Membership Spotlight:
Helen Cheung

by Melody Brumis

The East Bay STC Chapter is known as the friendly chapter. What does that mean? It means you get to meet new people and network with them at every chapter event. It also means we're all interested in one another, both professionally and personally.

In this column you'll get to know more about one of our members in each issue of the DMV.

This month I had the opportunity to get to know Helen Cheung more during an email interview.

Helen Cheung

The East Bay Chapter has an enthusiastic core of members that wouldn't miss a meeting or party. Helen is one of those members, having served as VP of Programs, and currently as President-Elect. She made a career switch into technical communication three years ago, and has enjoyed every minute of it. In this interview, Helen talks about what she enjoys doing both on and off the job.

How did you get into technical communication? How long have you been in it?
I fell into technical writing by accident. I was working at Kaiser Permanente’s Information Technology department as a Programmer Analyst, and I would volunteer to help document processes for other programmers. I found that I liked writing and creating internal guides. I started taking technical communication courses at UC Berkeley Extension and enjoyed the classes that I took. It made me consider a career change, which I did in 2004. I got my Certificate in Technical Communication from UC Berkeley Extension and switched careers. I’m glad I made the transition, and I’m enjoying what I do.

What kind of work do you do? Enjoy doing?
I am currently working with the Department of Defense producing developer documentation and online help systems and end user guides for naval applications. I enjoy creating something, whether online or print, that helps users accomplish a task. It’s rewarding to see the results of all my planning and designing.

What would you be doing if not technical communication?
An elementary school teacher. My nieces and nephews inspire me.

What brought you to STC? To the East Bay Chapter?
I became a member of STC in January of 2005 a few months after I transitioned into the technical communication industry. I was excited about my new career, and I wanted to make the most of my STC membership. I joined the EBSTC chapter because my very first technical writing teacher at UC Berkeley, Gwaltney Mountford, mentioned it was the “friendly chapter.” My goal for joining EBSTC was to network with fellow writers and exchange ideas, but most importantly I wanted to learn how to become a better technical communicator. I went to my first EBSTC chapter meeting and everyone was very nice. I knew that I joined the right chapter.

As the President Elect, what have you learned about the chapter?
We have a great chapter and a dedicated leadership team. The members are friendly and everyone is passionate about our profession. Going to an EBSTC meeting is energizing because I get the opportunity to network with a room full of talented communicators.

What is the biggest challenge for technical communicators?
I think the biggest challenge is keeping up with the latest trends in technical communication whether it is technology or methodology. Also, I think another challenge we face is getting people to understand the value technical communicators bring to the table. Being a good technical communicator is an art and a skill that I think many non-technical communicators take for granted.

What do you do in your spare time?
I love to cook and try new recipes. I recently took a cooking class at “Kitchen on Fire” in North Berkeley and had a chance to learn and cook some delicious dishes.

What is your favorite book? What is the last book you read?
I don’t have a favorite but the one that stands out the most is the last book I read which was “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini. It is a moving story and beautifully written.

What is your favorite movie?
I have many favorites! The one that comes to mind is a foreign film directed by Kar Wai Wong. “In the Mood for Love” is a haunting love story. The film has beautiful cinematography and outstanding performances by the actors.

What was your best vacation?
My favorite vacation was a trip to Maui a few years ago. The most memorable experience on the trip was snorkeling with a family of dolphins right off the Napili Bay. It was an amazing experience and something you can never do in the Bay Area!

What is one thing that not too may people know about you?
I make a killer cheesecake.

If you'd like to be in the "Spotlight", contact me at 707-396-0794 or email mbrumis@aol.com and I'll arrange to conduct an email interview with you.