Presented by Steve Greffenius

Trade journals still exist. Books do, too. Even paper exists. Yet digital information has changed most of what we took for granted about how to share ideas and expertise with other people. Technology gives every person tools to write, publish, and distribute complex material. Experts do not have to wait for an acceptance letter or a publishing contract. You can build your own house, with less trouble than you think.

RTFM assumes consultants want to establish themselves as experts in their  specialties. It also assumes that writing can - often does - help that process along. In fact, proficient writing, and ability to reach your audience, can make a substantial difference in your consulting practice. That's the motivational part. For practical advice, plus discussion of tools and techniques useful to consulting engineers who want to publish their ideas, attend this presentation.

About Our Speaker:

Since 1997, Steven Greffenius has managed complicated document production tasks for large and small firms in greater Boston. He develops technical content for customers, software developers, engineers, scientists, and system administrators who want to succeed with hard-to-learn products and services. Today's hardware and software systems are complex. Steve learns these systems thoroughly and quickly. He writes about them clearly and economically.

Steve’s career as a writer and leader began in the United States Navy in the Western Pacific, where as a junior officer he managed a division that maintained shipboard communications and radar equipment. After military service, he worked as a graduate student, then as a teacher and researcher for academic institutions located in the United States and overseas. He became a technical writer and editor full time when he moved to Boston in 1997, and has worked in that field steadily for almost twenty years. Explore Puzzle Mountain Digital's website to learn about the work Steve has accomplished for Boston’s technology firms in finance, health care, manufacturing control systems, laboratory and electronic instruments, the semiconductor industry, embedded software, and internet services.

Steven has published numerous articles on writing and other elements of technical documentation. His latest book, published in 2016, is RTFM: Practical Advice for Smart Writers. He received his bachelor’s degree in history from Reed College, as well as a master’s and Ph.D. in political science from the University of Iowa. He taught politics at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, the Hopkins-Nanjing Center in Nanjing, China, and Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Currently he lives with his family in Westwood, Massachusetts.)

PLEASE NOTE: The meeting is open to the public. No charge for Consultants Network members or employees of Constant Contact; $5 entrance fee for all others. Casual dress.

The Consultants Network meeting starts at 6:30 PM.  The meeting will take place at Constant Contact, Reservoir Place - 1601 Trapelo Road, Waltham, MA 02451, in the Great Room on the third floor.

A no host, PRE-MEETING DINNER will take place at 5:15 PM (sharp) at Bertucci's, 475 Winter Street, Waltham, MA (exit 27B, Rte. 128)

Driving Directions to Constant Contact

Follow I-95/route 128 to Trapelo Rd in North Waltham, Waltham. Take exit 28 from I-95/route 128.(https://goo.gl/maps/tvn3I)

Consultants Network meetings generally take place on the fourth Tuesday of each month, but are not held during the summer months. 

For more information, e-mail or contact the chairman Frederick Beihold, at 508-405-0499. tbog@rcn.com