2014-15 Regional TechComm Awards Evening
We welcome Spring with an Awards celebration for recent winners of the STC Regional TechComm Competition. The annual STC TechComm Awards recognize individuals and organizations that demonstrate compelling achievement in technical communications (delivered through instruction, user support, information or promotion) to achieve business results. To allow more participants, (entrants, judges, members, and friends) from our three geographic locations to join the event, the New York, Philadelphia and Houston chapters are hosting a Virtual Regional TechComm Awards Evening on Thursday, April 23 from 7:30 - 8:30 EDT, (6:30 - 7:30 CST). Introduction slides
If you miss this all virtual event, you can view the recordings and useful presentations on this page.
2014-2015 Regional TechComm Awardees (New York, Philadelphia, and Houston chapters)
Meet our panel of presenters/winners
CA Workload Automation iDash - 11.3.6 (wiki), User Support, Best of Show and Award of Distinction, STC Regional TechComm Awards 2014By James Craig, CA Technologies
Presentation PDF | Podcast
Jim Craig is a Senior Information Services Engineer at CA Technologies. He has worked as a Technical Writer for over 18 years. He currently creates end user documentation in wiki format for enterprise software. He had previously designed and written user guides for hardware and software usage of products that evaluate wireless network system performance. Jim has a Bachelor's degree with a major in Computer Science from Northeastern Illinois University. His other interests include music, movies, guitar playing, travel, and cycling.
WebFOCUS App Studio Online Help System, User Support, Award of Excellence, STC Regional TechComm Awards By Mary Casull and Melinda Gjenasaj, Information Builders (with Greg Pfister, Frances Gambino, Nancy Silva, Carey Bates, David Glick, Latha Gunashekaran, Maria Volant, and Mithu Datta) Presentation PDF | PodcastMary Casull is the Technical Director of Release Content Development at Information Builders. She manages a team that designs and develops technical content for a variety of the software products. Her team includes full-time writers and a release editor. In the past year, this team has created technical videos, quick-start guides, online Help, and manuals that supported the launch of two new products. Mary is a graduate of the Professional Communications program at Farmingdale State College. Prior to beginning at Information Builders, Mary worked on technical guides and marketing materials for a private manufacturing company.
Melinda Gjenasaj has worked at Information Builders for 4 years. She is the dedicated release editor for a team of technical writers that cover the WebFOCUS business intelligence and WebFOCUS desktop products. Melinda works alongside the technical writers by providing editing, formatting, and technical writing support for the technical content produced for these products areas.
OncoLog, Informational, Award of Excellence, STC Regional TechComm Awards By Bryan Tutt, Sarah Bronson, Janice Campbell, Jill Delsigne and Joe Munch, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterPresentation PDF | Podcast | Read OncoLog Today
Bryan Tutt has been an editor in MD Anderson’s Department of Scientific Publications since 2009 and the managing editor of OncoLog since 2010. Before coming to MD Anderson, he served as editor-in-chief of Liver Health Today, a nonprofit magazine for patients with chronic hepatitis. Bryan has an MA in technical communication from Texas Tech University and an ELS certification from the Board of Editors in the Life Sciences. His previous writing awards include a Silver Award in the 2005 National Health Information Awards and an Award of Excellence in the 2009 STC Philadelphia Metro Chapter Technical Communication Competition.
Sarah Bronson has been editing scientific manuscripts for 5 years, most of those years in the Department of Scientific Publications at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. She has served as an assistant managing editor of OncoLog for 2 years and as an assistant managing editor for Breast Diseases: A Year Book Quarterly for the past year. Since 2010, she has written a regular column of restaurant reviews for My Table Magazine. She’s also a volunteer shift leader at a local dog rescue. She graduated from Rice University at the end of 2009 with a bachelor of arts in English and psychology.
Graphic designer Janice Campbell, The Very Idea®, works with individuals, small businesses, corporations, and non-profits to create effective solutions for communication challenges. Her work has received 60 awards for excellence in communication from industry and professional groups. Janice has designed MD Anderson’s OncoLog newsletter since 1997.
Jill Delsigne, PhD, is an associate scientific editor in MD Anderson’s Department of Scientific Publications and an assistant managing editor of OncoLog. She also is the President Elect of the Southwest Chapter of the American Medical Writers Association.
Joe Munch has been with MD Anderson’s Department of Scientific Publications since 2007. He has been writing for OncoLog for almost as long and has covered topics ranging from novel surgical techniques to cancer survivorship issues. He became an assistant managing editor of the publication in 2008.
Michael Bastian Chronowing Smartwatch Quick Start Guide, User Support, Award of Excellence, STC Regional TechComm AwardsBy Jamie West, Hewlett-PackardPresentation PDF | Podcast
Jamie West is currently a Content Manager for accessories documentation at Hewlett-Packard. She has over 20 years of experience as an information developer, documenting software, hardware, and employee benefits. She also has over 10 years of experience as a project manager for an international team of writers. In the past, Jamie has worked for companies such as BMC Software, Langrand and Company, Texas Instruments, and Dell.
Financial Risk Webcast Series: Liquidity Risk and Interconnectedness Risk, Informational, Award of Excellence, STC Regional TechComm Awards By Louay Kaddah, Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation, (with Roger Roess)Presentation PDF | Podcast
Louay Kaddah is a Learning Program Manager at DTCC where he's worked since 2007. He graduated from the University of Texas with a BA in Physics and Math (Cum Laude). Louay worked in the Equity derivatives trading desk, then capital structure arbitrage area from 1998-2004 for various firms in Dallas and Miami Florida. Previously, he was as a consultant for the Florida Power and Light Energy trading division and joined with IBM consulting in 2005. He holds several certificates including Financial Risk Manager from the NY Institute of Finance.
HP ENVY x2 Detachable PC 15 Setup Instruction Poster, User Support, Award of Excellence, STC Regional TechComm AwardsBy Tameka Young-Finister, Hewlett-Packard Presentation PDF | Podcast (Mary Gwynne for Tameka)
Tameka Young-Finister currently works as a Jump 2 Group outsourced contractor in the role of Content Manager for Hewlett-Packard. Tameka has over 15 years of experience in managing, writing, and eg different types of technical documentation in several industries including Energy, Technology, Financial, and Engineering. She regularly works with local and remote teams to create customized documentation that emphasizes the uniqueness of the client’s product or service.
WebFOCUS InfoAssist Getting Started Series Videos, User Support, Award of Excellence, STC Regional TechComm AwardsBy Carey Bates, Information Builders (with Frances Gambino, Stefan Kostial, Josephine Moscato, Vicky Lozovsk and Matthew Lerner)Presentation PDF | Podcast | WebFocus Assist VideoCarey
Bates joined Information Builders in 2012 and is currently a Technical Writing Manager. Her work focuses on developing technical content for a number of reporting and data visualization tools. Carey holds a BA from Sweet Briar College and an MA in Public Communication from The American University.
iMedidata On
line Help User Support, Award of Excellence, STC Regional TechComm AwardsBy John Garison, Medidata Worldwide Solutions (with Charles Miller)
Presentation PDF | Podcast (Note: John Garison could not make it to the event but he shared his presentation with us.)
John Garison is Lead Technical Communicator for Medidata Solutions and an Associate Fellow of STC. John has over 40 years experience as a writer, manager, consultant, and teacher in a wide variety of fields from operating systems to electronic health records. He's also been a judge of STC's international online competitions for a number of years,and a speaker at numerous conferences.
Advia Centaur XPT Immunoassay Quick Reference Guide, User Support, Award of Excellence, STC Regional TechComm AwardsBy Jerry Sherman and Michael Furfey, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, (with Theodore Spyrou)Presentation PDF | PodcastJerry Sherman is currently a technical writer with Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics where he writes user documentation and on-line help topics for laboratory analysis instruments. Jerry graduated from the State University of New York at Albany with a BA in English and a Minor in Computer Science and from Fitchburg State University with an MA in English Literature. He has more than 15 years of experience as a technical writer with IBM, Ricoh, Covidien, and Siemens.
Michael Furfey is a Project Specialist for Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics. In his 9 years at Siemens, he has created illustrations for Operator’s Guides, Online Help, and other customer facing documents. Michael previously worked as a production artist for Southern Graphic Systems, developing print ready artwork for Kraft Foods packaging. He graduated from Manhattanville College with a BA in Art and a minor in Art History.
