Our Meet the Officers series gives you the opportunity to learn more about your officers and get any tips they might have for navigating through STC.
Name: Laurie Marshall
Position: Webmaster
When and how did you get involved in STC?
I got involved about 4 years ago when I was in grad school at Drexel. I joined as a student member.
What are the duties of your current position with STC-PMC?
I maintain the stcpmc.org website as needed for the chapter. So far this has involved adding users, creating forms, and designing two new pages.
What advice would you offer to someone looking to get more involved in STC-PMC?
Do it!! You’ll become more connected, inevitably learn something new, and add a line to your resume.
How has your STC membership benefited you?
On a personal level, I have made a lot of contacts and friends through the group. Professionally, I have taken several useful courses, and the TechComm articles and STC webinars keep me updated on current issues.
What is your educational background?
MS Technical Communication, Drexel 2016
How did you get started in TechComm?
My first career as a systems engineer was followed by my second career as a stay at home mom for 17 years. After being away from IT for so long, technical writing was the ideal way to reenter the workforce. It allowed me to combine my technical knowledge with the communications skills I had developed from many years of volunteer work.
What does your current professional position entail?
Writing online help, training materials, release notes, and screen messages for a software product.
What advice would you give to a college student interested in a career in TechComm?
Develop strong, logical, persuasive writing skills. Don’t limit yourself to a specific area. Apply your skills to different areas by volunteering to write for student and nonprofit organizations. Perform user testing whenever possible, or at least get user feedback – the results are often surprising.
And finally, what do you enjoy for fun?
Red wine, dark chocolate, and Caribbean beaches!
You must be logged in to post a comment.