DENISE A.

MERICLE
611 Glenwood Place SE  Atlanta, GA 30316-1823  (678) 575-8905  dmericle@mindspring.com

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT/LEADERSHIP

Senior Manager  Senior IT Quality Assurance Manager  Director of IT Quality
Assurance

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
COMMITMENT | LEADERSHIP | INTEGRITY
A proven visionary and strategic leader that translates business strategies into
maximum results commensurate with the best interest of shareholders, internal and
external customers, and employees. An expert in leading multifaceted software initiatives;
delivering high-quality software in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment. Extensive business
acumen in banking, products and services, software quality assurance, and project management
with a proven record of accomplishment of implementing the necessary controls to ensure
compliance. Leverages wide-ranging talents in computer technology, staff leadership, management
of organizational change, and risk mitigation. Proficient in delivering large-company capabilities.
Highly self-motivated, enthusiastic and profit-oriented. Dedicated to maintaining a reputation built
on quality, service, and uncompromising ethics.

 Strategic / Tactical Planning
 Risk Management
 Human Resource Affairs
 Release and Change
Management
 Remote Resource
Management
 Research and Analysis
CORE COMPETENCIES
 Project / Program
Management
 Client Relationship
Management
 Technology Needs
Assessment / Solutions
 Software Interfacing
 Creative Problem Solving
 Software Testing Process
Methodology
 Cross-Functional Team
Building/Leadership
 Hiring, Training and Coaching
 Negotiations
 Software and Hardware Analysis

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

HARLAND/HARLAND CLARKE – Atlanta, GA 1977-2009

Senior IT Manager - Software Quality Assurance, Atlanta, GA 2003-2009
Managed software testing activities for all releases supporting three manufacturing channels,
installed server and client software upgrades. Estimated, analyzed, planned, and conducted audits,
risk assessments and mitigations using software testing methodology. Developed software testing
methodology curriculum and conducted training courses for all levels of Software Quality Assurance
Analysts and Engineers. Worked with formal change control and compliance processes (SOX,
SAS70).
• Maintained full responsibility of client relationship software testing activities with company’s
largest retail customer turning a negative situation into a positive one. Identified their needs
and challenges and provided a solutions-oriented process to support their testing requirements.
• Facilitated release management with client on projects designed to meet both business and
company objectives, resulting in a relationship where our client became reliant on our software
testing expertise and worked in conjunction with our deployment schedules.
• Led Software Quality Assurance Directorate during the Director’s absence. Directorate ran like
a well-oiled machine for those five months.
Accomplishments:
• Directed team in software testing initiatives through integration of critical applications of
two systems into a single manufacturing system. The completed project attributed to a multi-
million dollar savings.
 DENISE MERICLE (678) 575-8905 
dmericle@mindspring.com
• Led testing to complete 75 software releases and 100 data initiatives each year, while
testing most projects within multiple environments. Contributions on four projects recognized by
a Harland Pillar Award achievement; ten projects nominated for this award.
• Strategically planned projects with business objectives. Organized local and remote team
members to perform in cross-functional manner, enabling uninterrupted support for all projects
and eliminating need for additional personnel. Facilitated change management when company
merger occurred.
• 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

• Facilitated deployment of software testing methodology. Key Performance Indicator statistics

captured by Development and SQA teams validated software testing methodology; assisting in
90% removal of errors from software releases prior to production deployment.

IT Manager - Software Quality Assurance, Atlanta, GA, 2001-2003

Directed 180 software testing and data testing initiatives for financial, retail and private label
product lines. Evaluated requirements and design specifications; facilitated test case construction
supporting project documentation for 80 software testing projects. Collaborated with IT personnel,
balancing multiple resources/workloads for project scheduling.
• Trained and motivated staff for maximum productivity with hands-on management. Used
superb leadership, team building and communication skills to develop subordinates and
encourage cooperation and responsibility.
• Developed and implemented software quality assurance standards, providing templates and
direction for creating system test plans, test case preparation, defects tracking, collecting and
reporting metrics.
• Conducted regular risk assessments and quality assurance reviews. Evaluated compliance
with requirements and identifying potential gaps in policies, procedures and business processes.
Accomplishments:
• Nominated for Harland Pillar Award on four separate IT projects.
• Led team in winning two Harland Pillar Awards for contributions on two projects.
• Developed and implemented cross-functional team training plan supporting 90 applications
across multiple platforms resulting in expansion of employee contribution and value. Reduced
the need for additional personnel.
• Configured and optimized test lab environments. Created a solution to minimize equipment
expenditures, reduced equipment costs by $60K.

Senior Quality Assurance Engineer - Software Quality Assurance, Atlanta GA, 1999-
2001
Initiated software testing process using TestDirector. Developed and executed test cases for six
manufacturing projects.
• Supervised testing projects supporting shift from VAX to Windows server based architecture.
Led to retirement of outdated applications.
• Created and distributed release notes to end-users for each software testing project informing
user community of the additions/changes in the forthcoming software. Provided translation of
technical jargon into verbiage the end-user could understand.
Accomplishments:
• Successfully managed three employees on multiple testing efforts of manufacturing projects.
Led to promotion to IT Manager.
• Led department during absences of Team Lead and Department Manager. Department ran
successfully during those absences.

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 DENISE MERICLE (678) 575-8905 
dmericle@mindspring.com
• Single-handedly tested a re-write of manufacturing billing software and critical production
applications. Results led to automation of essential applications alleviating margin for human
error.

Senior Production Support Specialist – IT Production Support Help Desk, Atlanta GA,
1996-1999
Responded to calls regarding software or hardware issues from 40 production facilities, and
determined viable solutions. Enlisted assistance from development personnel and system analysts to
resolve difficult technical issues. Managed integrated system of VAX computers.
• Provided 24/7 first-point-of contact (Tier 1 Help Desk) support.
• Researched issues and provided analysis to IT teams for resolution. Used Support Magic and
Keys software to log issues and resolutions for future reference.
Accomplishments:
• Improved reclamation of revenue by developing a procedure to audit plant billing error log
reports, resulting in training key plant personnel and management on resolving errors before
losing significant order revenue.
• Requested additional responsibility to assist internal IT groups and Quality Assurance
department by conducting quality assurance activities on two legacy systems and a distributed
system platform. Additional responsibility led to promotion to Software Quality Assurance
Engineer.

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 DENISE MERICLE (678) 575-8905 
dmericle@mindspring.com

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE – CONTINUED

• Assumed additional responsibilities by developing training manuals in addition to
documenting processes and procedures for Support Center help desk. Process and procedural
documentation 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; installed software
updates and performed system backups. Logged and reported software issues to the IT
department. Worked with IT personnel to test software upgrades. Trained and managed up to thirty
employees in the composition department, which prepared the check orders for printing.
• Managed workflow of six-sub departments, providing workflow to the press line.
• Set up and maintained databases on the computer system ensuring continuous workflow.
• Selected as a subject matter expert on a large company initiative for creating a new order
entry system.
• Assisted and facilitated Total Quality Management exercises.
Accomplishments:
• Developed and implemented Standard Operating Procedures for order entry and data entry
activities, contributing to the reduction of errors by 60%.
• Troubleshot hardware and software issues; repaired hardware and established workarounds
for software constraints or issues. Technical expertise and ability to develop workarounds led to
promotion to Senior Support Specialist.
Composition Lead, Memphis, TN, 1980-1982
• Trained and mentored new employees in order entry, data entry, proofreading and corrections.
• Led department in absences of the Department Manager during their absence. Department ran
without a hitch.

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 CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Bachelor of Science Business Administration, University of Phoenix, Present
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 Change, 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

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