Michael
Tolinski
Phone: (734) 604-1735 (based near Plymouth,
Michigan)
WORK
HISTORY
Contributing editor for
industrial trade publications (1997-2012)
Have written and edited
feature articles for technical magazines published by the Society of Plastics
Engineers (2004-2012 (current); www.4spe.org) and the Society of Manufacturing
Engineers (1997-2008; www.sme.org), including Plastics Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering magazines.
Also
have written video documentary scripts for the Society of Manufacturing
Engineers (2006-2010).
Also selected and edited
technical articles and news content for SME’s e-newsletters Dies &
Stamping News and Automated Welding (2000-2003).
Recent projects have
covered developments in manufacturing equipment, processes, software, materials,
and environmental issues. Preparation of editorial material has required:
o
interviewing
technical experts;
o
planning
and formatting photography, artwork, and graphics;
o
using
online and library research resources;
o
visiting
conferences and manufacturing facilities; and
o
editing early and final versions of documents
for publication.
B2B writer and
technical editor (1998-2012)
Provided various services
as an independent contractor, including:
o
business-to-business
public relations writing for marketing communications agencies and e-commerce
firms;
o
whitepaper
writing and ghostwriting about plastics and manufacturing issues and equipment;
and
o
technical editing for engineering trade
publishers.
College instructor
(2000-2011)
(2010-11) As a special lecturer
in business writing at Oakland University (Rochester, MI), introduced business
argumentation structures and organizational document forms in a third-year
undergraduate course.
(2000-2002; 2004-2007) As
a lecturer in technical communication for the University of Michigan’s College
of Engineering (Ann Arbor), introduced technical writing and oral presentation
concepts to students in the classroom, helping undergraduate and graduate
students improve their reports, presentations, and dissertations via short
lectures and one-on-one instruction.
(2003) As
an adjunct professor at Grand Valley State University (Allendale, MI), taught
an upper-level business writing course exploring all forms of business
communication.
Engineer for various
automotive suppliers (1990-97)
Provided
engineering support for the manufacture and development of automotive trim and
hardware systems.
Duties included:
o
Creating
procedures for testing components & systems;
o
Presenting
quality system procedures to other employees;
o
Assisting
customers in making product improvements; and
o Following engineering changes through design, prototype, and production.
RECENT
INDUSTRY EVENT PARTICIPATION
SPE Automotive
Innovation Awards
Judge, 2004-2009, 2011
SPE Global Plastics
Environmental Conference
(GPEC)
Presenter, 2011, Atlanta,
GA: “Marketing
the Message of Sustainable Plastics Packaging”
EDUCATION
The University of
Michigan (Ann Arbor)
B.S.E. in 1990 (Materials
Science & Engineering)
Eastern
M.A. in 1999 (English;
concentration in Written Communication/Professional Writing)
(Portfolio, clips, and
references are available)