Our History
Avalon Group, Inc. is a technical documentation and instructional design company that evolved from the merger of two instructional design firms — one specializing in designing computer instruction, the other specializing in enhancing employee performance through training. The firms shared an emphasis on developing instruction that:
- meets participants’ observed needs, not just the needs they or their supervisors identify
- uses delivery methods suitable for the audience’s skills and the environment in which the instruction is provided
- accomplishes clearly identified objectives
- produces measurable results.
This shared vision led the principals to consolidate their firms. Avalon Group incorporated in the summer of 1990 and quickly developed an impressive clientele, including leaders in the medical equipment, telecommunications, and electronic access industries. Avalon Group also chose to extend our services to design and write engineering, manufacturing, installation, and end user documentation.
Our Approach
Avalon Group’s roots in instructional design, which emphasize performance improvement, guide our approach to technical writing. We view manuals as instructional tools. Our approach produces effective documentation and distinguishes us from engineering firms, traditional technical writers, and contract writers with English or journalism backgrounds.
At Avalon Group, we see ourselves as not only as technical communicators but translators, problem solvers, and community builders.
- Translators? We work with highly technical subject matter experts, many times PhDs, engineers, or other professionals at the top of their fields, to extract information and translate it for the intended audience.
- Problem Solvers? We use the information we translate to solve a problem, such as how to explain a product to a customer, document the design of a product for an engineering team, or codify a process to train hundreds of employees.
- Community Builders? We help to form a community of discourse by listening, synthesizing, achieving consensus, and documenting decisions and processes.
Being a good technical communicator is not simply about good writing – it’s asking questions, listening, and thinking abstractly to structure complex information. Our team members are creative, logical, confident, motivated, and dedicated to achieving success.
Who We Serve
Since its incorporation in 1990, Avalon Group quickly developed an impressive clientele. Repeat customers are the cornerstone of our business—a testament to the quality and value of our services.
We serve industries ranging from telecommunications to medical equipment manufacturing to electronic consumer products. Our clients include Fortune 500 companies, state government entities, non-profit organizations, and up-and-coming local businesses.
Our Core Team
Our people are what make Avalon Group who we are. We’re known for our skill, dedication, and trustworthiness. Below are our core team members.
Lisa Condit, Managing Partner and Founder
Sonja Overhiser, Partner and Senior Project Manager
Erin McKinney, Senior Project Manager
Alex Overhiser, Graphics and Documentation Designer
Linda Partington, Technical Communications Specialist
Ann Cavanagh, Technical Communications Specialist
Joanna Grabarek, Technical Communications Specialist