Home >> Working at WMS >> Why WMS >> Our People  
 
Our People

Our People Are Our Edge

Each and every one of us at WMS aspires to create the most entertaining products in the world and service our customers with an uncompromising passion for quality and innovation. In order to ensure that all of us share in this passion, we focus on teamwork as our guiding principle.

All of us have different backgrounds, different motivations, different insights, but when we come together as a team the results are incredible.

Everything we do – from designing the industry’s most irresistible games to developing state of the art technology – we do to better serve you. And give you an advantage.

Every day we have the good fortune of interacting with and learning from a team of people who are at the very top of their field. These are just a few of those people. We invite you to learn a little more about them.




MJ Mariani, Account Executive, Las Vegas

1. What do you do for WMS and how long have you been here?

I'm an Account Executive in Las Vegas and have been here for four years.

2. Where are you originally from?

Alameda, California

3. What is your favorite movie or book?

Movie - Gladiator

4. What is it you most like to do in your spare time?

I enjoy spending every free minute with my kids and wife. We love the park and going to sporting events.

5. What are you "known" for among your peers?

Winning the 1994 College World Series in Oklahoma. I had the game winning hit. Also being passionate and having a lot of energy.

6. Which talent would you most like to have?

I would love to have the talent to Sing. I would win American Idol!




Vineet Vashishta, Systems Support Manager, Reno

1. What do you do for WMS and how long have you been here?

I've been with WMS for two years now. I am the manager of the System Support Group. We work on Networked Gaming (the AOM) and Persistent State (Star Trek and REI) projects among others.

2. Where are you originally from?

I was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii.

3. What is your favorite movie or book?

Favorite movie is Heat and favorite book is Second Foundation.

4. What is it you most like to do in your spare time?

I am an avid Texas Hold'em player, mostly tournament play and enjoy catching a baseball game at AT&T Park in San Francisco whenever I can.

5. What are you "known" for among your peers?

I have gotten a bit of a reputation for my deep voice. The nickname "Darth Vader" is starting to stick.

6. Which talent would you most like to have?

I'd like to be able to throw a 95 mph fastball.




Gavin May, Associate Producer, Australia

1. What do you do for WMS and how long have you been here?

I have been the Australian Jurisdictional Compliance Manager for seven years, obtaining approvals across all of Australia and New Zealand (approximately 370 to date); this also involved running the Australia Test Department. I have since changed roles to an Associate Producer. I've been here since the office opened in Australia which brings me into my ninth year at WMS.

2. Where are you originally from?

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi.

3. What is your favorite movie or book?

I'm torn between two when it comes to movies: Psycho and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation "Save the neck for me Clarke!" My favorite book would be The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

4. What is it you most like to do in your spare time?

I like car racing and I'm sadly addicted to documentaries.

5. What are you "known" for among your peers?

Fixing and inventing things, kind of like MacGyver. I can build a poker machine out of a pipe cleaner, a car battery and a roll of duct tape.

6. Which talent would you most like to have?

I'm sure juggling chainsaws would come in handy one day, but for now I will settle for a straight drive shot.




Lisa Scruggs, WAP Operator II, Gulfport

1. What do you do for WMS and how long have you been here?

I work in the Gulfport WAP Department and have been with WMS since October 2004.

2. Where are you originally from?

I am originally from Gulfport, Mississippi. I have lived in Mississippi my whole life; I wouldn't want to live any other place.

3. What is your favorite movie or book?

My favorite movie is The Wizard of Oz; two of my favorite books are The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks and She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb.

4. What is it you most like to do in your spare time?

At this time, I spend every free moment with my five month old grandson, Jonathon Wayne. I recently chose to work the graveyard shift in order to watch him during the day while his parents are at work. Most people say we should put him in daycare; but I wouldn't trade anything in the world for my time with him. Children grow up so fast; we should cherish the time we have with them.

5. What are you "known" for among your peers?

I believe it would have to be my desire to spend time with my family and I don't mean just my husband and children. My family is a very close family; literally. My father, my two brothers, my sister, and several nephews and nieces all live within walking distance. At this time, we have 39 people in our family that all live on almost 100 acres; and that's not even all of them! We love it; all our children can play together and we don't have to worry because we know everyone will help each other out. We have actually considered building a family center with a pool and play ground for birthdays, holidays, barbeques, etc.

6. Which talent would you most like to have?

I can remember going through school, dreading the book reports because we'd have to speak in front of people; even if it's only three or four people. I would have to say I would most like to gain the talent of public speaking.




Jim Dutton, Manager Field Service, Egg Harbor Township

1. What do you do for WMS and how long have you been here?

I am the Field Service Manager for the Eastern Region. I've been with WMS since 2000 and have also been a Customer Service Representative and a Shipping Regulation Specialist in my WMS career.

2. Where are you originally from?

I was born in Santa Ana, California but grew up in Southern New Jersey.

3. What is your favorite movie or book?

Any James Bond movie.

4. What is it you most like to do in your spare time?

With going back to school and two kids at home, I have none!!! I like to ride my motorcycle or play golf whenever I get the chance.

5. What are you "known" for among your peers?

I would say that I'm known to have a willingness to help when needed or eat a stale piece of cake for $5.

6. Which talent would you most like to have?

I would like to play guitar or piano.




Maria I. Vazquez, Senior Alpha Tester, Chicago

1. What do you do for WMS and how long have you been here?

I have been with WMS for 38 years and I am responsible for executing a high number of game plays each day to assist in identifying and documenting issues on both game and Operating System software in order to support the maintenance of a high overall product quality. Interface with Game/OS Development and other Product Development staff to assist in the resolution of issues in a timely manner. I work closely with a team of Test Engineers to support the verification of game and Operating Systems.

2. Where are you originally from?

I come from Caguas, Puerto Rico, which is 20 minutes (by car) south of San Juan.

3. What is your favorite movie or book?

Favorite book: The Bible

4. What is it you most like to do in your spare time?

I like to play my guitar and learn or write new songs and I also like to sew.

5. What are you "known" for among your peers?

At work: For finding problems in game software.

Off work: For playing my guitar at church services and retreats, wedding ceremonies, wedding receptions, hospitals, nursing homes and funerals.

6. Which talent would you most like to have?

I would like to read music.




Melissa Brimmer, Supervisor Customer Order, Waukegan

1. What do you do for WMS and how long have you been here?

I've been in my current position for almost two years as a Southern Region Customer Order Supervisor. I have been with WMS since December 1997.

2. Where are you originally from?

I was born in Alaska and spent 33 years on the Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast before moving to Wisconsin in 2007.

3. What is your favorite movie or book?

Movie - Titanic

4. What is it you most like to do in your spare time?

I like to scrap book family memories/outings.

5. What are you "known" for among your peers?

Being a sponge for knowledge.

6. Which talent would you most like to have?

I would love to be able to sing well! I sing now…it's just that no one wants to hear it!




Anticio Duke, Engineer, Chicago

1. What do you do for WMS and how long have you been here?

I am an Engineer in the Mechanical Engineering (HD) Department working in conjunction with other disciplines in the company to develop, improve and invent new products.

Recently, I've contributed to various designs for the mechanical reel products for the Bluebird 2 Cabinet as well as other hardware components.

2. Where are you originally from?

I am originally from Camden, New Jersey.

3. What is your favorite movie or book?

My favorite book is The Count of Monte Cristo for this reason: Life is a storm; You will bask in the sunlight one moment, be shattered on the rocks the next. What makes you a man is what you do when that storm comes.

4. What is it you most like to do in your spare time?

I enjoy cooking, writing and singing karaoke. The Bee Gees are the best!

5. What are you "known" for among your peers?

I am known for being organized, determined and wearing stylish attire. Norm must now wear neck ties daily (Ha).

6. Which talent would you most like to have?

Sleeping! I believe it's a talent to get a minimum of 8 hours of rest each night.




Mariano Mariño, International Sales Manager, Argentina

1. What do you do for WMS and how long have you been here?

I have been working for WMS almost nine years, always working in international sales. Now I am dealing with many countries in South America working at the Argentinean branch.

2. Where are you originally from?

I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

3. What is your favorite movie or book?

There are two movies I have seen more than once: The American movie "The Untouchables" (love the scene at the stairs of Chicago Station) and the Argentinean movie "El hijo de la novia" (The bride's son): a very deep film revaluating friendship, life, family, loyalty…

I like any book related with Nineteenth and Twentieth Century politics.

4. What is it you most like to do in your spare time?

Many things, but always related with sports, family and friendship. For example: playing a tennis, squash or soccer game among or with friends, going with my daughter or my son for their training or for their games; or simply share an "asado" (Argentinean BBQ) with my family and friends. When my wife, Fabiana, is with me in mentioned activities, the world is perfect.

5. What are you "known" for among your peers?

I am known among my friends and peers for being simple: no second reading, no hidden intentions. Important things in life are not colored, they are black or white. They also know I like whisky and malts.

6. Which talent would you most like to have?

I would like to have the talent of guaranteeing happiness to all the people I know and I would like to speak ten different languages.




 




Home
  |  Site Map  |  Privacy Policy  |  Terms  |  Trademark Guidelines  |  Trademark List   |  Contact Info