DENISE A.

MERICLE
611 Glenwood Place SE 678.575.8905
Atlanta, GA 30316-1823 dmericle@mindspring.com
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT/LEADERSHIP
Senior IT Quality Assurance Manager * Director of IT Quality Assurance

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
Highly creative and versatile Senior IT Manager with extensive experience in man
aging projects and teams. Exceptional ability in building effective, productive
working relationships with internal and external customers. Excellent organiza
tional skills with the ability to concurrently manage multiple complex projects.
In depth understanding of manufacturing software and hardware, including legac
y systems. Business acumen includes knowledge of banking, manufacturing products
and services, software development life cycle, software quality assurance metho
dology, and project management. Financial acumen includes knowledge of budget m
anagement, asset management, and accounts payable and receivable.
CORE PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES
Strategic Business Planning * Project Management * Cross-Functional Team Buildin
g and Leadership * Human Resources Affairs * Risk Management * Hiring, Training
and Coaching * Remote Resource Management * Client Relationship Management * Neg
otiations * Research and Analysis * Software Testing Process Methodology * Relea
se and Change Management * Software Interfacing * Systems and Hardware Analysis
CORE TECHNOLOGY COMPETENCIES
* Hardware: Sun Microsystems Servers, IBM PC & Compatibles, 3270 Terminal, VAX 7
000, VAX 4000, VAX 785.
* Software: Windows XP/Vista, VMWare, Web Methods, .Net Framework, Tibco, Siebel
, T-SQL, VBScript, TSO, CICS, DB2, DEC VMS, Clarity, Planview.
* Database: SQL Server 2003, SQL Server 2000, VAX RMS.
* Tools: Mercury HP Quality Center/Mercury TestDirector, Microsoft SQL Query Ana
lyzer, Reflections.
* Proficient in Lotus Notes, Microsoft Office applications, including Project, V
isio, and FrontPage.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
HARLAND/HARLAND CLARKE - Atlanta, GA 1977-2009
Senior IT Manager - Software Quality Assurance, 2003-2009
Managed software-testing activities for all releases supporting three manufactur
ing channels, performed server and client software upgrade installations. Estim
ated, analyzed, planned, and conducted audits, risk assessments and mitigations
utilizing software-testing methodology. Developed curriculum and conducted train
ing courses for all levels of Software Quality Assurance Engineers and Analysts
to utilize software-testing methodology. Worked with formal change control and
compliance processes (SOX, SAS70).
* Directed software testing activities supporting the integration of two company
's front end systems into a single manufacturing system.
* Led testing to completion 75 software releases and 100 data initiatives each y
ear, while testing most projects within multiple environments. Contributions on
four projects recognized by a Harland Pillar Award achievement; ten projects no
minated for this award.
* Strategic planning of projects with business objectives. Organized local and
remote team members to perform in cross-functional manner, enabling uninterrupte
d support for all projects and eliminating need for additional personnel. Facili
tated change management when company merger occurred.
* Managed client relationship software testing activities with company's largest
retail customer. Facilitated release management with client on projects design
ed to meet both business and company objectives.
* Led migration of 75% of data testing initiatives traditionally supported by IT
team to Data Maintenance QA team, resulting in savings of $125K per year.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (continued)

* KPI statistics captured by Development and SQA teams validated utilization of
SQA's testing methodology; assisted in 90% removal of errors from software relea
ses prior to production deployment.
* Performed management tasks on behalf of the Software Quality Assurance Directo
r.
IT Manager - Software Quality Assurance, 2001-2003
Managed 180 software testing and data testing activities for financial, retail a
nd private label product lines. Evaluated requirements and design specification
s; managed test case construction supporting project documentation for 80 softwa
re-testing projects. Collaborated with IT personnel, balancing multiple resourc
es/workloads for project scheduling. Developed and implemented SQA standards, p
roviding templates and direction for creating system test plans, test case prepa
ration, defects tracking, collecting and reporting metrics.
* Contributions on four projects nominated for Harland Pillar Award.
* Led team in winning two Harland Pillar awards for contributions on two project
s.
* Developed and implemented cross-functional team training plan to support 90 ap
plications across multiple platforms.
* Configured test lab for optimization and utilization of test environments, red
ucing costs by $60K.
Senior Quality Assurance Engineer - Software Quality Assurance, Atlanta GA, 1999
-2001
Initiated software testing process utilizing TestDirector. Developed and execute
d test cases for six manufacturing projects. Created and distributed release not
es to end- users for each software-testing project.
* Managed testing projects supporting shift from VAX to Windows server based arc
hitecture.
* Successfully led two employees on multiple testing efforts of manufacturing pr
ojects.
* Led testing activities of three employees in absence of Team Lead and Manager.
* Single-handedly tested a re-write of manufacturing billing software.
Senior Production Support Specialist - IT Production Support Help Desk, Atlanta
GA, 1996-1999
Responded to calls regarding software or hardware issues from 40 manufacturing p
roduction facilities, and determined reasonable solutions. Enlisted assistance
from development personnel and system analysts to resolve difficult technical is
sues. Systems management of integrated VAX computer systems.
* Provided 24/7 first-point-of contact (Tier 1 Help Desk) support.
* Researched issues and provided analysis to IT teams for resolution. Utilized S
upport Magic and Keys software to log issues and resolutions for future referenc
e.
* Assisted internal IT groups and QA department by conducting QA activities on t
wo legacy systems and a distributed system platform.
* Developed training manual documenting processes and procedures for Support Cen
ter help desk; contributed to consolidation and reduction of help desk personnel
.
Plant Computer Coordinator and Composition Supervisor, Memphis, TN, 1982-1996
Maintained plant computer peripherals including 40 terminals and 10 printers; in
stalled software updates and performed system backups. Troubleshot hardware and
software issues; repaired hardware and established workarounds for software cons
traints or issues. Logged and reported software issues to the IT department. Wo
rked with IT personnel to test software upgrades. Trained and managed up to thi
rty employees in the composition department which prepared the check orders for
printing.
* Developed and implemented SOP for order entry and data entry activities, contr
ibuting to the achievement of .4% goal error rate versus 1.0%.
* Managed workflow of six-sub departments, providing workflow to the press line.
* Set up and maintained databases on the computer system ensuring continuous wor
kflow.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (continued)

* Selected to participate as a subject matter expert on a large company initiati
ve to create a new order entry system.
* Assisted and facilitated Total Quality Management exercises.
Composition Lead, Memphis, TN, 1980-1982
* Trained and mentored new employees in order entry, data entry, proofreading an
d corrections.
* Successfully performed duties as Department Manager during his/her absence.
Order Entry Operator, Data Entry Operator, Proofreader, Memphis, TN, 1977-1980
* Assembled runs by check style and printing capability.
* Entered check orders for printing, proofread orders for quality and accuracy.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
ASTQB, Certified Tester Foundation Level Certification, 2007
ASQ, Quality 101, 2006
Quality Leadership Theory Certification, 2005
Targeted Selection: Interviewer Certification, 2004
How to Build an Effective Work Team to Maximize Results in an Environment of Cha
nge, 2004
Harland Leadership Program and Coaching for Success, 2001
QAI, Effective Methods of System Testing, 2000
Assess-IT, Inc. Introduction into CMM, 2000
University of Tennessee at Knoxville - Knoxville, TN, 1975-1976
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Atlanta Medical Center, Diabetes Education Assistant, 2009-Present
DENISE MERICLE PAGE 3