Thank you for visiting my professional page. Explore these sections to see how I can help you and your organization develop accurate, clear, concise, user-friendly manuals and instructions for use (IFUs), in compliance with applicable regulations, and within your budget and scheduling needs:
SUMMARY
Detail-oriented Technical Writer with extensive track record of creating and enhancing technical documentation, administration and user manuals, instructions for use (IFUs), and quick-reference guides. Accomplishments include:
- Leading writing projects and implementing the established content-management system (CMS) resulting in clear, user-friendly materials for diverse audiences.
- Proposing and completing single-sourcing and updating of large administrator, user, and quick reference documentation sets.
- Managing multiple projects to ensure documentation meets organizational standards, FDA and EU MDR regulatory requirements, and supports effective knowledge sharing.
I consider AI suggestions, but only accept them after thorough review.
| Experience | Description |
|---|---|
| Technical Documentation | Sixteen years creating, maintaining, and improving technical documentation |
| Project Leadership | Six years leading successful writing projects |
| CMS Implementation | Three years implementing content-management system (CMS) requirements with ArborText, FrameMaker, and Author-it |
| Regulatory Compliance | Implement domestic and international regulations, including FDA and EU MDR, in consultation with regulatory and legal staff |
Content Development | Write clear, concise, and user-friendly materials for diverse audiences, designing diagrams, screenshots, and photos to add clarity |
| Project Management | Manage multiple writing projects, including technical writing guidelines, internal web, Confluence, and SharePoint pages, coordinating across all levels of an organization |
| Quality Assurance | Ensure documentation meets organizational standards, regulatory requirements, readability level, while supporting knowledge sharing, and enhancing adoption of technology solutions |
| DOD Clearance | Received secret clearance in 2020, which was effective to November 2022 |
| Education | B.A. in English and postgraduate technical writing courses |
TOOLS MASTERY
| Software Applications, Programming Languages, and Models | Level of Expertise |
| Adobe FrameMaker, structured and unstructured Adobe Acrobat Pro Microsoft Word and Excel | Expert |
| Microsoft PowerPoint, Visio, and SharePoint Jira, Confluence, and Gliffy SDLC, Agile PLM, and Windchill PLM Google Docs | Proficient |
| ChatGPT and other AI tools Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator Author-it ArborText Databases, APIs CMS implementation and DITA model UNIX, vi, SQL, HTML, and XML | Working Knowledge |
EXPERIENCE
Philips Image Guided Therapy Devices (IGTD), Plymouth, MN
July 2024 to Dec 2025 – Contract Technical Writer, Remote
- Reduced unnecessary and outdated SOPs and Work Instructions by updating and processing the obsoletion of 94% of 989 documents in Windchill PLM, in consultation with document owners, IT staff, subject-matter experts, and translation staff.
- Managed multiple workstreams, updating document content, complying with current templates, submitting change requests, and enhancing task completion.
- Conducted daily or weekly check-ins with the project manager and team to ensure alignment on project goals.
- Tools: Microsoft Word, Excel, Windchill PLM, Microsoft Teams.
Abbott Laboratories, St. Paul, MN
January 2022 to March 2023 – Contract Technical Writer, Remote
- Enabled sales and use in European and other markets for structural heart catheters, valves, and plugs by bringing IFUs and patient manuals into compliance with EU MDR–European Council Regulation 2017/745 (NB2797)–and CAPAs.
- Implemented CMS format and content requirements in FrameMaker and Author-it software.
- Tools: Adobe FrameMaker (v.16.0.4.1062) and Acrobat Pro; Author-it; Windchill PLM; Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and SharePoint.
Element Materials Technology, Longmont, CO
March 2021 to July 2021 – Contract Technical Writer, Onsite/Remote
- Met aggressive deadlines writing test reports for environmental, vibration, and mechanical tests performed on customer products.
- Tools: Microsoft Word and Excel.
Sierra Space, Louisville/Centennial, CO
April 2019 to November 2020 – Contract Technical Writer, Onsite/Remote
- Developed and maintained business group wiki pages for program management staff.
- Researched and wrote test plans and user-acceptance test (UAT) scripts for customized in-house digital asset management (DAM) and Windchill-integrated database tool.
- Obtained secret security clearance.
- Tools Used: Microsoft Word, Excel; Acrobat Pro; Windchill; Confluence, Gliffy, Jira.
Self Employed, Longmont/Boulder, CO
September 2016 to April 2019 – Writer/Caregiver
- Freelance writing and editing, while caring for an elderly family member.
- Tools Used: Microsoft Word, Google Docs.
HID Global, Westminster, CO
May 2015 to September 2016 – Senior Technical Writer
- Worked with local and international product teams within Agile development processes to document hardware, firmware, and software updates for access-control systems, including RFID readers.
- Coordinated with QA and engineering staff, using defect-tracking systems to research necessary updates and log software defects found while testing step-by-step hardware and software procedures.
- Tools Used: FrameMaker, InDesign, Acrobat, Agile PLM, Jira, Confluence, and RoboHelp.
Medtronic, Louisville, CO
December 2014 to May 2015 – Contract Senior Technical Writer
- Researched and developed service manual for an MRI-guided surgical instrument. Developed technical bulletins to support clinical, sales, technical, and field staff.
- Tools Used: Adobe FrameMaker, Acrobat, Photoshop, Illustrator, Agile PLM, and Salesforce.
EDUCATION
Luther College, Decorah, IA, B.A. in English
San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, postgraduate courses:
- Technical writing I and II, Rhetoric department
- Instructional design, Education Technology department
- Electricity and electronics, Industrial Technology department
- Pascal programming under UNIX, Computer Science department
PORTFOLIO
The following samples of my work at several companies are available for viewing. However, samples 2 and 3 are available for viewing by special request.
1. Instructions For Use (IFU) – Sample
I developed this IFU using structured FrameMaker and ArborText. This file was publicly available on Covidien and Medtronic websites, whose policies apply to its use.
I wrote 40 pages of updates to this StreamMaker User Guide in Adobe FrameMaker at Learn2.com. I received permission to let others view this sample. If you would like to see it, send a message to rebeccanmeier@gmail.com.
3. HTML/PDF Statistical Quality Control System – Sample
I developed this documentation set using FrameMaker, Netscape Navigator, and direct HTML editing as needed. I received permission to let others view this sample. If you would like to see it, send a message to rebeccanmeier@gmail.com.
1. Instructions For Use (IFU)
On these Instructions for Use for the LigaSure Advance Monopolar Tip Laparoscopic Sealer/Divider Pistol Grip, I added, updated, and corrected about 50 percent of the English text, in consultation with the cross-function team of developers, regulatory and legal staff, clinicians, illustrators, and marketing staff.
Working closely with a cross-functional team:
- I revised much of the text in the first 8 pages, with the exception of the warnings and cautions.
- I also managed the translation/localization process with the translation vendor.
- I released the 84-page IFU in the Agile PLM system.
The primary instrument design change was the pistol grip for cutting tissue rather than the previous dial mechanism, which affected one step in the Ligasure and Monopolar function procedures. However, based on the hotline nurses’ recommendations, I added the “Tissue Manipulation and Blunt Dissection” procedure on p. 5 and the “After Surgery” procedure on p. 8, and added more detail to the “Troubleshooting” section.
This Covidien file was downloaded from the publicly-viewable Medtronic website; Medtronic policies apply to this file.
2. User Manual – Learn2.com
Note: If you would like to view this sample, send your request to rebeccanmeier@gmail.com.
StreamMaker manual:
- What’s New? chapter
- New feature, short-cut element, chapter
As sole technical writer, I updated the manual for StreamMaker, a multimedia streaming tool, with descriptions of, and procedures for, new features. StreamMaker was designed to create desktop characters, similar to the infamous Microsoft Clippy, the paperclip virtual assistant. With a two-month deadline for releasing the new manual, I proposed and received approval to hire and manage a contract technical writer to meet the deadline. She updated the format of the existing 400-page manual while I created the new content for the new features.
- Learn2.com-sample-1a.pdf: This is the “What’s New? and Getting Started” chapter for StreamMaker. The new content I outline in the “What’s New?” section added about 40 pages to this manual, all of which I researched, wrote, illustrated, and tested.
- Learn2.com-sample-1b.pdf: This is the “Working with Shortcut Elements” chapter which describes and gives the step-by-step procedure for using the new feature. This chapter shows how I accommodate both expert and novice users with two sets of steps: high-level and detailed.
3. HTML/PDF Documentation Suite
Note: If you would like to view this sample, send your request to rebeccanmeier@gmail.com.
Derby Associates’ Q-STATS II SQC system documentation: This large set of files was created in FrameMaker, Netscape HTML editor, and Adobe Acrobat Pro, and published as both HTML and PDF outputs:
- The HTML files set was designed for viewing in Netscape Navigator to accommodate both HP-UX workstations and Microsoft Windows PCs. To create the HTML/online version, the FrameMaker condition tags for HTML were turned on, which made cross-references visible and active as hypertext links and cross-references were visible as section numbers and titles. This file set was then converted through FrameMaker’s HTML conversion tool, then post processed and edited manually in the Netscape HTML editor. Final delivery was in Netscape for viewing on HP-UX systems as well as Windows.
- The PDF file set was designed for viewing in Adobe Acrobat Reader. To create the PDF/print version, the FrameMaker condition tags for print were turned on, which made page numbers visible in all cross-references and references to “page” and “pages” were retained. This file set was then converted to PDF through Adobe Acrobat Pro and made available within the HTML online help pages.
As lead technical writer, I researched and wrote the “What’s New” section and myself wrote, or supervised the writing of, all the new content listed there, in consultation with developers, support staff, and other technical writers.
The Q-STATS II SQC Update Quick Reference is an example of how I made new information from a very large documentation set of about 1300 PDF/printed pages available to users already familiar with the product, using hypertext links to the new content. As lead writer on a team of three full-time technical writers and one intern, I researched, wrote, edited, and desktop-published the new content within this set, adding more than 100 pages. I also managed the conversion of the legacy files from Ventura Publisher to FrameMaker, and developed the templates and process to single-source the files for print and online outputs.
I also managed the conversion process of the presentation materials for the sales engineers from CorelDRAW files to PowerPoint slides with notes, which are not included in this sample.
Photo: Sunrise hitting Longs Peak and Mount Meeker, taken from the Twin Peaks golf course in Longmont, Colorado
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