LINDA J. WILKINSON   

home (503) 636-1193 (leave message)

cell (503) 449-8145

5023 Foothills Rd., #C, Lake Oswego, OR 97034

   Professional Profile 

● Highly experienced in the establishment and management of QA/QC infrastructures, in addition to the management of all testing functions from recruiting/training/mentoring of top talent to development of processes, process improvement initiatives, metrics, and testing artifacts.

● Executive management advisor with the proven ability to assess organizational needs, define actionable short-term and long-term strategies, and implement solutions, policies, processes, and tools to improve performance and implement corporate quality visions.

● Motivational manager and coach, skilled in providing management and staff with training that empowers and increases accountability.  Fosters respect and loyalty from staff, with zero turnover of employees.

● Well-versed in all current testing methodologies and tools, with proven success in introducing and implementing new techniques, automation programs, and tools.

Evisions, Inc. 2015-current

DIRECTOR OF QUALITY ENGINEERING

Hired, developed, and managed a multi-state team of expert test analysts and leads. Established QA, QC, service test, automation, and metrics programs. Established test bases for all products, trained the corporation in agile test technique, evaluated and acquired tools, collaborated with development to improve product quality and throughput, and established a fully functional test management/automation suite, processes/ procedures, and metrics programs. Adapted testing processes to seamlessly support Kanban and Scrum project methodologies. Reduced error rates from over 69% to less than 3% through collaboration with development, internal training, and improved processes. Cut testing schedules by 80% while simultaneously improving quality metrics. 

UTi Worldwide 2011-2015

SENIOR MANAGER, QUALITY SERVICES

Hired, developed, and managed a global team of 50 expert test analysts and leads. Negotiated and managed offshore relationships, contracts, and budgets. Established QA, QC, service test, automation, off-shore, and metrics programs. Within 3 months, built a team which provided in excess of 35,000 test assets, all testing services, a fully functional test management/automation suite, processes/ procedures, and a metrics program utilized corporate-wide for decision-making and process improvement programs. Recipient of award for outstanding performance for 2011-2012 fiscal year.

 NetJets, Inc.  2005-2011

SOFTWARE QUALITY ASSURANCE MANAGERHired, developed, and managed a team of 45 expert test analysts and leads.  Established QA, QC, test automation, off-shore, and metrics programs; expanded the resource base overseas with no impact to product schedules or quality.  Reduced error rates in production 46% within six months through introduction and implementation of improved testing processes.  Provided project measures and metrics; worked on issues collaboratively with Development, Operations, Business users, and Architecture.  Provided traceability and generated artifacts which allowed the division to pass all internal and external audits with no issues for the first time in corporate history, with no time impact to development schedules and improved software quality.

 ● Customized solutions to address unique problems through extensive experience with testing

methodologies from Waterfall to Agile; introduced Just-In-Time test technique to address emergency and fast-tracked projects.  Changed corporate perceptions of the quality function from rigid, negative, and ineffective to collaborative, adaptable, and highly expert.

● Optimized productivity, profitability, and quality by training and allocating QA talent appropriately through accurate assessment and estimation of projects and resources, introduction of tools where cost-effective, and establishment of defect management processes.

● Encouraged  collaboration through improved communications, education, and triaging of project defects; working closely with project managers, executive managers, project teams, and line managers to creatively address quality, budget, and time issues and to develop a metrics program to maximize IT’s ability to understand and address quality concerns.

● Maximized profitability and efficiency by proactively establishing a test automation program and intelligent utilization of  off-shore resources for regression testing; savings in 2010 will approach 1 million dollars.  Introduced test methodologies which improved project throughput by more than 300%.

 Compuware Corporation  1998-2005

SENIOR SPECIALISTActed as head of the QA/QC practice for the Central Ohio region (26 resources), providing technical expertise to associates and training/mentoring to a tri-state region.  Recipient of multiple Awards of Excellence for work in the field; assisted clients by providing executive consultative services for complex QA issues and multi-million dollar project efforts. 

● Provided testing expertise in the field for assignments ranging from management of large testing efforts to Acting Director roles.  Increased branch profitability by millions of dollars through assessment activities and building of relationships with area clientele.  Provided assistance with methodologies, documentation, templates, controls, training, and test execution; developed a series of courses aimed at improving test technique, both manual and automated, and taught same to local corporations.

● Developed and supported testing talent, helping to “raise the bar” for the QA organization through input during technical interviews, training, mentoring, re-tooling, and development of courseware in QA methodology, QC test technique, and test automation.  Conducted training on a regional basis.

 

Pathlore Software Corporation 1996-1998

SOFTWARE QUALITY ASSURANCE MANAGEREstablished, staffed, and managed the Quality Assurance organization, seamlessly integrating the function into existing development production schedules and improving product quality without increasing project costs.

● Developed testing processes for an agile environment, including problem and status reporting methodology, test planning, multi-platform/internet testing, and test deliverables.

● Established, coordinated, and trained multi-discipline corporate test teams, including user testing and coordination.

 Banc One Services Corporation 1991-1997

TEAM LEAD, TESTBED CONTROLEstablish and manage the Testbed Control organization, providing testing services to large, multi-million dollar project efforts.  The group offered requirements analysis and scripting for new and changed system functionality, procedure and process improvement, automated test facility analysis, implementation, and training, script control and improvement, and acted as quality consultants for functionality, testing, and scripting issues.

  OCLC, Inc.    1978-1989

SOFTWARE VERIFICATION SPECIALISTProvide testing services for over 100 projects and lead testing efforts for every major project the company produced during the period, including developing test procedures; testing of new applications, test plans, contributions to the SDLC, expedited problem resolutions to both specifications and applications, and input to overall project plans.   Act as an SME (Subject Matter Expert) for testing of corporate projects.  Develop and implement user-based testing organization for the Marketing Department, establishing scope, procedural methodology, accountability, reporting, and defect management processes.  Lead multi-discipline test teams and act as a liaison between management and technical staff.

 SKILLS AND EDUCATIONCleveland State University (music)

Over 140 courses specific to Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Test Automation, and Management; certification in multiple tool sets; PMP trained.  Testing expertise with unit, functional, acceptance, automated, and user testing in a variety of project environments, most recently iterative (agile) development processes.

Testing expertise on a large variety of platforms, most recently C#, .net, Java, VB6, VBScript, Oracle 11g, Peregrine Service Center, multiple browsers, IBM AIX, WAS, Unix, MS Project, HP Quality Center (full suite including LoadRunner).  Comfortable with both MS Office and Lotus office efficiency tools.

AFFILIATIONSSQAUGPDX

Speaker at PNSQC 2016; Collaborative Testing

Women Who Lead

SPCo-author of Beautiful Testing (part of the “Beautiful” IT series – proceeds go to charity), published October, 2009.

COQAA (Central Ohio Quality Assurance Association); acted as expert panel member for metrics, QA

ASQ (American Society for Quality)

Moderator of QAForums for 3 years

Active member of the Software Testing Club (world-wide)

Appointed to the international committee for IEEE standards in 2003