writer-tech.com was formed in 1999 by Ed and Deb Comeau to bring together the worlds of communications and fire safety. Over the years we have evolved from a focus on just technical writing into areas that now include not only technical writing but grant writing, project management, social media management, website development and management and digital media production.
Ed Comeau
Ed Comeau
I have been involved with the fire service and fire safety since 1980 when I was a fire fighter with the Amherst Fire Department while obtaining my degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Massachusetts. I went on to be a corporate fire protection engineer for Prime Computers, responsible for developing and overseeing fire safety throughout the corporation.
In 1988, I became a fire protection engineer for the Phoenix Fire Department. Most of my career at PFD was spent in the department’s Training and Special Operations Division where I helped develop training programs in hazardous materials, technical rescue, urban search and rescue and recruit training. Yes, I got paid to train to rappel out of helicopters...
In 1994, I returned to Massachusetts where I became the chief fire investigator for the National Fire Protection Association. In this position, I investigated incidents around the globe related to the development of NFPA codes and standards and wrote in-depth technical investigations on these incidents.
In 1999, I formed writer-tech.com, a technical writing firm focusing on fire safety. I have provided a broad range of services, from manuscript editing to digital communications and have been involved in a number of Fire Prevention and Safety Grants for clients such as the Institution of Fire Engineers - USA Branch, the International Association of Fire Fighters, the National Association of State Fire Marshals, the Michael H. Minger Foundation, the People’s Burn Foundation of Indiana, the Clery Center for Security on Campus and the Washington State Association of Fire Marshals.
In 2000, realizing there was a gap in fire safety information for colleges and universities, I started publishing an electronic newsletter, Campus Firewatch. From this beginning, I launched an annual conference on campus fire safety, a series of programs in Washington that brought students to Capitol Hill to meet with legislators to advocate for legislation and the creation of the annual National Campus Fire Safety Month. I was the founding director of the Center for Campus Fire Safety and I have helped to raise awareness about the importance of campus fire safety nationwide.
Over the years I have developed a capability of communicating in print, web, podcast and video that I use extensively in all of my projects.
I have been involved in a series of video productions, most lately The Alarming Truth, Did YOU Know? and Home Safety Visits Work for Us, which you can also see on my Video Production page. I have started producing a tutorial, which grew out of a class I did at a conference, on how to do video productions on my Youtube channel. I produced two series of podcasts for Firehouse Magazine called Fire Marshals Corner and Campus Firewatch.
I manage several websites using WordPress including the Vision 20/20 collection (Vision 20/20, Advocacy Toolkit, Home Safety Visit Guide, Community Risk Reduction Guide) and Campus Firewatch. I also manage a number of client’s social media channels in Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
I am a Solutions Provider for the email outreach service Constant Contact, and I can provide you with assistance in getting up and running with email outreach campaigns to your citizens, constituents or customers.
Deb Comeau
Deb Comeau
Deb is the one that makes the company work. With a degree in Organizational Management from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, she applies her skills in managing writer-tech.com's operations and ensuring that we are staying on track. She has an extensive background in accounting and bookkeeping, coupled with her experience in managing office operations in medicine, municipalities and academia, that makes writer-tech.com the success that it is today.