Shane Groth

Eden Prairie MN 55346 Phone: 763-428-2997

E-Mail: shane@deforestpress.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/shanegroth/
SUMMARY
Published author with 10 years experience as a technical writer and 20+ years experience in
writing, editing, publishing, layout, and project management. Specialties include:
Installation Instructions
User Guides
Specification and Product Data sheets
Software Manuals
Training Materials
Editorial and Writing Style Guidelines
Web Content and Blogging
Books and eBooks
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Senior Technical Writer - Contractor: Soulo Communications 07/2008 to present
Collaborated with engineers and marketing specialists to make changes to, or write clean sheet,
technical documentation for Honeywell, Inc., including Installation Instructions, User Guides,
Product Data and Specification Data sheets. Software: FrameMaker, InDesign, Illustrator,
Acrobat Pro, Photoshop, MS Office, WordPress, PageMaker, Google docs, many others.
Wrote technical writing guidelines and processes that shaved estimated 40-80 hours off
training and an ongoing 10% of writing time, along with 20% fewer errors.
Produced client documentation for PDFs that decreased project turn-around time by 10%.
Senior Technical Writer, Editor, Publisher: DeForest Press 04/2002 to present
Edited, wrote, organized material, designed layout, printed, marketed and provided project
management for a wide variety of technical documents and books, working with writers from
idea stage through final production.
Met publishing deadlines or completed projects early 96% of the time, under budget.
Wrote five books with total sales over 70,000 copies, all in top 25% of published market.
Nominated for 2014 Nate Wilson Award at UCLA for best screenplay and student most
likely to succeed in screenwriting industry.
Provided consistent writing, branding, design and layout for all corporate
communications (web content, pamphlets, catalogs) that helped increase book sales 33%.
Wrote and marketed two national newsletters for writers and nonprofit leaders. Appeared
in StarTribune and on WCCO radio.
Wrote 60+ articles for business, nonprofit, sports and greeting card (humorous) markets.
Shane Groth Tech Writer Resume, Page 2

Writer: Fingerhut Corporation 01/2000 to 04/2002
Penned catalog copy for a wide variety of products and complex formats based on the strategic
direction of various marketing teams. Product areas: electronics, fitness, health, and household.
Wrote most successful ad for Fingerhut with sales of $280,000 for one mailing.
Developed writing and editing guidelines that decreased errors by estimated 20%.
Pastor of Adult Education: Lord of Life Church 08/1996 to 01/2000
Developed, wrote, marketed, implemented and/or taught over 30 different classes for targeted
adult curriculum. Worked with volunteers on strategic direction of adult education program.
Increased adult education class participation from 100 people to 500 people in 12 months.
Wrote new weekly email devotionals that created 600-1,000 followers within 9 months.
Director, Venture Technical Group: Augsburg Publishers 03/1993 to 08/1996
Created and launched software and electronic books for internal and external customers, along
with marketing and distribution. Wrote User Guides and implemented help desk for support.
Developed first eBooks in industry that seamlessly worked together with other eBooks.
Wrote software manuals that customers claimed were the best manuals they ever used.
Worked with software developer to create #1 rated church management software.
Created and implemented technical support help desk, along with policies and
procedures, nine months earlier than estimate and saved $20,000 from consulting firm.
Renegotiated two software support contracts that saved $45,000.
Taught creativity classes to product development teams to expand products and markets.
Editor: Augsburg Publishers 01/1991 to 03/1993
Designed and implemented innovative Bible study curriculum for adult audience. Edited
manuscripts using Chicago Manual of Style for grammar, punctuation, spelling, clarity, and
biblical accuracy. Coordinated with artists and writers and led writer workshops.
Planned, wrote software manual, and taught beginning to advanced computer training to
35 editors transitioning to XyWrite (mark-up software), saving company $10,000.
EDUCATION
Professional Program in Screenwriting (one year graduate program), UCLA, Los Angeles, CA.
M.Div., Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN.
B.A., Biology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.
3M Creative Problem-solving course (40 hours).