Member Profile: Sherri Henkin
Direction: Tell us a bit about your background and career development, Sherri.
Sherri: I have a BA in political science from Boston University and a Master's in Public Administration from New York University. I wanted to formally write policies and procedures, so I joined STC in 2002 to stay current with technical writer news, employment, and educational opportunities.
When I moved to Cleveland, Ohio in 2004, my STC membership moved with me and it was an entrée into STC's Northeast Ohio Chapter. I'm basically an STC poster child - "everything I learned about technical writing and documentation, I learned in STC!"
Before moving into the P&P field, I had done everything from office manager to business owner, where I learned graphics and wrote advertising and marketing copy. I worked in small offices as well as in a large non-profit medical center - Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles (9000 employees).
It was there that I learned to write procedures, job descriptions, and informal employee communications. I enjoyed those parts of the work, so it was that job that jump-started me into P&P writer. I'm currently unemployed, but confident that a great opportunity is right around the corner!
Direction: Tell us about your work - responsibilities, challenges.
Sherri: I worked most recently at AmTrust Bank in Cleveland, Ohio, first as a documentation specialist, concentrating on procedures for the Mortgage Default department. After a year, I was promoted to Senior Process Improvement Analyst in Mortgage Banking.
My most exciting professional development in the past year was to present at the 2008 STC Technical Summit in June, as part of the Policies & Procedures SIG Progression Session. My topic was "Moving from Documentation Specialist to Process Improvement Analyst - or - When Opportunity Knocks, Open the Door."
The presentation was based on my career journey from documentation specialist to process improvement analyst/business analyst, including the role STC has played in this process.
Direction: What do you like most about your career in technical communication?
Sherri: Learning from the various subject matter experts; improving my writing skills; working with dynamite managers who encouraged my professional growth. One thing I found difficult, though, was getting time with the subject matter experts' due to their extremely busy schedules.
Direction: What advice can you give to someone who wants to get into P&P documentation?
Sherri: Join STC; volunteer in the local community/chapter; find a mentor; and read online documentation about P&P - from STC and its members.
Direction: What's the biggest P&P challenge that you face in your industry or specialty?
Sherri: In challenging economic times, the P&P department in my industry (mortgage lending) may be one of the first departments to be down-sized.
Direction: Tell us a bit of personal information about you - e.g., hobbies, where you live, your family, or other information to help us get to know you.
Sherri: I lived in Los Angeles for 19 years - where I still have many personal and professional contacts. My hobbies include writing creative non-fiction (several pieces have been published), reading, swimming, and traveling.
Sherri can be reached at sleah47@juno.com.
