Suzanna Laurent: Revealing Your Hidden Value

Meeting Location: Holiday Inn Express, 3025 North Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, Florida 33607

Time: 7 pm

Cost: Free for members, $10 for guests.

Speaker Bio

Suzanna Laurent had a vision for STC’s future when she was elected Region 5 Director-Sponsor in 1999. While serving as STC’s president in 2005-06, she used that vision to successfully manage a year of unprecedented changes. She viewed the challenges as opportunities and hired an interim executive director. Then she worked to hire a new kind of executive director who would guide the Society’s board as they designed a new future for STC.

Suzanna’s Society service also includes making over 140 presentations at 38 conferences from Toronto to Hawaii. She has written over 65 articles for Intercom, Tieline, and STC newsletters. She has judged in local and international competitions, developed new Society recognition programs, and mentored dozens of members. For her outstanding service, she received the first ever STC LCR Volunteer of the Year award in 2006.

Suzanna’s business experience since earning her technical communication degree in 1986 includes developing various types of online help for software applications, developing award-winning course materials for three government agencies, and working as an entrepreneur.

A member of the STC Oklahoma chapter, Suzanna has served as every officer and managed most committees. She received a Distinguished Chapter Service Award, and her presidency culminated with the Chapter Achievement Award.

Program: Revealing Your Hidden Value

Have you ever felt as though technical communicators don’t get the proper respect and credit for the work we do? Although many sources tell us that we are important to the success and the bottom line of organizations, few of us actually feel crucial where we work. If we did, we would feel more respected for our work, and we wouldn’t have to worry that we might be the first ones laid off when the economy slows down. We wouldn’t have to be concerned that businesses hire people whom we don’t think are qualified to handle the responsibilities or do the work that we call technical communication. One way we can stop worrying and get more respect as well, is to take an active role in showing the value we add.

The technical communication profession enjoyed sustained economic growth for the last eight years of the twentieth century, so we entered this new millennium with high expectations for continued success. Our hopes were dashed as an uncertain economy took its toll. We have learned that this is going to be a lean year and that many companies will have fewer people to do the work. In most organizations, technical communicators, whether employees or contractors, still struggle for recognition and appropriate funding. We are under heavy pressure to justify our roles and activities. Too many product managers and subject-matter experts still think that “anyone can write” and “documentation isn’t very important.” To meet this challenge, it is up to us to change that mindset.

During this one-hour presentation, I will discuss ways to demonstrate the value we add, how to measure that value, and add even more value.