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Quality Special lnterest Group Quarterly Newsletter
SIG Manager's Column

Greetings from St. Louis! My name is Robbie Rupel and I am the new Quality SIG Manager. I became SIG Manager in June. Since then, I have received emails from several SIG members asking for more information about me and what I hope to accomplish with the SIG. I decided to use these questions as the basis for my first column.

Who are you?

I am the Team Leader for the Information Development group at Edward Jones (the financial investment firm) located in St. Louis, Missouri. I am also the president of the St. Louis STC chapter. (Shameless plug: Visit us at the Region 6 conference, which will be held in St. Louis October 13-15, 2002.)

I have been a technical communicator for 17-plus years. Over half of my career has been spent working for a software medical device company, where I became very familiar with FDA regulations and ISO 9001 standards. My area of expertise is in developing processes and, to a lesser extent, standards, especially those relating to technical communication and information development.

What is your history with the Quality SIG?

My first exposure to the Quality SIG was at the STC conference in Toronto. I attended a session presented by Quality SIG members that highlighted the different areas of quality as it related to documentation development. I remember walking out of that session feeling overwhelmed by how little I knew about the field, and (especially) not really knowing how or where to start. Then, I attended the SIG lunch and sat at a Quality SIG table. To my relief, I discovered that there were others with the same questions I had – and who were equally afraid to ask them. By the end of the lunch, I was hooked on the SIG. From that moment on, I decided to get involved so I could learn more about what I didn't know and so I could help develop a place where others could come and learn without feeling intimidated. As a result, over the last six years I have served as Membership Manager, Special Projects Coordinator, and Assistant SIG Manager.

You took over the SIG in June. What have you been doing since then?

Transitioning to the SIG Management position is more involved that one expects. I have spent the past two months meeting the key volunteers, sorting out the current state of the SIG, and developing goals that will help us continue to grow and prosper.

What is your vision for our SIG?

My vision for the Quality SIG is for it to become one of the best resources available for learning about Quality, especially as it relates to technical communication. I believe that sharing our experiences – especially our successes and failures – can teach us more than any publication available today. To this end, my goal is to create a community where we can ask questions, share experiences, and collect resources we can turn to when we want to learn more and any and all aspects of quality.

About the Author:
Robbie Rupel
STC Senior Member, St. Louis Chapter

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	SIG Manager's Column
	Greetings from St. Louis! My name is Robbie Rupel and I am the new Quality SIG Manager. I became SIG Manager in June. Since then, I have received emails from several SIG members asking for more information about me and what I hope to accomplish with the SIG. I decided to use these questions as the basis for my first column.
Who are you?	I am the Team Leader for the Information Development group at Edward Jones (the financial investment firm) located in St. Louis, Missouri. I am also the president of the St. Louis STC chapter. (Shameless plug: Visit us at the Region 6 conference, which will be held in St. Louis October 13-15, 2002.) I have been a technical communicator for 17-plus years. Over half of my career has been spent working for a software medical device company, where I became very familiar with FDA regulations and ISO 9001 standards. My area of expertise is in developing processes and, to a lesser extent, standards, especially those relating to technical communication and information development.
What is your history with the Quality SIG?	My first exposure to the Quality SIG was at the STC conference in Toronto. I attended a session presented by Quality SIG members that highlighted the different areas of quality as it related to documentation development. I remember walking out of that session feeling overwhelmed by how little I knew about the field, and (especially) not really knowing how or where to start. Then, I attended the SIG lunch and sat at a Quality SIG table. To my relief, I discovered that there were others with the same questions I had – and who were equally afraid to ask them. By the end of the lunch, I was hooked on the SIG. From that moment on, I decided to get involved so I could learn more about what I didn't know and so I could help develop a place where others could come and learn without feeling intimidated. As a result, over the last six years I have served as Membership Manager, Special Projects Coordinator, and Assistant SIG Manager.
You took over the SIG in June. What have you been doing since then?	Transitioning to the SIG Management position is more involved that one expects. I have spent the past two months meeting the key volunteers, sorting out the current state of the SIG, and developing goals that will help us continue to grow and prosper.
What is your vision for our SIG?	My vision for the Quality SIG is for it to become one of the best resources available for learning about Quality, especially as it relates to technical communication. I believe that sharing our experiences – especially our successes and failures – can teach us more than any publication available today. To this end, my goal is to create a community where we can ask questions, share experiences, and collect resources we can turn to when we want to learn more and any and all aspects of quality.
	About the Author: Robbie Rupel STC Senior Member, St. Louis Chapter Back to top