP/Java (San Francisco) and the
other, Solaris/Apache/CGI/Java (Los Angeles) into one seamless experience. Primary responsibility:
implementing a unifying, dynamic top navigation bar (DHTML, JSP, XML)
Built dynamic pages (ASP) from spec, revised UI variables tool for customized rendering of interface variables
RHI Consulting (Oakland, CA) Web Developer, 9/01 – 10/01
For client Terrawave Communications (Hayward) 9/01-10/01
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Using VBScript in an ASP environment, implemented feature to link Crystal Reports to company Intranet as soon
as the files are deposited in a given directory
Revised ASP pages, fixed Intranet bugs regarding NT permissions, and so on
Rapid Logic, Inc. (Alameda, CA) Web Developer, 11/99 - 5/00
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On Apache web server, implemented server-side “include” (SSI) technology to dynamically load page elements
Modified Perl scripts for traffic analysis and forms/email handling
Wrote Perl scripts to determine peak data transfer rates
Significantly fleshed out company Intranet, including use of JavaScript, CSS-P, and DHTML
CareGuide.com (San Francisco, CA) 8/98 - 11/99
(Webmaster, 8/98-8/99; Senior Web Developer, 9/99 - 11/99)
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Grew Web Development department from 1 staff to 4 full-time equivalents.
Implemented database-connectivity code for highly interactive Web application/site.
Developed ability to update content on scores of partner sites simultaneously.
Managed documentation of our production processes.
Created Quality Assurance procedures to maintain quality standards for each site developed.
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Technical Writing and Web Consultant (San Francisco Bay Area) 8/97 - 7/98
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Updated and maintained existing web sites. Upgraded new, co-branded partner sites to match their look and feel.
Interviewed System Engineers for technical information. Updated Command for Windows NT Agent Guide and
release notes. (Boole & Babbage, San Jose, CA)
Edited transcripts of seminars on software localization and internationalization for an audience of technical end
users. (SimulTrans, Mountain View, CA)
Remedy Corp. (Mountain View, CA) Senior Technical Writer, 3/97 - 8/97
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Wrote HTML documentation: Installation and Licensing sections of ARWeb for UNIX.
Wrote style recommendations for HTML documentation and notes on localization seminar.
One-year Sabbatical/Travel Writer (UK, Southeast Asia, U.S.) 12/95 - 12/96
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Wrote 100+ travel narratives while traveling throughout Southeast Asia.
National Science Foundation (Arlington, VA) Publications Manager, 7/93 - 11/95
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Supervised two full-time staff and coordinated the work of several contractors and one intern.
Oversaw development of RADAR, a critical LAN-based management information system, including
requirements analysis, stress and beta testing, and rollout. Went into source code and debugged program.
Reduced overall publications turnaround time by 46% and error rates for Data Brief publications by 85%.
Established a desktop publishing function in the Division (using Adobe PageMaker). Set a new standard of
professionalism for the appearance of our publications.
Redesigned agency publications. Established standards for editorial style and page design.
Wrote specifications for tables and charts to set out agency standards to improve document consistency and
usability.
U.S. International Trade Commission (Washington, DC) Writer-Editor, 10/88 - 7/93
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Edited technical investigative reports authored by writers from multiple departments.
Held security clearance.
Wrote style guides and revised Rules for Tables and Figures specifications manual. Expert knowledge of GPO
Style Manual, proficient with Chicago Manual of Style and Associated Press style manual.
Developed and taught course covering the agency’s in-house editorial style, report format, and onscreen
editing via a comprehensive system of macros that I developed.
Union Labor Life Insurance Co. (Washington, DC) Proofreader, 8/87 -10/88
PROGRAMMING SKILLS
PHP, Linux shell scripting (bash); ePerl, Active Server Pages, HTML 4.0, 3.2, CSS-1, CSS-2, JavaScript, Jscript,
DHTML, Perl, VBScript, familiarity with C, Java, and Java Server Pages
EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Professional Training: Java Language Programming, January 2001, Perl Programming, April 2000 (Sun
Educational Center).
1988 – 95: Numerous computer courses, including Structured Programming Techniques and Introduction to C
Programming. Contracting Basics, Managing the Publications Department, STC Annual Conference
Professional Associations: Society for Technical Communication (Senior Member), Washington Independent
Writers, The Writer’s Center (Instructor)
Graduate Studies in Writing, Emerson College, Boston (Teaching Assistantship)
B.A., English, Louisiana State University
References available upon request
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