Past Programs

James Garcia, is a project manager with extensive experience in the IT data application development industry. James's consulting expertise includes projects in small and large manufacturing, process automation, advertising, business financial applications, and custom project development.

James moved to the west coast in 1990 to catch the Silicon Valley wave. Some of his major accomplishments include deployment of packaged software with modifications and automated process interfaces in five locations including Penang, Malaysia and Sarawak, Malaysia on the island of Borneo. James was the SPOC (single point of contact) leading a team of 25+ professionals and consultants to successfully install, convert, train and execute major projects in these areas.

In the past 5 years, he has been Application Development Manager, Program Manager, and Contract Project Manager for three major companies in the Bay Area. He is best known for his take-charge attitude and ownership for all programs and projects he has led. James understands the importance of written documentation for many areas in project management. He is a member of PMI (Project Management Institute).

Susan C. Becker, Technical Writer and Online Help Developer

Susan (San Francisco chapter) has 18 years of experience as a technical communicator and online user assistance developer, working primarily as a contractor in software development for the financial services industry. She is President of the San Francisco chapter, a former Touchstone director, and a past winner in the competition. She has presented at the STC Annual Conference and local chapters.

Susan is currently on a contract at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC), working on the Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST). While GLAST will observe and measure cosmological events long past, Susan hopes to find a future in the world of rocket scientists.

Rolfe Dlugy-Hegwer, Technical Writer

Marie Highby, Technical Communication Certificate Program Coordinator, SJSU-Professional Development Center

Marie (Silicon Valley chapter) is President of the STC Silicon Valley Chapter. In charge of San Jose State University's Management Communication and Technical Writing program, she is also active as a corporate trainer and a coach, focusing on career development and entrepreneurial issues.

A futurist of long-standing as well as a professional member of the World Future Society, Highby recently presented "21st Century Communication Trends" to STC San Diego and co-presented "Offshoring Myths and Realities" at STC Sacramento. In 2003 she co-presented "Exploring Our Future: Technical Communication in the Year 2014" in Silicon Valley and Santa Cruz, at STC's annual conference in Dallas, and at Region 8's conference in Las Vegas. At the STC Conference last May, she presented a paper, "Offshoring: Strategies for Prevailing" and co-delivered a post-conference workshop, "Your Passion, Your Career, Your Future."

Joe Devney, Technical Writer

Joe (Berkeley chapter) has been a technical writer for nearly ten years, and is a senior member of STC. Currently he works as a senior technical writer/editor for Vodafone, the mobile telecommunications company. Before starting at Vodafone two years ago, he worked as a contractor, primarily in large Bay Area corporations.

Joe is President of the STC Berkeley chapter, and has acted as a technical communication competition judge. He is also editor of the Berkeley chapter's newsletter, the Ragged Left, and is planning a special issue on the technologies that technical communicators may be writing about in the next few years.

Cindy Kight, Technical Communicator

Cindy (Sacramento chapter) has worked as a technical writer, editor, and manager for more than ten years, working primarily for vertical-market software developers in the retail and insurance industries. She is currently working as a senior technical writer for a consulting company. She brings with her a diverse background that includes training, marketing, and running a non-profit literacy program. The demands of working for small corporations have provided opportunities to learn a wide variety of skills including online help, e-learning, and XML. She has presented locally on building relationships with SMEs, e-learning, and adding Flash demos to online help. She is President of the Sacramento Chapter of STC and formerly served in several positions with the San Gabriel Valley chapter.

Having survived six layoffs, three acquisitions, a merger, five managers, and the loss of her entire staff in a five-year period with one company, she has experienced first-hand the difficulties faced by many technical communicators today and can discuss survival strategies for dealing with a constantly changing environment.