Kurt Kremer

Current

• Contract writer (Self-employed)
• Manager of Technical Publishing at Aisle7

Past

• Senior Technical Writer, Project Manager at Medicalogic (now GE Medical Systems)
• Co-founder, Senior Scribe at Mare Crisium
• Senior Technical Writer at Mentor Graphics

• Technical Writer at Mentor Graphics
• Systems Administrator at Mentor Graphics
• Formative employment, character building samples (Sole Proprietorship)

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Education

• Portland State University

Recommended

2 people have recommended Kurt

Connections

56 connections

Industry

Computer Software

Kurt Kremer’s Summary

Kurt Kremer’s Specialties:

Content management and production, team leadership, information architecture, process development, technical writing, customer engagements

Kurt Kremer’s Experience

• Contract writer

  Self-employed

  (Self-Employed; Myself Only; Writing and Editing industry)

  2006 — Present (3 years)

  Wrote functional requirements for a Web and email-based social networking service. Created user documentation (guides, quick reference, help) and edited technical specifications for the student transfer system for a major metropolitan school district.

• Manager of Technical Publishing

  Aisle7

  (Computer Software industry)

  June 2000 — Present (9 years 2 months)

  Aisle7 (formerly Healthnotes) creates kiosk and Web-based health and food information marketing and learning solutions for retail grocers, pharmacies, and others. Over the years my staff has fluctuated from 1-6 people, including contractors.
  - Developed publishing workflows for a new in-house platform. Managed ongoing demo product development and all content concept relationships. Planned and edited CMS and workflow documentation.
  - Project owner for the selection of a 3rd-party content management system to replace an in-house XML-based CMS (we ultimately chose to develop a .NET-based solution in-house).
  - Led the analysis and integration of content metadata into the new CMS (including extensive health condition, drug, supplement, food and recipe content).
  - Managed the support of CMS users through documentation and consultation.
  - Responsible for all content management and production.
  - Primary contact for Web customers in determining content integration solutions.

• Senior Technical Writer, Project Manager

  Medicalogic (now GE Medical Systems)

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

  1997 — 2000 (3 years)

  MedicaLogic made Windows and Internet-based electronic medical records (EMR) software for clinicians.
  - Led an eight-person team in creating an extensive Windows help system for clinic-based EMR software. The audience ranged from technical implementers to medical office staff. Also a co-designer and a contributing editor and writer for the project.
  This help system received warm praise from customers and won first place at the 2000 Society for Technical Communications regional and International competitions.
  - Planned the development and release for all books, online help, and training materials.
  - Led electronic and hardcopy production for all books. Developed the company’s PDF publishing process.

• Co-founder, Senior Scribe

  Mare Crisium

  (Public Company; 1-10 employees; Computer Games industry)

  1996 — 2000 (4 years)

  Mare Crisium developed computer games and custom business solutions.
  - Co-designed a self-help legal aid services Web site. Wrote the user guide for updating the site.
  - Developed an extensive online help system and paper player’s guide for the commercial computer game Stars!. Designed and edited an HTML-based strategy game guide authored by customers.
  - Designed in-game information UI for the sequel to Stars!.
  - Created and managed extensive content for the company Web site and marketing demos for the Stars! sequel.

• Senior Technical Writer

  Mentor Graphics

  (Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; Computer Software industry)

  1993 — 1997 (4 years)

  - Planned and led the development of manuals, tutorials, and online help for cross-platform workflow management tools and electronic design automation (EDA) plotting software.
  - Developed self-paced and instructor-led customer “training for human beings” (customer quote).
  - Planned and coordinated software beta and usability testing.
  - Standardized documentation and beta program procedures for ISO certification (achieved in 1996).
  - Received a corporate award for outstanding product development skills.

• Technical Writer

  Mentor Graphics

  (Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; Computer Software industry)

  1990 — 1993 (3 years)

  - Planned, designed, and developed manuals and online help for system administration and software management.
  - Optimized a documentation set by eliminating 2000 pages of redundant information and turning static concepts into a “cookbook.”
  - Documented the design of the corporate fiber optic network.

• Systems Administrator

  Mentor Graphics

  (Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; Computer Software industry)

  1988 — 1990 (2 years)

  Wrote a procedural manual on large network backups. Edited an electronic interface design standards reference and an internal newsletter.

• Formative employment, character building samples

  Sole Proprietorship

  (Sole Proprietorship; Myself Only; Philanthropy industry)

  1981 — 1988 (7 years)

  - Computer Operator, Portland State University (mind-blowingly dull, but helped me grasp the lingo and make job connections)
  - Maid/Laundry Truck Driver, Yellowstone Park (Curt Gowdy meets Richard Braughtigan meets Barry Lopez, with score by Neil Young)
  - Caretaker, gentleman farm (hay bales and horse manure, blackberry annihilation and water-pipe winterization)

Kurt Kremer’s Education

• Portland State University

  Focus on Professional Writing, Anthropology, Literature

  - 184 credits toward Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts
  - Edited, designed, published, and sold two collections of student writing.
  - Completed seven graduate-level writing and literature courses, including two led by Ursula K. Le Guin and Molly Gloss.

Additional Information

Kurt Kremer’s Honors:

Society for Technical Communications (STC), 2000
- Distinguished Technical Communication (help category), International Online Communications Competition
- Distinguished Technical Communication (help category), Willamette Valley chapter 22nd annual Regional Competition