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My Background

Rhistel Winter  [ rhis·tel ] [ win·tr ]

I'm a creative spirit who loves making things and sharing them with the world.

I’ve been designing costumes since I was a kid—always putting on a show, even before I understood what it meant to be an entertainer. That passion for storytelling and visual design has been with me from the very beginning.

I was lucky to have support in developing a love for entrepreneurship early on. I started my first business at age 9, offering gardening services to retired teachers. That entrepreneurial spark eventually led me to launch my first online business, Taiyo Cosplay, where I shipped thousands of custom costumes worldwide over a 20-year period. I still remember making my first digital sale—a wizard staff—and my mom driving 11-year-old me to downtown Santa Cruz to deliver it.

Through costume work, I found my community of fellow nerds and built a career that blends business with creativity. That foundation continues to shape the work I do today.

I value honesty and meaningful collaboration over just checking boxes - I believe in building genuine, committed working relationships so we can create the best possible project or team, even with limited resources.

Whether it's a small project or a larger technical challenge, I'm open to working with individuals and companies alike. Curious about the details or credits behind my work? Take a look at my resume.

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Head of Operations - Super Free Games (2014 - 2025) 

  • Operational Leadership & KPI Management: Oversaw key performance indicators (KPIs) across multiple departments, providing leadership with actionable insights on product ROI, resource allocation, and team performance.
     

  • Productivity Improvement: Orchestrated a 163% increase in productivity in 2024, launching 499 releases with a streamlined team, achieving more with fewer resources.
     

  • Financial Analysis & Reporting: Collaborated with finance teams to validate deferred development and track financial data, ensuring accurate reporting and amortization.
     

  • Compliance & Security: Served as Data Privacy Officer, maintaining 100% audit pass rate for GDPR and state law compliance, safeguarding company data and reputation.
     

  • Process Optimization: Led process improvement initiatives, driving efficiency through automation and the elimination of unnecessary tools, reducing costs, and enhancing team workflows.
     

  • Employee & IT Management: Managed 95+ employees and 200 devices, overseeing onboarding, IT security, and device compliance. Administered JumpCloud for identity, access, and device management.
     

  • Team Leadership & Development: Directly managed a team of 25 and fostered career growth for 15 employees, providing training, mentorship, and development opportunities.
     

  • Third-Party Relationships: Coordinated with external teams (Keywords Studios, Helpshift, KStudio, and independent contractors) for QA, customer service, localization and development support.
     

  • Tool & System Management: Administered Atlassian tools (Jira, Confluence), optimized workflows, and integrated new technologies like OneTrust for privacy compliance and OneTrust service for employee training.
     

  • Game Releases: Successfully launched thousands of builds on platforms like Apple, Google, Kindle, and Meta, optimizing release processes and documentation.
     

Founder - Public Eye Collective (2017 - Current) | https://www.wearethepubliceye.com/ 

  • Event Planning & Execution: Produced large-scale events for 2000+ attendees, including festivals, art shows, and interactive experiences, managing everything from concept to execution.

  • Creative Direction: Designed and executed themed events, including set and costume design, prop creation, and production coordination.

  • Talent & Team Management: Led a 13-person team, recruited and managed diverse talent (actors, DJs, bartenders), and ensured seamless event operations.

  • Technical & Production Support: Provided on-site support for sound, lighting, and staging, enhancing event quality and guest experience.
     

Founder - Donut Dust Rescue (2017 - Current) - Non-profit animal rescue

  • Specializing in the care of small-breed cats and dogs, with expertise in:

    • Adoption processes

    • Animal rehabilitation

    • Neonatal kitten care

    • Animal socialization

    • Local TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) programs

Wardrobe Manager - Independent Films  (2013)

  • Costume Design: Created costumes for multiple independent films, including "Izzy Unleashed" and "After Ever After," ensuring character authenticity and visual storytelling.

    • “Izzy Unleashed” - Alicia Dunams & Romanus Wolter

    • “After Ever After” -  Rakesh Kumar [International CineFest '17 Best Film (English)]

    • “The Last Vassal” - Unreleased

  • Wardrobe Maintenance: Managed wardrobe continuity and on-set repairs, ensuring consistency and quality for 50+ characters across multiple scenes.

QA Engineer II - Zynga  (2011 - 2012)

  • Test Plan Development: Designed and executed comprehensive test plans for high-profile games, including Mafia II and Farmville, ensuring optimal quality and build readiness.

  • Cross-Team Collaboration: Worked with development teams to identify and resolve issues, ensuring game stability and testability.

  • QA Leadership: Managed offsite QA teams, driving efficiency and maintaining high testing standards.
     

Format Quality Assurance Tester - Sony Playstation (2009 - 2011)

  • Compliance Testing: Ensured 100+ uncredited game titles adhered to Technical Requirement Checklists (TRC) for successful certification.

  • Peripheral Testing: Conducted product compatibility tests for PlayStation Move and other hardware peripherals, verifying functionality across upcoming game titles.

 

Quality Assurance Analyst  - Electronic Arts (2009)

  • Game Testing: Conducted comprehensive testing for The Sims 3, ensuring functionality, visual quality, and accurate localization across multiple languages.

 

Founder - Taiyo Cosplay (2000 - 2020) 

  • Custom Costume Design: Created over 1000 custom costumes and props for clients, delivering high-quality products under tight deadlines.

  • Client Relationship Management: Provided exceptional customer service, from initial estimates to delivery, ensuring satisfaction and repeat business.

Modeling & Entertainment 

Modeling Experience

  • Promotional Modeling

    • Kimpton Buchanan Hotel Grand Opening | San Francisco, CA | February 2016

    • Private Event Launch | Half Moon Bay, CA | 2016

  • Commercial & Advertising Modeling

    • International TV Show Commercial | San Francisco, CA | 2019

    • Swimsuit & Lingerie Modeling | California | 2020 – Present
       

Acting Experience

  • Stage & Character Acting

    • Character Actor – NUTZ | Wasteland Weekend | 2017 – Present

    • Character Actor – Z2UN | Neotropolis | 2024 – Present

    • Actor – Karma Sutro | Independent Short Film | September 2012

  • Live Performances & Improvisation

    • Improvised Actor | Private Dinner Event | Half Moon Bay, CA | 2006

    • "Temperance Rebel" / "Sewer Rat" / "Alice" | Dickens Fair | San Francisco, CA | 2004 – 2006

    • Independent Stage Actor | Various Short Routines & Competitions | California | 2005 – 2010

    • "Poor Kid" Actor & Greeter | Nor-Cal Renaissance Fair | California | 2000

 

Live Events & Immersive Experiences

  • Public Eye: Entertainment & Performance Group (Specializing in Apocalypse, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy Sets) | 2017 – Present

  • Obscurity: Food Service & Immersive Fantasy Tea Shop Experience | 2024 – Present

  • “Hello Me?” Art Show & Gallery: Technical Support for Audio & Gaming, Full Bar & Food Services (20-50 attendees) | 2021
     

Music Experience

  • Musician: Piano, Violin, Drums/Launch Pad, Mixing, Lyricist, and Vocalist

  • Music Archive: Coming soon

Aerial Arts

  • Intermediate Level: Lyra, Cage, Suspension Dance (Since 2019)

  • Beginner Level: Silks, Trapeze
     

Dance Experience

  • Over 20 years of experience in a variety of styles:

    • Ballet, Ballroom, Contemporary, Flow, Hip Hop, and Jazz

Art Creatives

Traditional & Digital Art

  • Expertise in pencil, pen, watercolor, and paint on traditional sketch paper and canvas.

  • Logo & Website Design: Skilled in creating logos and designing websites.

  • Digital Art & Photography: Proficient in digital art creation, photography, and Photoshop manipulation.
     

Sewing & Textile Arts

  • Experienced in handcrafting, fabric/material selection, machine sewing, embroidery, alterations, and beadwork.
     

Props Creation & Crafting

  • Woodworking & Foam Craft: Proficient in creating armor, weapons, and props using live metal, dulled materials, resin pours, and 3D printing.

  • Prop Painting & Alterations: Skilled in detailed painting, alterations, and custom design.
     

Wigs & Hair Styling

  • Expert in hand-sewn wefts, custom lacing, braiding, teasing, dyeing, and foam core construction for advanced wig styles and alterations.
     

Set & World Building

  • Proficient in woodworking, painting, and set dressing to create immersive environments.

  • Skilled in upcycling materials and designing environmental props to match thematic elements for sets.
     

Notable Credits

  • Costume Designer – Izzy Unleashed | Alicia Dunams & Romanus Wolter

  • Costume Designer – After Ever After | Rakesh Kumar (International CineFest '17 Best Film - English)

  • Lead Designer – The Last Vassal (Unreleased) – 50+ character designs

  • Wasteland Weekend – 2017 – Present (Public Eye Sets)

  • Neotropolis – 2024 – Present (Obscurity Sets)

Education

Skills

2008

College of San Mateo

- Ballet 

- English

- Music Theory 

- Piano

- Voice

2007

Santa Cruz High School

- General Studies

- Violin 

- Live art​

  • Project Management: Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage timelines, and deliver complex projects on time.
     

  • Process Optimization: Expertise in identifying inefficiencies and implementing solutions to streamline workflows and reduce costs.
     

  • Team Leadership: Experience managing 25+ employees, fostering growth, and developing career paths for individuals.
     

  • Release & Store Management: Skilled in managing game releases across Apple, Google, Kindle, and Meta platforms. Experienced with dashboard tools for submission, certification, version control, and post-launch monitoring, ensuring compliance and optimizing release workflows for maximum performance.
     

  • Compliance & Security: In-depth knowledge of GDPR and other data privacy laws, ensuring organizational compliance and security
     

  • Risk Management & ROPA Tracking: Skilled in identifying, assessing, and mitigating potential risks. Experienced in tracking Records of Processing Activities (ROPA) to ensure compliance and minimize operational and data privacy risks.
     

  • IT Device & System Management: Expert in managing and securing devices across multiple platforms, including Windows, Apple (Mac, iPhone, iPad), and Android (phones and tablets), ensuring smooth operation, security compliance, and efficient device management.
     

  • Tools & Platforms:

    • Project Management: Jira, Confluence, Atlassian, Dev Track, Trello, Slack

    • Data & Privacy Compliance: OneTrust, GDPR compliance

    • IT & Systems Management: JumpCloud, Google Suite, Microsoft Office

    • Financial & Data Analysis: Experience using financial and data tools for reporting and decision-making.

Get in Touch

Rhistel Winter

  • BlueSky
  • Instagram
  • TikTok
  • SoundCloud
  • ko-fi
  • LinkedIn

© 2025 by Rhistel W.

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