Resume for Technical Writing positions, including work history at contracting, EMC, Microsoft, and Boeing; skills in documentation deliverables and tools, including PDFs, online help, FrameMaker, DITA/XML, and MadCap Flare

1. Kevin Otnes 425 478 7825 kevinot@hotmail.com
2116 12th Street
Anacortes, WA 98221
Objectives  Use writing, technical knowledge, research, and interviewing skills to provide
understandable documentation to users and support.
 Create appropriate content, including UI text, context help, online help, user guides,
readmes, reference guides, and technical notes.
 Tailor content for a wide range of audiences, including home and desktop users,
information workers, IT professionals, and developers.
Software Tools
& Publication
Skills
 Desktop publishing: Microsoft Word, Adobe FrameMaker, and XMetaL.
 Drawing and graphics: SketchUp (CAD), Visio, Paint, SnagIt, Photoshop, and Illustrator.
 Microsoft Office: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
 Online help: Windows Help, HTML Help, RoboHelp, WebWorks, Web Help, Doc-to-
Help, MadCap Flare (beginner), context help, and Web Help.
 PDF publication: Adobe FrameMaker, Acrobat and Distiller, to produce user guides,
technical notes, and PDF portfolios.
 XML and DITA: Structured Authoring: Minimalist Writing, XMetaL, SDL/TriSoft Content
Management System, and legacy document conversion from FrameMaker to XML.
 Localization: Experienced with writing content optimized for localization, such as
avoiding offensive terms, writing clearly and concisely, and avoiding verb forms such as
gerunds and passive voice for easy translation.
Technologies
& Product
Categories
 Windows Server backup, recovery, and disaster recovery
 Windows 7, 8.1 and 10 desktop
 Linux Mint desktop
 Clustering, replication, failover/high availability
 End-user applications, including mail, messaging, and social networks
 File, drive, and volume encryption
 Hardware device replacement and upgrading
 Home networking, including Ethernet cabling, wireless configuration, file and printer
sharing, and home servers
 New machine setup and user migration
 Password security
 SharePoint, Exchange, SQL Server, and Window Server data and file structures
 Virtual machines (VMWare, Hyper-V)
 Windows Embedded and mobile devices
Experience  Microsoft (Steyer Associates), Senior Technical Writer. 11/2015- 6/2016. Vendor
position, writing content for Windows Telemetry Security and Privacy team.
 EMC Corporation, Principal Technical Writer. 4/2006 to 2/2015. Wrote extensive user
guides, administration guides, and technical notes, for NetWorker and Avamar backup
and recovery products, for Windows Server, Exchange, and SharePoint. Led graphics
support team of four writers to provide graphics for 16 writers. Researched, proposed,
and obtained approval to purchase and set up a dedicated VMWare server exclusively
for Bellevue writing team. Laid off due to product team consolidation: Avamar and
NetWorker products merging into one unified backup and recovery product providing
both tape backup and disk-based backup. Eight writing positions were eliminated.
Utilized severance package to take paid time off from 2/15 to 11/15.
 Microsoft (Volt), Programmer Writer, 1/2004 – 4/2006. Wrote online help and
technical articles for Windows XP Embedded and Windows Mobile.
 Microsoft, Technical Writer, 6/1995 – 12/2003. Wrote online help and UI text for
Windows desktop users, Windows 95 through Windows XP; Internet Explorer;
NetMeeting; Outlook Express; Windows Messenger; MSN Mail, etc.

2. Kevin Otnes 425 478 7825 kevinot@hotmail.com Resume Page 2
 Microsoft (Sakson & Taylor), Technical Writer, 12/1994 – 6/1995. Wrote Windows 95
Help and Troubleshooters for various features and components.
 Care Computer, Traveling Software, Andrew Corporation, Technical Writer, 3/1993 –
12/1994.
 Boeing, Technical Writer, 4/1991 – 3/1993. Structures Testing Lab.
Formal
Education
 University of Washington, Certificate, Popular Fiction Writing, June 2005
 University of Washington, Certificate, Software Product Management, June 2001
 University of Washington, Certificate, Technical Writing and Editing, June 1990
 University of Washington, BA, Communications, June 1981
Corporate
Training
EMC:
 “Minimalism: Creating Information People Really Need,” Comtech, EMC Corporate
Training Center, Waltham Massachusetts
 Adobe Classroom in a Box: FrameMaker, Photoshop, Illustrator, Captivate, RoboHelp
 ERoom coordinator
 SharePoint and Exchange installation and setup
 Various team building and communicating classes
 WinWriter’s conference, Seattle, 2011
Microsoft:
 Interviewer training
 Personality Styles (based on Myers & Briggs)
 Precision Questioning and Precision Answering
Boeing:
 “Information Mapping® Seminar” (4 day course taught by Information Mapping Inc.
certified instructor)
 Structured Analysis, Data Analysis, Team Building
Publications  Authored two Windows 7 books, with procedures, conceptual topics, and numerous
network, computer, and peripheral drawings:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-
keywords=Kevin+Otnes:
 Sole author, “Windows 7 Made Simple,” Apress, 2011. 800 pages.
 Co-author “Getting Started with Windows 7,” Apress, 2009. Wrote 200 pages of 400
page book.
 Wrote technical articles and technical notes for EMC and Microsoft.
STC awards  Internet Explorer 4.0 Help: Won the Best of Show for all categories at International STC
competition. Was the showcase launch product for HTML Help. I was the primary
writer.
 Windows 95 Help: The Windows 95 Help won the Best of show in the International STC
competition. I was a contributor to the Help, including the content for Paint, WordPad,
MS-DOS properties, MS-DOS troubleshooter, Briefcase, and other components.
 Windows ME Help: Won Overall Best of Show in the International STC competition.
References Available upon request