The “Meet the Officers” series lets you get to know more about our elected and volunteer members. Learn more about each member and their job with STC-PMC. If you are interested in volunteering with STC-PMC or if you are thinking about running for an office, please feel free to contact that member.
Name: Jessie Mallory
Position: President
Senior Member, Speaker: 2015 National Conference, 2015 Mid-Atlantic Conference
When and how did you get involved in STC?
I started coming to meetings in 2011. The organization is always looking for volunteers, so I decided to take on the position of Membership Chair. It was a great introduction to the group because the position entailed getting to know everyone and promoting the chapter. I ended up having a good time and learned a ton. The following year the team combined the Membership and Secretarial roles. I was elected for this position in 2012. I subsequently went on to hold the Vice Presidency and now the Presidency. The people in the organization were so welcoming and approachable that it encouraged me to become more involved in STC.
What are the duties of your current position with STC-PMC?
As the President, it’s my job to guide the direction of the chapter for the year. I work with the team to create a plan and goals for the year, and then we work to make these plans come true. I’m also responsible for identifying new opportunities and possibilities for the chapter, staying in contact with STC National, and I have the honor of selecting STC honors and awards winners.
I schedule and run our admin council meetings, help select speakers for events, work on the Scholarship and Conference committees, perform recruitment, and stay in touch with members of the community who reach out for help from the chapter.
What advice would you offer to someone looking to get more involved in STC-PMC?
If you want to get involved with STC-PMC, come to a monthly chapter meeting! Come talk to us. We’d love to have you on board, and we’ll work with you to find the position that works for your talents and time commitment goals. And above all, always feel free to reach out to any of us. We get lots of emails and questions from people who are interested, and we’re happy to get them. We want to help you find the path that’s right for you.
Are you involved in any other groups or communities within STC?
Yup. I’m also on the TCBOK Task Force. I’m working on their marketing and communication planning.
How has your STC membership benefited you?
STC is a great way to meet other technical writers and learn about trends in the industry. We also offer a job listings board and networking opportunities with technical communicators across the region. I’m now a Senior Member of STC. In my tenure with STC, I’ve met amazing people who’ve inspired and encouraged me. I’ve expanded my personal potential, and I’ve found ways to give back to the community like the student scholarship our team put together.
What is your educational background?
I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Professional and Technical Writing from Saginaw Valley State University. I’m also certified in Project Management and Pragmatic Marketing.
How did you get started in TechComm?
My school had an amazing Professional and Technical Writing program so I had the opportunity to learn about technical communication theory and practice from the very beginning of my career. I then got an associate position at Oracle that was a great kick-start for my career.
What does your current professional position entail?
I currently work for an Australian company called Nuix where I stay busy with the planning and management of integrations between my company and our partners. I moved into this position from a Senior Technical Writing role where I had some project management responsibilities.
What advice would you give to a college student interested in a career in TechComm?
In addition to your amazing technical communication degree, which will serve you well, I suggest that you specialize in something related to the technical communication career you want. Interested in sciences? Get a Biology background. Interested in writing about software? Take computer science classes. That experience will go a long way in your career and make you a reputable technical communicator. ….And then call me! I’ll work to help you find a position, get scholarship money, discover volunteer opportunities – whatever I can do to help make you successful.
And finally, what do you enjoy for fun?
I love to spend time with family, friends, and my puppy. I also enjoy reading, sci-fi, drawing portraits, photography, traveling, noodling on the piano, and making wine with my husband.
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