Doculex, Inc., Communicator Captures Fourth Annual Jaffe Award as Area's Outstanding Technical Communicator

Alan Gaynor, a technical publications information designer with DocuLex, Inc.,
was recognized for pioneering practical innovations that have substantially contributed
to the company's business base.

Alan Gaynor, technical publications information designer for DocuLex, Inc., of Winter Haven, is the fourth Central Florida recipient of a Gloria Jaffe Outstanding Technical Communicator Award. These awards, presented annually by the Orlando Chapter of the Society for Technical Communication (STC), recognize achievement by technical communicators and recognize the Central Florida businesses that significantly benefit through their employment.

The Jaffe Award is named for Orlando Chapter founder and retired University of Central Florida (UCF) Technical Communication professor Gloria Jaffe. Her leadership is reflected in the enduring communication values prized by the Orlando Chapter and in the professionalism of UCF graduates who had the opportunity to study with her.

Gaynor was selected for leadership, business, and educational contributions to his company and the profession of technical communication. At Doculex, he established the technical writing department, setting its standards for technical communication. He implemented several business processes that improved the quality of his company's documents, increased standardization, reduced costs, and reduced the lead time for deliverables. He established a version control system for his company's technical publications and a two-cycle documentation review process. Gaynor shares his knowledge both at work and in the broader professional community by giving presentations that introduce audiences to cutting-edge ideas and new directions for our skill sets, both current and future.

The Orlando Chapter also recognized two runners-up for their achievements. Boni Sherman, program communications lead with Lockheed Martin Missiles & Fire Control in Orlando, was recognized for her superior leadership skills as she and her team research and create technical reports on advanced electro-optical systems, new system proposals, executive presentations, brochures, news articles, and press releases in support of integrated communication plans.

Mary Ellen Gomrad, an instructor in Technical Communication at UCF, was recognized for her lifelong contributions to education, her commitment to leadership, and her accomplishments in furthering the profession between UCF and the business community. She prepares students for the workplace by providing them with real projects that result in real solutions for local businesses, including operations manuals, employee handbooks, and volunteer guides.

The award presentation was a highlight at the March 28 Orlando Chapter STC meeting. Professor Jaffe presented the awards in person. She expressed her pleasure in seeing how many chapter members are graduates of the UCF Technical Communication program she founded two decades ago.

Christina Hammock, Jaffe Contest Manager, said, "It is extremely satisfying to acknowledge the technical contributions of these leading communicators and the exemplary roles they have with their employers. They represent Mrs. Jaffe's vision for the technical writing program she developed, and they set the standard that our members strive for in businesses throughout Central Florida."

The Society for Technical Communication is the world's largest professional organization in its field with over 18,000 members in 159 professional communities worldwide. STC members work as technical writers, editors, illustrators, managers, educators, translators, and other communicators who make technical information understandable and available to those who need it. Information about STC can be found at its website at www.stc.org.