An independent wordsmith, technical writer, and regularly published journalist contracting to businesses, institutions, and governments.  My clients range from individuals to governmental agencies; my projects span a gamut from simple fliers and brochures to complete suites of structured mainframe documentation and Web-based instructional materials.

My technical projects include building proposal and RFP responses; writing and editing Web content; documenting computer systems; crafting technical marketing materials; and writing a wide range of business documents for a diverse and demanding clientele.  I also frequently publish articles in popular and professional periodicals.  My self-syndicated food adventures column is in its 11th year and my feature stories have appeared in numerous regional and national publications.  My clients have included:

  • SoBran, Inc., Dayton, OH and Burtonsville, MD.  2008 to Present.  Currently contract as proposal and technical writer for this professional services company specializing in biomedical research, homeland security, logistics, and supply chain management.  Write, edit, and produce RFP and proposal responses, capabilities statements, press releases, Web content, and a range of technical marketing documents.
  • National Marine Manufacturer’s Association, Chicago, IL.  2007 to 2008.  Researched and wrote content for two major commercial Websites.  Wrote marketing materials, fishing content, and an encyclopedia of boating terms for the Discover Boating site (www.discoverboating.com).  I successfully completed the encyclopedia assignment in a greatly reduced amount of time. 
  • Recreation News, Managing Editor  2005 to 2008.  Edited this monthly travel and leisure newspaper reaching a quarter-million readers, primarily federal and corporate employees in the National Capital Region.  Worked with more than two dozen freelance writers and columnists, edited text, made advertising calls, coordinated edit with destination marketing organizations and advertising agencies, presented a weekly radio spot, and ensured that each issue met the publisher’s specifications.  Helped increase the paper’s baseline size and enabled the paper to expand into radio and Webcasting. 

  • Fleet Transit, Inc., Baltimore, MD.  Since 1995  Transportation and environmental remediation businesses.  Wrote marketing materials for remediation software.  Wrote corporate profile, proposals to transport Mobil Oil, Exxon, and Sunoco products. 

  • Winning Solutions, Fairfax, VA  Since 1996  Proposal specialists crafting responses to Federal government RFPs.  I wrote or edited portions of RFP responses for SETA, McLean, VA; Day & Zimmermann, Philadelphia; Covance Clinical and Periapproval Services, Radnor, PA; Titan, Annapolis Junction, MD; Bowhead, Lexington Park, MD; and Raytheon, Hanover and Landover, MD.
  • Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, MD.  1993 to 2005  Provide writing and editing services including building Web content and Web-based tutorials for Agency Internet and Intranet.  Tested and documented online database access procedures.  Edited clinical guidelines; established reporting systems.

  • CareFirst / Blue Cross Blue Shield / PKW, Owings Mills, MD, 1998 to 1999, 2005  Working as a part of PKW, provided a range of computer documentation services for analysts supporting the deployment of new systems in the Maryland and Washington DC companies.

  • Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC), Woodlawn, MD.  2003  Wrote and edited portions of Data Assessment and Verification (DAVE) Project for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

  • Booz Allen Hamilton / Technical Quality Management (TQM), Linthicum, MD.  2002 to 2003  Working as a part of TQM, provided editorial support to engineers.

  • Building Owners and Managers Institute, Arnold, MD.  2003 Edited and proofread environmental and regulatory training document.

  • Econometrica, Inc., Bethesda, MD 1998 to 2003  Contracted to this economic services provider on a range of proposal writing projects for responses to numerous federal RFPs.

  • Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Rockville, MD.  2002 to 2003  Working with an inhouse team, helped design and create content for a recruitment Website.

  • Discovery Channel Ducks, Baltimore MD.  2002  Amphibious tours of Baltimore and Inner Harbor.  Researched the tour route and the history of Baltimore; worked with professional comedians to build a tour script.  Created tutorial and exam for tour guides.
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  • Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, US Department of Health and Human Services, Woodlawn, MD.  (Formerly Health Care Financing Administration, HCFA)  1989 to 2001  Held four contracts including:  Producing a book to showcase communications channels (2001); documenting HCFA information system responses to Y2k (1996); documenting Litigation Support System; historian during litigation (1993); documenting Model204 databases (1989 through 1991).

  • GE Global Exchange Services, Gaithersburg, MD  2000  Researched, designed, and wrote initial drafts of a users' guide and other technical documentation to support development of an electronic data interchange (EDI).
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  • ROW Sciences (a subsidiary of Federal Data Corporation FDC), Rockville, MD.  1999  Prepared and edited responses to several different types of invitations to bid, RFPs, and proposals.  Revised and updated corporate resume and project description databases.

  • US Army Infantry School, Ft. Benning, GA, 1998  Researched, planned, and wrote a script for Infantry Branch Heritage recruiting video, produced by USAI-ETV.

  • ADC Apex, Columbia, MD 1998  Telecommunications and information technology.  Wrote proposal responses to commercial organizations including Sprint and Pele Phone, an Israeli telecommunications provider.

  • EVI, Inc., Columbia, MD  1998  Electronics engineers.  Provided a variety of technical marketing services for this electronics engineering firm.  Work included writing corporate profiles, Website content and design, and tracking RFP and SBIR opportunities.

  • Johns Hopkins Institutions, Baltimore, MD.  1997  Built Web-based software users' manual for an Oracle system used by Development and Alumni Relations.

  • Sylvan Learning Systems, Inc., Baltimore, MD. 1997  Documented two information systems and built online help using Doc-to-Help.

  • Federal Data Corporation (FDCT), Bethesda, MD 1997  Responded to an RFP from the National Institutes of Health for LAN/WAN equipment and services.

PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT
Reed Hellman Wordsmith, Professional Writer and Editor, 1988 to Present
Jack Dale Associates, Inc.  Energy Engineers, Vice President, 1981 to 1988
Howard County (MD) Board of Education, Teacher, 1980
Whitman Requardt Associates, Construction Inspector, 1979
Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Dredging Division, Hydrographic Engineering Associate, 1973 to 1978; Wetlands surveyor, 1972; Field Technician, 1965 to 1971

EDUCATION
Professional Training: Repurposing Documents for the Web, CAPCON, 2003; Writing Accessible Web Materials, CAPCON, 2002; Writing for the Web, Information Mapping, 1999.
Master of Sciences in Professional Writing, Towson University, 1991
Certification to Teach, University of Maryland Baltimore County, 1980
Bachelor of Arts in English, Towson State University, 1977