Your EBSTC Leaders

Helen Cheung
President

Born and raised in the Bay Area, I graduated from California State University, Hayward with a B.A. in Psychology. I began as a programmer analyst, but found that I enjoyed writing more than working with data and code. I decided to take a leap into the technical communication profession, and made a career change. I completed a Certificate in Technical Communication through U.C. Berkeley Extension. I joined STC in 2005, and immediately became active in the East Bay STC Chapter (serving as V.P. of Programs in 2005-2006).

I am currently a Technical Writer/Senior Consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton, a global strategy and technology consulting firm. My current client is the Department of Defense, specifically the Navy.

As President and a fellow East Bay Chapter member, I look forward to meeting new people, learning new things, working with the leadership team, and having fun.

David Eicher
President-Elect

I have been a member of the EBSTC chapter since December 2005. In September 2006 I resurrected the chapter newsletter, the Diablo Mountain Views.

I am a contract writer currently working in the Silicon Valley. A software technical writer all my life, I have been here in the Bay Area since 1969. My specialty is writing to professional programmers about complex application development software.

I am married with two grown daughters and four lovely grandchildren. I love classical music, jazz, impressionist art, and 20th century art. I also love fine dining (San Francisco is heaven) and companion animals (my wife and I have eleven cats and four small dogs). I love the Bay Area and wouldn't live anywhere else!

Joe Humbert
Treasurer

My background is actually in physics, with a B.S. and an M.S. from Cal State University at Los Angeles. In the mid-1980s, I started a homegrown software company, Kidbit Software, featuring educational software for the then popular Commodore machines. I wrote the programs, user guides, brochures, and advertising copy. I am now the co-owner of a child care center, where I do the accounting and write the monthly newsletters, parent guidelines, employee contract, brochures, and advertising copy. I have created and maintain our website, http://www.berniceandjoeplayschool.com. In addition, I am under contract to produce and maintain the website for PARC, Preserve Area Ridgelands Committee, http://www.ridgelands.org.

I have earned a Certificate with Distinction in Technical Communication from UC Berkeley Extension in which I had the great fortune to take my very first class from Gwaltney Mountford. I have been an STC member since 2002 and have been an active member of the East Bay STC. I have twice judged in the Touchstone competitions. And for the last three years, I have helped to keep the chapter’s website up to date and have been both the chapter’s president and treasurer.

Kevin Evert
Secretary

I have been a member of STC for the past four years. I want to become more active and to offer my skills of organization and note-taking to help the chapter.

I've been a manager of technical writers for the past seven years and have a true passion for educating people on things that interest them. By keeping the members up-to-date on the happenings of the chapter, I hope to expand my own horizons while giving back to the group.

Ann Adams
Vice President: Programs

I've been an active volunteer with the chapter from the first meeting I attended last June, where I volunteered to become Hospitality Manager.

Before coming to the Bay Area, I was active in the Los Angeles chapter, serving as Membership Manager. I plan to include more technical topics at our meetings, along with the tried-and-true soft skills and trends topics. The technical programs I attend in the Silicon Valley have given me fresh ideas for future programs for our chapter.

Jeanie Egbert
Vice President: Arrangments

I've been playing around with the Internet since 1982, long before the Web was a maniacal gleam in anyone’s eye. I've been a computer programmer, analyst, teacher, and writer. I contribute well-researched and finely-worded features to my local newspaper, along with the occasional erudite commentary (okay, sarcastic diatribes!). Every member of my family believes I am a wonderful writer.

Elaine Pendergrast
Incoming Newsletter Managing Editor

I have been a technical communicator for over 25 years, specializing in writing end-user software documentation for companies such as Adobe, Hewlett-Packard, Xerox, Frame Technology, and Apple. A Senior member of STC, I have been a judge in the Northern California Technical Publications competitions and have won a number of awards, including Best of Show for an interactive FrameMaker tutorial.

A native of New York City, I graduated from the City University of New York (Queens College) with a B.A. in Art and Education, and then completed another major in psychology at NYU. I find my art background enormously helpful as a technical writer, in designing the overall look of documents and incorporating graphical elements.

I moved to the Bay Area in 1979. When I am not working, I'm a fanatical gardener and love to cook. I also enjoy dancing, listening to music (especially jazz, classical, and world genres), and take time to exercise and do Breema bodywork.

I recently supported four local STC chapters to welcome the national Board of Directors to the Bay Area for their August meeting by creating an online brochure about area events and resources. I look forward to serving the East Bay Chapter by being on the Nominating Committee and serving as Managing Editor of the EBSTC newsletter.