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HOME James T. Hawes


Powerful Skill Set
SKILL PROFILE

Expert technical & business writer & editor. Self-directed team player & team builder will help you to succeed. Writes on all subjects. For all media. Can simplify jargon for your target audience.

Tools. Word. FrameMaker. QuarkXpress. Acrobat. PhotoShop. CorelDraw. Visio. OmniPage. PowerPoint. Excel. JavaScript. HTML. ASP. Ajax. Readability & usability testing.



 

Communications Leadership
JOB OBJECTIVE

Technical writer or editor. Contract or permanent.

 

Enhancing IT Publishing





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RECENT CONTRACTS
TEKsystems
Schaumburg, IL
On contract for Motorola BMS
10/09 - 3/10
Consulting Technical Writer
  • Wrote customer requirements documents for 4 projects.
  • Tested & wrote reports on Web site links.
  • Collaborated with tester in writing & editing 3 test plan strategies.
  • Liaison with management, SMEs & approvers.
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Green Diesel, Inc.
Grand Rapids, MI
1/09 - Present
E-Commerce Domain Designer
  • Company savings due to my employment: $100,000. How I saved it:
    • Crisis management: Ebay had to shut down client's e-commerce page. I added a PayPal® page. New page went live in 1.5 hours, restoring business.
    • Immediate startup: First page went live in my first week.
    • Operated with standard, office software.
    • No training or workstation expenses.
    • Performed all work remotely. No travel expenses.
  • Webmaster & content provider for site: Text & graphics. JavaScript & HTML.
  • Implemented search engine optimization, review & release strategies.
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Instant Technology
Chicago, IL
On contract for Cole Taylor Bank
8/08 - 11/08
Consulting Technical Writer
  • Company savings due to my employment: $35,000. How I saved it:
    • Immediate startup: First draft in first week.
    • Operated with standard, office software instead of proprietary publishing software.
    • No training expenses.
    • Communicated directly with bank personnel.
  • Prepared 13 color manuals for ColeTaylor Reporter, an online banking system.
  • Reported software bugs.
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Raw Thrills
Play Mechanix studio, Glen Ellyn, IL (& my home office)
8/07 - 2/08
Free-Lance Writer, Illustrator & Designer
  • Saved company $26,000 vs. expense of in-house publication.
  • Prepared 72-page, kit installation & operation manual for tournament video games.
  • Optimized design for swift, economical print production & immediate electronic release.
  • Produced downloadable, full-color, PDF manual with index click-tabs.
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Instant Technology
Chicago, IL
On contract for Cole Taylor Bank
7/06 - 6/07
Consulting 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, training documents for support team.
  • Drafted over 20 manuals on eBanking & security software modules. (ColeTaylor Reporter)
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Raw Thrills
Skokie, IL (& my home office)
1/06 - 2/06
Free-Lance Writer
  • Three-week assignment during product development (SDLC/ HDLC).
  • On crash basis, prepared operator manual for arcade video game.
  • My 52-page, illustrated manual includes product details, installation, programming, maintenance, troubleshooting & parts.
  • My design: Improved manual durability & quality. Reduced printing cost & turnaround.
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Aerotek
Schaumburg, IL
On contract for Zebra Technologies
10/05 - 12/05
Consulting Editor & Syntax Coach
  • Edited & rewrote manuals for thermal OCR printers & RFID encoders.
  • My improvements routinely increased readability on Flesch-Kincaid scale.
  • Composed & edited style manual.
  • Crafted lesson on converting passive voice to active voice.
  • Critiqued & rewrote department Web site.
  • Produced & demonstrated interactive, online HTML style guide.
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Aquent
Chicago, IL
On contract for Motorola iDEN
5/05 - 8/05
Consulting Technical Writer
  • Beat client deadline, saving Motorola $1,400.
  • Wrote, illustrated & edited 172-page user guide for engineers. Subject: Motorola iDEN (intelligent digital enhanced network) cellular network control & reporting software.
  • Assured manual usability by improving source material syntax & by manual design.
  • Designed, managed & negotiated solutions for startup, review & closure.
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Outstanding Academics
EDUCATION
 
First-Hand Involvement COMMUNITY SERVICE

Published author
PUBLISHED ARTICLES

Articles in Compton's Encyclopedia, Videomaker, Popular Electronics, Play Meter, Canadian Coin Box, RePlay, Vending Times, Journal of the Antique Wireless Association, NBTV, ARCI Journal, SPE Journal, Amateur Television Today. Columns in Spec-Com Journal, Mike Shy.