Contributions to a Body of Knowledge
One of the reasons Rahel has earned the designation of fellow of the STC is her contribution to the body of knowledge that comprises technical communication. Rahel is at the forefront of the profession, working with new methods and technology as well as teaching solid foundational skills. For example, Rahel teaches a course on creating structured content for content management, covering XML, DITA, and the basics of writing in a structured manner. She has organized and chaired a conference on content convergence and is organizing another one for 2010, in the hopes of alerting the profession to trends she is noticing.
Rahel speaks to groups outside the STC, bringing awareness and understanding of what technical communicators have to contribute to people who are not aware of technical communication. She helps people who specialize in other areas to realize what we do, what we’re concerned with, and why. For example, Rahel is working with the High-Tech Communicators Exchange to present a talk on content convergence with them.
In her role as teacher, Rahel helps students learn through a mixture of lecture, group activities, some theory, and lots of practice. Her courses are very relevant and hands-on, for example teaching practical skills such as using XMetaL as an authoring tool.
Contributions to the STC and Others in the Profession
Another reason Rahel deserves the distinction of fellow is her contribution to the STC and to helping others with their careers. Rahel has been an active member of the STC Canada West Coast chapter for many years, contributing in a wide variety of capacities. She is currently our innovation strategist. In that role, she switched our chapter website to a micro-CMS several years ago, then shared that information through an article so other chapters could do the same. She was also instrumental in bringing our September 2008 chapter meeting to a remote audience. She asked the right question—how can we implement our goal of becoming a virtual chapter?—and then pitched in with finding the volunteers with the technical expertise to make it happen.
In the past she supported the STC CWC to sponsor a regional conference in Vancouver, bringing awareness to the chapter and providing an opportunity for members of our profession to showcase our talents. The chapter bank account is still rich from this conference, which occurred about five years ago.
Rahel also spent years on the international STC board, during a tough economic climate much like today’s. She worked with chapters, talking about trends and ways their members could find jobs in the new economies. In her roles as teacher and as the principal of Intentional Design, Rahel trains and mentors newcomers to the profession. She is always supportive of others in their careers, creating partnership and peers. Rahel participates heavily in social media and acts as a “connector” to get people talking.
Accomplishments and Qualities of Leadership
Many accomplishments and qualities distinguish Rahel as being at the level of an STC fellow. In addition to serving at every level of the STC CWC chapter, from PR to president, Rahel is currently Chair of the Canada West chapter of Content Management Professionals.
Rahel has supported the STC CWC chapter to make innovative changes to the ways we serve our members, twice helping us earn the STC’s Chapter Pacesetter Award: for showing a willingness to embark on new journeys; and for not only embracing change, but implementing innovative technologies for the betterment of our community and others.
Rahel is in the company of the senior professionals in our field, having worked in the field of technical communication from its infancy 30 years ago. She has worked tirelessly to continue her growth as a professional. She hasn’t just achieved competency and rested on her laurels—she continues to develop her expertise through interaction with her peers at conferences, bringing what she learns into practice through innovation in serving her clients’ communication needs, and always continuing to serve her various communities. She is a firm believer in life-long learning and leads by example.
Rahel is an exceptional professional, in every regard. She has a profound understanding of the issues of technical communication in every arena, including advocating for user needs, developing clear communications to meet her clients’ goals, working with the international STC community, teaching, and learning. She is passionate about keeping technical communication relevant, and keeps an eye on innovation trends so she can pass this knowledge along to help tech writers keep up.
A Personal Note in Closing
To conclude on a personal note, I have seen Rahel’s professional expertise and reputation continue to increase during the past 12 years that I have known her, and view Rahel as absolutely top in her field. In my current position as president of the STC CWC, I have been delighted that Rahel is a member of my team. I appreciate her straightforwardness in presenting her views about our chapter’s purpose in serving our members. I appreciate her support of the chapter’s current two-pronged vision of becoming a virtual chapter to better serve remote members and busy people, and making a difference in our communities inclusive of and beyond the STC. Her strong roots in the STC CWC chapter and her connections in the international STC community provide stability to a chapter that has many volunteers who are new to the profession. I am confident that I can call on Rahel’s professional expertise to sustain the chapter’s caliber of excellence—a level of excellence that exists in great degree due to Rahel’s many contributions over the years. If there is anyone who seems to be truly passionate about our profession, it is Rahel. Jolly good.
