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What is a SME bird and why would we stalk them? Usually referred to simply as SMEs (subject matter experts), SME birds are the major source of information for technical writers. Most often found in the guise of engineers, they can be elusive, overworked, uncommunicative, or down right difficult. In this interactive session, Susan Becker and Gwaltney Mountford will share with you tips for getting what you need, when you need it, from SME birds in a variety of environments.
Gwaltney Mountford and Susan C. Becker
Susan C. Becker has worked as a technical communicator for over 20 years. She has experience in writing, editing, document design, and information architecture, as well as teaching, instructional design, and usability testing. Her clients have included LeapFrog, Z-Meters, the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC), Charles Schwab Bank, and recently the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) on a project to improve documentation for poll workers. Susan is a member of the Usability Professionals' Association, a senior member of STC, and past president of the San Francisco chapter. She has presented at STC Annual Conferences and at local and regional events.
Gwaltney Mountford has over 25 years of experience as a technical communicator focusing on solving the communication needs of end-users. She and her husband, Carl, own Mountford Group Inc., a consulting company specializing in developing custom Web-based business and data warehouse applications. An STC Associate Fellow, she is a past president of the East Bay chapter, a former director of Touchstone and the Region 8 Conference, and was on the Society's Nominating Committee. She, too, has presented at STC Annual Conferences and at local and regional events.
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