1. MATTHEW J. RIEHL
1945 Sherington Place, Apartment G211 • Newport Beach, California 92663
949-903-1180 • matt_riehl@yahoo.com
Senior Technical Writer
Detail-oriented individual with 13 years of professional writing experience and over 11 years distinguished
experience as a technical writer with the US Military, property insurance industry and three software development
companies in the entertainment and financial industries, including over 7 years as Senior/Lead Technical Writer.
Over my career, my efforts have resulted in a measurable reduction in writing, editing and publishing times of 15 to
40 percent and company savings of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Seeking to leverage my skills and years of experience, I would like to expand my skill set and utilize those I already
possess to their maximum potential, obtain personal and professional growth and advance my career to a new
level.
IT KNOWLEDGE
Highly skilled in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, Project, Publisher and Visio;
and Adobe Creative Suite, including Acrobat 8, 9 and 11 Professional; Photoshop CS3; Dreamweaver CS3;
InDesign; Illustrator; PageMaker; Premiere Pro; Flash; Fireworks CS3; Contribute; GoLive; RoboHelp 8, 9 and 11;
and FrameMaker 10 and 11.
Also proficient with 3D CAD; C#; S1000D; Arbortext Epic Editor; Snagit Editor; HTML; WordPress; MadCap Flare;
XML; XSLT; SQL Server 2012 and 2014; Oracle Database; JavaScript; RightAnswers; WebWorks; Microsoft
SharePoint; Cherwell; Documentum; Confluence; JIRA; Quickr; Lotus Notes; AskIt; SDL Trisoft; IsoDraw; Visual
Studio; Team Foundation Server; MindTouch; Microsoft Access; and Microsoft Quick Parts.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Assurant Specialty Property, Santa Ana, California
Technical Writer/Analyst • June 2014-present (open-ended Contract)
• Interview subject matter experts to coordinate, write (often from scratch), format, edit, revise, maintain and
publish—in PDF and HTML format using RoboHelp versions 9 and 11—policy and procedure manuals, training
guides, FAQs and troubleshooting guides for management, developers and clients. Also use most of the
Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, Visio, Publisher and Project, as well as
Adobe products Photoshop CS3, InDesign and Illustrator.
• Manage the company’s documentation using the service management solution platform, Cherwell, as well as
Microsoft SharePoint.
• Wrote from scratch the technical writing team’s policies and procedures and best practices documentation for
updating and publishing policies and procedure memos and manuals.
Most Notable Accomplishment
• Lead the Analyst Team, which is responsible for publishing all of the company’s online documentation,
troubleshooting and resolving publishing issues for the other technical writers and training the technical writing
staff in using publishing best practices. Efforts have led to a 15- to 20-percent decrease in publishing time.
BMS, INC., Irvine, California
Senior Technical Writer • May 2013-June 2014 (6-month Contract – extended 6+ months)
• Created from scratch best practices and how-to articles for the Executive Office for United States Trustees
(EOUST) pertaining to the protection of personally identifiable information and other sensitive data.
• Coordinated with the Product Development team and business analysts to write business requirements,
functional specifications, user requirements specifications, test and use cases and release notes for the
company’s full product line. Software used included Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Acrobat 9 Professional, Project,
Publisher, Visio, Photoshop CS3, InDesign, Illustrator and PageMaker.
• Managed the company’s documentation using Microsoft SharePoint.
• Augmented the Marketing department to develop, write and publish to the BMS website the monthly company
newsletter, including composing articles on new software features, upcoming BMS events, recaps of BMS
events, personal profiles of BMS staff and client success stories.
Most Notable Accomplishment
• Built from scratch, maintained and managed the company’s new help file for its revolutionary new software
product for bankruptcy attorneys, after which the company observed an approximate 10-percent sales
increase.
ALLERGAN, INC., Irvine, California
Senior Technical Writer/Project Manager • May 2012-May 2013 (6-month Contract – extended 6 months)

2. • Drove all aspects of project planning, validation, documentation and business analysis. Through liaison with
support department, led project teams to implement information technologies for R&D.
• Reviewed all deliverables prepared by the team before passing them on to clients.
• Prepared for engagement reviews and complied with quality assurance procedures.
• Ensured project documents were complete, current and stored appropriately in Microsoft SharePoint.
• Challenged others to develop as leaders while serving as a role model and mentor.
• Collaborated with program manager(s) to identify project resources needed and assign individual
responsibilities and to create and execute project work plans, revising them as appropriate to meet changing
needs and requirements.
• Coordinated, wrote (often from scratch), formatted, edited, revised, maintained and published, in Word,
PDF and HTML format, functional specifications; user requirements specifications; APIs; business
requirements; software development kit documentation; new drug applications; policies and procedures; and
chemistry, manufacturing and controls documentation for management, developers and clients using many of
the Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Creative Suite products, FrameMaker 11 and XML. Software utilized
included Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, Project, Publisher, Visio, Acrobat 8 Professional, Photoshop CS3,
Dreamweaver CS3, InDesign, Illustrator, PageMaker and Premiere Pro.
Most Notable Accomplishment
• Identified opportunities for documentation improvement and made constructive suggestions for change,
decreasing documentation preparation time by approximately 20 percent.
WILSHIRE MEDIA GROUP’S MUVE MUSIC, Westwood, California
Senior Technical Writer • July 2011-May 2012 (10-month Contract)
• Designed, edited and updated content for the company Internet and Intranet websites using WordPress,
HTML, Flash, Dreamweaver CS3, Fireworks CS3, InDesign, Photoshop CS3 and Illustrator. Used RoboHelp 8
to write and edit content on the Internet help file.
• Interviewed subject matter experts and reviewed and analyzed source materials supplied to coordinate, write,
format, edit, revise, maintain and publish, primarily in PDF and HTML format, Android handset user guides,
operations guides, white papers, APIs, policies and procedures, quick-start guides and coding style guides for
management, developers and clients using mainly Word, FrameMaker 10, Excel, Project, Publisher, Visio and
Acrobat 9 Professional.
Most Notable Accomplishments
• Analyzed current processes and procedures and presented recommendations for streamlining processes,
slashing labor hours involved in producing all documentation by at least 25 percent while improving quality.
• Spearheaded a documentation project for Cricket Wireless’ Muve Music application, in which I either updated
or created from scratch, via interviews with developers and other subject matter experts, 1½ years of
backlogged documentation within a 4-month period. This allowed us to fast-track the application’s time to
market and provided the company a substantial revenue boost.
TRADESCAPE, INC., Sherman Oaks, California
Senior Technical Writer • August 2010-July 2011
• Coordinated, wrote, formatted, edited, revised, maintained and published, mainly in PDF and HTML format,
user guides, operations guides, policies and procedures and test and use cases for management, developers
and clients using primarily Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, Visio, Acrobat 8 Professional, Project and
PageMaker.
• Interpreted schematics and other technical data and developed process flow diagrams using Visio.
• Designed, edited and updated content for the company Internet website using WordPress, HTML, Flash,
Dreamweaver CS3, Fireworks CS3, InDesign, Photoshop CS3 and Illustrator; created frequently asked
questions and used RightAnswers and AskIt for on-line helpdesk; and used RoboHelp 8 to maintain the
Internet help file. Also designed, edited and updated content for the company Intranet website using HTML.
• Interviewed subject matter experts and reviewed and analyzed source materials supplied to create
documentation tailored for both technical and non-technical savvy end-users.
Most Notable Accomplishment
• Authored from scratch the inaugural operations and user guides (five total) for the user interfaces of a new,
highly sophisticated, cutting-edge financial software program under an extremely tight deadline, allowing the
product to be presented to investors and potential clients prior to our promised Go-Live date, saving the client
tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars in potential revenue loss had we not met our obligation.
ECIII/TRAX INTERNATIONAL, Yuma Proving Ground, Yuma, Arizona
Senior Technical/SOP/Proposal Writer, Munitions and Weapons Division • March 2005-August 2010
• Led department via a team-centered approach to analyze requirements, produce and edit test reports, test
plans and SOPs, completing all projects within deadline for over 5 years and slashing SOP, test plan and

3. report writing time by almost 40 percent through a continuous training effort, using macros to automate certain
data compilation and mathematical calculations, producing more effective and efficient documentation
schedules and creating and using stylesheets and templates.
• Managed team of four technical writers and served as the final editor of all documentation generated by our
department prior to review by executive officers and subsequent publication. Provided hands-on training to
ensure style guide and Data Item Description compliance, proper formatting and editing practices to ensure
document quality.
• Used cutting edge multimedia––including Adobe Director, Dreamweaver CS3 and Photoshop CS3––to plan,
produce and distribute combat systems and platforms documents via CD-ROM, websites and interactive
electronic technical manuals.
• Provided proficiency with animation and graphics design and creation as I contributed significantly to the
design, development and maintenance of the proving ground’s Intranet and Internet websites using Adobe
Creative Suite products such as InDesign, Photoshop CS3, Illustrator, Dreamweaver CS3, Premiere Pro,
Flash, Fireworks CS3, Contribute and Go Live.
• Created, edited and integrated visual materials including photographs, screen captures, drawings, diagrams,
charts, schematics, illustrations and graphs into technical documentation using various software applications
including Microsoft Visio, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Quick Parts, IsoDraw and 3D CAD before using
RoboHelp 8 to publish to the Intranet.
• Utilized S1000D, issues 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3, to prepare, manage and use equipment maintenance and operations
information, allowing the information to be shared among many publications.
• Coordinated, wrote, revised, edited, formatted, maintained and published, primarily in Word and PDF format,
test reports, test plans, training manuals, policies and procedures, maintenance manuals, addendums, test
procedures and SOPs for government and civilian personnel and clients using mainly Word, RoboHelp 8,
Excel and Visio.
Most Notable Accomplishments
• Recruited by executive management to lead a key project (outside realm of experience), authoring highly
detailed justification letters to save mobile buildings used for testing of some of the proving ground's most vital
weapons systems. Clearly defined mission-essential need and multi-million dollar cost savings in leaving the
structures onsite. Verified facts, reviewed and proofread documents and sent letters to proper channels,
successfully saving the buildings from removal and allowing testing to continue.
• Spearheaded SOP safety processes and procedures and participated in the creation of risk/hazard matrices,
lowering range incidents by approximately 25 percent and reducing editing time by several hours.
Operational Highlights
• Awarded a rare commendation from a Brigadier General for my exemplary work on a high profile, rapid
initiative report, as well as commendations from Munitions and Weapons Division Branch Chiefs and the Yuma
Test Center Director of Test. All awards/commendations are available upon request.
• Chosen personally to aid in an emergency, tight deadline series of reports for a large, high profile program.
Completed documents within scope and schedule, allowing for quick release of the weapon system to actual
combat where it is saving lives of soldiers and civilians.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts ~ English and American Literature. University of California, San Diego
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Comprehensive Technical Writing Training (TRAX International)
REFERENCES
Available upon request
Writing Operations Streamlining • Team Leadership • Documentation Scheduling and Tracking • Strategic Planning • Data
Benchmarking • Procedure Development • Design Review Feedback Enforcement • Agile Methodology • Single Source
Publishing • Documentation Quality Control • Business Analysis • Inter-Department Collaboration and Problem Solving •
Version Control Management • Safety Testing/Hazard Mitigation Analysis • Federal, State, Corporate Documentation
Compliance • Desktop Publishing • Graphic Design • Legacy Technical Documentation Analysis • Documentation Maintenance
• Understanding of Software Development Life Cycle • Content Delivery Network Market Knowledge • Gate Review Material
Development • Computer/Web-Based and Multimedia Design • Process Flow Analysis • User Relations and Vendor Interactions
• Computer Instruction Design