This document summarizes a panel discussion from the 2011 STC Technical Communication Summit on expanded roles and added value for technical communicators. The panelists discussed their careers in technical communication and moving into roles in areas like business planning, corporate communications, information design, information security, and project management. They emphasized skills like communication, learning new skills, networking, and obtaining meaningful certifications to expand career opportunities.

1. EXPANDED ROLES & ADDED VALUE
FOR TECHNICAL COMMUNICATORS
STC TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION SUMMIT ’11
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA
MONDAY, 16 MAY 2011
PANEL PARTICIPANTS:
CINDY CURRIE-CLIFFORD
BARBARA GIAMMONA
VIRGINIA GLASS
DAWNELL CLAESSEN
CONNIE KIERNAN
LINDA OESTREICH, MODERATOR

2. CINDY CURRIE-CLIFFORD, PMP®
BUSINESS PLANNING MANAGER
 Where I work: Hewlett-Packard Company, Enterprise Services
Business – Information Technology Outsourcing (ITO), Americas
 How I got here: Broad skill set, with a strong mix of
communication, technical, and business skills; including 25+ years
of project and program management experience
 Key messages:
 Good communication skills are highly valued in business;
many people do not possess them.
 Be very willing to try new things. Stretch a little, and often.
 Learn to lead from behind or below; good leaders are everywhere
in an organization, so don’t be afraid to be one of them.
 Be a thinker, as well as a grinder.
 Obtain a meaningful certification.

3. BARBARA GIAMMONA
EMPLOYEE COMMUNICATIONS
 Where I work: Invensys Operations Management (Senior
Manager, R&D Technical Publications and Communications)
 How I got here: Took risks. Developed political savvy. Networked
well. Reached out to senior management. Saw a need and
stepped up to meet it.
 Key messages:
 You, too, can parlay your experience as a Technical Communicator into a
successful and strategically important role in Corporate Communications

4. VIRGINIA GLASS
SYSTEM VISUALIZATIONS
 Where I work: Information Designer for ExactTarget,
System Architecture Team
 How I got here: Degree in Computer Science, English
teacher, mother, created my own training company, worked
for cutting edge software companies, mastered new skills
at every opportunity
 Key messages:
 Keep your skills inventory sharp and up-to-date to be ready for
the next opportunity!
 ATTITUDE = 100%
 (A=1, T=20, I=9, U=21, D=4, E=5)
 Be open to new ideas and new skills
 Eagerness to learn makes a difference in a fast-paced
environment

5. DAWNELL CLAESSEN, CISSP
MANAGER, P&P SIG
 Where I work: Information Policy Analyst for the Military Health
System. Mostly Certification & Accreditation work
 How I got here: Publish, Teach, Learn. Be relentless on this.
 Key messages:
 Don’t be afraid to specialize. Be a SME for something that clearly
demonstrates value.
 Do what you like. Take “cautious initiative” if see a process or an area that
interests you.
 Manage your skill set portfolio. Always be ready and willing to re-tool.
Certifications are important these days.

6. CONNIE KIERNAN
SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER
 Where I work: United States Mint, Information
Technology Division (Chief Information Officer)
 How I got here? Broad skill set and willingness to
research to create new job opportunities
 Key messages:
 Communication skills are the key to a wealth of
opportunities
 Offer your skills throughout your company
 Broaden your skill set—never stop learning and growing

7. LINDA OESTREICH
SENIOR STRATEGIC ANALYST
 STC leadership and technical communicator skills can help propel you
into areas of work and salary levels you had never dreamed of!
 Where I work: Omnitec Solutions, Inc., assigned to Space and Naval
Warfare Systems Command
 How I got here: Society-level committees and boards plus doc
management activities
 Key messages:
 STC leadership provides avenues of education and experience that can
supplement your daytime jobs
 Technical communication skills have a broad range of application
 Do what you love; love what you do and the salary & satisfaction will follow

8. REFERENCES & RESOURCES
 Business Analysis Body of Knowledge:
http://www.theiiba.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Body_of_K
nowledge
 Business Process Management; John Jeston and Johan
Nelis; Elsevier, 2006
 Business Process Modeling, Simulation, and Design; Manuel
Laguna and Johan Marklund; Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005
 Business Process Improvement Toolbox; Bjorn Andersen;
ASQ Quality Press, 1999
 Gamestorming by Dave Gray, Sunni Brown, James
Macanufo, O’Reilly, 2010, www.XPlane.com
 International Association of Business Communicators (IABC):
http://www.iabc.com/
 Melcrum’s Source for Communicators: www.melcrum.com

9. REFERENCES & RESOURCES
 Strategic Business and Competitive Intelligence Professionals
(linkedin.com group)
 http://blogs.hbr.org/ Harvard Business Review blogs
 http://www.fastcompany.com/ Fast Company Magazine online
 http://www.nist.gov/baldrige/ National Institute for Standards
and Technology

10. ORGANIZATIONS THAT CERTIFY
 American Society for Quality (ASQ)
http://asq.org/certification/
 International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI)
http://www.ispi.org/certification
 Project Management Institute (PMI)
http://www.pmi.org/Certification.aspx
 Society for Technical Communication (STC)
http://www.stc.org/education/stc-certification