Biographical Sketch – Kay S Greisen: Technical Communicator and Publisher

Kay S. Greisen is a technical writer/ communicator, who has spent most of her career as a biotechnology laboratory research scientist, working in both academia and industry. Her diverse work experience in science comprises quality assurance, animal tissue culture, and laboratory research in fruit-fly genetics, microbial genetics, molecular cloning, genetic engineering, and molecular biology.

In addition to the companies listed on her resume, Kay has worked at California Institute of Technology, McGaw Laboratories, University of Virginia and its School of Medicine, and Stanford University School of Medicine.

Kay in Aug ' 97, the day she adopted Benny.
Photo by Jane Creason

During her career in science, Kay took a few detours:

Banner Text In the early ’70s, she registered Akita dogs for the Akita Club of America (ACA) prior to (and immediately after) recognition by the American Kennel Club (AKC). Afterwards, she researched, compiled, and published the definitive book of pedigree data for AKC foundation stock Akitas and their ACA-registered ancestors (totaling 2131 Akitas).

Banner Text In the mid-’80s, Kay took another hiatus from science to pursue her passion for designing and machine-knitting clothes and to sell some of her creations. During that time, she also studied clothing construction, pattern making and grading, and small business management.

Kay in ' 86 modeling some of the wearable art she designed and hand-loomed: a 3-piece sweater set and a more elegant sweater from a skirt&sweater set.

Photos by Robert Turner (left) and Robbie Schlosser (right)

Orchid Manual & Technical Communication

In November 2000, Kay earned a Certificate in Technical Communication, Awarded with Distinction, from UC Berkeley Extension. While studying technical communication, she began preparing her illustrated laboratory manual on propagating orchids from seed, Commerical Propagation of Orchids in Tissue Culture: Seed-Flasking Methods. This manual won an “Award of Excellence” in the 2000-2001 Technical Publications Competition sponsored by the Intermountain Chapter of the Society for Technical Communication (STC). It is now available for sale on Kay’s web site and on that of The American Orchid Society (AOS), her exclusive reseller.

In 2001, Kay began selling the full-color version of her laboratory manual (printed manually on her home-based computer printer) and worked for a few clients as an independent contractor. In 2002, she sought and secured a contract with AOS, giving them exclusive resale rights to her book. She then self-published the current Black-and-White version of the manual and, by obtaining her own ISBN numbers, officially became a publisher. Recently, she began preparation to publish a client’s book of poetry.

House-Related Projects

Since purchasing her present home in 1987, Kay’s outside interests have focused on landscaping and home repair/remodelling. She studied landscape horticulture at the local community college, replaced large expanses of crabgrass with her designs for continuous-blooming garden beds (with a heavy emphasis on blue flowers), and designed/built trellises to support an array of flowering vines.


Kay in ' 88 working on the roof perimeter from the portable scaffold she designed and built, and building a trellis structure before planting the garden. Photos by Belle Schlosser				One of the trellises she designed and constructed in her yard. Photo by Kay Greisen

In addition to hiring contractors for some home-remodeling projects, she has also worked side-by-side with contractors (such as while rewiring her entire home and replacing the DWV portion of the plumbing system). Some of her solo projects include installing a complete earthquake retrofit (following plans prepared for her house by a structural engineer) and building an outdoor closet to enclose a second hot-water heater (following her own construction design plans).

Persey (the cat) was self-appointed inspector of the EQ retrofit project. For various reasons, much of the work was done on the exterior of the house.

This project took 1.5 years of vacations and weekends and was completed before plans to repaint the house were abandoned in favor of low-maintenance vinyl siding.

Photo by Kay Greisen

Akita Dogs

From the late ’60s to early ’80s, Kay (and her then-husband Eric) always had one or two Akita dogs, including Teru, Tomo, and Takane—all from Liz Harrell of Akita Tani Kennels. From the late '60s to mid ’70s, she was actively involved in dog showing and the general activities of the ACA, and from the early-mid '70s, Akita registrations and preparation/publication of her book, The ACA Akita Stud Book Register.

After being without a dog for 16 years, in 1997 she adopted her 4th Akita dog, Benny, who was already a young adult and had been “rescued” by his breeder from his abusive first home. He is now Kay’s constant companion and the joy of her life. As a result, she has renewed her interest in the Akita breed, particularly their pedigrees, genetics, and health.

Benny in the garden behind the Mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha), October 1999.

He held that pose for only a few seconds, just long enough for me to notice and then take the picture (without any time to adjust the focus!). He walked away as soon as this one shot was taken. I was lucky to get it. This lovely shot is one of my favorites.

Photo by Kay Greisen

Kay grew up on Long Island, NY and earned a B.S. in Biochemistry from Cornell University. She has also lived in Ithaca, NY; Bishop, CA; Pasadena, CA; Charlottesville, VA; Palo Alto, CA; and Menlo Park, CA. She currently lives in Oakland, CA with her Akita dog and three cats. Kay maintains a web site where you can find details about her two books, read her interview that appeared in Akita Dog magazine, and see pictures of her pets.

(This site is still a “Work In Progress.” Time permitting, more links and photos will be added.)