Message from your President: Judy Cheves

We have gotten off to an incredible start! Two meetings, two great speakers!

Frank Reynolds’ spoke at our October meeting. His interactive discussion of project quality and evaluating risk was not only well received but generated some great interaction with the audience.

There is more in store for our San Fernando chapter. The board has begun planning for next year.....interesting, informative speakers, discounted training, expanded website and more.

For those of you looking for employment, we are working with companies who would like to list their job opportunities with the chapter. We will be announcing these opportunities at our meetings, publishing in our newsletter and will be setting up our website to post these opportunities, as well.

Mark your calendar now for our next meeting, Wednesday, November 5^th. As customer expectations for faster and better increase we are challenged to initiate processes that enable us to get our applications delivered quickly. Often, we in our quest for ‘faster’, the ‘better’ is not delivered. Quality suffers as we focus on schedule. Mac Felsing, our November speaker, will cover these issues in his presentation “Making QA Agile: Improving quality in an agile process environment”. Join us on November 5^th, to learn more on this timely topic.

You don’t want to miss the networking session prior to the meeting. Come a little early for great discussion and great food!

Regards,

Judy

Job Opportunity

Quality Assurance Manager, XP Systems in Moorpark. The Quality Assurance Manager is responsible for overseeing and participating in the design and implementation of test programs and methodologies to ensure that Company products meet established specifications, design criteria, quality standards and customer requirements. Manages the successful integration, system and pilot testing of XP's proprietary products to ensure that the products are ready for general distribution.

Typically has a Bachelor's degree and at least ten years related experience, at least three of which involve management of employees and technical projects. Understands the concept of accomplishing goals through personnel and achieves objectives through effective leadership and planning. May manage a function rather than a staff. Weighs alternative directions and solutions, suggests changes compatible with existing procedures and practices. Recognizes the need to change procedures and practices, prepares and presents recommendations. Experience with formal QA methodologies and Industry Quality Models is desirable

XP Systems is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and maintains a Drug-Free Workplace. Interested applicants should go to www.xpsystems.com to apply directly online.

Quality Meetings Upcoming

Tuesday, October 21, 2003 Kelly Lewis, Compuware Corporation “Load Testing 101” Sponsored by SCQAA-OC. Location: AmerisourceBergen in Orange, CA. Meetings are held monthly on the third Tuesday of each month from 5:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Admission is $15 RSVP to RSVP@SCQAA.COM or visit this website: http://www.scqaa.com/meetings.htm

November 12, 2003 "Best Practices in Project Management" Presented by Harold Kerzner M.S., Ph.D., M.B.A Co- Sponsored by Orange County PMI and International Institute for Learning, Inc. Location: Anaheim Hilton Hotel, 777 Convention Way, Anaheim, CA 92802. For more information or online reservations, visit http://www.iia-sfv.org

November 12, 2003 Nancy Johnson, Union Bank of California. Sponsored by IIA-San Fernando. Location: The Odyssey Restaurant in Granada Hills. For more information or online reservations, visit http://www.iia-sfv.org

November 13, 2003 Conna Condon Empowering Virtual Project Teams – A Toolset Sponsored by PMI-LA. Date: Second Thursday of each month (except July and December). Location: Proud Bird Restaurant near LAX. For reservations or more information, visit this website: http://www.pmi-la.org/

Saturday November 15, 2003. (8:30am to 4:30pm) "PROJECT QUALITY MANAGEMENT" Seminar sponsored by PMI-LA. Chris Christensen, president of Christensen Associates, Inc., is a Six Sigma Black Belt, a Certified Quality Manager, and a PMP. He teaches courses at UCLA and Cal Tech in their Project Management Certification Program. PDUs Earned: 8 Location: Proud Bird Restaurant near LAX. For reservations or more information, visit this website: http://www.pmi-la.org/

Our Corporate Meeting Sponsors

Serena, Corp. at 20920B Warner Center Lane, Woodland Hills, is our very first chapter Corporate Meeting Sponsor. We very much appreciate their sponsorship, which provides the SCQAA San Fernando Board with a fine workspace for our Board meetings.

Countrywide, Corp. in Simi Valley is our second chapter Corporate Meeting Sponsor, as they are providing Membership meeting space, starting with the first monthly meeting on September 17, 2003.

QAI Certification Programs

To request more information, send email to certify@qaiusa.com.

Earn CPEs

Are you a CQA or CSTE? Earn some of your Continuing Professional Education (CPE) points by attending SCQAA-SF meetings. Earn even more by helping with our committees!

Southern California Quality Assurance Association San Fernando Chapter (SCQAA-SF)

QAI Certification Programs

To request more information, send email to certify@qaiusa.com.

Meet Your SCQAA

San Fernando Chapter Board

The new Board slate is composed of:

Position	Board Member	Backup Member
Chapter Chair	Judy Cheves	Shahidul Manan
Vice Chair	Shahidul Manan	John Heeg
Treasurer	Deanna Witrack	Judy Cheves
Secretary	John Heeg	Julie Borland
Sponsor/PR Chair	Bob Tabaka	Bill Hackenberg
Membership Chair	Ron Winters
Food Service Chair	Peter Reidy
Webmaster	Lenni Lara
Mail List Chair	Gerry Caruso	Karina Gamble
Newsletter Chair	Elizabeth Runyon	Deanna Witrack
Meeting Chair	Julie Borland	Suzanne Mullen
Program Chair	Karina Gamble	Lenni Lara
Chapter Advisor	Jim Stoumpos
PMI Liaison	Bill Hackenberg

Would you like to be a speaker and have a topic of interest to the quality community? Contact the Program Chair (karina@qainsight.com) or Chapter Chairperson (Judy.cheves@Countrywide.com) and let us know what you would like to contribute.

Would you like to contribute information to this Newsletter? Contact the Newsletter editor at this address: scqaa_sf_maillist@yahoo.com.

The SCQAA San Fernando Board holds monthly Board Meetings at Serena Inc. in Woodland Hills. If you would like to attend the Board meeting and would like to help this chapter, please contact Judy Cheeves at E-Mail (Judy.cheves@Countrywide.com ) to obtain the meeting schedule and location.

Subscription Information

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We'd love to hear from you. Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Please help us respond to your requests and input by writing to us at: scqaa_sf_maillist@yahoo.com or visit our Web site: www.scqaa.us and you can contact a Board member.

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Directions to Our Meeting Location in Simi Valley:

You might want to check out driving directions from your starting point on yahoo.com, but here is how you will finish the trip:

Countrywide Financial 2900 Madera Road, Simi Valley, CA 93065 1C Central Lobby Presentation & Video Make your way to CA-118 and go to Simi Valley Exit CA-118 on Madera Road North Go 0.3 miles then turn right on North Madera Road Go 0.3 miles past Countrywide Way to first driveway on the right: 2900 North Madera Road. Follow the driveway up and around the building on your right and park on the other side (which is actually the front). Conference room 1C is right off the main lobby.