Senior Spotlight

By Rachel Houghton

Meet Russell Pike

Russell has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from San Francisco State University (SFSU). Russell had always liked to write, but it was in news writing class that he really learned the art and craft of writing. He also received a teaching credential for biological science at SFSU, but it has lapsed.

Russell considers the three years spent teaching science in California’s secondary schools to be his first job in technical communication. His first job in mainstream technical communication was technical editing for a company that wrote aircraft maintenance manuals for the U.S. Navy.

Russell got the job that he has now by a circuitous route that involved more than a little luck.

“I had been downsized by U.S. Bank and got a short contract writing ISO-9000 documentation for Mentor Graphics. As that contract ended, JAE Oregon was looking for contract technical writers with ISO-9000 experience for its ISO-9000 project. I was eventually hired by JAE Oregon and I am its only technical writer.”

At U.S. Bank, Russell wrote a 90-page manual from start to sign-off in seven days. At JAE Oregon, he has been slowly changing the documentation from documents that suit the engineers to documents that better serve the manufacturing operators that are the true audience. He has also won two awards for news writing.

Russell was just elected to the position of chapter treasurer and will start his position in June of 2003. He has also been involved with the mentoring program, serves on the senior members’ advisory panel, and has been a Technical Publications Competition judge. Russell has also written several articles for The Willamette Galley.

Russell is a member of the STC Lone Writer SIG.

“The Lone Writer SIG has given me many answers, many ideas, and many acquaintances. I am constantly amazed to be able to share techniques, opinions and ideas with technical writers worldwide. I enjoy the sense of community on the Lone Writer SIG listserv. I would like to see the programs and publications of STC at both the chapter level and the national level become more diversified so that it better serves the entire membership.”

Currently, Russell is involved in STC at the chapter level and is looking forward to what the future holds, both at the chapter and regional level.

Rachel Houghton is a contract technical writer at Hollywood Entertainment in Wilsonville, OR, with a focus in Framemaker, Acrobat and Windows online help. She can be reached at stc@rhoughton.com.