Brad Weier's Resume

Technical writer specializing in software and business process documentation for over 21 years. I translate tech-speak into everyday English.

Contact Information

webmaster at-sign bradweier.com
http://www.bradweier.com/

Work Experience:

12/2018 - Present

Indeed Technologies Japan K. K. - Tokyo, Japan

Technical Writer. I write instructions for custom software solutions targeted at internal and external software engineers. I project manage the translation of technical and legal documents residing on an external documentation repository. I write and edit internal blog posts aimed at educating internal engineers on new software solutions.

11/2015 - 11/2018

TravelCenters of America - Westlake, OH

Technical Writer - IT Security. I wrote IT policies and procedures for compliance with PCI-DSS and SOX. I also wrote software instructions, IT security warnings and bulletins, and narratives. I created the requirements and end-user instructions for a SharePoint documentation library and accompanying workflows. I created numerous Visio process diagrams and small network diagrams.

05/2013 - 12/2014

Daiichi Sankyo - Tokyo, Japan

Proofreader.(Contracted through F.I.A.) I edited the grammar, punctuation, spelling, word choice, and phrasing of scientific reports, patent applications, dissertations, and journal publications in the pharmaceutical industry.

01/2008 - 12/2014

Aeon East Corporation - Headquarters and Koenji Brach School, Tokyo

English Teacher. I taught grammar and conversations classes at a branch school in Koenji, Tokyo and at various corporations around Tokyo. My students were mostly Japanese business people seeking to improve their professional conversation level and to achieve high scores on the TOEIC test.

10/2007 - 12/2007

Abbott Labs - Database Services Group, Linconshire, IL

Technical Writer. (2-month Contract through Manpower, Inc.) I wrote a work estimate for a project involving importing flat-files of medical information into a database. I began a set of end-user documents for a database front-end that allowed users from various business groups to access a central data repository.

03/2003 - 10/2007

Information Resources, Incorporated - In-store Solutions Group, Chicago, IL

Technical Writer. I designed, wrote, and edited project plans, technical and end-user documentation, information process flows, business process flows, and software requirements documents. Often this was documentation for Six Sigma projects. I also designed client-facing documents and presentations. I provided graphics support for help files, the Internet site, and for client-facing documents. Finally, I managed an on-line documentation library.

Some examples of my documentation are:

01/2000 - 03/2003

Freelance Writer and Editor

Game Reviewer. I review board and card games for magazines such as Pyramid Magazine Online published by Steve Jackson Games, RPG.net, and Games Quarterly. I have published over 20 reviews in the past five years.

Editor. I perform freelance editing for various independent writers including a book-length work written by the music group Beatnik Turtle.

05/1995 - 03/2003

Productivity Point International, Hinsdale, IL

Senior Instructional Designer. I designed and wrote instructor-led training manuals for commercial and proprietary software and business processes used by Fortune 500 companies. I coached new Instructional Designers through the Product Development process. I managed large projects with as many as 10 writers. I created time estimates, project plans, and statements of work. Finally, I edited, proofread, tech edited software manuals in Microsoft Word and HTML.

I wrote the following books for Productivity Point International:

Client Book Title
Microsoft MSN Internal Sales Guide
Microsoft and Hewlett Packard Introduction to the Pocket PC
ExxonMobil Publishing Password Protected Content in Documentum
General Electric Capital Technology Services Rental Sales Specialist System for Windows (along with supplemental training documents)
GE Capital Railcar Services Contract Shops On-Line Data Entry Manual
GE Capital Technology Services Customer Information Management System for Windows 95
S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. Outlook 98 Introduction to Outlook Web Access
S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. Outlook 98 Introduction (Moving From PROFS)
Arthur Andersen Breakthrough Training Exercises for Programmers
Lucent Technologies TradeStream Orientation (hard-copy and on-line manual)
Blue Cross Blue Shield Associations Mailing List System
Motorola Inc. and PPI Techniques of Instruction for Technology Delivered Learning
Arthur Andersen Introduction to Arthur Search
Ameritech New Media Hardware/Software Introduction
Kraft Foods Intnl. Upgrading to Excel 97 (Delivered via Symposium)
State Farm Introduction to Modulaw Insurance
Helene Curtis International ScheduleBase
Baxter Health Care Sales CD Installation
Hewitt International Compensation Analysis In Excel 97
Everen Corp. Broker's Ally
Crate & Barrel New Warehousing System Store Manual
First Chicago NBD Novell NetWare 4.X Introduction
Alliant Foodservice Using Office 97 for Windows 95/NT 4.0 with the Internet/Intranet
Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal Extranet Lotus Notes Documentation
Rockwell EC CQMS What's New (Delivered via BrainShark)
Hewlett Packard University Tour 2001 (co-author)
Rotary International Introduction to the Translation Database
Sears Outlook Web Access On-line Reference Guide (HTML)
GSK Introduction to Groove (Docent Outliner on-line manual)
PPI Designing Custom Courseware for Proprietary Software and Business Process
PPI Windows NT 4.0 for Workstations Introduction
PPI Web Page Design Using FrontPage 1.1 for Windows 95 Introduction
PPI FrontPage 97 for Windows 95 Introduction

My training experience includes PPI's standard trainer orientation. Also, I was the trainer for an on-line HTML course for Motorola University for six months. Using that experience, I wrote a "Train the Trainer" manual for technology delivered learning.

My project management experience includes managing a team of 10 writers on a project for Aon Corp. and mentoring new designers at PPI. I took two project management courses through PPI, the second of which explored the Project Management Institute Standards Committee standards.

Other responsibilities included hardware and software support for the Product Development Department, advising on corporate Internet strategy, and presenting projects and proposals to clients.

11/94 - 4/95

Productivity Point International, Hinsdale, IL

Phone Support Administrator. I handled requests for software assistance from PPI students. I closed 33% of the calls and assigned the rest to trainers. I performed Database maintenance and network file management.

Education:

April 2008 - January 2011

Iidabashi Japanese Language School, Iidabashi, Tokyo

Japanese Private Lessons. I currently attend three hours of private lessons per week. I passed the JLPT Level 3 examination in 2008. I am preparing for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, Level 2.

May 2006

College of DuPage Community College, Wheaton, Illinois

Japanese 101, 102, 103, 201, 202. I have completed Japanese 101 through 202.

August 1994

Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH.

Master's Degree in English. My experience includes literature classes, teaching, editing academic papers, and preparing presentations.

May 1992

Oberlin College; Oberlin, OH.

Bachelor's Degree in English. I have a liberal arts education with a concentration in literature and creative writing as well as philosophy, psychology, and art. I wrote sports articles for the school newspaper.

May 1988

Eastlake North High School; Eastlake, OH.

High School Diploma. I was the National Honor Society Vice President, a member of the Academic Team and Drama Club, and an editorialist on the school newspaper. I finished in the top ten percent of my class.

Hobbies and Interests:

I have maintained a personal website for more than 20 years using HTML, CSS, Javascript, Photoshop, and Linux.

Gaming * Japanese Language and Culture * Creative Writing * Reading * Computers * Music

References

References and samples are available on request.