Rebecca Matson Sukach Baker

EMPLOYMENT

December 2003 to Present
Senior UI Designer, Office of the CTO
Computer Associates International, Plano, Texas.

• Researched, developed, negotiated, and delivered writing and presentation standards for all online help and documentation created by CA. Standards included tool requirements, structured writing guidelines, support and licensing standards, usage and style guidelines, and information architecture design specifications.
• Designed and delivered usability tests for new documentation designs and approaches.
• Reviewed all standards created by the office of the CTO for documentation impact.
• Researched, developed, negotiated, and delivered UI standards for all Java projects created by CA. Standards included colors and fonts for all Java components.
• Researched, developed, negotiated, and delivered installation and licensing standards for all products created by CA.

February 1994 to December 2003
Documentation Project Manager, Technical Writing Manager, Technical Writer
Computer Associates International, Plano, Texas.

Research

• Tested customer use of online document formats (PDF and HLP) to optimize the usability of company documentation.
• Reported on case study of writers' challenges in learning new presentation techniques.
• Conducted online surveys and customer interviews and, based on examination of the results, developed proposals for new information design approaches.

Training and Support

• Researched, designed, created, and delivered class outlining information encapsulation techniques. Traveled extensively to deliver class lectures. Course name: Writing Successfully@CA.
• Trained coworkers on Word, OLE, Windows NT, Corel, Help Workshop, and computing concepts.
• Provided support for Word, Windows, Corel, Help Workshop, Dreamweaver, and general hardware issues.
• Researched, designed, solicited submissions, edited, and created monthly newsletter posted on company website for technical writing staff.

Writing

• Researched, designed, and created documentation (PDF, HLP, and HTML) for data mining, agent technology, MVS backup, service management, and enterprise management products.
• Examined and tested configuration file code to create command reference documentation.
• Interfaced with product developers and management, outlined recommendations and concerns, and developed the documentation project schedules. Coordinated and managed the distribution of the documentation.

Development

• Developed information encapsulation writing and design techniques for use with a content management system.
• Developed method for single sourcing RTF and DOC files using OLE linking. Created documentation for OLE method.
• Developed, compiled, and distributed a Visual Basic utility that uses Word macros to update and print multiple documents. Created macros to convert Legent documentation styles to CA documentation styles.

Management

• Managed the Unicenter NSM project that involved over 13 writers in disparate locations. Coordinated training, writing, design, quality assurance, and delivery of documentation.
• Directly managed six writers in disparate locations.
• Scheduled projects, managed deadlines and output, provided growth opportunities, mediated development/writer interactions when necessary, and handled internal paperwork.
• Reviewed and edited writer output for adherence to standards.
• Provided bi-annual reviews and set goals for writers based on growth needs and interests.

November 1993 to March 1994
Technical/Marketing Writer
TankMaster, Houston, Texas.

• Researched and wrote a proposal for government funding of a boiler/cooling tower cleaning system. Worked with engineers and designers, transcribing their ideas into writing, performing extensive library searches. Arranged all information and submitted it to the appropriate government agency.
• Investigated ISO 9000 culpability.
• Created advertising pamphlets for use by salesmen and for distribution to potential customers that described chemicals and chemical distribution systems.

July 1992 to December 1993
Research Assistant
Space Vacuum Epitaxy Center, University of Houston, Houston, Texas.

• Assisted in the writing and editing of many government proposals for scientific projects and technical papers for journals. Performed extensive library searches on a variety of topics for technical papers.
• Operated and maintained a high vacuum chamber utilizing an electron beam, Kauffman ion source, electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) assembly, cryopump, turbomolecular pump, and quartz crystal monitors (QCM) for the growth of atomic layer epitaxy films.
• Operated an Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES) system, X-ray Photospectroscopy (XPS) System, Electron Probe Microanalyser (EPMA), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) system.
• Responsible for chemical cleaning of substrates, growth of films, collation of data, and submission of reports.
• Assisted in research of the use of cathodoluminescence microscopy for detection of insulating compounds.
• Designed and executed experiments to grow cubic boron nitride on silicon substrates.

June 1991 to December 1992
Assistant Manager
Cineplex Odeon Spectrum 9, Houston, Texas.

• Created and distributed flyers advertising the sale of special discount tickets at the theater.
• Organized promotional displays for movies, including handouts and contests for customers.
• Responsible for hiring, supervision, and direction of 30 employees, scheduling of maintenance, upkeep of inventory and cash flow, and customer input.

FREELANCE WORK

March 2003, February - March 2004
Writer
Iimage Retrieval and nextScan, Carrollton, Texas.
Researched, reviewed, and created documentation for Fusion scanning software. Created and reviewed service guide for the Eclipse scanner.

December 2004-present
Listserv Moderator Host (volunteer position)
ASIST SIG Information Generation and Publication
Maintained and moderated listserv postings.

May 1999-January 2000
Writer/Pod Host
Tripod Writers' Block Online Community
Groomed, maintained, and moderated message board, pod community page list, and chat room discussions. Researched, designed, solicited submissions, edited, and created monthly newsletter for distribution to Writer's Block pod community.

June 1998, March-May 1999
Writer/Trainer
Aurion Technologies, a subdivision of Aurora Natural Gas, Dallas, Texas
Researched, reviewed, and created documentation for Enerview product. Outlined approach and trained entry-level writer to create Elvis product documentation. Edited Elvis product documentation.

March 1996, March 1997
Writer
Net-Com Image Inc., Friendswood, Texas.
Researched, reviewed, created, and maintained online help for Windows NT testing product. Created graphics for use with the product. Edited database questions.

October 1995 to February 1996
Editor
TSR Inc., Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
Edited, reviewed, storyboarded, and revised 64 page game master’s guide and 32 page player’s guide for Forgotten Realms project. Provided additional story line, where necessary. Provided art descriptions. Verified and corrected game statistics.

EDUCATION

Currently enrolled as a PhD candidate in the Information Science program at the University of North Texas.

During my years at the University of Houston, I worked as a lab assistant at both the Space Vacuum Epitaxy Center (SVEC) and at the Streamer Chamber Assembly Research Facility (SCARF). I revised and corrected English papers, essays, and technical theses. I helped found the Science Fiction/Fantasy Guild (SFFG) and organized activities and fundraising events for the group. I edited, published, and distributed the Purple Podium, a newsletter for the SFFG that contained short stories, chronicles, original artwork, and book and movie reviews. During the summer, I tutored special problems children in math, science, and English. I helped them develop motivational programs for themselves to learn required subjects more easily.

Since graduation, I have written numerous short stories and game modules for private enjoyment. I have authored a complete role playing game system (Masker’s Cursed), including game modules and short stories. I have created and hosted four interactive murder mystery dinner parties.

REFERENCES AND WRITING SAMPLES

PUBLISHED WORKS AND PRESENTATIONS

Sukach, R. (2004). A Practical Approach to Implementing Content Management. Proceedings of the WritersUA Conference

Sukach, R. and Kennedy, R. (2004). Recycle, Reuse, and Rebuild: Information Architecture on a Budget. Proceedings of the ASIST Information Architecture Conference

Sukach, R., Kennedy, R., and Devine, M. (2003). Single Sourcing Pilot Project: Results and Observations. Proceedings of the 50th Annual STC Conference

Sukach, R. and Kennedy, R. (2003). Writing for Content Management. Workshop delivered at the 50th Annual STC Conference (full day)

Sukach, R. (2003) Don't Fence Me In: Understanding Software Usability and Accessibility CAWorld ‘03

Sukach, R. (2002). Identifying Information Design Heuristics Proceedings of the 49th Annual STC Conference

Sukach, R., Kennedy, R., and Devine, M. (2002). Implementing Single Sourcing in Your Organization Proceedings of the 49th Annual STC Conference

Sukach, R. and Kennedy, R. (2002). Yours, Mine, and Ours: Writing for Content Management Workshop delivered at the 49th Annual STC Conference

Matson, R. (2001). Re-Forming Information: A Case Study in Teaching Content Encapsulation Proceedings of the ACM SIGDOC Conference

Sullivan, T., and Matson, R. (2000). Barriers to Use: Usability and Content Accessibility on the Web's Most Popular Sites. Proceedings of the First ACM Conference on Universal Usability

Sukach, R. (1999) Single Sourcing RTF and DOC Using Microsoft OLE. Presentation at Help University's Help '99 Conference.

Fairies, Grrrowl ezine, October 1996 issue (author)

M. Lu, A. Bousetta, R. Sukach, A. Bensaoula, K. Eipers-Smith, K. Waters, and J. A. Schultz. The Growth of Cubic Boron Nitride on Si(100) by Neutralized Nitrogen Ion Bombardment, App. Phys. Lett. 64[12] (1994) 1514 - 1516.

Detection of Insulating Phases in HTS¹s with Cathodoluminescence Microscopy, Bulletin of the American Physical Society 36, 363 (1991); Ref. No. 91:086 (contributor)

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