My work

I came out of retirement on February 15, 2016.
  • I am working in the exact same department (The Content Team), for the exact same company (Red Hat), as I was before I retired.
  • If you’re wondering why I went back to work, you can read why in this blog entry of mine: “Why I’m coming out of retirement.”
I retired on my 57th birthday, on October 13, 2014!

Are you afraid I’ll get bored? Have no fear. See how I intend to keep busy.

What I did for a living up until I retired

I worked for Red Hat with a smart and fun team, editing web-based content written for Red Hat’s platform and middleware products, and for Red Hat’s training services and partners.

For a little over two months before becoming a Red Hat employee, I worked in the same job as a contractor with The Select Group. I feel like I hit the jackpot being converted to a Red Hat employee so quickly. Before Red Hat, I worked at NC State for 5 years, and before that I worked at IBM for 21 years, with a hiatus of 7 years during which I held various positions—details in the table below.

In October of 2008, I was part of the Technical Communication Professional Delegation to the People’s Republic of China. I blogged leading up to, and during, that trip.

Specialties: Making technical and marketing information relevant by communicating it always with audience, context, and purpose in mind.

What I’ve done for a living over the years
Time PeriodEmployerType of Work
February 15, 2016 – October 13, 2022 Red HatContent writer and editor
October 20, 2014 – February 14, 2016 The Select Group (TSG)Content writer and editor (contractor, assigned to Red Hat)
December 12, 2013 – October 13, 2014 Red HatContent writer and editor
September 23, 2013 – December 11, 2013The Select Group (TSG)Content writer and editor (contractor, assigned to Red Hat)
September 12, 2008 – September 20, 2013NC State University –
Office of Information Technology		Technical Communicator
July 2005 – September 12, 2008IBM – Information DeveloperTechnical Editor
July 2003 – June 2005IBM – Quality AssuranceQuality Assurance
March 2002 – June 2003IBM – Information DeveloperTechnical Writer
June 2000 – February 2002IBM – Authoring Tools SupportSupport
March 1998 – June 2000Broadreach Consulting – Testing ConsultantTester
June 1997 – February 1998Verity, Inc. – Software ConsultantTester
July 1994 – June 1997Tascor, Inc. – Professional Staff AssistantSupport
July 1993 – July 1994Freelance Writer – Proofreader & EditorTechnical Writer
October 1990 – July 1993IBM – Communications TeamTechnical Writer
January 1988 – September 1990IBM – Network Performance TeamSupport
October 1987 – December 1987IBM – Information DeveloperTechnical Writer
October 1986 – October 1987IBM – First Line ManagerManager
May 1980 – October 1986IBM – Software TesterTester