April 21 Meeting – STC-SWO
Many of us have contemplated working independently–and a number of us have gone that route. But have you ever wondered what it is really like to start and run your own techcomm documentation and training company? Where it is actually someone’s (practically) full-time job to drum up business? Where you actually have employees, either on the payroll or on a contract basis?
Like everything else, running such a business has its risks and rewards. More than 10 years ago, Bob and Angie Dianetti of Hudson, OH (with a number of years of work experience behind them and three young children–the fourth came a few years later), decided to take the plunge. Today, they have 20 employees and have had to increase their office space twice over the past decade.
You may never go the same route as the Dianettis. But the opportunity to join a similar entity in the form of a partnership or consortium may be just around the corner. Plus, many aspects of starting a techcomm business are universal and applicable to starting and running any sort of business. Here is one person’s perspective on this often-misunderstood way to make a living.
Our speaker is Bob Dianetti
An STC Associate Fellow and former board member, Bob is founder, co-owner, and president of Radcom, Inc., (www.radcoms ervices.com) a professional services consulting firm specializing in training design/development, human capital development, and technical communication.
With more than 20 years of experience in instructional design and technical communication, Bob is in a unique position to develop strategic and tactical solutions for Radcom’s Fortune 500 clients. Radcom has enjoyed 14 years of success, helping people at more than 110 client companies do their jobs better through quality training and documentation content. Bob’s goal is to continue to develop his clients’ human capital assets and provide superior service, even on the most challenging of projects.
Increasing Your Value as a Technical Communicator
Increasing your value as a technical communicator is the overall theme of the 2009-2010 SWO programs. Keeping options open, increasing and improving capabilities, and learning to do more even though budgets are smaller and resources are reduced-these are all ways we can improve our chances for success in challenging times.
Date: Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Agenda:
- Networking: 5:30 p.m.
- Dinner: 6:00 p.m.
- Program: 6:45 p.m.
Menu: A variety of sandwiches, salads, and beverages
Cost:
- Members: $15
- Non-members: $25 (in advance via PayPal only)
- Students: $12
- Program only: $5 for members and students; $15 for non-members
Click here for instructions about Pay Pal payments.
No shows will be billed.
Registration Deadline: Monday, April 19, 2010, by noon. To register, send an email to program@stc-swo.org.
Please include your name, email address, membership status (member, non-member, or student), and how you will pay (cash, check, or Pay Pal).
Non-members must pay in advance via Pay Pal. All no shows will be billed.
Location:
Indiana Wesleyan Dayton Education Center
Directions:
From Interstate 75 (North or South):
- Take Exit 50A (Dryden Road) and turn right at the end of the exit ramp.
- Go to the first traffic signal and turn right onto Springboro West (NOT Springboro Pike).
- Indiana Wesleyan University is the 2nd building on the left (3-story tan brick).
- Come to the reception area on the 3rd floor to find our exact location in the building.
Please join us as we learn. what we need to know to start a techcomm documentation and training company.
Sincerely,
SWO STC Program Committee
