Howard G. Williams                                                                             
255 W. 22nd St., Apt. 2B                                                                             
New York, NY 10011                                                                     

Telephone (212) 627-9409
Mobile (212) 444-2205
Email Howard.Williams@Gmail.com

Summary

• Knowledgeable documenter of systems, processes, programs, process assurance, online information, and policies and standards
• Writing manager for PC, web, network, UNIX, and mainframe systems, as well as training and marketing
• Analysis, requirements specification, and testing for new and updated systems for more than 15 years
• Project management, quality assurance, and development of online systems for more than 10 years
• Master’s Degree from University of Michigan with solid experience in brokerage, finance, information security, and insurance
• Advanced skills in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, and Photoshop. Very familiar with Dreamweaver and other HTML and JavaScript editors, RoboHelp, Java, Basic, Lotus Notes, and various document management systems
  
  

Employment

Time, Inc
September 2005 to present
Technical Writer and Quality Assurance

• Documented existing systems and updates for the planning, purchase of paper, and production of magazines.
• Tested and approved updates before roll-out, wrote regression tests for future testing, and assisted help desk and customer service personnel in evaluating problems and providing solutions.
• Specified enhancements to existing web-based and compiled systems, and tested upgrades in controlled environments during development and testing and in production environments after implementation.
• Provided reports for Sarbannes-Oxley auditors to show compliance with separate development and production environments and processes to ensure tracking and approval of bugs, fixes, and enhancements.
• Specified requirements and provided documentation for modification of existing web-based systems for automation of a new division in the United Kingdom.

AXA Financial
May 2005 to August 2005
Technical Writer and Consultant

• Collected and edited business information for an overview of a highly customized internal content management system (CMS), including IRAs, brokerage accounts, and insurance.
• Generated system information and procedures for maintaining and updating content for various departments and functions.

Securities Information Automation Corporation (SIAC)                      
July 2004 to February 2005
Technical Writer and Consultant

• Collected and edited information for Java developers building a J2EE-standard n-tier tool for use as the automated trading platform by specialists at the New York Stock Exchange.
• Updated and wrote maintenance processes for the on-going run book that described configuration and required processes for day-to-day operation of the UNIX and IBM DB2 system.
• Assisted in tracking open issues, dispersing information, scheduling, and gathering problem resolutions made by developers at all levels.
• Edited requirements and development information for use by outsourced development group.

ING Bank, Information Risk Management Department                  
August 2001 to February 2004
Policy and Standards Writer, Project Manager, and Application Development Consultant

• Wrote and edited information security policies, standards, and procedures based on documents such British Standard ISO 17799 and HIPAA for international use by the banking and investment groups.
• Specified content and graphic user interface for an online compliance program for 34 information security policies and standards to provide quantifiable tracking for compliance.
• Guided development and managed the roll-out of the on-line compliance program for information security.
• Worked with internal audit department to provide documentation for initial Sarbannes-Oxley analysis.
• Served as a program manager for on-site and off-site programmers during the initial development of the online compliance program and the resulting text and statistical reports.
• Led a two-day, 30-person user conference in Amsterdam to determine and prioritize the future development of the online tool in preparation for updating policies and standards.
• Wrote intranet-based training materials for the information security compliance program.
• Provided analysis and plans to improve compliance with policies based on results of the online program.

iNautix Technologies (DLJdirect, CSFBdirect)                                 
November 1998 to July 2001
Technical Writing Manager

• Hired and managed four technical writers who developed internal documentation and procedures for systems, user documentation, specifications for projects, training materials, and online help for a top Internet web site and for award-winning Windows-based software.
• Implemented a project management approach to lead new projects through specification, development, quality assurance, and implementation. Measured and reported work and efficiency metrics for the team.
• Wrote systems operations guides, programming notes, Windows- and web-based help, FAQs for end users, and other hard-copy and online documentation for internal and external use.
• Worked within the Process Assurance department to create standards, templates, and databases to support the development of more than 40 financial international web sites. Helped meet CCM Level-1 status.
• Assisted the Process Assurance department in the definition of environments for development, testing, user acceptance, training and production.
• Supported the training and development of in-house operations staff, project managers, and programmers.

Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB)
February 1998 to October 1998
Technical Writer and Consultant

• Wrote end-user documentation for a major Windows NT rollout, including information on corporate styles, specially installed Microsoft Word macros, laptop usage, proprietary applications, and year 2000 compliance.
• Generated documents as technical references, guides for third-party financial and investment applications, and web pages for use on intranet.

Dow Jones Markets (Telerate, now Bridge)                                       
June 1997 to February 1998
Documentation Manager

• Wrote technical documentation, marketing materials, and context-sensitive online help for an intranet financial news delivery system and a standalone news editing system for Dow Jones journalists.
• Developed and maintained system requirements, specifications, proposals, demonstration procedures, and training for business analysts and program developers.
• Tested systems and tracked specifications for HTML, JavaScript, Java, Internet, and database developers.

Johnson & Higgins (now Marsh & McLennan)
May 1994 to May 1997
Manager of Technical Writing Department and In-house Help Desk

• Managed, edited, and budgeted two writers through the creation of technical documentation, marketing materials, and newsletters.
• Wrote documentation, training materials, presentations, and newsletter articles for J&H’s proprietary AS/400 insurance brokerage systems.
• Trained and managed three help desk analysts who answered questions about a variety of proprietary computer applications, insurance, and company procedures.
• Led a “change team” in an on-going quality program and trained employees at all levels.

Nematron Corporation                                                              
September 1988 to November 1993
Group Leader of Technical Writing Department

• Managed two writers to design, schedule, write, and produce technical and marketing materials for a complete line of industrial computers.
• Produced technical manuals, data sheets, technical application notes, hardware and firmware upgrades, two newsletters, newsletter articles, catalogs, price lists, and parts lists.
• Wrote major sections, designed, and edited Closing the Loop on Operator Interface, a 160-page book that described applications for industrial workstations.

Washtenaw Community College                                                               
January 1992 to May 1993
Technical Writing Instructor (part time)

• Taught the advanced technical writing course, “Award-winning Technical Documentation.”

FAME Information Systems                                                                 
April 1985 to September 1988
Senior Technical Writer

• Wrote and produced technical instruction guides for statistical, analytical, and database software available on IBM mainframe and UNIX platforms. (At this time, FAME Software was a subsidiary of Citicorp.)
• Designed, wrote, and produced marketing materials to contribute to product salability.
  
  

Professional Affiliation

• Society for Technical Communication
  Member since 1983
  
  

Education

• University of Michigan; Ann Arbor, MI                          
  Master of Arts, English
• University of Colorado; Boulder, CO                             
  Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, English
• The College of Insurance; New York, NY                      
  Insurance courses
• Washtenaw Community College; Ann Arbor, MI           
  Computer programming courses