J. Michael Wagoner: Technical Editor and Illustrator

JAMES (MICHAEL) WAGONER
Goodview, VA
carsnart@hotmail.com

TECHNICAL EDITOR & ILLUSTRATOR
Technical Editor and Illustrator with a 24-year career in the automotive industry who has experience working with international organizations and start-ups. Highly detail oriented, creative, out-of-the box thinker who understands the importance of customer service and develops business solutions that positively impact the bottom line. Understands and values constructive criticism to ensure customer satisfaction. Diplomatic in dealing with team members and domestic or international customers with the ability to bridge cultural gaps and build relationships. Graphic art design abilities.

Technical Skills include: Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, ProEngineer 3D geometry software package, Auto-trol 2D illustration system, Global Parts systems, Internal company Data Management programs/systems, Graphic Arts Libraries, MS Excel, MS Word, and basic knowledge of AutoCAD. Sketching ability and ink, pencil and color rendering.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
THE GODFREY GROUP, INC, Durham, NC 2006-11/2008
Produces Custom designed and built Trade Show Displays for over 30 years.
TECHNICAL ILLUSTRATOR/WRITER

• Organize, sketch and draw 3 dimensional exploded assembly instructions for custom displays. Photos are taken with a digital camera, edited in Photoshop and augment illustrations. Final illustrations are performed with Adobe Illustrator in closed polygon format. Final Instructions are converted into .pdf files and sent to the customer via Email.

VOLVO TRUCKS CORPORATION, Greensboro, NC 2000 – 5/2004
The world’s second largest producer of both standard and custom heavy trucks for both domestic and international clients.
TECHNICAL EDITOR

• Organized, sketched and delegated over 300 standard and custom computer illustrations for assembly plant and dealer parts catalogs. Primarily responsible for illustrations of the transmission area and for engine installation.


• Worked closely with engineering and the plant to structure parts by specific options and design.


• Documented custom truck orders and helped develop new manuals for custom-ordered trucks.


• Recognized as a valuable and effective interface working with Engineers/Customers from China and India by demonstrating respect and cooperation to build a strong business relationship that obtained desired results.


• Provided initial and on-going training of new team members.

GM TRUCK GROUP, Pontiac, MI 1993 – 2000
General Motors Corporation is the world’s largest full line vehicle manufacturer of both cars and trucks. The GM Truck Group, headquartered at the Centerpoint Business Campus in Pontiac, MI, is a vehicle development group within its North American Operations.
SENIOR PROCESSOR

• Designed sketches from prototype vehicles to establish Prototype Build Documents (PDM).


• Processed Engineering Work Orders, parts list and layouts to maintain current PDM's.


• Requested 3D design data downloads to be illustrated in Auto-trol.


• Reviewed and updated graphics for prototype, pilot, and SSV builds at national GM sites.


• Recipient of several awards for submitting ideas that improved productivity and saved money.


• Developed hand drawings and assembly procedures to improve the installation of a faulty antenna in the Northstar system that eliminated a serious production problem.

SATURN CORPORATION, Troy MI 1986 – 1993
GRAPHICS SPECIALIST

• Provided illustrations for electrical and HVAC design groups and supported the Graphics Group.


• Utilized Auto-trol software for illustrations and generated many manual illustrations.


• Responsible for NOAs and audit of part numbers to provide the most current graphics. Also experienced in computer training.


• Developed initial hand-drawings of a completely new installation of the Saturn transmission system with no reference material as a guide. Then re-generated the drawings in Auto-trol. Functioned as the lead person in charge to learn system and train the graphics team on how to properly utilize.

MERCEDES BENZ/FREIGHTLINER TRUCK CORPORATION, Portland, OR 1985 – 1986
TECHNICAL ILLUSTRATOR

• Researched, organized, and maintained Module Illustration books that contained exploded isometric illustrations created on both CADCAM computer and the drafting board.

VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION, Greensboro, NC 1982 – 1985
TECHNICAL ILLUSTRATOR

• Researched, organized, published, and maintained company technical manuals.


• Produced technical drawings, artwork, photo retouching, and camera work for slide presentations, manuals, and reference materials.


• Prepared artwork and layouts for corporate meetings, company calendars, and brochures.

FREIGHTLINER (FORMERLY THOMAS BUS, INC.), High Point, NC 1980 – 1982
MARKETING SPECIALIST/TECHNICAL ILLUSTRATOR

• Negotiated a contract position as a Technical Illustrator, which became a full time position after the company saw the potential and value of the position to the organization.


• Worked with the marketing department to identify illustrations that we not up-to-date or accurate, which improved customer satisfaction.

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Train the Trainer
Company Related Support Software
Stephen Covey, Working with Difficult People
Stephen Covey, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

EDUCATION
Commercial Illustration and Advertising Coursework
Kendall College of Art and Design, Grand Rapids, MI