I was reading a blog post called Top 50 Technical Writers on the Web and prepared to submit the names I thought were missing from the list. Then, I realized that many of us have our own “Top 50” list…those industry leaders who made a huge impact on our career. Several in our industry have published their lists, such as the annual list by MindTouch. So, I thought I would list several industry leaders who have influenced me a great deal over the years.

Char James-Tanny

Char has shared her knowledge about various tools and technologies with me. She brings an open vision to new technologies and how we could use them to improve our communication methods.

Cheryl Locket-Zubak

Cheryl gave a presentation back in the mid 1990s that started my exploration and experimentation with embedded help. This approach to delivering content when and where the user needs it has shaped my design ideals in many ways.

Joe Welinske

Joe puts together one of the best technical communication conferences each year focused on user assistance. I’ve enjoyed talking about different topics with Joe and the many industry leaders he draws to his conferences.

Alan Houser

I’ve worked with Alan Houser on many STC projects and we’ve shared ideas at many conferences. He challenges me to consider different perspectives, and to approach issues in new ways.

There are many others who I should include in my list, such as Ria Vanderauwera (an incredible editor and mentor), Sarah O’Keefe, Andrea Ames, and Tony Self. Who has influenced you?

Please feel free to add your list of favorites to this post as a comment. I look forward to learning more from your key influencers.