Experience

• 

  Self-Employed

  • Sacramento, California Area

  • Independent Consultant / Writing Consultant

    • Jan 2009 - Present
    • Sacramento, California Area

    Serve as a consultant to analyze customer requirements and plan, manage and ensure timely completion of writing, editing, and web development projects to meet needs of the business for various industry clients. ♦ Nevada Animal Owners Alliance, Reno, NV – Conducted research regarding animal rights terrorism and wrote article about FBI’s investigation into PeTA as a terrorist organization.www.nevadaanimalowners.com/the-fbi-has-investigated-peta-as-a-terrorism-enterprise-at-various-times-over-the-past-25-years♦ Sierra Aquatics, Reno, NV – Developed WordPress website: elicited requirements; installed WordPress on server, chose a theme, built web forms, installed and integrated product catalog plugin, tested system, trained users, and followed-up with client as necessary.web.sierraaquatics.com♦ Examiner.com, Sacramento, CA – Wrote an article about finding dog-friendly restaurants where people can take their canine companions and provided some advice for making a positive experience.www.examiner.com/article/dining-with-dogs-sacramento

• 

  California Department of Insurance

  • Sacramento, California Area

  • E-Discovery Analyst

    • Aug 2014 - Jan 2015
    • Sacramento, California Area

    ♦ Completed the Enhanced Fraud Investigation eDiscovery (EFIeD) Stage 1 Business Analysis and Feasibility Study Report (FSR) proposal for the CDI Fraud Liaison Bureau (FLB) enhanced fraud investigation and prevention efforts.♦ Worked with CDI’s legal counsel in the FLB to develop the FSR and justify funding proposal for an eDiscovery solution for the FLB to assist in whistleblower (qui tam) litigation. Responded to CMAS RFP and prepared DED/DAD to support deliverable-based contract.♦ Prepared project plans for FSR development and for proposed eDiscovery project, produced cost analysis and developed functional requirements. Developed and managed project schedule for FSR deliverables and met client deadlines. ♦ Collaborated with legal counsel and IT, conducted JAD sessions to define business needs, elicited business and stakeholder requirements, analyzed business processes and organization, and evaluated potential eDiscovery vendor solutions.♦ Conducted internal gap, external gap, and problem/opportunity analyses. Developed business case for FSR proposal. Evaluated potential eDiscovery vendors and performed feasibility analyses on several solutions to develop functional requirements. Documented configuration and maintenance needs for vended software. Developed business workflow.♦ Prepared documents that included business cases, project plans, cost analyses, project schedule, and final FSR. Produced matrices to show how solutions would reduce time and costs, while increasing accuracy and usability of discovered evidence.Key Accomplishments► Successfully developed Feasibility Study Report and prepared Stage 1 Business Analysis to justify $580K funding proposal for an eDiscovery solution, meeting deliverable deadlines; provided justification for solution, describing ability to automate discovery process and provide reliable results. Also included information on California law regarding how to use and justify funding to facilitate cases against fraud.

• 

  Lauren Tariel

  • Sacramento, California Area

  • Freelance Writer

    • Sep 2008 - Jan 2011
    • Sacramento, California Area

    ♦ Worked as a freelance writer during and after graduating law school, researched legal issues and discussed legal issues with legislative staff and the public. ♦ Followed and studied the development of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA).♦ Studied law related to the field of Technical Communications that included cyberlaw, intellectual property, and contract drafting.

• 

  American Health Care

  • Rocklin, CA

  • Business Systems Analyst

    • Sep 2008 - Nov 2008
    • Rocklin, CA

    ♦ Planned and managed project to analyze and document HIPAA IT contingency plan that considered system compliance, system evaluation, and hardware review; wrote $200K IT FSR that contained results of analyses and recommended solution for HIPPA-compliant contingency planning. Established and met deadlines for project completion. Used Agile approach for completing project and worked with content management system, version control, and source control databases.♦ Performed business analysis. Analyzed HIPAA requirements for system compliance, evaluated current systems for HIPAA compliance, and discussed issues concerning HIPAA and data protection with stakeholders; conducted JAD sessions to elicit and document requirements. Conducted internal and external gap analyses. Developed business case for proposal. Performed feasibility analysis on several solutions and produced matrices to show how various provider solutions would increase security of patient data and reliability of access to that data. Documented configuration and maintenance needs for vended software. Developed software test plans and quality assurance checklists.♦ Demonstrated effective and professional communication with users, management, developers, and SMEs in sharing issues, ideas, and information. Prepared complex written documents that included business case, functional requirements, system documentation, software test plans, and the final FSR.Key Accomplishments► Provided business analysis; wrote FSR explaining AHC had outgrown existing SQL server and data storage infrastructure and was not HIPPA-compliant; offered solution for Storage Area Network (SAN) architecture with capacity and capability to enable AHC to become HIPAA-compliant in contingency planning.

• 

  Commission on Teacher Credentialing

  • Sacramento, California Area

  • Business Systems Analyst

    • Sep 2007 - Nov 2007
    • Sacramento, California Area

    ♦ Performed Crystal Reports development planning, project management, and business analysis; defined requirements, plan, and schedule for development. Used Agile approach for completing project.♦ Effectively conducted JAD sessions to define business needs and to educate users about system. Elicited business rules, requirements, and specifications from users, engineers, and other stakeholders. Analyzed existing systems and business processes.♦ Documented user and system requirements for data mining and reporting. Produced UML use case diagrams to assist with development of Crystal Reports. Prepared software test plans and quality assurance checklists.Key Accomplishments► Successfully analyzed existing systems and business processes, and defined requirements for Crystal Reports development.

• 

  Sovereign Steward

  • Sacramento, California Area

  • Proposal Writer

    • May 2007 - Jun 2007
    • Sacramento, California Area

    ♦ Responded to CMAS RFP and wrote winning state contract bid proposal for $108K project for Crystal Reports development. ♦ Reviewed and analyzed RFP to identify all requirements; analyzed and documented contractor’s offer to ensure it reflected ability to develop and implement project.♦ Conducted meetings to elicit requirements and develop technical specifications and project plan.Key Accomplishments► After five attempts to win a contract before I came in, mine was the first bid proposal that this company won, even after passing a secondary review.

• 

  Health Net

  • Rancho Cordova, CA

  • Business Process Analyst

    • Jul 2006 - Jan 2007
    • Rancho Cordova, CA

    ♦ Performed HIPAA IT analysis to obtain business rules for HIPAA compliance and provided as-is Medicaid Information Technology Architecture (MITA) analysis, business process reengineering analysis and systems evaluation. Completed status reports and held meetings to communicate and facilitate project. Established and met deadlines for project completion. Used Agile approach for completing project.♦ Met with client business analysts to analyze business processes; produced matrices to show redundancies and gaps in business processes and workflow. Conducted meetings to define business needs, elicit requirements, obtain rules, develop specifications for business processes, and educate users about system. ♦ Provided business process reengineering by streamlining multiple methods of single processes into single methods for each process; built Access databases to automate repetitive tasks. Documented previously undocumented processes, methods and procedures for claims submissions to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and established IT Business Rules for HIPAA compliance.Key Accomplishments► Performed business process analysis, as-is MITA analysis, HIPAA IT analysis, and provided business process reengineering solution to improve system and workflow by eliminating repetitive and redundant work.

• 

  Verizon

  • Sacramento, California Area

  • Technical Writer

    • May 2006 - Jul 2006
    • Sacramento, California Area

    ♦ Produced end-user and system administration documents to support Windows and web-based applications developed for state agencies that include emissions testing management, Fish and Game licensing applications, and safety applications.♦ Participated in meetings and JAD sessions, converted FrameMaker documents to Structured FrameMaker, produced documentation, and updated PDF documents and help files.

• 

  California Department of State Hospitals

  • Sacramento, California Area

  • Business Systems Analyst

    • Nov 2005 - Jan 2006
    • Sacramento, California Area

    ♦ Produced FSR to propose $6.5 M+ funding for development of WaRMSS project; developed FSR in response to remediation plan and agreement imposed on State of California by the US DOJ. ♦ Performed HIPAA IT analysis, analyzed the remediation plan for State hospitals, and elicited State’s intentions from interviews, previous FSR drafts, and notes to determine the State’s plan to develop and implement Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA) Enhancement Plan processes.♦ Collaborated with internal business units, sub-contractors, technical customers, and stakeholders; coordinated team meetings, held JAD sessions, and interviewed subject-matter experts to elicit and analyze business needs, functional specifications, solution requirements, and system alternatives.Key Accomplishments► Successfully produced the final FSR to propose and obtain $6.5 M+ funding for development of WaRMSS to support State compliance with HIPAA and CRIPA in caring for mentally ill criminal patients.

• 

  Sprint

  • Rancho Cordova, CA

  • Business Process Analyst

    • Jun 2005 - Oct 2005
    • Rancho Cordova, CA

    ♦ Analyzed, mapped, and documented Sprint billing processes for consolidation and reengineering.♦ Elicited requirements for training and business process realignment; produced training materials and training plan.♦ Managed project, prepared and maintained project management plan, developed schedule and deliverables, and produced status reports. Key Accomplishments► Developed training plan and materials for successful transfer of billing services to Kansas.

• 

  California Department of General Services

  • West Sacramento, CA

  • Business Analyst

    • Oct 2001 - Jan 2002
    • West Sacramento, CA

    ♦ Analyzed and documented data management systems and alternatives to replace FoxPro system with SQL Server through meetings with subject-matter experts.♦ Conducted research of storage of architectural documents and blueprints that showed buildings containing asbestos.♦ Coordinated project and managed schedule.

• 

  Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board

  • Sacramento, California Area

  • Technical Editor

    • Feb 2001 - Apr 2001
    • Sacramento, California Area

    ♦ Analyzed and edited Visual Basic system documentation for clarity, accuracy, and completeness.♦ Reviewed system documentation and verified that system met business rules and user specifications.

• 

  Dot-Com Startups and Flops

  • Sacramento, California Area

  • Senior Web Applications Engineer

    • May 1999 - Jan 2001
    • Sacramento, California Area

    ♦ Project Manager and web engineer for application development of multiple proprietary content management systems (CMS) web applications. ♦ Project Manager for multiple Linux/perl/MySQL application development projects, implemented project management methodologies, and established software development life cycles; completed status reports and held meetings to communicate and facilitate projects.♦ Managed documentation for user guides, software development, and quality assurance, performed feasibility studies for outside vendors and third-party software, and developed plans for disaster recovery, backup and storage, risk management, training, and project management.♦ Produced thorough corporate Business Plan to successfully attract $1 M in investor funding.

• 

  Intel Corporation

  • Folsom, CA

  • Technical Writer

    • Apr 1999 - Jun 1999
    • Folsom, CA

    ♦ Analyzed processes to produce Y2K capability testing documents, web site, and process documentation.

• 

  Caltrans

  • Sacramento, California Area

  • Web Development Trainer

    • Nov 1998 - Jan 1999
    • Sacramento, California Area

    ♦ Developed training materials and classes to teach technical writing team how to build websites and convert documents for the web.

• 

  Kvaerner

  • San Ramon, CA

  • FSR Editor

    • Sep 1998 - Nov 1998
    • San Ramon, CA

    ♦ Edited pre-Feasibility Study for $665-935M investment for Philippines-based Ni/Co mining project.♦ Worked with an international team of engineers to produce report and localized content to American English.♦ Developed FSR in compliance with Internationally Accepted Standards with principal parameters, geology and resources, environmental impact studies, risk and contingency plans, and economic analyses.

• 

  Hewlett Packard Enterprise

  • Roseville, CA

  • Technical Writer

    • Sep 1998 - Sep 1998
    • Roseville, CA

    ♦ Built Y2K compliance testing web site and produce testing documentation.

• 

  California Federal Bank (CalFed)

  • Sacramento, California Area

  • Crystal Reports Developer/Trainer

    • Jun 1998 - Sep 1998
    • Sacramento, California Area

    ♦ Developed automated reporting processes to deliver call center metrics in Crystal Reports.♦ Programmed Access databases to extract data from Rolm phone system and export data to Excel, then designed reports in Crystal Reports to produce call center metrics from Excel data.♦ Produced training modules with documentation and presentations for call center representatives.

• 

  California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

  • Sacramento, California Area

  • Senior Technical Writer

    • Dec 1997 - May 1998
    • Sacramento, California Area

    ♦ Edited, compiled, and produced as-is documentation for multiple data center departments that included Help Desk, Computer Operations, Network Security, and Configuration Management.♦ Analyzed and documented data center processes and methodologies.♦ Worked with several subject-matter experts to develop process documentation for Help Desk, Computer Operations, Network Security, Configuration management, and other Data Center areas.

• 

  NEC Corporation

  • Gold River, CA

  • Senior Technical Writer

    • Jan 1997 - Sep 1997
    • Gold River, CA

    ♦ Produced training and system documents for NEC’s Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) used by law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and around the world.♦ Edited unusable 100-page manual down to a 30-page, effective training manual for the Hong Kong police; completed that project under a high-pressure, rush deadline for urgent project.♦ Project Manager and writer for multiple AFIS system documentation projects; completed status reports and held meetings to communicate and facilitate projects.♦ Developed early marketing proposal for Positive Identification (PID).

• 

  The Money Store

  • Sacramento, California Area

  • Technical Writer and Junior Project Manager

    • Nov 1995 - Nov 1996
    • Sacramento, California Area

    ♦ Produced project and training documentation, Help Desk metrics, and Data Center reports.♦ Project manager for web development and data center projects.♦ Documented data warehousing, analytics, and reports.

• 

  Skills

  • Sacramento, California Area

  • Technology and Compliance

    • Jan 1900 - Dec 1969
    • Sacramento, California Area

    SOFTWARE: Adobe (Acrobat, PhotoShop, and FrameMaker), Dreamweaver, Microsoft (Access, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Project, Server, Windows, Word and Visio), PaintShop Pro.STYLE GUIDES: Chicago Manual of Style, APA (American Psychological Association), MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, IEEE, Reuters.INTERNET: Content Management Systems (CMS), CSS, Drupal, JavaScript, LAMP, WordPress.PLATFORMS: Linux, Apache, MySQL, .NET, Oracle, SharePoint, Siebel, SQL Server, Unix.PROGRAMMING: C/C++, Crystal Reports, Perl, PHP, SQL, VB.Net, Visual Basic.SPECIFIC SKILLS: Quality Assurance (QA), User Acceptance Testing (UAT), Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), Business Intelligence, Business Objects.METHODOLOGIES: PMBOK, BABOK, California State Administration Manual (SAM), Statewide Information Management Manual (SIMM), IEEE, JAD, UML, Waterfall, Agile.COMPLIANCE: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Titles I-IV, EDiscovery, Electronic Discovery Reference Model (EDRM), Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1997 (CRIPA), Medicaid Information Technology Architecture (MITA), Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA).