Objective
Senior technical writer looking to break in to maritime manufacturing, in Great Lakes area.
If you make commercial or recreational boats or some other marine product that needs documentation, I can help.
I have over 30 years experience in heavy equipment, large vehicles, manufacturing machinery and manufactured products.
Experience
2008 Assignment work for M3COM, Schaumburg, IL
2007 Operation and Maintenance manuals for Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co., Chicago, IL.
2007 Service Manual for Columbia ParCar, Reedsburg, WI, an industrial vehicle manufacturer.
2006 Sports and Classic Auto Sales, owner/operator, a virtual auto sales business.
2005 Technical Writer for Ken Cook Co., Milwaukee, WI. Updated parts manuals for Vermeer Corp, Pella IA, a manufacturer of a variety of construction, mining, forestry and other machinery.
2004 Procedures, Quality and Documentation Writer for Illinois Blower, Cary, IL. Illinois Blower manufactures air and gas movement devices for assorted applications including process heating, material handling, industrial cooling, combustion air, dilution air, induced draft and forced draft. In this position, I was retained on contract to research and write 63 procedures to help the organization document its basic order fulfillment process--from receipt of initial customer order through the Sales, Engineering, Production and Operational processes.
November 2000—March 2003 Senior Technical Writer for Zebra Technologies, Vernon Hills, IL. Zebra manufactures bar code, plastic card and smart card printers and printing materials for automatic identification and data collection systems used for inventory control, driver licensing, hospital patient identification, employee time and attendance monitoring, automated warehousing, and many other applications. In this position I collaborated and interfaced with Engineering, Production and Training to produce service, maintenance and parts manuals for Zebra bar code printers.
February 1994—November 2000 Senior Technical Writer for assorted contract assignments. In this capacity, I produced service manuals, instruction sheets and assorted documentation for the contract employers listed below. I sought and found these assignments through temp agencies and/or by contacting the companies directly. Each assignment differed yet on average, contract duration was from 6 months to 12 months. I have excellent references from all of these employers and have listed these assignments in chronological order:
1999-2000 MPC PRODUCTS, INC. an OEM parts manufacturer of aerospace controls, Skokie, IL;
1999 ELECTRO-MOTIVE div. of General Motors a manufacturer of diesel locomotives, LaGrange, IL;
1998-1999 CUMMINS-ALLISON CORP. coin handling, sorting, counting equipment in Mt. Prospect, IL;
1997-1998 MATHEWS COMPANY grain dryers and agricultural equipment, Crystal Lake, IL;
1996-1997 OSHKOSH TRUCK a manufacturer of fire trucks in Oshkosh, WI;
1996 ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES a manufacturer of bar code printers in Vernon Hills, IL;
1995 KRAFT FOODS a manufacturer of food products in Glenview, IL.
1994-1995 CASE CORP. a manufacturer of construction equipment in Burlington, IA.
More Full Time Positions
1989—1993, Senior Technical Writer for DRESSER INDUSTRIES, Libertyville, IL. Construction equipment manufacturer.
1984—1989, Senior Technical Writer for CAI, division of RECON/OPTICAL, Barrington, IL. Reconnaissance camera and equipment manufacturer.
1978-1983, Technical Writer for BARNES AND REINECKE ENGINEERING, Elk Grove Village, IL. Technical documentation and logistics support engineering. Complete series of military manuals for Army M109 self propelled howitzer, experimental variations and the diesel engine.
Education
NORTHERN IL. UNIVERSITY, Bachelor of Science degree, Journalism – May, 1976.
TRAINING
Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. writing and quality standards training (2007)
Electric Vehicle Service School for Columbia ParCar (2007)
EBay sales training (2006)
Ken Cook Co. publishing procedures familiarization (2005)
Illinois Blower manufacturing procedures familiarization (2004)
Zebra Quality Seminar (2002)
Zebra Framemaker Training (2001-2003)
Zebra ISO/Documentation Training (2000)
Zebra Bar Code Printer Maintenance (2000)
EMD Framemaker Parts Listing System (1999)
Grain Dryer Service School through Mathews Corporation (1998)
PRO-E BASIC through Rand Technologies (1998)
Coin Sorter/Counter Service School through Cummins-Allison (1997)
Bar Code Printer Operation and Maintenance through Zebra Technologies. (1996)
Case Corp. Parts Listing System (1994)
Total Quality Initiative seminars through Komatsu Dresser Co. (1992)
Construction Equipment Driving/Operation School - Komatsu Dresser. (1989)
Crawler Tractor Technical Training Seminar – Dresser Industries (1988)
Diesel Engine Operation and Maintenance. - Du Page Area Vocational Ed. Assoc. (1977)
Motorcycle Maintenance – Kishwaukee College (1976)
Aircraft Maintenance Tech Schools - prop and jet aircraft - Air Force. (1967)
Certification
Skils
technical writing; I can produce operation, maintenance and repair parts manuals.
Documentation; whatever you need documented: procedures, safety compliance, contract compliance...
Recent experience as crew member on yacht delivery trips from Wilmington IL to Chicago IL and Chicago back to Wilmington.
Six plus years on Ugh the Tug, working as engine repairman, deckhand, wheelman and handy man. Maintained a GM 4-71 diesel marine engine. Ugh the Tug was launched in 1915, is approximately 45 x 8 x 5 ft. Ugh the Tug owner: Ned Dikmen, 312-266-8400.
Wrote a couple of magazine articles about Ugh the Tug and Tug Yachts for Great Lakes Boating magazine. Great Lakes Boating Magazine editor: Ned Dikmen
Five plus years on Chicago Ship No. 1 working as engine repairman, deckhand, wheelman and handyman. Maintained a Chrysler 413 V-8 gas marine engine. Ship No. 1 was launched in 1926, is approximately 42 x 10 x 3-1/2 ft. Chicago Ship No. 1 owner: Richard Bosserman,
815-459-4288.
Several years experience at De Mar Marine Service doing winterization and summerization of inboards, outboards and I/O marine engines and drives. Extensive maintenance experience on Skiff Craft plywood lap strake cruisers. Extensive experience in boat salvage work. Some trailer maintenance. De Mar Marine Service owner: Joe De Mar, 815-459-4718
Several years experience, on going, at Turnkey Classics doing winterization and summerization of inboards, outboards and I/O marine engines and drives. More experience working on mahogany classics. More experience in boat salvage work. Some trailer maintenance. Turnkey Classics owner: Charles Kelley, 815-459-5070
Amateur historian of Corps of Engineers and Army workboats. Collector of engineer boat TMs.
Ownership of 7 different powerboats on Fox River/Chain of Lakes in Illinois.
Long term subscriptions to Work Boat, Diesel Progress, National Fisherman, Marine News, etc.
I keep up with developments in boats and diesel engines.
Safe boating classes thru Coast Guard Auxiliary.
On going involvement in old boats, old marine engines, old cars, and old motorcycles.
Tugboat Enthusiast Society: long time member and contributing editor.
TES editor: Brent Dibner, fax 617-277-3529
Military aircraft maintenance experience, auto restoration employment, job related involvement with heavy equipment and military vehicles and with all their systems; hydraulics, pneumatics, electrical, etc. All documented on my resume.
I should have joined the Navy or even the marine part of the army.