Careers in Video Gaming
Meet Your Panelists
Eddie Contreras
Lead Motion Capture Technical Animator | Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE)
Eddie Contreras attended Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego where he earned the title of United States Marine. He then completed his training as Aviation Ordnance Systems Technician MOS 6541 in Pensacola, Florida and Cherry Point, North Carolina. He finally was stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
In January 2003, Contreras deployed with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 39 in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Sergeant Contreras provided support ashore at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait and at various Forward Operating Bases throughout Iraq. Sergeant Contreras served honorably in the Marines from 1996-2004 as Aviation Ordnance Systems Technician MOS 6541.
Contreras attended Platt College San Diego and received his Bachelor of Science (B.S) in Media Arts. In May of 2006 he was offered a Motion Capture Technician internship at Sony Computer Entertainment America. He quickly capitalized on that opportunity.
Since that time Contreras has been a part of SIE Worldwide Studios and held various positions. Contreras has collaborated and shipped numerous critically and commercially acclaimed PlayStation exclusives including God of War, Uncharted, Days Gone and most recently The Last of Us 2.
Dan Spence
Game Designer | Yoh!, Sony Interactive Entertainment, San Diego Studio
In 2014 I enlisted in the Army as an 11B Infantryman. Shortly following in 2015-2016 I deployed to Africa and served under Horn of Africa Command (HOA COMM) running a Sec-4 mission in support of Special Forces operating in the region. Upon coming home, I move to Salt Lake City, UT and served in the National Guard until March 2020 as an infantry/combat tactics advisor in company level units. Attending the University of Utah, I used my GI bill to complete my B.S. in Economics while working a security job and running a small computer business through local listings. I decided to pursue a career in games in spring 2019 and was accepted to the University of Utah’s Masters in Entertainment and Art Engineering program. Less than a year in and without yet completing the program I received an internship at Sony San Diego where I currently work as a contracted Game Designer within the studio. Interesting facts about myself; I take guitar lessons on the weekend, love off trail snowboarding, and I’m an avid Dungeon Master for DnD.
Angela Golden-McCord
Sr. Recruiting Manager | Riot Games, Summoner: Tarangela
I am a Sr. Recruiting Manager at Riot Games. I support the recruiting teams responsible for staffing the R&D space at Riot (making new games), VALORANT, Legends of Runeterra, and Creative Expressions (like Riot's upcoming animated series Arcane, Consumer Products and all Riot Music work). I have been at Riot and in the games industry for seven years now. Previous to Riot, I served in the US Navy, enlisted as a Quartermaster 2nd class (this means I did navigation, not supply management). During my time in the military, I had the pleasure of being on the commissioning crew of the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76).
John Doyle
VP of Production and Operations | Riot Games
John is currently the VP of Production and Operations for Riot Games. He's worked in the gaming industry for over 20 years, starting at Wizards of the Coast and continuing at places like Electronic Arts, NCSoft, King and now Riot. John has launched games on console, PC and mobile platforms and has led teams and studios around the world. A former submariner, John spent time as a research chemist and network engineer before moving into gaming. He has four children and is currently hunkered down near Seattle.
Andy Parthum
Senior Manager, Platform Strategy and Partnerships | Activision Blizzard
Andy is on the Platform Strategy and Partner Relations team at Activision Blizzard, where he helps work on strategic partnerships with game platforms. He has been part of an MBA rotational program for the last two years, where he worked on a variety of different business teams around the company, including marketing and operations. Prior to earning a master’s degree from Northwestern University, he was a missileer in the Air Force, where he worked in a nuclear Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) operations group while stationed at Minot AFB, North Dakota. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and daughter.