Paula K. Payne
Hillsborough, New Jersey 08844
Email: paula@folkie.com
(Microsoft Word Version)
Portfolio 

Summary:

Senior Technical Writer/Instructional Designer with
  • extensive experience in developing web sites and performance support tools including:
    • Web Based Help Systems and Tutorials: four years experience
    • On-line Help Systems for Windows Based Applications: four years experience
    • Computer Based Training (CBT): five years experience
    • Methods and Procedures: five years experience
    • Instructor-led and Self-paced Training Materials: four years experience
    • Web site development: six years experience
  • over ten years experience using human factors principles in designing interfaces for web sites and performance support tools
  • a proven record of projects completed in an environment that required the ability to meet demanding schedules.

Selected Achievements:

  • Developed instructor and participant materials for two Business Continuity Management training courses offered by Virtual Corporation.
  • Developed several intranet web sites and publishing tools that significantly reduced the maintenance of the sites at Avaya.
  • Developed web site containing product support tools that significantly reduced software installation time and trouble reports at Merrill Lynch.
  • Designed and developed an on-line help system for an Intranet based application that significantly reduced the training needs for Merck's end-users.
  • Designed and developed on-line help systems for three Intranet based applications that significantly reduced the training needs for 8,000+ end-users in AT&T’s business sales force.
  • Designed and developed on-line help system for 16 bit and 32 bit Windows based applications used by 8,000+ end-users in AT&T's business sales force.
  • Designed, coded, and tested Computer Based Training (CBT) programs for UNIX based applications used by end-users in both AT&T's business and residential units.
  • Exceeded all project due dates with excellent partner, team and peer feedback.

Technical Skills

  • Web Site Design and Development
  • Web Graphics Development
  • ASP, VBScript, HTML, DHTML, CSS, JavaScript, UNIX, VI
  • On-line Help Systems Development for Windows 3.X, Windows NT, Windows 95, and Internet applications
  • User Guides Development
  • Training Development
  • CBT Development
  • Methods & Procedures Development
  • Information Mapping®
  • Human Factors
  • Ability to See Processing from the User’s Standpoint

Software Skills:

  • Web Development
    • Microsoft Front Page
    • Microsoft Visual Interdev
    • Dreamweaver
  • Microsoft Office
    • Word for Windows
    • PowerPoint
    • Excel
    • Outlook
  • Graphics
    • Adobe Photoshop
    • Adobe Illustrator
    • Jasc Paint Shop Pro
    • Macromedia Flash
    • Macromedia Fireworks
  • Development Tools
    • RoboHELP
    • WinHelp Office
    • Doc-To-Help
  • Database
    • SQL Server 7
    • Microsoft Access
  • Other
    • Adobe Acrobat
    • Documentum
    • Visio
    • SSH Secure Shell
    • Interwoven Teamsite

Managerial Skills:

  • Project Management
  • Verbal Communications
  • Written Communications
  • Interpersonal Communications

Internet/Intranet Projects:

Designed and developed several web sites, including but not limited to:
  • Sobell Guitars section of the Martin Simpson website.
  • Logo for Simplify Technology, Inc. at www.simplifytechnology.com
  • Web interface for three CompuServe forums
  • Newsletter covering the happenings on nine CompuServe forums (Note: Since the newsletter is no longer being published, you can view the archives here.)
  • Guided Tour for the AT&T Business Services (ABS) Information Warehouse

Professional Experience:

Virtual Corporation, Inc., Flanders, New Jersey
Consultant: Instructional Designer
09/03 – 02/04

Developed instructor and participant materials for Virtual Corporation’s Business Continuity Maturity ModelSM Assessment and Sustainable BC Program Launch instructor-led training courses. This included PowerPoint slides, Participant Workbooks, handouts, training exercises, test questions and job aids.

Main Technologies Used: Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Visio, Jasc Paint Shop Pro, and Training Development/Delivery Methodologies and Processes.


Avaya Inc. (IT), Somerset, New Jersey
Consultant: Web Developer

08/00 - 08/03

Designed, coded and tested intranet web sites to comply with Avaya's corporate web standards. This included developing the front end interface, as well as publishing tools for clients use in updating their site. The sites used asp technology to read from and write content to a SQL 7 database. Updated and maintained the www.avaya.com and www1.avaya.com sites by uploading html pages with SSH Secure Shell and Interwoven TeamSite. Made minor edits to html pages using the VI editor on a UNIX server.

Main Technologies Used: ASP, VBScript, HTML, DHTML, CSS, JavaScript, SQL Server 7, Microsoft Visual Interdev, Interwoven TeamSite, Jasc Paint Shop Pro, Adobe Photoshop, and Human Factors Design Principles.


Merrill Lynch (PCA/DTT), Princeton, New Jersey
Consultant: Web Technical Writer
06/99 - 07/00

Designed, coded and tested Product Support area on Merrill Lynch's Private Client Architecture web site. This intranet site provided detailed documentation, downloadable installation files, online testing tools, knowledge base search and other tools for all of the products supported in DTT.

Main Technologies Used: ASP, VBScript, HTML, DHTML, CSS, SQL Server 7, Microsoft Visual Interdev, Jasc Paint Shop Pro, Visio, and Human Factors Design Principles.


Merck (MRL, RIS-Information Resources), Rahway, New Jersey
Consultant: Technical Writer/Performance Support Specialist
07/98 - 06/99

Designed, wrote, coded and tested on-line help system for Merck's Knowledge Management Document Repository. This web-based application provided authorized users with access to documents written by MRL scientists. Wrote system test plans and system design specifications for the application. Designed, coded and tested other internal web sites.

Main Technologies Used: HTML, Microsoft Front Page, Jasc Paint Shop Pro, Adobe Photoshop, Visio, Documentum, and Human Factors Design Principles.


AT&T (Business Markets Division), Piscataway, New Jersey
Technical Writer/Performance Support Specialist
11/87 - 06/98

Designed, wrote, coded and tested on-line help systems, interactive training, and user guides for Intranet, Windows, and UNIX based applications. Project led development, including defining the scope of the project, identifying resources, and preparing time and cost estimates. Acted as subject matter expert for documentation and technical aspects for the team.

Main Technologies Used: CBT/On-line Help/WBT Development Methodologies and Processes, Human Factors Design Principles, Authology, Microsoft Word, RoboHELP, Doc-To-Help, Microsoft PowerPoint, HTML, Microsoft Front Page, and Jasc Paint Shop Pro.


AT&T (Consumer Products), Parsippany, New Jersey
Assistant Staff Manager/Technical Writer
02/86 - 11/87

Developed Methods and Procedures for AT&T's consumer account inquiry centers. Interfaced with local exchange company representatives during AT&T’s contract negotiations for the take back of account inquiry. Interfaced with the AT&T's Contract Management organization to resolve errors on bills rendered by the local exchange companies.

Main Technologies Used: Methods and Procedures Development Methodologies and Processes.


AT&T (General Business Systems), Parsippany, New Jersey
Assistant Staff Manager/Technical Writer
12/84 - 02/86

Implemented and administered procedures for end-users to access online applications. Interfaced with Data Systems to relay the security needs of the end-users.

Main Technologies Used: Methods and Procedures Development Methodologies and Processes.


AT&T (Services Division), Denver, Colorado
Services Staff Manager/Technical Writer/Training Developer
01/84 - 11/84

Provided method and procedure changes to the Order Center end-users in the Western region for AT&T’s new order entry system. Conducted reviews of Order Center operations and developed needed corrective action programs. Developed and delivered Order Center training to the end-users.

Main Technologies Used: Training Development/Delivery Methodologies and Processes.


Mountain Bell (Business Office Education), Denver, Colorado
Assistant Staff Manager/Course Developer
03/80 – 12/83

Developed instructor-led and self-paced training material using AT&T’s Training Development Standards. Planned and coordinated field tests and analyzed results. Updated training as methods and procedures changed. Adapted training to meet the needs of Mountain Bell.

Main Technologies Used: Formal Training Development Methodologies and Processes.

Education:

Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison, New Jersey
Graduate coursework – 30 credits in Industrial Psychology
1986 - 1992

University of Denver, Denver, Colorado
Graduate coursework – 15 credits in Business Administration
1982 - 1983

Metropolitan State College, Denver, Colorado
BA – Psychology
1980


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© Paula K. Payne 1999-2004