Marilena Morini
12434 Culver Boulevard
Los Angeles, CALIFORNIA 90066
Phone:  [Send email to request phone number] 85-9217

SUMMARY

Highly qualified professional with fifteen years experience managing US and
Localized projects in the videogame industry seeking position as Producer or
Product Manager.

CAREER PROFILE AND QUALIFICATIONS

 * Over fifteen years experience in the videogame Industry functioning at a
managerial level in Production and Quality Assurance
 * Outstanding project initiating, planning, executing, monitoring, resource
balancing, and closing skills
 * Successful in executing all aspects of the product management process
including project Integration, Scope, Timeline, Cost, Quality, Human Resources,
Communication, Risk and Procurement. Expert in managing technical and scheduling
components of internal and external projects
 * Deep understanding of overall finance and industry. Ability to use facts and
data to make sound decisions and manage profitably. Skilled in developing and
maintaining department AOP, project P&L and resource budgets
 * Extensive software Localizations experience. Worked on over 1000 localized
products at different levels of management, always ensuring each had excellent
translation quality, was culturally appropriate for the intended market, and was
on schedule and on budget. Fluent in Italian with additional knowledge of
Spanish, Romanian and French
 * Unique ability to prioritize and perform multiple tasks simultaneously in a
fast-paced environment, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities
efficiently and effectively
 * Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills in handling difficult
situations with the ability to negotiate and recommend solutions to all levels of
management. Experienced in developing and evangelizing different business
strategies and ideas
 * Effective in training, mentoring, and motivating a team of highly qualified
videogame professionals
 * Successfully code released over 1000 titles with Activision and over 200 with
Disney Interactive across all platforms, and up to 25 regions and languages
 * Dynamic, articulate, analytical, and results-oriented

POSITIONS DETAILS

1998-2009 Activision, Inc. Santa Monica, CA
QA Director and Sr. Manager
 * Created the department's budget for AOP Planning. Fully responsible for
monitoring and managing it during the fiscal year to assure it was on target or
even below the annual plan
 * Developed a dynamic tool that facilitated the Manager's budgeting of single
SKUs, as well as the department's annual financial plan for all the projects on
the company's fiscal year slate
 * Managed a Quality Assurance department with a peak staff of over 800
contingent testers and 170 full time employees
 * Supervised and mentored QA Managers to implement unified testing matrices,
processes and metrics that met the needs of the studios and company
 * Developed a more effective approach to testing and a strategy that reduced
overall testing costs by an average of 10% per title
 * Formulated and implemented new policies and procedures for more effective and
efficient testing of internal and external products
 * Researched, acquired and Implemented all QA Tools, Automation and Databases
 * Developed and implemented testers tracking system, measuring efficiency and
productivity
 * Developed a new curriculum for the Training group generating a saving in
training costs of about 75% and significantly lowering the attrition rate of new
employees
 * Master Planning and effective resource management in critical contexts and in
a very large organizational structure
 * Mentored QA staff at all levels, facilitating their growth within the
department and the company infrastructure

QA Manager and Sr. Project Lead
 * Designed, implemented and managed the QA Console Testing including research
and acquisition of all NTSC and PAL hardware and other 1st Party requirements
 * Created the Technical Requirements Group (TRG)
 * Reduced the overall number of submission failure due to technical requirement
issues by 35%, leading to an increase in company standings amongst publishers and
projects P&L revenue
 * Developed and maintained relations with major first party console publishers,
including Sony, Nintendo, Sega and Microsoft, in both the US and Europe
 * Created numerous tools templates designed to help manage and track the QA
Testing Process
 * Designed the Console, handheld, and PC Code Release Checklists, including
Technical Requirements for all platforms
 * Designed and implemented the Project Lead Guides for both Console and PC
departments
 * Worked directly with Production, Marketing, and Sales to prioritize and
schedule projects' testing activities
 * Developed project schedules and resource allocation models for all QA related
projects

Associate Producer
 * Drove the product vision during all aspects of the development process,
including: contracts, schedules, budgets, documentation, conceptualization,
design, production, editorial, approvals and testing
 * Contributed to the design of all functional and content deliverables,
including user interface, 1st Party Requirements, help systems, behaviors, game
balancing and general functionality
 * Managed developers, licensors, focus groups, consultants, voice talent,
paralegals, QA Leads and others to lead development of game content from
initiation to completion
 * Collaborated with Marketing and Sales to help bring in and define new
strategies and opportunities for brand marketing and development
 * Reviewed and communicated all development deliverables and driving all
necessary changes
 * Managed the schedule and P&L for all aspects of software development
 * Contributed ideas to improve processes and content by improving quality,
reducing costs and/or increasing profitability
 * Participated in strategic planning for new product development
 * Produced X-Men: Mutant Academy for the GameBoy Color console platform in 5
languages, including the licensing of all the Marvel characters and locations
used in the game
 * Produced Supercar Street Challenge for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC
platforms in 5 languages, including the licensing of 20 brand names concept
racing vehicles from all over the world

QA Project Lead
 * Identified test cases, designed and implemented test plans, executed tests,
analyzed test results and drove outstanding issues to closure for a very large
number of major Activision PC and Console games
 * Managed multiple projects simultaneously for functional QA testing and
related activities regularly leading teams of 20-40 testers
 * Designed and implemented testing processes for the QA OEM Group
 * Trained 2 to 12 QA Associate Leads and or testers at a time

1993-1998 Disney Interactive Glendale, CA
QA Project Lead:
 * Developed and wrote test plans and perform detailed game status tracking for
educational software
 * Developed and coordinated all activities related to software testing
 * Supervised testing crews of 4 to 25 testers, reviewed all database entries,
and prepared daily and weekly status reports
 * Maintained all computers in the test matrix for both PC and MAC platforms
 * Lead localizations in 15 languages and worked with native speakers to ensure
accuracy

QA Tester & Language/Territory Specialist:
 * Followed test plan to release software on time and with high quality
 * Isolated and reported in the bug database anomalies and technical issues a
consumer might encounter in the product
 * Wrote clear and accurate bug reports, detailing anomalies found and the steps
required to repeat them
 * Reviewed software documentation for accuracy and completeness, as it
pertained to test objectives for the product
 * Verified Localization of software for the Italian market, ensuring
translation, spelling, and grammatical correctness

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

 * Technical training from Nintendo, Sony, Sony Online, and Microsoft for
console testing and submissions
 * Numerous courses in Leadership, Business and Project Management
 * Classes in C, C++, Unix, Cobol, Basic, Visual Basic, HTML, Photoshop, and
many more
 * Currently in the process of obtaining Project Management Professional (PMP)
Credential from the Project Management Institute (PMI)

EDUCATION

 * Diploma of Business Analyst: Budgeting and Accounting, Instituto Tecnico
Amerigo Vespucci, Rome, IT
 * Diploma (with Honors) in Computer Programming, Computer Learning Center, Los
Angeles, CA
 * Video Game Design, UCLA Extenssions, Los Angeles, CA
 * Project Management, PMP Campus, Online Campus