Return to Home Page

C. A. Callahan

Technical Writer/Technical Trainer/Consultant- Specializing in technical material and designing hands on labs for corporate clients, conferences, and online training.

 Objective:  To write high quality, informative and easy to read technical books, courseware, and articles. To obtain a challenging and worthwhile training position that affords me a chance to travel and learn new technology (or better master the technology I already know).  One that preferably includes technical writing and/or consulting.  No class too long, no trip too far, no lesson too hard to learn. 

Professional Experience:

SharePoint Virtual Conference 

Speaker

November 5-7, 2008 

Presenting three, pre-recorded sessions for an online virtual conference, sponsored by SSWUG (SQL Server World-Wide Users Group) and Idera.  The short and sweet sessions will cover disaster recovery, pumping up list views, and exploring those free and useful templates (and more) from Microsoft-- before you build your own, you should see if you can take advantage of the under-advertised tools and templates available for free from Microsoft.

Tech°Ed 2008

Ambassador/Moderator, Birds of a Feather

June 3-6 and 10-13, 2008

Responsible for being a representative of the Microsoft MCT Community Lounge, as well the Certification Lounge.  Including assisting attendees in a number of roles; from in depth preparation for certification, to explanations as to what certified trainers are and how to become one. 

In addition, I moderated (led) the Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 discussion session for small to medium businesses (or any other size of business, for that matter) that were either considering WSS 3.0, or already had it deployed. The session revolved around the does and don'ts concerning the product, with suggestions, tips, and tricks.

IT360 Conference and Expo (Toronto, Canada)

Presenter

April 7-9, 2008

Presenting four sessions covering a range of products from System Center Data Protection Manager 2007, to Virtualization with Virtual PC and Virtual Server, to Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 (Introduction and Monitoring).

StudioB (Revision:  5060B- Implementing Windows SharePoint Services 3.0)

Subject Matter Expert (SME)

December 2007

This project is currently indefinitely on hold for scope changes. Subject Matter Expert revising and updating the 5060A- Implementing Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 MOC courseware.  Responsibilities include revising the course outline, Course Design Specifications (CDS), student workbook, labs, and instructor guide; as well as rewriting portions of the course necessary to improve quality and technical accuracy, and updating the content to support Windows Server 2008. Responsible also for working closely with the VM team, offering guidance and advice concerning the virtual environment for the course.

Mastering Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 (Wiley publishing)

Author

Release:  December 2007

Primary Author.  1104 pages of SharePoint goodness. Covering everything from installation, lists, libraries, web parts, sites, site collections, web applications, to administration, maintenance and monitoring, to advanced configuration and installation.  This book was intended to give IT administrators mastery over WSS 3.0, without having to master web development as well.

Windows Connections, spring 2007 (Orlando, Florida)

Speaker

April 2007

Presented a pre-conference workshop on Demystifying Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, focusing on the IT administrator's point of view.  In addition I presented a short session on Backing up and Restoring Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, as well as a three part series called "Leveraging SharePoint's Forgotten Gems," covering the less well known features of lists, views, and list view web parts, that increase the usefulness of these overlooked features.  SharePoint isn't just about document management.

Windows Connections 2006- (Las Vegas, Mandalay Bay)

Speaker

November 2006

Presented a pre-conference session on Vista deployment, focusing on ImageX, System Image Manager, and more, with an overview of Windows Deployment Services. In addition, I covered shorter sessions on topics ranging from Windows SharePoint Services, to Network Access Quarantine Control and Network Access Protection.

Pogue Press/O'Reilly

Contributing Author- Windows Vista: The Missing Manual (w/David Pogue)

July/August 2006

Having beta tested Vista and done numerous presentations on the subject, was tapped to write the Control Panel chapter (with some additional content) of David's Missing Manual. I consider this my first foray into user readership.

TechEd 2006- (Boston)

Ambassador/ Instructor

Instructor Led Labs

June 2006

Presented two hands-on, instructor led labs introducing the administrative changes in Windows SharePoint Services 3.0.  Proctored numerous other Instructor Led Labs as a MCT Ambassador.

Wiley

Contributing Author- Mastering Server 2003 R2 (w/ Mark Minasi)

April/May 2006

Contributed a two hundred page Windows Sharepoint Services 2.0 chapter for the revision edition of the Mastering Windows Server 2003 (R2) book.

NetworkWorld/LinuxWorld Expo-(Toronto, Canada)

Speaker

April 2006

Back by popular demand.  Presented three, three-hour sessions.  The first of which covered five different free services available in Server 2003.  The next introduced Windows deployment both as it stands in Windows 2003, with a preview of Longhorn server's Windows Deployment Services and Ximage. And finally a deep dish presentation of Network Access Quarantine Control and a preview of Network Access Protection available in Longhorn and Vista.

NetworkWorld/LinuxWorld Expo- (Toronto, Canada)

Speaker

April 2005

Carried the Windows Security track.  Presented five three-hour sessions, three of which were hands-on labs.  Created all new material.  Designed and implemented the three labs using Virtual PC 2004. Each lab contained a small domain for each student, which consisted of a 2003 domain controller and client.  The sessions were:

• Securing Windows XP with Service Pack 2 in the Enterprise (and an Introduction to AntiSpyware) 

• Securing Windows 2003 in the Enterprise (with a focus on Network Access Quarantine Control)

• Hands-on Lab-- Securing Windows XP with Service Pack2 and AntiSpyware in the Enterprise

• Hands-on Lab-- Using Virtual PC 2004

• Hands-on Lab-- Software Management using Windows Server 2003 (Deployment and Software Restrictions)

These sessions are currently available for presentation at your event or location.  In addition, they can be modified or extended.  Contact CallahanTech for more details.

Mastermind Project (ComputerTraining Inc.)

Technical Author

September-January 2004

Wrote explanation material for Mastermind MCSE 2003 practice tests 70-293, 70-294, and 70-297. Worked as part of a team to create the practice exam material.  Responsible for accuracy, clarity and relevance.  Other tasks included editing and error checking other authors' additions to the project.

Microsoft

Presenter, TechNet Security Briefings (consultant)

February-June 2004

Presented Level 300 security content (Implementing Network Security/Implementing Application Security), traveling extensively throughout the US as part of Microsoft's Initiative to educate 500,000 customers in 2004.   Satisfaction rating average of over 8.0 (scale 1 to 9).

Sybex

Co-author, Mastering Windows Server 2003 (w/Mark Minasi)

Specializing in integration and software deployment, wrote three chapters covering the technical overview of Server 2003's interoperability with Apple Macintosh clients and servers, Novell Netware, and Active Directory's deployment capabilities through Group Policy.

CallahanTech

(Owner) Technical Trainer/Technical Writer

December 1999 – Present

Technical and applications training at various on-site locations.  Customized courses (ILT, online, and CBT), courseware, and extensive needs assessment and follow-up offered.  Specializing in eleventh hour certification prep, difficult to teach groups, and cradle to grave corporate office training.  Also offering generalized instructional training courses, as well as instructor training specific to the computer technology field. 

Pittsburgh Technical Institute

Technical Trainer 

April 2000 – November 2000

Presenting Technical classes in a semester long environment, requiring extensive curriculum modification.  Credit courses involving formal quizzes, homework, and scoring, as well as lecture and lab.  Due to extended class length, intensive hands on experience and topic mastery required.

New Horizons Training Center

Technology Trainer (A+ and Microsoft Certification)

August 1999 – December 1999

Technical Trainer, specializing in A+ certification courses.  Continued high student satisfaction (an evaluation average of 9.5 out of 10) and high exam pass rates for qualified students.  Created and implemented a necessary prerequisite course for the A+ certification track, writing the new courseware in the process.  Capable of teaching the majority of software courses offered, focusing on hard to teach and advanced courses.

CompUSA Training Center

Technology Trainer (A+ Certification)

April 1997 – August 1999

A+ Certified Technician Trainer for the Pittsburgh region.  Pioneered the CompUSA A+ Training Program for the Pittsburgh site.  96% pass rate for qualified A+ students.  Only qualified Instructor to train trainers for the National On-Site Social Security Administration (SSA) Project for the Pittsburgh training centers.  9.5 out of 10 average student evaluation scores. Able to teach more than 90% of all standard courses offered by CompUSA, as well as specializing in accounting, business packages, and internet related topics.

RK Promotions

Office Manager

June 1996 – April 1997

Responsible for all business administration:  accounts receivable & payable, payroll, inventory, office hardware, phone and computer systems.  Purchased, installed, networked, configured, and maintained business computers.  Trained staff in proper use of computer systems and software.

USA Specialty Co.

Operations Manager

March 1995- June 1996

Handled all business issues of a small office: customer service, order processing, invoicing, accounts receivable & payable, and payroll.   Installed small office network, upgraded software, purchased additional computers, maintained company web pages and email accounts.

CCAC (Community College of Allegheny Co.)

Instructor

February 1995 – March 1995

Taught one semester course that covered basic to intermediate skills in general computer use, DOS file management, and WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS.  Generated syllabus and weekly lessons to supplement required courseware. 

 

Technical Certifications:

Technical Conferences / Seminars:

Professional Communities/Organizations:

List of individual courses taught and references available by request

(thank you for reading this far)