MY BACKGROUND
For more than 25 years, I have worked in publications as a proofreader, copyeditor, and technical writer. I’ve worked on software and hardware technical manuals, technical proposals, civil engineering texts and standards, scholarly books, trade books, advertisements, and conference materials.
As manuscripts moved from the typed page to the screen, I’ve needed to keep up with new tools and applications for online publishing. Website design and content development was the natural progression.
Two years ago, I started taking web design classes and got my feet wet by serving as volunteer webmaster for my daughter’s high school choir website. I’ve been working steadily on web projects for small businesses and individuals ever since.
WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT LIFE CYCLE
As a technical writer working on software development projects, I learned a basic life-cycle engineering process that I apply to website development: requirements analysis, design, development, testing, and maintenance. By following this process, I am able to help small businesses focus their needs and expectations for their websites. This also ensures consistency with their business plans and collateral materials, such as printed brochures and advertising.
One thing that stands out from my experience so far is that some business owners expect their websites to create an identity for their business. In fact, it should be the other way around. The business also must be committed to providing an excellent product and good customer service. Working together, we'll create a website that will become an important tool that can help your business grow and be successful.
The Ginkgo - A Symbol of Endurance
Ginkgo biloba is believed to be the oldest living seed plant, dating in the fossil record to the Permian period. Individual trees can live up to 3,000 years.
To me, the Ginkgo symbolizes tenacity and endurance. There is a magnificent grove of 350 trees in the Blandy Experimental Farm at The State Arboretum of Virginia near Winchester. Every fall, I visit the grove with my husband and daughter to see the trees as the leaves turn a brilliant lemony yellow. It is one of my favorite places in the world.