Betsy Frick, Excellence in Training

Betsy Frick

Commissioned by Washington University’s Center for the Application of Information Technology, Betsy Frick of St. Louis, Missouri, developed and taught “sold-out” sessions titled Better Business Writing for a local company headquarters IT staff in 2011.

Betsy Frick’s half-day workshop highlights essential features of document organization, design, and concise writing and techniques that help writers achieve them. The customized workbook provides brief guidelines explained in plain language, followed by clear examples and prompts for personal applications. By limiting enrollment in each session and using a document camera, Frick provides ample individual attention to participants who bring samples of their writing for analysis and improvement. Continue reading →

Audrey Riffenburgh

As president and founder of Plain Language Works (formerly Riffenburgh and Associates) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Audrey Riffenburgh has trained over 1,500 health professionals in plain language and health literacy. Her goal is to help these professionals create easy-to-read, highly-effective print and web-based health information for consumers, patients, and their families. Her consulting services include speaking and training, producing reader-friendly documents, and facilitating organizational change toward a plain language culture.

As a forerunner in health literacy and an advocate for plain language, Audrey Riffenburgh deserves high praise for the contributions she has made to the field. When she began consulting and training in 1994, she was one of the few practitioners addressing health literacy. Her customized workshops and numerous conference presentations have shed light on the crucial need for health literacy and have provided much-needed instruction on effectively communicating health information. Continue reading →