Technical writing and ghost writing

West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA

Serving the world business community internationally, nationally, regionally and locally since 1991

Founded and operated by Elizabeth Lesse Taylor

Technical Publications and Documentation Specialist and Consultant

36 years experience in business enterprise

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WE ARE GREEN

We work at home around the world

We do small jobs in a big way!

short durations; ongoing support; virtual transparency

working seamlessly in harmony with contract service firm

and consulting company standard business practices since 1988

We offer our services and specialties through any reputable contract service firm or consulting company you choose - or -

we will put you in contact with our own registered firms

email us for our list of subscribing contract services firms and consulting companies - duopubs@aol.com

place this statement in your subject field: DUO'S REGISTERED FIRM LIST

if you are a contract services firm, consulting company or temporary help agency, and you want to get your contact information onto our LIST, email your specifics, and we will place you immediately

please provide an active contact person

We are proud of our references and extensive work history

as a company

and as independent, standalone publications and documentation professionals

Feel comfortable

timeslip efficiency - weekly or cumulatively

documented accountability - know what we are doing and when

Built-in liability insurance and quality assurance

through the contract service firm, consulting company, or temporary help agency

Signed non-disclosure agreements

including for all current staff and others professionals working a project

Pay for worked hours only

not time at the desk

we pay all current DUO staff ourselves

We work

in any weather

in any time zone around the world

to any specification or standard

We are small job, long-term specialists

you do your job and make money

we stay close by for as long as you like

no standby billing or on-call fees

put some free space between deliverables

enjoy a free built-in help desk feature for ongoing clients

Do you have unique documentation requirements that don't fit the mold?

try us

We do:

computer manuals to user guides

help screens to indexes

task-intensive how-to documents to histories

creative works, industrial works

ghost writing in any form

We provide transparent support

no onsite interruptions or accommodations

you won't have to explain us to anyone

no desk or chair requirement - office space is expensive

no parking space needed - save on real estate

no intrusion - we don't call you unless you want us to

no specific work hours or dress code

no traveling or commuting; no paper, just files - save the planet - WE ARE GREEN

We provide outside management for inside jobs

ask about the science of virtual management

give us a few contractors or direct workers, and we will run the show

We want to save our world resources, and we believe you do too

phone and internet interviews only

Work out the payment details with your selected contract service firm - or

choose a firm from our own list

we work for them

and support your efforts directly

We specialize in documentation supporting requirements such as:

compliance products for DoD, SOX, ISO, HIPAA, MiFID, FSA

task-intensive documents specifically matched to mission statements

process detailing including policies, procedures, help screen systems as well as training material

software operation, troubleshooting, and more

DUO also offers detailed publications and documentation consulting expertise

if you want to know, contact us through a contract service firm, consulting company or temporary help agency of your choice or contact us via email, and we will suggest a firm that is registered with us.

To visit our sampling of 74 companies and organizations served individually and as DUO, click HERE

To review my resume, click HERE

For more detailed information and some interesting options, click on logo

Services, Articles, Samples, FAQ and More

Information USABILITY and FINDABILITY

NO DIRECT CONTRACTS THANK YOU.

How simple is that?

Select a contract service firm, consulting company or temporary help agency of your own

or select one from our list; either way, email us at:

duopubs@aol.com

Sampling of 74 Companies and

Institutions Served (individually and as DUO)

Note: Staff member names (in parentheses) are provided for accountability purposes

AIG GMD, Wilmington, DE, Conduct Gap Analysis, current state/future state involving automated insurance tools for international division (Liz)

SEI, Oaks, PA and London, England, Document the operations side of a new global wealth platform comprising straight-through processing of all financial instruments in a world-wide market; FSA controls and procedures documentation (Liz)

Genesis Health Systems, Kennett Square, PA, SOX, Sarbanes-Oxley consulting and IT/IS documentation services for SOX audits and internal compliances (Liz)

DuPont Company, Wilmington, DE, SOX, Sarbanes-Oxley consulting and IT/IS documentation services for SOX audits and internal compliances (Liz)

IKON Office Solutions, Inc., Malvern, PA, SOX, On-line ordering system front and back-end documentation; Document-critical development sessions and revise, existing specifications; Sarbanes-Oxley consulting and IT/IS documentation services for SOX audits and internal compliances; document field-support meetings, perform help desk tasks as well as customer services and data forms creation (Liz, Greg, Mike, Lin, Beth)

Spring Mill Fire Company, Spring Mill, PA, engineer a first-class website; develop and implement 9/11 presentation for company and association personnel and their guests (Mike)

Computer Services Corporation (CSC), Newark, DE, Provide guidance document (prototype quality manual) for division preparing for ISO 9001, 9000-3 and ISO 9004-2 combined certification (Greg, Mike)

Computer Nuggets, Florida, Provide help screens and written manual for time scheduling software (Beth, Liz)

TEKsystems, Plymouth Meeting, PA, Provide quality assurance research, writing and editing for telecommunications systems installation company seeking direct client, as well as, TL 9000 certification; provide consulting services (Beth, Greg)

Wawa, Inc., Wawa, PA, Provide executive-level consulting and discrete training; produce manuals for all software systems; provide rank-and-file training on an as-need basis; document help desk (Liz)

National Foam, Lionville, PA, Write and illustrate parts catalogs for Aramco ME-1734, all-terrain, 6-wheel-drive foam pumper for strategic airports; provide digital photography services; provide quality manual support for ISO 9001 certification (Greg, Beth)

MAX Control Systems, Lansdale, PA, Update power plant, process control technical manuals (Greg, Liz)

PartyLand International, Plymouth Meeting, PA, Provide writing and editing support to party-products retail corporate offices and stores (Beth, Lin, Liz)

Kash 'N' Gold, Ronconkoma, NY and Hong Kong, China, Write and illustrate user manuals for Harley Davidson & Schwinn scooters including state-of-the-art booster-tail and electric-drive models for J.C. Penneys (Mike, Greg)

Delaware Auto Auction, Smyrna, DE, Provide consulting, digital photography, advertising & marketing products for automobile auction and sales (Beth, Lin)

Datametrics, Alexandria, VA, Upgrade existing manual on capacity planning software; edit, update additional documentation (Liz)

General Instrument Corp., Horsham, PA, Write and improve sets of disaster-recovery manuals; index existing broadband manuals; edit (Liz)

ESCO/Datron, Aston, PA, Update existing technical manuals for aircraft arresting gear; edit and illustrate (Greg, Liz)

OASYS Group, Inc., Naperville, IL, Create new infrastructure for proprietary website addressing programmable numerical controllers (Greg, Liz)

MBNA, America, Newark, DE, Provide database information on auto industry products for insurance group; perform research functions; assist on online screen development (Liz, Greg)

Zitel Corporation, Fremont, CA, Produce manuals and online help for mainframe capacity planning software; responsible for award-winning designs (Liz)

Performance & Modeling, Inc., Cherry Hill, NJ, Produce manuals & online help for capacity planning software product (Liz)

DecisionOne, Frazer, PA, Develop field-support manuals for equipment repair contract items; design process logic diagrams; develop presentations (Greg, Liz, Beth, Lin)

Baja Software Systems, West Chester, PA, Write manuals involving cellular phone billing system software (Greg, Beth)

Corporate Management Solutions, Norwalk, CT, Write user manuals for investment software (Liz)

Artemis International, Wayne, PA, and Slough, United Kingdom (UK), Provide user and admin guides; develop tutorials for project management software (Liz)

Weyerhaeuser Paper Co., Valley Forge, PA, Produce task-intensive modular manuals for paper inventory software; assist in the development and staffing of permanent documentation support group (Greg, Liz)

Lucas Management Systems, Wayne, PA, and Slough, United Kingdom (UK), Provide user and admin manuals for project management software; develop tutorials (Liz)

SubMicron Systems, Inc., Allentown, PA, Create technical user, maintenance and installation manuals for silicon wafer cleaning equipment array; develop client documentation and field support manuals (Greg, Liz)

E. J. Sprague Co., North East, MD, Create, design and maintain website pages for supplier of janitorial goods and services (Beth)

Infante Enterprises, Glen Mills, PA, Provide documentation to support state-of-the-art, document-intensive retail products and services group; develop no-smoking calendar documentation (Greg, Beth, Lin)

Graphic Packaging Corp., Wayne, PA, Produce control room project management documentation (Greg)

Strategic Weather Systems, Wayne, PA, Produce multiple technical manuals for weather forecasting software (Liz, Greg, Beth)

Bell Atlantic Business Systems Services, Inc., Frazer, PA, Produce operations, field and training manuals for desktop-to-mainframe systems contract repair group originally providing Sorbus services; provide usability evaluation support for products (Greg, Liz, Beth, Lin)

SPD Technologies, Philadelphia, PA, Develop illustrated parts breakdowns and parts listing for shipboard circuit breaker arrays (Greg)

George Zeller, CPA, Lansdowne, PA, Perform consulting and training in arrays of software and equipment products for CPA (Liz)

OMSF, The Band, Glen Mills, PA, Produce cover art and write CD jacket promotional material for speed metal band (Beth, Lin)

AA Cooling, Bristol, PA, Create, design & maintain website pages for supplier of air conditioning and radiator repair services (Beth)

Aft Deck Restaurant, North East, MD, Provide PC consulting; create promotional documents for river-side restaurant; provide digital photography services (Liz, Greg, Beth, Lin)

Chemical Leaman Tank Lines, Lionville, PA, Produce formal corporate policies and procedures for national chemical and food products tank truck company (Greg, Liz)

North East River Yacht Club, North East, MD, Produce promotional and entertainment products for yacht club (Greg, Liz, Beth, Lin)

Empire Abrasive Equipment Company, Langhorne, PA, Perform software array onsite training in a variety of office-level products (Liz)

North American Window & Door Company, West Chester, PA, Create task-intensive desktop manuals for accounting workstation (Liz)

Patrick J. Schuler Company, Schwanksville, PA, Provide promotional and advertising material for home-level carpentry service (Beth, Lin)

Little Frankie's Fabulous Fleamarket, Smyrna, DE, Create sales and marketing brochures, leaflets and cartooning services for road-side fleamarket; develop Frankie logo (Greg, Beth, Lin)

Mixed Media Works, Blue Bell, PA, Produce software training and orientation material for on-CD delivery (Liz)

Chubb Institute, Swarthmore, PA, Provide software training manuals for trainers in a variety of products/courses (Liz)

Day One Software, Wayne, PA, Create multiple manuals in support of real estate software package array (Greg, Liz)

Foamink Technologies, West Chester, PA, Write manuals in support of environmentally safe printing ink technology; provide all illustrations and on-site sketch art (Greg, Liz)

R&R Sales, Quakertown, PA, Provide promotional and advertising material to fruit and vegetable retailer (Greg, Beth)

Fighting Back, Paoli, PA, Provide software array training for physical therapy organization (Liz)

Busy B Cleaning, Glen Riddle, PA, Provide promotional and advertising material for home cleaning business (Beth, Lin)

InteRRide, Picscataway, NJ, Write internet & hardcopy user manuals plus provide online help for public and client portions of international limousine service company (Liz)

Dollar Financial Group, Berwyn, PA, Write task-intensive, user manuals for check-cashing workstations (Beth, Liz)

Vertol Helicopters, Morton, PA, Produce aircraft models for presentations (Greg)

Vertol/Boeing, Ridley Park, PA, Produce illustrations and presentations for Audio Visual Arts group (Greg)

Boeing Helicopters, Essington, PA, Produce presentations for program offices (Greg)

SPRET, Inc., Baltimore, MD, Produce full-color art presentations of pewter belt buckles (Greg)

Martin Marietta Corporation, Essex, MD, Produce maintenance requirement cards (MRCs) for guided missile cruisers (Greg)

Philadelphia Magazine, Philadelphia, PA, Perform duties as a reporter and writer (Liz)

Sperry Corporation, Blue Bell, PA, Provide isometric illustrations of water treatment equipment and sites (Greg)

Roy F. Weston, Environmental Engineers, West Chester, PA, Produce illustrations to support environmental reports (Greg)

General Electric, Burlington, VT, Provide isometric illustrations and parts breakdowns for weapons systems (Greg)

General Electric, Syracuse, NY, Develop Illustrated Parts Breakdowns (art and part lists) for radar and sonar systems (Greg)

General Electric, Fort Washington, PA, Produce manuals for field operations and headquarters units (Desert Storm) (Greg)

Betz Environmental Engineering, Plymouth Meeting, PA, Produce isometric illustrations for environmental systems (Greg)

Sleighton School, Delaware County, PA, Produce cartoons and other art for brochures; run community services group (Liz)

M&M Mars Candy Company, Cleveland, TN, Produce training, repair and operations manuals (art and text) for candy wrapping systems (Greg)

All American Engineering, Newark, DE, Produce technical manuals (art and text) for aircraft arresting gears; attend all in-process reviews (Greg)

Sun Company, Radnor, PA, Produce executive-level presentations for top company echelon personnel (Greg)

Sun Information Services Company, Radnor, PA, Produce executive-level presentations for software development group; provide internal communications consulting; provide 60 full-color cartoon rewards for leading United Way contributors; provide fine arts consulting to Administrative Services Department; provide Administrative Services consulting (Liz, Greg)

ELTPR Company, Downingtown, PA, Provide graphics support for Internal Communications consultant; provide consulting services including the development of a bronze statue for leading executive (Liz, Greg)

IDEAS, Inc., Philadelphia, PA, Provide illustrations and final graphics for marine advertising and public relations company; attend national boat shows; produce Women-in-Boating magazine (Greg, Liz)

Select Clients, Provide a variety of ghost-written documents from novels to white papers (Liz, Greg, Mike, Beth and Lin)

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Resume

Elizabeth Lesse Taylor

Publications & Documentation Specialist and Consultant

SUMMARY:

Thirty-six years overall experience evolved through general business, technical training, technical editing, technical writing, comprehensive technical publication production, consulting, help systems development, consulting in compliance for SOX, HIPPA, MiFID and FSA, as well as other international securities efforts and the 17-year ownership of DUO Publications & Documentation R&D of West Chester, PA. All these have combined to produce an individual with a multifaceted approach to the complex world of Information Handling. Facets include:

- A unique approach to conventional problems and situations
- An independent involvement in group efforts to the betterment of the group
- Unfettered by typical corporate distractions

PLATFORMS DOCUMENTED:

DEC VAX/VMS; IBM DOS/PC systems, Windows (3.x, 95, 98 NT, CE, 2000, ME, XP, 2003, VISTA); UNIX systems (HP 10.X AND 11.X, NCR/ATT MPRAS, DIGITAL, NUMAQ, SCO Unixware, SIEMENS Reliant 5.44 and 5.45, Sequent DYNIX, Solaris SPARC); Web-based platforms developed in various software, including Open Source.

BUSINESS THRUST DOCUMENTED:

PC/Mainframe training; On-line help systems for Windows 3x – Server 2008, as well as cross-platform browser help systems for the WEB; Business process, policies and procedures across all channels for various companies; Environmental systems; Real Estate appraisal system; Task Tracking system; GIS system; Software evaluation; Imaging software; Accounting software (personal and professional); Cable (broadband) software for billing and services; Retail convenience store systems including POS systems, Price Book and HRIS; Decision Support Systems; Executive Information Systems; Pharmaceutical control system; Automated Wafer cleaning processes; Security monitoring systems; Weather forecasting; Paper products production; Website documentation; Client/Server documentation; Process control for utility companies; Graphics design systems; Printing ink (aqueous); Quality Assurance for telecom; Stock options systems; Transportation booking system on the Internet; Facilities Management software; Help Desk monitoring and information system; Bakery Production and Distribution system; Sarbanes-Oxley tracking and process documentation, Back-Office securities investment and management system, gap analysis of current state to future state and the inherent gaps between for both business and IT efforts.

Project Responsibilities:

Responsibilities have varied from management/lead position on business process and control projects, full documentation (user and administrator manuals, as well as on-line help) to specific portions of a project. Responsibilities have also varied from full responsibility for all documentation as part of a full-compliance effort for IT departments, including full development of documents, controls and test scripts, to specific responsibilities for only the documentation preparation and presentation. I have updated existing manuals, updated training documentation in print and Authorware, added release notes, added engineering changes, created screen captures and call-outs, converted manuals to online systems and online systems to manuals; converted manuals from older software versions and added changes, as necessary. I have, in conjunction with the software engineers and database administrators, developed full life-cycle documentation for major mainframe, PC-based and Web-based software systems. I have managed the entire documentation process for formal and informal policies and procedures for major IT departments, including gap analysis, and have also developed and written several Quality Manuals in expectation of ISO 9001/9002 certification. I have created business reports, including flow, organizational and timeline charts, and tracked projects on specific software for business changes/advances. I have managed up to nine people and have been part of a team under management. To this, I add 17 years of leadership in DUO.


Software Used:

MS Office including, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio and Access; Adobe FrameMaker, PhotoShop, Exchange and Acrobat; Ventura; RoboHelp, RoboInfo, RoboDemo, and Doc-to-Help; PC Anywhere; PaintShop Pro; Screen Shot, FrontPage; Picture IT; Macromedia’s Flash and Freehand; Quark Express; Documentum; SharePoint; finDNA, Quartz, TLM, BottomLine; and Bloomberg Online.

EXPERIENCE (1992 to present - for more, refer to List of Companies on homepage):

5/19/2008 to 7/11/2008:   Global Management Division (International) of AIG, Senior Business Analyst
Tasked by COO to research four critical business areas to determine current state and desired future state, identify the gaps and provide high-level overview of the necessary processes and systems to close each gap.

Interviewed various stakeholders to determine pain points; Created multi-country/region surveys for Business, IT and Finance personnel to respond (Survey Monkey) and correlated for current state to desired future state. Also provided a snapshot of current system usage and requirements, requests and wishes in the IT spectrum in 20 different countries across the globe.
Prepared four report/white papers on current vs. future state to identify gaps and provided recommendations embodied in a phased path to implementation including immediate next steps through to completion of full future state for processes, software implementation and future project consideration. Combined AIG’s exigent policies on new software and requirements for software to reach their own “gold standard” with requirements of the project to find the simplest method to reach industry best practices.

10/30/2005 to 5/16/2008:   SEI Investments, Oaks, PA. Lead Documentation Specialist for Back-Office Documentation of Operations Guides/Help System for global platform development effort

Developed the documentation plan, and templates (Operations Department) for a platform development effort that will move this leader in providing outsourced investment business solutions firmly into place as a major player in the global market. Worked with Operations personnel, development teams and SMEs to translate the vast development effort into task-based guides for the Operations department that also contain the appropriate information to assure compliance with regulatory standards throughout the world, in the securities and trust arena. Assisted and mentored four technical writers and simultaneously produced required documentation for my 17 assigned service tracks. Also was a member of the Framework Controls team to develop a consistent and compact approach to platform controls (including Key Controls, other audit requirements, legal requirements and operations needs and requirements) to meet the regulatory requirements of a US-based company in a global securities and investment milieu. Developed and managed the Controls Database for this effort. Created 156 control process documents, including basic control and multiple processes under each control to meet SEC, MiFID and FSA standards and requirements.

1/28/2005 to 10/28/2005: Genesis HealthCare (GHC), Kennett Square, PA, Sarbanes-Oxley Consultant

Managed the documentation portion of a successful IS SOX effort for this eldercare and rehabilitation provider. Created 27 process documents, 6 guidelines and several procedures to begin implementation. Worked in conjunction with CobIT guidelines to create process controls. Created test scripts for independent testers and managed portions of the testing process, under the direction of the Vice President of Operations for the IS department. Completed testing on two processes due to lack of personnel during a critical project point. Managed the “Gap Template” which included all errors/problems/gaps found in testing and review. Worked with KPMG auditors to answer questions and provide documentation updates, as required. Acted as documentation consultant to all departmental units attempting to create sub-process/procedure documents in support of SOX effort. Developed continuity flow to assist GHC in ongoing years requiring audits.

11/2004 to 1/25/2005:  DuPont, Wilmington, PA, Sarbanes-Oxley Documentation Auditor

Reviewed/edited/enhanced documentation standing as evidence for Control Points established for the IT department of DuPont for 65 software systems, specifying areas needing immediate remediation to meet SOX standards. Participated as Documentation Lead in audit sessions with Price Waterhouse auditors on individual software systems (Hyperion, SAP, Fixed Asset, etc.). Managed two junior technical writers to quickly provide remedial documentation, either by creating actual documentation or locating existing documentation (in the form of screen captures, or manuals/guides) that served as required evidence.

7/2004 to 11/2004: IKON Office Solutions, Great Valley, PA, Business (Sarbanes-Oxley) Documentation Consultant


Reviewed existing documentation for Marketing (e-Channel) group to determine the gaps that would be discovered in a SOX review. Created/updated documents to minimize possibility of SOX auditors locating and noting gaps in upcoming audit. Developed template for processes (Word) and finalized template for appropriate flow shapes (VISIO). Met with management and developed white paper on how SOX documentation requirements should be handled on an ongoing basis.

2/2004 to 7/2004: IKON Office Solutions, Great Valley, PA, Business (Sarbanes-Oxley) Writer

Reviewed existing reports and report documentation for Supply Chain, in light of Sarbanes-Oxley requirements and client plan to develop Data Warehouse for reporting for “Future State.” Reviewed management, financial and 7-district reports to attempt to find common denominators and combine existing; melded 900+ reports into fewer than 60 reports that could be customized per district. At the same time, total emphasis on SOX requirements was mandating over 100 new reports at all levels of the Supply Chain. Phases included: Discovery, Specifications and Requirements documents, and User documentation.

10/2003 to 1/2004: Brandywine School District, Claymont, DE, Technical Writer

Converted over 100 NCR forms to electronic formats, including Adobe Acrobat, MS Word form-fill format and HTML for school district.

3/2001 to 9/2003: IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS, Great Valley, PA, Software/Internet Writer


Developed user manual and cross-platform help products for dual Internet sites. Also acted as Business Analyst for Web Solutions Team, specifically for investigation/decision/development of new platform for web-based software to tie into ORACLE platform for ordering/customer service.

1988 to Current: DUO PUBLICATIONS AND DOCUMENTATION R&D, West Chester, PA Owner and Principal,
Provided documentation support to companies throughout the world, including written guides and on-line help systems.

4/96 to 2004: Motorola, Horsham, PA, Technical Writer, Trainer, referred to as “Invisible Commodity”

(As contracted)  Provided technical manual support and help products for broadband cable equipment and services; produced disaster recovery and environmental health and safety manuals. Created templates for FrameMaker and training in RoboHelp 2000 and FrameMaker 5.5 for technical documentation staff.

1/92 to 2004: Wawa, Inc., Wawa, PA, Documentation Specialist (preferred vendor)

(As contracted)  Developed company-wide publications and documentation consulting and production for retail convenience store corporate headquarters. Projects included, but were not limited to, DSS system; EIS system; POS scanning system (Back Office and Price Book modules), Warehouse inventory supply system (Price and Inventory modules); Facilities Management software, customized specifically for client; Help Desk monitoring and information system; Security systems with off-site Central Station; Real Estate Task Tracking system; Real Estate GIS System; Bakery Production and Distribution system.

Prior to 1992: Consult list of clients on homepage.

EDUCATION:

Temple University
BA, English, 1972