HOME James T. Hawes


SKILL
PROFILE

Powerful Skill Set

Software
PC. Macintosh. Windows. Word. FrameMaker. Quark Xpress. PageMaker. Dreamweaver. Acrobat. PhotoShop. Illustrator. CorelDraw. Visio. OmniPage. PowerPoint. Excel. MacLink. WordPerfect.

Languages
Java 2. JavaScript. HTML. Advanced COBOL II. CICS 4.1. C & C++. Visual Basic. ASP.

Hardware
PC. Macintosh. PC & modem running FTP, Telnet & 3270 terminal emulation software. Can assemble, disassemble & install PCs.

Test Equipment
Oscilloscope. DVM. Logic probe & pulser. Frequency counter. Signal tracer & generator. RCL bridge. Bar/dot generator. Test power supplies. Soldering station. Semiconductor tester.
 
JOB
OBJECTIVE

Communications Leadership

Technical writer or editor of published manuals. Supervisor of print or electronic production. Also interested in software tester & electronic technician positions. Contract or permanent. (Not a validation analyst. Not interested in sales or MLM opportunities.)

 
WORK
HISTORY

Enhancing IT Publishing

Instant Technology
Chicago, IL
On contract for Cole Taylor Bank
7/06 - 6/07
Contract Technical Writer
  • Saved client $50K in licenses & training by preparing output with common PC tools.
  • Edited & laid out user manuals for DirectConnect document scanner & Web software.
  • Shot & edited photos for same manual.
  • Composed troubleshooting & maintenance guide for support team.
  • Drafted over 20 manuals on eBanking software modules. (ColeTaylor Reporter)
  • Set up basic review & release method.
  • Product tester.
  • Also prepared training documents for Customer Service use.
  • Edited previous literature to improve readability & usability.
  • Other projects: SecureTrust instructions (secure bank email). Quick start guide for users of two-level authentication with RSA tokens.
  • Tools: PC with Word. PC Paint. HTML origination in Notepad. Acrobat. Excel. ColeTaylor Reporter. DirectConnect.
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WeCare Media
Chicago, IL
4/04 - Present
Free-Lance, Technical & Business Writer
  • Recurring free-lance project: Go-to guy
  • Hired by startup company president to conceptualize details for secure memory device & Web portal.
  • Produced patent application, user manuals, market scenarios, contracts & collateral materials.
  • Also edited business plan, Web XML sales presentation & management PowerPoint.
  • My theory document fleshed out operation of front & back-end .Net applications.
  • Conceived & proposed new market applications for memory device.
  • Collaborated in person & electronically with software engineers.
  • Tools: PC with Word, PhotoShop, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat, QuarkXPress, WS_FTP95, Notepad, Paint.
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Raw Thrills
Niles, IL
1/06 - 2/06
Free-Lance Writer, Illustrator & Designer
  • Three-week assignment.
  • On crash basis, prepared operator manual for arcade video game.
  • As product developed, I kept book in step.
  • My 52-page, illustrated manual includes product details, installation, programming, maintenance, troubleshooting & parts.
  • My design: Improved manual durability & quality. Reduced printing cost & turnaround.
  • Advised outside engineer & inside staff on artwork enhancements.
  • Created & edited registration card.
  • Tools: Word, Acrobat, QuarkXpress, PhotoShop, CorelDraw, Paint.
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Aerotek
Schaumburg, IL
On contract for Zebra Technologies
10/05 - 12/05
Contracting Editor & Syntax Coach
  • Three-month contract at client Zebra Technologies.
  • EDITING. Edited & rewrote manuals for thermal OCR printers, RFID encoders & Zebra Programming Language.
  • My improvements routinely increased readability on Flesch-Kincaid scale.
  • WRITING. To help writers improve readability, composed & edited style manual.
  • Introduced “plain talk” syntax of Rudolf Flesch.
  • Also critiqued graphics.
  • WEB. Crafted lesson on converting passive voice to active voice.
  • Critiqued & rewrote department Web site.
  • Produced & demonstrated interactive, online HTML style guide.
  • This tool provides random access to bite-size tutorials.
  • Includes lesson on how to maintain & contribute Web pages.
  • Lesson also serves as site template.
  • Created HTML & JavaScript slide show with individual critiques of graphic flaws.
  • Tools: Word, FrameMaker, Acrobat. Coded HTML in Notepad.
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Aquent
Chicago, IL
On contract for Motorola iDEN
5/05 - 8/05
Consulting Technical Writer & Editor
  • Wrote & edited 172-page user guide for engineers. Subject: Motorola iDEN (intelligent digital enhanced network) cellular network control & reporting software.
  • Manual follows outline from engineering, with enhancements from the team & me.
  • Book includes artwork by an SME, a technical illustrator & me.
  • Responsible for periodic milestone reports. Otherwise, self-directed.
  • Assured manual usability by improving source material syntax & by manual design.
  • To client’s satisfaction, designed, managed & negotiated solutions for startup, review & closure processes.
  • Beat client deadline.
  • Tools: PC with Word, FrameMaker, Visio, Adobe Acrobat, PowerPoint, PhotoShop, Notepad, Paint.
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Face Place LLC
Westfield, NJ
1/05 - 3/05
Free-Lance Technical Writer
  • Wrote, edited & designed service manual for commercial, coin-operated, computerized photo booth. (First product for startup company.)
  • Service manual includes chapters on safety, equipment setup, programming, operation, maintenance, troubleshooting & parts.
  • Modified illustrations to match current design.
  • Prepared camera-ready artwork & print production specifications.
  • Secured printing estimates.
  • Produced entire manual during product development.
  • Liaison with engineers, marketing & service staff in different states.(No local staff.)
  • Worked entirely from home.
  • Tools: PC with QuarkXPress, Acrobat, Word, PhotoShop LE, Notepad, Paint.
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AAA Personnel
Mount Prospect, IL
On contract at Deloitte & Touche Tax Technologies
10/04 - 12/04
Consulting Editor
  • Designed & edited corporate tax forms & fields for computerized tax preparation project. Forms are front end for Java & HP-PCL application. Application feeds data to batch COBOL back end.
  • Created, proposed, tested & proved method to automate form annotation.
  • Method replaced handwritten comments with clearer, partially reusable HTML. Cost savings: Few dollars per form (over thousands of forms per year).
  • Tools: PC with proprietary applications: FormEditor, FieldEditor, FormSafe & DryDiff. Also ClearQuest, Microsoft Project.
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Collatus Networks
Chicago, IL
On contract at Indeliq, an Accenture Company
7/03 - 9/03
Consulting Software Tester
  • Subject: Computer-simulated, avatar-based sales training application for executives.
  • Testing includes operating, analyzing, critiquing & proofreading the simulation.
  • Composed & submitted official change reports (CRs).
  • Repaired errors in the simulation.
  • Edited simulation text passages.
  • Researched & wrote background text for new character.
  • Maintained workflow in synchronization with SDLC.
  • Integrated my work with others in collaborative, deadline-sensitive environment.
  • Tools: PC with eRoom, StarTeam, Word, AIM.
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City Staffing
Chicago, IL
On contract at U.S. Robotics
8/02 - 10/02
Consulting Technical Writer
  • Subject: Model 9003 ADSL router modem.
  • Developed, edited & supervised overseas production of four-color, illustrated quick installation guide.
  • Developed & edited extensive HTML user manual.
  • Authored glossary & alpha index.
  • Oversaw work of HTML coder, & completed coding myself.
  • Liaison with engineers & project management.
  • Tools: PC with Dreamweaver, FrameMaker, Visio, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PhotoShop & Notepad.
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Consulting Projects
Chicagoland, IL
Free-lance work for Magnetic Inspection Laboratory, Inc. & others
12/00 - Present
Consulting Technical Writer
  • Pursued home-study course in Java applet creation.

  • Designed, prepared & implemented a multi-page Web site. Site includes my Java programs that design electronic circuits.

  • Edited & prepared graphics for a technical newsletter about metallurgy (MIL).

  • Wrote column for Chicago-area amateur radio operators (Society Radio Operators).

  • Coordinated, planned, edited & designed service literature for an arcade video product (Konami).

  • Advised clients on preparation of technical manuscripts. (Both clients published.)

  • Critiqued & edited technical articles on astrophysics & international marketing.

  • Co-wrote & published article on television development & first television star.

  • Wrote an article about a mechanical television signal-tracing circuit that I designed. (Published twice.)

  • Proctored exams for Illinois College of Optometry.
  • Pursued some of these part-time projects while completing the DePaul Computer Career Program.

  • Tools: PC with Word, HTML, JavaScript, FrontPage, PhotoShop, PageMaker, Quark XPress, Java SDK 1.3, TextPad, VistaScan, OmniPage, Conversions Plus, NetMeeting, Notepad, Outlook Express & PaperPort. Macintosh with Quark XPress, MacWrite, ClickArt & SuperPaint.
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Renaissance Worldwide (now Aquent)
Chicago, IL
On contract for Motorola iDEN
9/00 - 12/00
Consulting Technical Writer
  • Edited instruction, installation, service & schematic manuals for Motorola's cellular, multi-frequency radio systems.

  • Detailed both hardware & software for system operators.

  • Worked on a daily basis with engineers to coordinate revisions to three-volume software & hardware instruction manuals.

  • Tools: Macintosh with FrameMaker, Acrobat, PhotoShop & Word. PC with Visio, Word, VistaScan, OmniPage & Paperport.
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Midway Amusement Games
Chicago, IL
9/98 - 7/00
Technical Writer
  • Provided concept-to-print services on manuals for software & hardware products.
  • Coordinated projects involving illustrators, engineers, outside services.
  • Developed print vendors.
  • Retouched photos.
  • Pioneered net-ready CD-ROM & Acrobat conversions of publishing files.
  • Implemented proofing process, saving $20K.
  • Improved bindings with stay-flat technology & enhanced durability features.
  • Saved $10K on house stock covers.
  • Worked with programmers to develop software procedural manuals during & throughout the SDLC.

  • Standardized manual components for faster, more accurate, more readable publications.
  • Tools: PC with Word, FrameMaker, PhotoShop, PhotoPaint, CorelDraw, AutoCAD, Acrobat, OmniPage & Easy CD Creator. AS/400 terminal.
  • Go to my "Games & Gaming Links" Page
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WMS Gaming
Chicago, IL
8/93 - 9/98
Technical Publications Manager
  • Coordinated service literature production for all jurisdictions, worldwide.

  • Wrote, edited, illustrated & published technical manuals, service bulletins.

  • Modified vendor literature & schematics to match product, saving $50K for company.

  • Retouched schematics, line art.

  • Prepared camera-ready art.

  • Designed & composed video help screens.

  • Created & implemented three new publication styles to meet changing needs.

  • Supervised work of subordinates & vendors who wrote, edited, illustrated, printed & stocked documents.

  • Hired, trained & managed another writer.

  • Developed vendors.

  • Worked in same capacity for sister company Williams, 1981-1984

  • Tools: Macintosh with Quark XPress, PhotoShop, Illustrator, PageMaker, Acrobat, Claris Works, Word, Excel, Canvas & MacDraft. AS/400 terminal. DVM.

  • Go to my "Games & Gaming Links" Page
 
 
EDUCATION

Outstanding Academics

DePaul University   Certificate: Computer Career Program

Home Study - Skokie   Continuing Education: Java 2 Applet & Batch File Programming

Society for Technical Communication - Chicago   Certificate: FrameMaker, Intermediate FrameMaker

Oakton Community College   Continuing Education: Micro Focus COBOL, Advanced Micro Focus COBOL, Microsoft C, Unix/GNU C++ & Borland C++

Heath Educational Systems   Certificate: Electronic Circuits

National Radio Institute, Washington, D.C.   Diploma: Master of Industrial Electronics

National Technical Schools, Los Angeles   Diploma: Basic Electronics Technician

Dynamic Graphics   Certificate: Graphic Design

University of Iowa   M.A.: Speech-Broadcasting

Northwestern University   Continuing Education: Advertising & Marketing Courses

International Radio & Television Society   Intern: Honorary, Professional Internship Program

Northern Illinois University   B.A.: Speech-Public Address

Ripon College   Courses leading to B.A.: Core & Theater Courses


 
COMMUNITY
SERVICE

First-Hand Involvement
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•URL: http://www.hawestv.com/hawes_resume/j_t_hawes_webresume.htmlWebmaster: James T. Hawes •Revision -- October, 2007
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