Membership Spotlight:
Linda Cunningham

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 bimonthly issue of the DMV.

Today we're turning the spotlight on Linda Cunningham. Read on and see what happens when Mom won't let you have guitar lessons.

(Editor's note: This interview was conducted in January, 2006, while the DMV was not being published.)

How did you get into technical communication? How long have you been in it? When I was in graduate school working on my MS in Biochemistry, I tutored chemistry to supplement my $300/month pay as a TA. So I've been communicating technical material since I was in graduate school.

What kind of work do you do? Enjoy doing? I enjoy training customers on complex scientific instruments and writing manuals that are easy to understand about those instruments.

What would you be doing if not technical communication? Actually, I started out as a "lab rat" and after about 20 years of writing with a marker on test tubes I had a keen desire to do more with words. So technical writing is my second career.

What brought you to STC? To the East Bay Chapter? This past summer I started working in Walnut Creek as a technical writer for Varian, Inc. Since I am new to the area, and somewhat new to technical writing, I was very happy when my supervisor told me about STC and suggested I begin attending meetings.

As a new member, what have you learned about our chapter? It is a very, very friendly group. I am impressed with the motivation of the current president.

What is the biggest challenge for technical communicators? For me, it's communicating complex scientific and engineering information in a manner that someone who is not a native English speaker, but very talented scientist, can understand.

What do you do in your spare time? SODUKO. I am currently taking classes in art composition and design, and in golf. I have a ticket for "Around the World in 80 Days" for Friday. Next week I'm taking a class in healthy and fast crock pot dishes, and I am going to see the Chinese New Year Parade.

What is your favorite book? What is the last book you read?
The Dot and the Line and Handbook of Technical Writing (Gerald J. Alred).

What is your favorite movie? (Or, if you like, CD?) I just got an iPOD. While at work I like classical, Sunday mornings are for cool jazz, and after work it's KFOG rock.

What was your best vacation? Snorkeling and sailing at the Sea of Cortez Club Med.

What is one thing that not too many people know about you? When I
was ten I asked my Mom if I could have guitar lessons. Instead, I played the accordion for 3 years.

The Far Side once had a great scene about accordians: angels in heaven with harps; devils in hell with accordions.

If you'd like to be featured here, please e-mail me at mbrumis@aol.com and I'll arrange to conduct an email interview with you.