Sandra Simmons

Experience

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  Duke University

  Apr 1980 - Nov 1986

  Duke University – Sr. User Services Specialist/Ctr. for Acad. Computing Apr 1980-Nov 1986

  • Administered 150 IBM and AT&T microcomputers in campus study areas/laboratories, enforcing policy, scheduling special uses, establishing security measures, performing upgrades and diagnostics, hiring and supervising student helpers to assist; established new microcomputer facilities, coordinating all preparations from room renovations, cabling, and telephone, to purchase of furniture, equipment, and supplies.• Taught mainframe short computer courses to administrators, faculty, and students; handled all administrative aspects of short course program, including scheduling, advertising, and registration.• Wrote/edited all the Center's technical documentation, newsletter, and brochure; managed printing/publication.• Managed Center's technical library, hired/supervised 3-5 student helpers each semester, distributed documentation, and non-proprietary software, acquired texts and periodicals for lending/reference. Show less

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  EDS

  Jun 1987 - May 2008

  Electronic Data Systems (EDS), Account Team for US Airways Contract June 1987 – May 2008

  • Served as sole technical writer/editor; contributed to project planning and wrote technical process documents and other written deliverables for US Airways Procedures Manual, OCC Disaster Recovery Scenarios, Account Newsletter, Technical Work Order and Order to Cash procedures, IT Security support, etc.• Liaised between EDS and US Airways client as back-up EDS Director of Emergency Response Coordination/liaison for support of accident/incident response; assured definition & administration of EDS support services; conducted drills & on-site inspections; documented EDS process and deliverables.• Led the IT Security support effort for US Airways during America West’s acquisition; handled requests for IT applications access; served as mission liaison with Help Desk & business units; researched computer access problems caused by major staff attrition and found means to provide resolutions and grant access to systems and data.• Researched, wrote, and maintained comprehensive technical/business analyses for Support Level Descriptions to support IT Service Level Agreements; interviewed man¬agement, business unit, and support teams to gather application hardware/software, processes, roles, dependencies, risks, etc.• Performed as a principal in Order to Cash Process, assuring proper approvals/audit trail/set-up for client billing to ensure EDS revenue; met w/client & account management/personnel to resolve issues; proposed, implemented and documented new process; researched & corrected errors; ran weekly reports; administered Lotus Notes database application & interfaced w/programmers; trained new hires and backup staff.• Designed, implemented, and maintained Account Team Web site and Lotus Domino databases for account data/document repositories and change tracking. Show less

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  Technically Training.com/TTC Innovations

  Aug 2003 - Mar 2009

  Freelance Technical Writer

  Wrote instructor-led training manuals on a project-by-project basis for www.technicallytraining.com client Bank of America (Approx: Aug 2003-Nnv 2004 and Aug 2008-Mar 2009) - used contractual statement of work as guide for training segment duration and general curriculum content on bank products and appropriate bank associate procedures; read and extracted appropriate data from multiple existing documents; used formal automated template for document format; organized and wrote explanatory content for instructors and for students, including review and test questions; posted drafts and completed documents to online document repository; all work performed from home office. Show less

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  Freelance Technical Writer, Web Writer, Marketing Writer

  Oct 2008 - Oct 2011

  Corporate, Fulltime, Part Time, Contract, or Project-based Writer/Editor

  Available for fulltime, contract, or project work as technical writer/editor or writing generalist. Willing to try any writing project .

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  Ron Hazelton Productions

  Nov 2008 - Oct 2011

  Freelance Technical Writer

  • Wrote "how-to" home improvement projects for www.RonHazelton.com (Nov 2008 to Oct 2011) - samples available. Used Adobe PE7 to view and edit video segments; wrote overview, headlines, captions, and steps for "how to" documents within strict naming parameters and size; included SEO; cut video clips into segments for project steps; captured representative still picture for each step; FTPed files to client's remote server. In earlier client mission, also supplied missing steps/information and posted projects to client Web site using CMS (Content Management System) Show less

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  CLEARLINK

  Aug 2009 - Oct 2009

  Freelance Web Content Writer

  Wrote marketing/Web copy for www.ClearLink.com for their clients at deals.servicebundles.com, usdirect.com, and ushomesecurity.com (approx. 8/1/2009 - 10/1/2009) - produced original 300 to 500 word articles as SEO/marketing/Web copy without byline on topics as instructed by ClearLink.

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  TEKsystems

  Oct 2009 - Apr 2010

  TEKsystems Contract Technical Writer/Business Analyst at client Wachovia Bank Oct 2009 - Apr 2010

  Performed six-month contract with Tek Systems for their client Wachovia Bank's IT/Network Security Department (Oct 2009 to April 2010) - wrote/edited operations documents, project management deliverables, training manual; conducted conference calls and computer-based meetings; produced minutes and requirements; used document templates to adhere to format and content requirements; tracked document iterations on computerized team site/repository; telecommuted at least two days per week

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  The Giggle Guide

  Oct 2010 - Oct 2011

  Freelance Writer - Children's Product Marketing

  Researched and wrote children's marketing newsletter/Web articles for The Giggle Guide, a Web marketing site for manufacturers and retailers of juvenile products. Ongoing

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  ViveVita

  Oct 2010 - Oct 2011

  Freelance Writer for Children's Products (Projects)

  Wrote inner packaging/marketing materials and promotional articles for www.ViveVita.com products

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  Fix-It-Yourself

  Oct 2010 - May 2011

  Freelance Blog Writer

  Performed physical projects and wrote 500-word articles and tool-tips (providing photographs, diagrams, and comments) on "how-to" home improvement blogs for www.FixItYourself.com .

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  The Clearing House

  Feb 2011 - Sept 2017

  Corporate Real Estate Management Specialist

  Writing/editing documentation and performing all other tasks required for Corporate Real Estate Management division (began as 8-month contract employee and then FTE for 6 years)• Participated as a lead/team member in CREM division’s missions across five geographically dispersed properties and four component departments (Real Estate, Physical Security, Facilities Engineering, and Facilities Maintenance).• Provided oversight as CREM compliance/governance liaison for self-audit and in response to findings from TCH Risk Management, internal/external Audit, Vendor Management, and Information Security, proposing and ensuring CREM division/departmental best practices and subsequent compliance with documented policies and procedures.• Operated as sole technical writer/editor for CREM internal/external communications, formal policies and procedures, awareness emails and bulletins, "how to" documents, and project and business office documentation to ensure accuracy, awareness, and appropriate record retention. Supported CREM director in all projects that involved written communication within the department or company-wide, including communications with vendors.• Promoted awareness and planning for business continuity/emergency preparedness policies and procedures which were customized for each different property as required; ensured they were conveyed to TCH audience on a timely and recurrent basis; produced floor plans, fire drill bulletins, and related documentation. • Used MS Office tools, particularly MS Word, Visio, and Excel, along with Adobe Acrobat, graphic packages, MS Project, etc., to produce documentation, process flow diagrams, work plans, floor plans, block and stacking diagrams for office and cubicle management and planning, etc. Used Archer for response to risk/audit findings either as remediation plans or risk acceptance justification. Used Ariba for request and tracking of Legal contract approvals. Used ProLease for space management Show less

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  Apex Systems

  Mar 2018 - Jan 2019

  Apex Systems – Sr. Tech Writer (remote) at client Wells Fargo & Co Mar 2018 – Jan 2019

  Writing/analysis of recovery and resolution planning processes and documentation with bank HR RRP, generally required of all domestic banks (internally and by various Federal agencies) to retain employees and overcome issues of business and financial stress up to and including bankruptcy and FDIC receivership. Tools include Wdesk repository, MS Word, Skype, Outlook, etc.

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  Apex Systems

  Sept 2019 - Feb 2020

  Apex Systems – Sr. Tech Writer (remote) at client Wells Fargo & Co Sep 2019 – Feb 2020

  Writing and editing technical procedures in MS Word and creating/editing Visio flowcharts in bank Database Asset Class – Operational Health group (DBACO OHT). SME rough drafts required 1) a first pass for compliance/best practices review for use of appropriate templates, format, grammar, organization, and clarity, 2) a second pass for content review that did not necessarily require content familiarity/expertise and resulted in many comments, questions, and suggestions for information enhancement, addition of pertinent screen captures with automated numbering of captions and a table of figures, and 3) creation/enhancement of Visio flowcharts. Some procedures had extreme time priorities. Tools included MS Word, Visio, Skype, Outlook, SharePoint, STAMP, laptop computer/multiple monitors, and video/conference telephone lines. This work was performed with minimal communication and interaction from management/peers. Show less

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  TEKsystems

  Mar 2020 - Aug 2020

  TEK Systems – Sr. Tech Writer (remote) at client Reynolds American Int. Tobacco Mar 2020 – Aug 2020

  Researching/writing procedures and Visio process flows in client’s marketing department; interviewing and collaborating with SMEs. Contract was to be performed on campus, but the onset of Covid 19 pandemic ultimately required everyone to work remotely. Tools included MS Word, Visio, Microsoft Teams, Outlook, SharePoint, laptop computer/multiple monitors, and video/conference telephone lines.

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  Apex Systems

  Aug 2020 - Apr 2021

  Apex Systems – Sr. Tech Writer (remote) at client Wells Fargo & Co Aug 2020 – April 2021

  Writing/editing procedures in bank Compensation and Performance Decisions environment; attending working group meetings, interviewing SMEs. Tools included MS Word, Visio, Skype, Outlook, SharePoint, laptop computer/multiple monitors, and conference telephone lines. This work was performed remotely, with minimal communication and interaction with SMEs, management, or peers.

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  Apex Systems

  Nov 2021 - Dec 2023

  Writing/editing/reviewing FCB and SVB technical documentation for audit remediation in Bank's IT Asset Management area within IT Business Office. Consolidated and harmonized procedural IT asset management (software/hardware) documents; responsible for creating and/or comparing existing procedures, noting differences, making recommendations to consolidate, gaining consensus, and creating final abbreviated audit versions. Wrote/edited procedures with audit prep team, other writers/editors, subject matter experts, and bank managers/approvers in meetings and reviews. Worked extensively with Hardware Asset Manager on multiple fully detailed HAM procedures. Tools included MS Word, Visio, Teams, Outlook, Excel spreadsheet/trackers, PowerPoint, SharePoint, laptop computer/multiple monitors, and frequent video conferring and messaging. Show less Writing and editing internal compliance documentation: procedures, process flows, playbooks, policies in collaboration with Subject Matter Experts; adhering to established templates and styles; tracking/scheduling monthly assignments in SharePoint and publishing them in the correct Cisco repository; reviewing other writers’ work. Tools included MS Word, Visio, Webex, Outlook, Excel spreadsheet/trackers, PowerPoint, SharePoint, CPPC, Doc Central, Doc Exchange, laptop computer/multiple monitors, and frequent video conferencing and messaging. Show less

  • Apex Systems – Sr. Tech Writer (remote) at client First Citizens Bank and SVB

    Jul 2023 - Dec 2023

  • Apex Systems – Sr. Tech Writer/Editor (remote) at client Cisco Systems Nov 2021 – Jun 2023

    Nov 2021 - Jun 2023