Shannon du Plessis

Current

• Owner - Technical Writer/Documentation Consultant at TechWrite OnTime

Past

• Billing Director at Research and Planning Consultants
• Data Analyst at TASB

Education

• University of Houston

Recommended

5 people have recommended Shannon

Connections

52 connections

Industry

Writing and Editing

Websites

• My Company

Shannon du Plessis’s Summary

I am a problem solver, a geek-speak to end user plain English translator, and a thorough documenter.

Technical subject matter and complex processes don't daunt me.

I invite you to take advantage of my 20+ years of business and writing experience as we work together to complete your project on time and within budget.

My former life (when I worked for someone else) included heavy accounting and budgeting work that gradually morphed into documenting policies and procedures, and acting as lead user on several software conversion projects. I decided I liked writing much more than crunching numbers and have been writing for several years now.

I have experience in the following industries: software development, e-learning, real estate, health and fitness, business process management, medical, accounting and finance, travel, insurance, human resources, and state government.

I complete all projects on time and within budget. Please let me know if I can help you.

Shannon du Plessis’s Specialties:

I specialize in documentation (online help, user manuals), e-learning, and editing.

I am fluent in HTML and proficient in the use of the following software: RoboHelp, FrameMaker, Microsoft Office Professional ( Word, Excel, Access, Publisher, PowerPoint), Paint Shop Pro, Snag It, PaintShop Pro, Captivate, Sharepoint, FrontPage, Adobe Acrobat Pro, Quickbooks Pro

Shannon du Plessis’s Experience

• Owner - Technical Writer/Documentation Consultant

  TechWrite OnTime

  (Writing and Editing industry)

  November 1997 — Present (12 years 2 months)

  As a freelance technical writer I successfully provide documentation consulting and technical writing solutions such as online help, user manuals, e-learning, and editing for clients from my fully equipped home office near Austin, TX. I took the business full-time in 2004.

• Billing Director

  Research and Planning Consultants

  (Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Information Services industry)

  August 2003 — September 2004 (1 year 2 months)

  Responsible for monthly client billing and collections for medical bill review and research companies. Coordinated the development of and conversion to new combined billing system including specs development, supervision of programmer, testing, and preparation of data flow diagrams, user documentation, and data dictionary. Left position because my part-time technical writing company had grown to a full-time enterprise.

• Data Analyst

  TASB

  (Information Technology and Services industry)

  March 1991 — June 1992 (1 year 4 months)

  Worked with complex actuarial formulas to ensure proper funding of over $4 million unemployment compensation fund. As departmental "Power User," worked closely with programmers to develop new IBM AS/400-based funding program which required specs development, communication of complex actuarial formulas, and substantial testing. Work included heavy database and SQL experience. Left position to take some time off after the birth of my only child. Began part-time technical writing in 1997.

Shannon du Plessis’s Education

• University of Houston

  BBA , Finance , 1981 — 1984

  Entered university upon completion of junior year at Fort Worth Country Day School.

  Activities and Societies:

  Dean's List, Member Chi Omega (Order of the Owl scholarship award)

Additional Information

Shannon du Plessis’s Websites:

• My Company

Shannon du Plessis’s Interests:

My interests include volunteering, travel, scuba diving, reading, and above all, learning new things.

Shannon du Plessis’s Groups:

Content Management Professionals
HTML Writers Guild
Certified Technical Writer and Certified Editor - Brainbench
Chi Omega Alumna
University of Houston Alumna

•    University of Houston Bauer College of Business Alumni
•    Society for Technical Communication
•    Austin High-Tech
•    Writing Mafia
•    Austin Top Guns
•    Freelancers & Self-Employed Professionals
•    Technical Writer Forum
•    Technical Writer of Writers
•    Lone Writers (STC)
•    Software User Assistance

Shannon du Plessis’s Honors:

STC Award of Merit for online help
Team 2000 Pacesetter Award for Technical Documentation - Hart Information Services
Past Club President, Area Outstanding Toastmaster, Regional International Speech Contest winner, Able Toastmaster (ATM) – Toastmasters International
Who’s Who of American Women

Shannon du Plessis’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

• consulting offers
• expertise requests
• reference requests
• getting back in touch