Susan

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Susan Connell
Curriculum Vitae

Background

Communications professional with extensive experience in digital media development, graphic design, visual arts, marketing, and various aspects of technology transitioning into a career in an educational setting where this background can benefit organizations, staff, or students. Special interest and expertise in online/distance learning and combining media with technology to creatively and effectively enhance understanding.

Education

  • San Diego State University - Master of Arts in Education,
    emphasis in Educational Technology/Multimedia
  • University of California at San Diego - Bachelor of Arts, Communications with concentration in Visual Arts
  • University of California at Berkeley - Attended, General Ed

Certificates & Other Training

  • University of California at San Diego Extension:
    • Community College Instruction Certificate
    • Coursewowrk in Art, Graphic Design, and Creative Process
  • San Diego State University - Blackboard LMS Workshop Series
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Certificate in Technical Communications
  • University of Oxford Discovery Programme Arts & Humanities Lecture Series - Certificate
  • American Photographer Magazine - Mentor Series Photography Workshop
  • National Association of Photoshop Professionals Seminars - Adobe Photoshop Training Workshops

Employment

Marketing Communications & Design Consulting
(Self-Employed), San Diego, CA 1998-2000 and 2002-Present

  • Responsible for design, development and launch of multimedia communications and product training plans primarily for high-tech clients specializing in power and energy-related products.
  • Defined messaging needs and worked with clients to develop cost-effective PR, multimedia communications and product training programs.
  • Developed marketing communications and product training programs using a variety of media including print, online, video and other multimedia components.
  • Researched and wrote numerous technical articles and case studies about client products and technologies for publication and internal use, directed at technical, trade, and general audiences.
  • Created graphic treatments, design templates, and technical illustrations for these and other documents including a paleontology textbook.
  • Established relationships with numerous editors and analysts in technology trade press and local media to facilitate press coverage for clients such as ABB, Emerson, Ballard Power, Elgar, Hewlett-Packard, and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

San Diego State University, San Diego, CA; 2005-Present
Lecturer/Graduate Teaching Assistant

  • Responsible for multiple sections of four different multimedia courses - on campus and online - covering visual presentation, web development, digital video, Flash animation, interactive exhibit design, technology for course delivery, and related topics.
  • Prepared and presented live and asynchronous lectures and lessons using Macromedia Breeze, PowerPoint, Web sites, Listserve, Blackboard, podcasts, wikis, other technologies and blended approaches.
  • Monitored and responded to course listserve postings and student e-mails.
  • Created PowerPoint presentations for various course modules.
  • Developed content-specific tutorials and job aids.
  • Performed course web site and grading database updates.
  • Assisted students on campus and online with technical and conceptual aspects of course assignments (See links to examples of some of their work here).

Metallic Power; Carlsbad, CA 2000-2002
Marketing Communications Manager

  • Lead strategic and tactical implementation of communications, multimedia, and training programs for technology start-up company.
  • Created complete literature kits to familiarize potential customers and investors with the company’s new technology.
  • Designed, wrote and implemented corporate web site for outreach communications and intranet to facilitate internal communication.
  • Directed public relations campaign that generated extensive coverage in national trade, technical and general press as well as local broadcast media - even though the company ultimately never launched a product.
  • Produced (including scripting, staging, directing, shooting and editing) 11 short documentary and training videos using in house resources to save more than $100,000 compared to outsourcing.

Deltec/Exide Electronics (now Eaton Powerware),
San Diego, CA 1982-1997 (Five positions detailed below)
Vice President of Marketing/Corporate Communications (1994-1997)

  • Oversaw complete marketing, corporate communications, and product training operations for electronic manufacturing company including management of as many as 25 employees and budgets up to $2.5M.
  • Developed and implemented annual marketing plans comprising public relations, press tours, advertising, product training, collateral, video productions, web content, trade shows, sales incentives, product management, competitive analysis, and technical documentation.
  • Contributed to winning corporate efforts for Deltec Electronics that increased worldwide sales from $20M to $130M
  • Demonstrated notable success in creating name recognition for both products and company - validated by numerous industry awards (including PC Magazine Editor’s Choice Awards), independent market studies and coverage in trade publications as well as local and national media.
  • Created and consulted on comprehensive communications and training programs for OEM customers such as Compaq, NCR (ATT), Unisys, HP, IBM and others.
  • Received 100% positive ratings from my staff in corporation-wide anonymous employee satisfaction surveys.

Product Marketing Manager (1987-1991)
and Director of Marketing (1991-1994)

  • Managed four- to eight-person marketing and technical publications departments and budgets up to $1.2M.
  • Involved in the development and launch of hardware, software and service products - including participation in product specification, research, appearance, competitive analysis, internal communication, training and promotion.
  • Attained significant cost savings and expedited time-to-market through intelligent use of existing resources, in-house talent, integration of computer systems, and implementation of advanced desktop publishing techniques.
  • Worked closely with Engineering Department to define and develop specifications for products that best met customer needs. Provided engineering, marketing, and training documentation for development activities and customer proposals.

Technical Publications Writer/Illustrator (1982-1985)
and Supervisor (1985-1987)

  • Supervised and participated in the creation of technical manuals and other written and graphic support material.
  • Employed strong technical skills and in-depth interviews with Engineering staff to generate all levels of hardware and software documentation as well as product specifications and technical proposals for power management product line.
  • Established corporate style guide to assure consistent look and feel of product documentation that had previously been created in a piecemeal fashion.
  • Supervised and mentored small entry-level staff to meet documentation needs of growing corporation.
  • Implemented corporation’s first use of automated documentation systems and intradepartmental networking.

Technical Skills

Advanced
Proficient

Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe In-Design Page Layout
Adobe Acrobat
Flash Animation
ImageReady/GIF Animation
Dreamweaver Web Design
Microsoft Word
Microsoft PowerPoint
iMovie Video Editing
Macromedia Breeze
Online Training & Conferencing

Final Cut Video Editing
Sound Editing (various programs)
ActionScript and Javascript
Cascading Style Sheets
Basic HTML Programming
Adobe GoLive Web Design
Quark Express Page Layout
FileMaker Pro Database
Microsoft Excel
Macromedia Captivate
Blackboard Learning
Management System

Academic Publications

Connell, S. (2006). Comparing blogs, wikis, and discussion boards as collaborative learning tools. In Wiki (book title is subject to change prior to publication in June 2006). Hyderabad, India: ICFAI University Press.

Connell, S. (2005). Graphic resolution: It’s all about the pixels, from http://soozzone.com/images/Resolution_Tutorial.swf

Connell, S. (2003). The modality principle. Encyclopedia of Educational Technology, from http://coe.sdsu.edu/eet/Articles/modality/start.htm

Connell, S. (2004). Uses for social software in education: A literature review, from http://soozzone.com/690review.htm

Affiliations

  • Apple Developer Connection, Student Member
  • Association for Educational Communications and Technology, Member
  • National Association of Photoshop Professionals, Member
  • San Diego Museum of Art, Member

Awards

  • Society for Technical Communications - Award of Excellence for Product Literature: 1993
  • Society for Technical Communications - Award of Merit for User Handbook: 1988
  • Friends of the UCSD Library Writing Contest - First Prize: 1980
  • National Merit Scholarship - Semifinalist: 1973

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