BRIAN VAN WATSON SKILLS

Brian Van Watson

145 Boulder Drive

Clayton, NC 27520

Phone: 919-585-6048

Cell: 973-760-2696

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn Profile

:

http://www.linkedin.com/in/brianvanwatson

BRIAN VAN WATSON

SKILLS

Operating Systems:

UNIX Sun Solaris, Linux, Windows 7/XP, MVS/TSO, Z/OS

MS Windows Small Business Server 2003

Help Authoring: RoboHelp HTML, FrameMaker XML, Madcap Flare

Text Editors: MS Word, FrameMaker, Adobe Acrobat Professional, Desktop Author, TeX/LaTeX

Web Design: Dreamweaver, Nvu, MS FrontPage, Visual Studio .Net, Visual Web Developer

Source Control:

PVCS, CVS, SharePoint, Collabnet Subversion

Graphics: Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, MS Visio

Training Tool:

MacroMedia Authorware, Adobe Captivate

Programming (Working

Knowledge of Basics):

C, C#, Perl, Perl DBI, ASP.NET, VB.NET, ADO.NET, HTML, CSS, XSL, JCL

Transact-SQL, and UNIX Korn Shell, PHP, VBA, XML, Java

Database Systems:

MS SQL Server, MS Access (VBA), MySQL,

Web Servers:

Microsoft

IIS

and

Apache

Content Management:

Drupal, WordPress

Standard Software and

Documentation Processes:

Capability Maturity Model (CMM), Unified Modeling Language (UML), Information

Mapping (Technical Writing Methodology)

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

CREDIT SUISSE, MORRISVILLE, NC- (RTP)

5/2010-10/2010

CONSULTANT TECHNICAL WRITER/REPORT ANALYST

Responsibilities



Developed technical email notification documentation, business requirements, user guides, developer

documentation and Excel spreadsheet reports in support of this international investment bank’s

Web-based, CRM application. Worked with Project Managers, QA Analysts and Application Developers to

gather requirements and create an Excel-based, notification inventory reporting utility, using Excel VBA and

advanced Excel spreadsheet lookup, validation and data table functions. Read C# code and ran Sybase

database queries to gather information for technical documentation.



Performed system and black box testing on various application modules including revenue/expense

financial modules, database stored procedures and user interface functionality. Modified and rewrote test

cases.



Responsible for writing training materials for developers and organizing them on Sharepoint.



Restructured

system,

developer and business requirements documentation on Sharepoint.



Technologies used: C#, Excel VBA, Rapid SQL, Sybase, MS Word, SharePoint, HP Quality Center

WORDSRU, GREAT BRAXTED, ENGLAND (WORK REMOTELY-FREELANCE)

3/2009-PRESENT

INDEPENDENT TECHNICAL COPY EDITOR/WRITER

Responsibilities



Consult with authors and subject matter experts to copyedit and rewrite computer software-related and

science-related technical book manuscripts and journal articles for this Australian publishing/editorial

service company. Also write and edit Web content, direct mail marketing material and training materials for

educational institutions, companies and international science journals. Work on writing projects for major,

Fortune 500, financial services companies, scholarly journals and book publishing companies.



Provide technical copy editing for authors writing a Java programming book about neural networks.

Compile and test example Java code using a proprietary API and programming environment. Line edit and

consult with authors on structure, style and organization of manuscripts.



Assist writers in the development of materials; ensure that material is consistent in its logical order and

structure and that all illustrations accurately reflect the idea captured in the text



Ensure that manuscripts meet organizational and educational style requirements according to the American

Psychological Association

APA), MLA, and the Chicago Manual style requirements



Advise writers on the appropriate use of graphics, wording of headings, figure and table captions, page

breaks, index and glossary entries



Provide whatever levels of edit are necessary



Technologies used: Java, MS Word, MS Visio, DesktopAuthor (for editing e-books), WordPress,

TeX/LaTeX .

FIRST CITIZENS BANK, RALEIGH, NC

11/2008-3/2009

CONSULTANT TECHNICAL WRITER/ DATA ANALYST

Responsibilities



Designed and wrote application inventory documentation in support of a company-wide RACF re-design

project. Also, wrote RACF Reverse Engineering Guide, a document which detailed the data gathering

processes and procedures. This documentation process involved running pre-written data extraction batch

jobs on the mainframe, transferring data to the PC and running pre-written MS Access database queries to

generate Excel reports



Worked with Senior Data Analyst and mainframe RACF Administrators in gathering, transforming,

analyzing and documenting application resource data related to specific CICS applications running on the

bank’s Z/OS mainframe platform.



Wrote Excel VBA scripts to transform MS Excel reports to xml for presentation purposes. Also wrote MS

Word VBA scripts to automate the production of documentation



Technologies used: MS Access, MS Excel, MS Word, MS Visio, Z/OS, RACF, XML, XSLT, Visual Basic

for Applications (VBA), Adobe Captivate.

WORDSRU, GREAT BRAXTED, ENGLAND (WORK REMOTELY)

4/2008-11/2008

INDEPENDENT TECHNICAL WRITER/ COPY EDITOR

Responsibilities



Consult with authors and subject matter experts to copyedit and rewrite computer software-related and

science-related technical book manuscripts and journal articles for this Australian, publishing company.

Also write and edit Web content and direct mail marketing material for educational institutions, companies

and international science journals



Assist writers in the development of materials; ensure that material is consistent in its logical order and

structure



Ensure that manuscripts meet organizational and educational style requirements according to the American

Psychological Association

APA), MLA and Chicago Manual style requirements



Advise writers on the appropriate use of graphics, wording of headings, figure and table captions, page

breaks, index and glossary entries



Provide whatever levels of edit are necessary



Technologies used: MS Word, MS Visio, Adobe Acrobat Professional, DesktopAuthor (for editing e-books).

MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD., JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY

8/2007-10/2007

TECHNICAL WRITER- INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT

Responsibilities



Researched database security industry standards and best practices for this international Japanese bank

Worked with Management and technical staff to gather information for database security policy proposals



Designed document templates and interviewed staff and management for document inputs



Worked with Security professionals and Database leads to develop an enterprise database security plan

and Executive Summary-Position Paper



Assisted Management in the preparation of written responses to internal audits

REUTERS AMERICA, LTD., NEW YORK, NEW YORK

11/2006-6/2007

TECHNICAL WRITER- CONSULTANT

Responsibilities



Planned, researched, and wrote technical design document for the deployment of a market data, web

services initiative



Worked with Web Services developers, project managers and operations to document web services APIs,

System architecture, system installation manuals and developer design documents



Researched and wrote web services component installation guides and data warehouse documentation in

support of Operations



Gathered server and networking information in order to illustrate and edit system infrastructure and network

drawings to be used by Operations



Designed documentation templates for developers and operations staff

MISYS BANKING SYSTEMS, INC., NY, NY

1/2005-5/2006

TECHNICAL WRITER/CONSULTANT

Responsibilities



Planned, researched, and wrote API Online Help aimed at client developers who want to extend this

financial trading system targeted at large investment banks. Researched and wrote online help for Straight-

Through-Processing and Collateral Management, and system security functionality. Interfaced with

Business Analysts, Developers and Project management. Used Adobe Captivate to develop online

documentation/training modules.



Configured, executed and tested API source code



Researched and wrote release notes and placed them on Sharepoint.



Participated in usability sessions regarding system interface design



Technologies used: Adobe RoboHelp HTML, FrameMaker, C, C++, MS SQL Server, Sharepoint, Adobe

Captivate

JPMORGAN CHASE, NY, NY

6/2004-1/2005

TECHNICAL WRITER/CONSULTANT

Responsibilities



Planned, researched, and wrote a UNIX integration guide for an enterprise, single sign-on (SSO), Intranet

security system. The guide is aimed at UNIX System Administrators and Web Developers who wish to

integrate their Intranet sites and applications with the single sign-on system. Initially, examined existing

documentation, identified the project's scope. Was the single point of contact for project and documentation

needs



Prepared a Statement of Work and a Project Milestone plan



Outlined and developed the documentation by working with Project Management, Development and

Enterprise Security



Performed Documentation Gap Analysis to understand state of current operation documentation. Plan and

write Operational Run Book for single-sign-on security



Created UML Deployment Diagrams to illustrate dependencies among components in various data centers.



Created a Lotus Notes-based Documentation Index



Technologies: MS Word, Visio, UNIX Sun Solaris, Apache Web Server, Lotus Notes, Sharepoint.

BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI, LTD. , JERSEY CITY, NJ

9/2002 – 11/2004

Technical Writer

Responsibilities

Documentation:



Created cost and time-efficient documentation solutions for the bank’s IT department. Specialized in

researching and implementing database, and search engine-driven documentation solutions.



Standardized technical documentation for this bank’s IT department



Researched and wrote Mainframe Operation Policies and Procedures Guide for IBM System

Programmers using standard documentation procedures and methods



Researched, proposed and coordinated the implementation of a cost-effective online training solution for

members of the bank’s Change Management department



Implemented documentation requirements and version control procedures



Worked with Project Managers to create UML, use case documentation



Used basic knowledge of OOP, XML, Visual Basic, and databases to design and write technical design

and specification documents, Programmer’s Reference Guides, API documentation, System

Administration guides, and Data Warehouse documentation



Documented architecture of the bank’s Web Services initiates, Tandem and Change Management bank

processes and money payment systems



Captured Change Management procedures and policies in Change Management Guidelines document for

Internal and Federal Auditors. Proposed and created an online documentation search facility for the

Bank’s IT department so that technical staff could access documentation quicker



Worked independently as the single point of contact for the IT department’s documentation needs



Developed training materials using Adobe FrameMaker, Adobe RoboHelp HTML

Documentation Database Programming and Search Engine Configuration:



Created Web-based database with keyword search utility for Programmers to access documentation

regarding source files and interfaces for the Bank’s Cash Management System. Created a small,

data-driven, Change Management Intranet site featuring document search functionality using MS Index Server.

Technologies used: Microsoft’s IIS Web Server, MS SQL Server, MS Access, MS Index Server, HTML,

VB Script, Visual Basic.Net, ADO.Net, ASP.Net, Classic ADO.

MICROMUSE INCORPORATED, NY, NY

3/2001 – 9/2001

Technical Writer

Responsibilities



Updated and wrote System Administration Guide and release notes for this network management solution

provider



Documented installation, configuration, use, and management of Netcool/Precision, a network

management software application that monitors network devices. Assisted the front-end design team in

designing a graphical user interface based on modern usability concepts

MERRILL LYNCH & COMPANY, NY, NY

8/2000 – 2/2001

Senior Technical Writer-Consultant

Responsibilities



Conceptualized and developed Operation Guides and System Run Book targeted at UNIX System

Administrators and Oracle Database Administrators (DBAs)



Documented key administrative features and infrastructure of Merrill Lynch’s Global Payment System

(GPS), a financial transaction application

INAUTIX TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED, JERSEY CITY, NJ

9/1999 – 5/2000

Senior Technical Writer

Responsibilities



Wrote and edited data communication/networking documentation aimed at Mainframe Operators, and

UNIX System Administrators for the technology division of DLJdirect



Planned and developed Operation/systems guides, User guides; architectural/design diagrams and

database documentation. Gained excellent knowledge of online trading system infrastructure and financial

concepts



Participated in Perl, System Protocol, Capability Maturity Model, and UML classes

MERRILL LYNCH & COMPANY, NY, NY

5/1998 – 8/1999

Technical Writer

Responsibilities



Used knowledge of HTML and Web design to develop systems documentation, quick reference guides,

and training materials for Merrill Lynch's problem management, data transmission applications. Created

Remedy AR user guide and training materials



Used Knowledge of Data Communications to document troubleshooting procedures for Operator's data

transmission guide. Read COBOL source code to gather information for technical guide



Documented Data Center development infrastructure and architecture as well as data migration

applications. Created Web-based Data Center standards documentation aimed at the firm's Application

Engineers



Used knowledge of SQL to perform product support, and application development for Merrill Lynch's

premier Help Desk application, Remedy



Programmed the business logic behind a change management application for the Help Desk (Request for

Additions and Modifications)

REUTERS/SAILFISH SYSTEMS LTD. , NY, NY

11/1996 – 5/1998

Technical Writer/Project Leader

Responsibilities



Used knowledge of Unix System Administration to produce system administration and configuration guides

for this company's financial Risk Management application. Gained valuable knowledge of risk

management and basic financial concepts



Read C code and UNIX shell scripts to collect documentation material and to edit coding standards

documentation



Created training courses aimed at Technical Engineers and end users. Acted as Project Leader on

documenting back-end error messages and troubleshooting procedures. Participated in developing style

guide and project schedules



Worked with Development team in designing user-friendly interface for configuration module. Edited GUI

and back-end error messages



Technologies used: FrameMaker, MS Word, CVS, C, C++

C&C DATA PROCESSING, INC., MILWAUKEE, WI.

2/1991 – 11/1996

Technical Writer/Independent Consultant

Responsibilities

•

Researched, wrote and Edited Technical Marketing material for this small software company.

• Interviewed technical staff to produce white papers, executive profiles, press releases, fact sheets and product

sheets

Other Writing-Related Employment:

• Newark Star-Ledger/Dorfman Feature Service, Springfield, NJ: Local Reporter

(Stringer) 1/1987- 2/1991.

• CMP Publications, Inc., Manhasset, NY: Assistant Business/Technology

Editor-InformationWeek, CommunicationsWeek: 3/1984-10/1986. CMP Publications Award for

Editorial Excellence: Best News Story-1986.

EDUCATION

B.A., English/Mass Communications (Technical Writing), Bloomfield College- 1984.

Graduate- Diploma, Legal Studies (Business and Finance Concentration), New York University

ABA-Approved-1992.

Certificate-Financial Accounting, New York Institute of Finance- 2010.

Statistics, Empirical Research Methods, and Technical Document Design- Online coursework, Carnegie Mellon

University, 2008.

Spoken Language/Translation Training

English (Expert/Fluent), Spanish (Proficient- Speak/Read/ Write), Portuguese

(Passive-Listen/Read)

Spanish Language and Technical Translation Studies: ABC Language Exchange, NYC, 2004-2006.

Writing/Editing Internships

CMP Publications Inc. Editorial Intern Training Program (InformationWeek,

CommunicationsWeek, Computer Retail News) – 1984.

Professional Development

Technical Training:

Database Developer SQL Boot Camp, Exactitcity, Inc. -2008

Microsoft’s SQL Server 2000 Database Design and Implementation Training Course-2004

Microsoft’s Developing Web-based Applications with Visual Basic.NET and Visual C#.NET Training Course

ASP.Net, ADO.Net, Visual Basic.Net, XML, SQL Server, Database Design/Project Management Training-

MindLeaders Training-Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Training -2003

Introduction to Perl Programming, Course work, iNautix Technologies’ Training and Development

Capability Maturity Model Course, iNautix Technologies, Inc. -1999

Data Communications and LANs, Merrill Lynch Systems Professional Development-Merrill Lynch Professional

Development-1999

UNIX System Administration (AT&T and Berkley versions) course, New York University-1998

Certification:

Certificate, Software Quality Assurance-Learning Tree International, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi sponsored.2002

Certificate, Information Mapping: Developing Procedures, Policies, and Documentation- Reuters Sailfish –

Systems-1997