Katharine Foster

3049 Paseo del Refugio

Santa Barbara, CA 93105
(805) 636-1090
kfff9490@westpost.net

Overview
Experienced Technical Writer with strong graphics background.
Five years Telecommunications hardware and software writing experience, three y
ears of environmental and government reporting.
Software start-up guides, hardware configuration guides.
Project lead over twelve writers.
Programs
Macintosh and Windows. FrameMaker, Microsoft Word, Adobe Illustrator, PageMaker,
Freehand, Photoshop. Yardi.
Work Experience
M.Timm Development, Santa Barbara, CA 2008 - present
Administrative Assistant
Basic bookkeeping and reports generation using Yardi in a real estate construct
ion and property management environment.
Graphics (business cards and web page) and newsletter editing.
Project support including bid invitations.
Answering phones, customer service and correspondence.
Vendor filing system maintenance.
Supplies inventory and ordering.
All aspects of mailing.
Organizing office functions.
Serial IO, Goleta, CA 2007
Freelance Technical Writer
Updated software users guide for handheld computer.
Testing.
Placed screenshots, proofread, did layout using MS Word.
Archbald & Spray, Santa Barbara, CA 2007-2008
Administrative Assistant
Answering phones, customer service and correspondence.
Legal library maintenance.
Bartlett Tree Experts, Santa Barbara, CA 2005-2006
Administrative Assistant
Answering phones, customer service and correspondence.
Basic bookkeeping.
Typist, proof reader of arborist reports.
Cisco Systems, Advanced Computer Communications, Vetronix, Software.com, Digital
Instruments, Santa Barbara, CA 1995 to 1998
Cisco Systems, Datum Inc., Starvox, Cyras and Synopsys, San Jose, CA 1998-2001
Freelance Technical Writer
Originated technical documentation using FrameMaker and MS Word.
Researched hardware devices and software applications from design specification
s, interviews with engineering, technical marketing and customer service and fro
m lab visits and hands-on testing.
Attended publications, engineering design review and BOM meetings to keep docum
ents on track with company style guidelines, deadlines, ongoing product developm
ent and packaging changes.
Edited and proofread documents and guided them though review process.
 Maintained document schedules.
Prepared documents for online publication using Documentum and FrameMaker.
Generated hundreds of technical illustrations using Adobe Illustrator.
Placed screenshots and performed layout, formatting and original template desig
n.
Maintained onsite and distance working relationships with publications, enginee
ring, marketing, management and technical illustrating departments.
As lead writer, coordinated schedules and integrated written and graphics input
from a team of twelve writers.
Katharine Foster Illustration, Santa Barbara, CA 1990-1995
Technical Illustrator for SAIC and other local clients
Generated computerized line art using Adobe Illustrator.
Generated color and black and white art and cover art using Adobe Photoshop.
Desktop publishing using PageMaker.
South Coast Community Newspapers and Santa Barbara County News Service, Santa Ba
rbara, CA 1987-1990
Journalist and Freelance Writer
Researched and wrote articles on county government topics and local art scene f
or newspapers and local magazines.
Interviewing, editing, proofreading, photography.
Education
Bachelors and Masters Degrees in French Literature, 1985 and 1987, UCSB.
Graduated Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Deans Honor List.
Full UC Regents Scholarship and Fellowship, 1981 and 1985.
Courses in Art Studio, Journalism, Photography and Accounting 1988-1992, 2009.
Work related courses in Networking, Routers, Servers and Switches at ACC and Ci
sco Systems.
Spanish, Latin, Greek, German, Piano and Violin.
Hobbies
reading, foreign languages, rollerblading, swimming, walking, cycling, cats, vi
olin and piano.