Deborah has been a technical communicator for more than 25 years. She has worked in large and small technical communications departments for a variety of companies in diverse industries. For the past 10 years, she has been an independent consultant. Over the years, she has been a sole contributor, team member, project manager, graphic designer, editor, and user interface designer.

The projects she has worked on include software and hardware manuals, help systems (Windows and Web-based), online training, course development, business plans, proposals, functional specifications, and reports. She has documented a variety of products and services, including microscopes, insurance policies and procedures, film editing software, medical systems, telephony systems, videoconferencing software, consumer electronics, games, and software developers' toolkits.

In addition, she has taught technical communications skills and tools for many years, at Northeastern University, through a corporate training provider, and as a consultant.She has also been a guest lecturer at Brandeis University and Endicott College and a speaker at STC conferences and chapter meetings.

Independent Consulting Experience

Deborah Sauer Consulting (1998-present)
Providing design, consulting and training services, including:

• Online and Print Documentation
• Online Help Systems
• User Interface Design
• Business Plans
• Technical Specifications
• Tools Courses, such as FrameMaker and RoboHelp
• Skills Courses, such as technical writing and editing, report writing, proposal writing, and functional specification writing

Employment Experience

• Edgewater Technology, Wakefield, MA (1996 - 1998), Senior Technical Writer; provided services for a consulting company. Clients include: Microsoft Corporation, and the U. S. Postal Service.
• PictureTel Corp., Andover, MA (1994 - 1996), Senior Technical Writer.
• Northeastern University, Boston, MA (1991 - 1996), Adjunct Faculty; Taught Principles of Technical Writing in the Technical Writing Training Program, a graduate certificate program.
• Xyvision Inc., Wakefield, MA (1987 - 1994) Principal Documentation Specialist.

STC Experience

• Assistant to the STC President, Conferences, 2000-2006.
• Judge, International Online Communication Competition: 1999 – 2006; Best of Show Judge, 2002, 2003, 2008.
• Program Manager, 47th STC Annual Conference, 2000.
• Deputy Program Manager, 46th STC Annual Conference, 1999.
• Co-Manager for Professional Development Stem, 45th STC Annual Conference, 1998.
• Boston Chapter, Council Member, 1996 – 1997.
• Boston Chapter, Secretary, 1993 – 1996.
• Co-Manager for Writing and Editing Stem, 40th STC Annual Conference, 1993.
• Boston Chapter, President, 1991 – 1992.
• Judge and coordinator, Boston/Northern New England Competitions, 1987-1992.