John Garison

Current

Independent consultant at DocuMentor
Associate Fellow at Society for Technical Communication (STC)

Past

Specifications Architect at Tele Atlas
Web Content Producer at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
Information Engineering Project Manager at Hewlett-Packard

Documentation Manager at IDe
Director of Communications at Help University, Inc.
Documentation Manager at Centra Software
Documentation Manager at Interchange
Documentation Manager at Keyfile Corporation
Director Documentation Services at DDI
Publications Development Manager at Fact International Ltd
Documentation Supervisor at Wang Laboratories, Inc.
Technical Documentation Specialist at TASC
Technical Writer at Digital Equipment Corporation
Technical Writer at Interactive Data Corporation

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Education

Tulane University

Recommended

18 people have recommended John

Connections

412 connections

Industry

Writing and Editing

Websites

My Website

John Garison’s Summary

● Innovative, business-savvy, broadly experienced senior technical communicator.
● Specialist in developing online documentation for software solutions and web-based applications.
● Superb writer with recognized skills in creating detailed process and product descriptions.
● Adept at working in high-pressure environments, cultivating information sources throughout organizations, using prototypes, designing UI elements, and delivering polished content on time.
● Comprehensive knowledge of content development tools and software development life cycle.
● Highly skilled in writing to both expert (API/SDK) and non-technical audiences.
● Solid experience in enterprise-wide systems as well as department-level applications.
● Highly regarded as sole writer and as team leader.
● Successful project manager for documentation and translation projects.
● Excellent public speaker with stand-up classroom instruction, technical conference sessions, and trade show experience.
● International background.

John Garison’s Specialties:

● Network management
● Business process and portfolio management
● eLearning
● GIS
● Operating systems
● Programming languages
● Marketing communications
● Health care
● Conference planning and management
● Online publishing
● Translation management

John Garison’s Experience

Independent consultant

DocuMentor

(Writing and Editing industry)

June 2006 — Present (3 years 2 months)

Recent contracts include:
● Analog Devices, Inc. – As information architect, researched requirements and developed solution that provided significant market advantage by vastly simplifying and improving access to over 6,000 pages of documentation through the creative use of linked schematics and web-centric design.
● Black Duck Software – Developed online help for initial launch of application that analyzes software products to identify and detail all usage of encryption algorithms and produces reports required by National Security Administration for export certification.
Associate Fellow

Society for Technical Communication (STC)

(Writing and Editing industry)

1990 — Present (19 years)
Specifications Architect

Tele Atlas

(Public Company; TA6; Information Technology and Services industry)

July 2008 — December 2008 (6 months)

•Tele Atlas is a leading provider of GIS data and was recently purchased by TomTom. Developed technical specifications and UML class model for global geographical information systems database to allow single-sourced production of standard and custom electronic map products.
Web Content Producer

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

(Non-Profit; Hospital & Health Care industry)

August 2007 — July 2008 (1 year)

• Wrote educational, support, and marketing content for web site of nationally recognized research and treatment cancer center.
• Created innovative online forms and page designs and significantly improved search engine rankings for important programs.
• Worked with research scientists and doctors to communicate research results, treatment information, and cancer center information for the general public and professional audiences.
• Implemented intranets for various scientific areas including clinical trials, immune monitoring lab, etc.
Information Engineering Project Manager

Hewlett-Packard

(Public Company; HPQ; Computer Networking industry)

February 2005 — July 2006 (1 year 6 months)

• Principal writer for HP’s flagship enterprise-wide network management applications suite, Network Node Manager (NNM).
• Principal writer for OpenView Performance Insight (OVPI) which performs trend analysis and predicts potential network failures.
• Documented API interfaces.
• Wrote procedural manuals describing information flow for network center operations personnel.
• Researched and wrote technical user guides for planning and setup (including Oracle database and server installation) and root cause analysis.
• Initiated the use of web-based demos to communicate project ideas among dispersed team.
Documentation Manager

IDe

(Privately Held; Computer Software industry)

January 1999 — February 2005 (6 years 2 months)

• Started as sole writer and then built and led documentation team for first-generation product portfolio and business practices management application.
• Produced API instructions for connecting Excel and MS Project to IDweb application.
• Wrote documentation describing XML-based UI customization.
• Created context sensitive intranet-based documentation for procedures and concepts, installation, and role-based usage of product modules.
• Devised innovative method to integrate user assistance information with the product, and to invoke the product from Help.
• Led cross-functional development team for IDpartner software module.
• Led effort to translate the application as well as documentation, developed application lexicon, managed extraction and reintegration of UI text components.
• Spent three weeks in India training offshore development team on product functionality.
• Wrote initial documentation to illustrate conceptual approach and product usage during demo phase, and contributed to UI design.
• Developed browser-based demos of key product features and mini-movies to illustrate complex operations.
• Mandated strong focus on clarity and professional style for audience of business management professionals from project leaders to C-level executives.
Director of Communications

Help University, Inc.

(Professional Training & Coaching industry)

1995 — 1998 (3 years)

• Produced, developed, organized, and led technical training conferences for online communications professionals throughout US and in Australia.
• Designed and wrote brochures, posters, and mailers which were our primary marketing vehicles.
• Determined conference focus, arranged and negotiated leading industry session presenters and keynote speakers.
• Worked with speakers to target and refine presentation content.
Documentation Manager

Centra Software

(Public Company; CTRA; Computer Software industry)

1996 — 1997 (1 year)

• Developed one of the very first JavaScript-powered online help systems created in HTML.
• Initiated use of web-based threaded discussion groups to communicate with end users.
• Part of team that defined product scope, developed functionality, and designed the user interface.
• Developed internal and external documentation, designed help systems.
• Provided support for product installation and customization.
• Documentation included print and online quick reference material and detailed instruction guides.
Documentation Manager

Interchange

(Privately Held; Information Technology and Services industry)

1994 — 1996 (2 years)

• Hired and led writing team in developing support information for commercial online service.
• Designed and led user trials of UI navigation, product usage, and end user instructions.
• Developed on-service conceptual and instructional documentation for general public.
• Developed internal process and procedure documents for content producers.
Documentation Manager

Keyfile Corporation

(Computer Software industry)

1991 — 1994 (3 years)

• As sole writer, wrote technical and marketing materials for image management and groupware system.
• Developed very early online help system running on Windows 3.1 using Doc-to-Help.
• Developed “Walk Through” guide that provided overview of application components as well as detailed documentation both for print and online usage.
• Hired and managed team of consultants.
Director Documentation Services

DDI

(Privately Held; Human Resources industry)

1989 — 1991 (2 years)

• Managed up to 65 contractors in a variety of industries, applications, and development situations.
• Developed and taught training seminars.
• Hands-on development of interactive demo for training users in color print production application.
• Estimated projects, set schedules, and administered documentation and translation projects.
Publications Development Manager

Fact International Ltd

(Computer Software industry)

1987 — 1989 (2 years)

Fact International, located in Auckland, New Zealand, developed an international-class MRP product that integrated manufacturing and process control with the other elements of the business - accounting, inventory control, and overall management. I was recruited by Fact's General Manager to move to New Zealand and set up a documentation department. At Fact, I started the documentation group, wrote manuals, hired and trained writers, and implemented a sophisticated minicomputer-based online documentation system. In addition to documentation, I managed training development and delivery in New Zealand and the US and built a highly respected organization that directly contributed to increased corporate sales.
Documentation Supervisor

Wang Laboratories, Inc.

(Public Company; WANG; Computer Software industry)

1982 — 1987 (5 years)

When I joined Wang in 1982, they were a billion dollar company and at the forefront of the newly emerging market for word processors. Half their revenue came from word processing, and I managed the group that documented most of these systems. During my time at Wang, I:

* Managed publications development for major projects and supervised a group of eight writers
* Developed, administered, and taught an in-house technical writing training program (20 years later, 50% of the graduates are still working as documentation professionals)
* Developed departmental policies and procedures
* Managed internal corporate projects including translations and distribution
* Consulted for a developing electronic publishing project
*Acted as documentation project leader for Zurich-based bank/financial sales effort
Technical Documentation Specialist

TASC

(Public Company; 51-200 employees; Computer Software industry)

1980 — 1982 (2 years)

While at TASC I designed and wrote user and administration manuals for PropertyMaster - a property management accounting system that ran on Data General Nova systems.
Technical Writer

Digital Equipment Corporation

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; Computer Software industry)

1976 — 1980 (4 years)

At DEC, I completed a program that developed and trained technical writers. I wrote a number of highly technical documents, including programmer and systems manuals for PDP-11 and PDP-8 operating systems, several programming languages, and various systems utilities. In addition, I served as project leader on an innovative Pascal-to-Assembler programming language, and served on an internal task force that maintained documentation style guides and standards throughout the company.
Technical Writer

Interactive Data Corporation

(Public Company; 51-200 employees; Computer Software industry)

1974 — 1975 (1 year)

Interactive Data, then a separate company eventually acquired by Chase Manhattan and then Pearson Financial, continues to provide access to massive amounts of financial, stock market, and commodities trading information. At IDC, I wrote user reference manuals for financial services products and documented databases, query and reporting procedures. When I did a contract job there 20 years later, they were still using the sample portfolio I had set up!

John Garison’s Education

Tulane University

BA , Philosophy, English , 1968 — 1972

Additional Information

John Garison’s Websites:

My Website

John Garison’s Interests:

Downhill skier, living the dream in Vermont! , Taught technical communications for 18 years: , Adjunct professor at:, Harvard Extension School, UMASS Lowell, Attended high school in Europe:, American International School, AHS, the Hague, Netherlands, Notre Dame International School, NDI, Rome, Italy, I have a 1984 Alfa Romeo Spider, and two Welsh corgis - one Pembroke and one Cardigan.

John Garison’s Groups:

Society for Technical Communication, STC, Associate Fellow, STC Nominating Committee, Best of Show Judge, IOCC, International Online Communications Competition, Stem manager for 50th annual conference, Member of Boston, Northern New England, and Vermont chapters

National Ski Patrol