Biography

Malcolm Gladwell is a Canadian author, journalist, and speaker celebrated for his ability to reveal the unseen forces shaping everyday life. Through books like The Tipping Point, Blink, and Outliers, he blends psychology, sociology, and storytelling to challenge how we think about success, intuition, and human potential.

Biography

Jim Collins is an American researcher, author, and leadership expert best known for his groundbreaking work on what makes companies thrive over time. Through classics like Good to Great, Built to Last, and Great by Choice, he has shaped modern business thinking by uncovering the disciplined principles that turn good organizations into world-class, enduring enterprises.

Biography

Brou Gautier serves as the Director of Continuous Process Improvement and Innovation (CPI2) and lead strategist for USAF Operational Excellence supporting the Deputy Undersecretary of the Air Force, Management and Deputy Chief Management Officer. In this capacity, MAJCOM/NAF commanders, CIOs, CTOs, Senior Executive Service members and government leaders rely on his counsel and leadership on lean policy and business strategies. 

Mr. Gautier is a Master Black Belt and private sector business owner with extensive experience in government and public sectors as both a leader and on-the-ground change agent. He developed tactics, techniques and procedures to improve command effectiveness, readiness & efficiency across a spectrum ranging from maximizing contract ROI and authoring enterprise IT architecture analysis to developing PMO governance support, business cases and root cause mitigation strategies for complex problems. He has presented leader and organization business transformation and deployment strategies for IQPC’s PEX LSS Summit, Shingo International, and multiple DoD CPI Symposia.

Mr. Gautier received a B.Sc. from the US Air Force Academy, a Master of Air Mobility degree from the Air Force Institute of Technology, and an MBA from Auburn University. 

Biography

Todd VanHouten is Senior Director of Strategy & Innovation at Cintas, overseeing Product, Technology, and Operational strategy along with large change initiatives. Todd has always been driven by a passion for innovation and views technology-done-right as the greatest enabler of innovation in our generation.

Biography

Thomas Ball spent his early youth growing up among the radar sites and beautiful countryside of rural Germany as an USAF Airman after joining the AF at the earliest age possible. Transitioning through various technical programs, earning his BS in Electronics Systems from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, and leaving the AF after serving on board a Communications Platform that performed redundant technical services to the US Pentagon and our National Command Authority, Thomas joined EDS, a pioneering technology leader, as Systems Engineer. Leaving EDS with a core group to launch a technology internet startup Thomas was pivotal in creating a foundational and pivotal technology platform that lead to new directions for correlating search and personal preferences in a new and challenging internet ecosystem.

After consulting internationally, Thomas joined Starbucks as Infrastructure Architect. While at Starbucks Thomas has moved between the Data Platform, Foundational Infrastructure, and Cloud transformation space. Thomas very much enjoys sharing his foundational technology passion and experiences with others as well as listening to the questions and observations on how technical ecosystems can be more resiliently instantiated to provide higher levels of service and lower costs.

Biography

Biography

Lee Cockerell retired as the Executive Vice President of Operations for the WaltDisney World® Resort.Growing up in Oklahoma, Lee attended Oklahoma State University for two years before joining in the United States Army.

Lee’s career includes eight years with Hilton Hotels, seventeen years with Marriott International and sixteen years with The Walt Disney Company. Lee Joined Disney in 1990 as Director of Food and Beverage, Quality Assurance and Vice President of the hotel division for Disneyland Paris.

In 1993 Lee became the Senior Vice President of the hotel division at the WaltDisney World® Resort in Florida and in 1997 was promoted to Executive Vice President of Operations for all of Walt Disney World Operations, serving in that position for ten years before retiring to start his own business, Lee Cockerell, LLC., a training and development company.

Lee is author of six books on leadership, management and world class customer service; Creating Magic…10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney (22 languages). The Customer Rules...The 39 Essential Rules for Delivering Sensational Service (16 languages). Time Management Magic…How to Get More Done Every Day. Move from surviving to thriving. Career Magic…How to Stay on Track to Achieve a Stellar Career, Hardwiring Magic…A guide to implementing Disney Magic into your business (co-author) A-Game Magic…Business 101 Course and Workbook (college text book, co-author)

Other Resources: Creating Disney Magic weekly 15 minute podcast www.LeeCockerell.com COCKERELL ACADEMY…On line learning systemwww. CockerellAcademy.com

Lee and his wife Priscilla reside in Orlando, Florida. Lee enjoys teachingleadership, management and service excellence seminars, traveling, dining out and most of all spending time with his three grandchildren, Jullian, Margot, and Tristan.For more information go to: www.LeeCockerell.com

Biography

I’m an innovation strategist, which means I help others hone their competitive edge by rethinking their business, no matter what field they’re in. I spent 8 years as a fully-retained creative advisor to Toyota, an experience which enabled me to write a book about their innovative methods and launch a speaking career. I’ve now written five books, the fifth being Winning the Brain Game. Winning the New Yorker cartoon caption contest, though, is my favorite achievement.

Biography

Edward Hanway, also known as Ed served as the Chief Executive Officer of CIGNA Corp. from January 2000 to December 25, 2009 and served as its President from January 1999 to June 2008. Mr. Hanway served as the Chief Executive Officer of CIGNA Health Corporation since January 2000 and also served as its Chief Operating Officer from January 1999 to January 2000. He served as President of CIGNA Health Corporation since January 1999. He served as President of CIGNA HealthCare from 1996 to 1999. He served as President of CIGNA International from 1989 to 1996. He served as Treasurer of Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare from June 2000 to July 2001. Mr. Hanway joined Insurance Company of North America (INA), a CIGNA predecessor company, in 1978 and served as its Assistant Controller, and was appointed to management and executive roles of increasing responsibility through the merger in 1982 of INA and Connecticut General, which formed CIGNA. He has been associated with CIGNA since 1978. He is a leader in the effort to improve the quality, accessibility and affordability of health care in the United States. He is an outspoken advocate at the national level for greater transparency in the health care quality and cost information available to consumers and a strong proponent of national quality standards for health care providers. Through the years, he has been active in a wide range of issues and initiatives associated with children's health, education and international business. Mr. Hanway served as the Executive Chairman of CIGNA Corp. from December 2000 to December 25, 2009. He serves as Chairman Emeritus at CIGNA Corporation. He has been an Independent Director of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. since January 20, 2010. Mr. Hanway served as the Chairman of Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare from July 2001 to July 2002. He has been a Director of the Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare since June 2000. He serves as a Director of The Philadelphia Orchestra Association and also serves as a member of The Business Roundtable. He serves on the Board of Advisors of the March of Dimes Foundation, the Board of Trustees of Loyola College of Baltimore and the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowships. He served as an Executive Director of CIGNA Corporation since 1999. He served as a Director of America's Health Insurance Plans. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Alliance for Health Reform. He serves as a member of the Pennsylvania and American Institutes of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Hanway graduated from Loyola College of Baltimore with B.A. in 1974 and M.B.A. degree from Widener University in 1984.

Biography

Horst Schulze revolutionized the hotel industry, creating one of the most recognizable international brands, forever altering the very nature of customer service by creating a culture of “ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen.” A charismatic leader and entrepreneur with an intimate understanding of market demands, he created a legion of loyal customers by raising the bar for customer service expectations to previously unimagined levels. Schulze provides audiences with successful service-oriented strategies to build and maintain lasting customer relationships that keep them coming back for more. A man of rare ability and prophetic vision, Schulze himself was named “Corporate Hotelier of the World” by HOTELS magazine and was awarded the Ishikawa Medal for his contributions to the quality movement. Currently chairman and CEO of Capella Hotel Group, Schulze is launching the newest standard in luxury hotels creating an unmatched tier of customer service.

Biography

Theodore M. Solso, also known as Tim, served as Chief Executive Officer of the Columbus Ind. from 2000 to 2011. Mr. Solso served as the Chief Executive Officer of Cummins Inc. from January 2000 to December 31, 2011. He served as the President of Cummins Inc. from 1995 to 2000, and its Chief Operating Officer from 1994 to 2000 and Executive Vice President of Operations from 1992 to 1994. He served as Vice President and General Manager of Engine Business after serving in various other executive positions in Cummins Inc. from 1988 to 1992. He served at BP Corporation North America, Inc. He served in various positions with Cummins Engine Company Inc., since 1971. He served for Cummins as Vice President and General Manager of Holset, Vice President of special engine markets and Vice President of Marketing from 1980 to 1988. Mr. Solso began his career with Cummins in 1971 as Assistant to the Vice President of Personnel until 1972 and served as an Employment Director from 1972 to 1974. He also served as Director of Development and Training from 1974 to 1977 and Executive Director of personnel from 1977 to 1980 for Cummins. He serves as chairman, Cummins Foundation. He serves as Chairman of the United Way Campaign-Bartholomew County. He is the U.S. chairman of the U.S. – Brazil CEO Forum. He served as the Non-Executive Chairman of General Motors Company since January 15, 2014 until January 4, 2015. Mr. Solso served as the Chairman of the Board of Cummins Inc., from January 2000 to December 2011. He served as the Chairman at Columbus Ind. He has been an Independent Director of Ball Corporation since January 2003 and its Lead Independent Director since 2003. He has been an Independent Director of General Motors Company since June 12, 2012 and its Lead Independent Director since January 4, 2015. He serves as a Trustee of DePauw University and Manufacturers Alliance. He serves as a Director of Cummins Foundation, the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, American Transportation Research Institute. Mr. Solso served as a Director of Ashland Inc. from 1999 to January 26, 2012; Cummins Inc. from 1994 to December 31, 2011; Irwin Financial Corporation from 1993 to December 31, 2006 and Cyprus Amax Minerals Co., since November 15, 1993. He served as a Director of Amoco Corporation. He served as a Director of BP plc and Indiana Economic Development Corp. He is also a Member of the Indiana Academy, a Member of the Business Roundtable and the Business Council. He was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2008; was selected as the national Six Sigma CEO of the year in 2007; and, in early 2009, was awarded the William R. Laws Human Rights Award by the Human Rights Commission of Columbus, Ind., where Cummins is headquartered. Mr. Solso received a Masters in Business Administration from Harvard University in 1971 and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Depauw University in 1969.

Biography

Timothy Tyson

Timothy Tyson is currently Chairman and CEO of Aptuit Inc., headquartered in Greenwich, CT. His remarkable corporate career spans nearly 30 years in the pharmaceutical industry. His expertise in leadership and management is internationally recognized. From 2002-2008, Mr. Tyson served as COO, President and CEO of Valeant Pharmaceuticals International. During this period, sales grew 69% and earnings increased 135%. He led a major restructuring of the company and established a highly effective Research and Development capability which developed a best in class epilepsy compound and a promising pro-drug for hepatitis C, both in Phase III. Mr. Tyson is a 1974 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. While on active duty at Ft. McClellan, AL, he earned a Master of Public Administration, in 1976, and a Master of Business Administration, in 1979, from Jacksonville State University. In 2002, Mr. Tyson received a Bicentennial Leadership Award from the United States Military Academy at West Point and was named 2007 Alumnus of the Year at Jacksonville State University. He has served on the board of directors for Valeant Pharmaceuticals International; the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturing Association (PhRMA); BICOM; on the CEO Roundtable for the University of California at Irvine; on the Dean’s Executive Forum at Cal State Fullerton; the CEO Council on Cancer; the Health Sector Advisory Board at Duke University; the Leadership Forum of the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers and as a visiting lecturer at Cambridge University. Mr. Tyson has served on the board of directors for non-profit organizations in Raleigh-Durham, NC and Orange County, CA and with the United Way.

Biography

Subir has worked with many organizations across diverse industries including manufacturing, healthcare, food, and non-profit organizations. His client list includes major global corporations and industrial leaders such as American Axle, Berger Health Systems, Bosch, Caterpillar, Chrysler, Daewoo, Delphi Automotive Systems, Ford, General Motors, Hyundai Motor Company, ITT Industries, Johns Manville, Kaplan Professional, Kia Motors, Leader Dogs for the Blind, Loral Space Systems, Make It Right Foundation, Mark IV Automotive, Procter & Gamble, State of Michigan, Thomson Multimedia, TRW, Volkswagen, Xerox, and more. Under Subir’s leadership, ASI Consulting Group has helped hundreds of clients around the world save billions of dollars in recovered productivity and increased revenues.

Subir is the author of 13 books, including the international bestseller The Power of Six Sigma (Dearborn Trade, 2001), which has sold more than a million copies worldwide and been translated into more than 20 languages. Design for Six Sigma (Kaplan Professional, 2002) was the first book to popularize the “DFSS” concept.

His book, the critically acclaimed The Ice Cream Maker (Doubleday, 2005) introduced LEO® (Listen, Enrich, Optimize), a flexible management strategy that brings the concept of quality to every member of an organization. The book was formally recognized and distributed to every member of the 109th Congress. The LEO process continues to be implemented in many organizations. His most recent book, The Power of LEO (McGraw-Hill, 2011) was an Inc. Magazine bestseller. A follow-up to The Ice Cream Maker, the book shows organizations how the LEO methodology can be integrated into a complete quality management system.

Biography

Michael is a Lean Transformation Leader and Innovation Coach with over 15 years of experience, driving change across various industries including Technology, Hospitality, Retail, and Healthcare. He excels in customer success and lean product management, specializing in aligning incentives and empowering high-performance teams towards Continuous Innovation. Michael uses battle-tested patterns and coaching systems to navigates uncertainties from ideation to scale-up in dynamic environments. His unique, global perspective, gained from extensive travel and cultural experiences, enriches his strategic insights, enabling systematic problem-solving.

Biography

Cynthia Long is an award winning Continuous Improvement Leader and Strategist.  Over the last 20 years, her passion for Lean Six Sigma has led her to create, innovate, and be a Revolutionary Leader for Continuous Improvement.  She is based in San Diego.

As a leader in technology, Cynthia is driven to mentor other women so that they can find magnificent opportunities for awesome careers in tech.

Her expertise includes, being a Revolutionary Leader for Continuous Improvement, Business Transformation Strategist,  Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Public Speaker and a dedicated  Philanthropist and Mentor to women in tech.

  Her speaking engagements include:

• Strategic Conversations- Mentoring and Beyond (Women in Technology)

• Build to Fit - Paint to Match; Continuous Improvement in an ever changing landscape (ICMI Contact Center Expo 2022)

• Data; Driving from the Customer Seat (Intuit)

• Cost of Complexity (Intuit)

• Surviving Domestic Violence (Compass Center For Women and Families )

Biography

15 years partnering with organisations and leaders to architect and execute complex organizational change and transformation programs. Spent many years in Mining and Resources as well as Banking and Finance, with the most recent experience in aviation. Background as an Occupational Therapist. Ex Deloitte Consulting.

Biography

20+ years of experience in line functions and central roles, driving sustainable operations, supply chain and commercial excellence transformations.

Multicultural experience at global companies in the US, Asia and Latin America, including Goodyear, Johnson Controls, Abbott Labs, and Pepsi.

Holds a master’s of science in business from the University of Miami, Florida, and a bachelor’s of science in industrial engineering as well as master's black belt.

Ricardo has been a keynote/speaker at several universities and conferences and has published several articles in magazines and e-publications.

Currently leading Global Operations Transformation at Goodyear  driving for one- operating system and its key enablers for sustained value delivery.

Along with his wife Sandra, they partner with non-profit organizations supporting foster children aging in the system to find their way through technology and live Happily Ever Cyber!

Biography

Biography

Hillary has worked on the ground with clients to use communication, employee engagement, storytelling and leadership development to ensure a cohesive employee experience in the midst of M&A integration. She has led teams and initiatives resulting in award-winning work for some of the world’s most admired companies such as: ITT Corporation, Guardian Life Insurance, Novo Nordisk, McGladrey/RSM, a F100 Global Biopharmaceutical Company, PepsiCo, GE Healthcare and Pfizer. Since joining Gagen in 2011, she has homed in extensive change and communications expertise through all phases of a deal – from pre-announcement through post-merger integration across a range of industries.

Biography

Rob Stewart is a thought leader for portal powered OPEX deployments that feature blended learning, competency learning, project tracking, and robust automation.

For over 30 years, Rob and his team have enabled organizations such as Cargill, Cintas, the U.S. Air Force and many others to more rapidly and simply scale their Lean/Six Sigma/Problem Solving/Continuous Improvement initiatives. 

OpusWorks customers experience personal attention, world-class tools, and amazing content as they accelerate speed to results. 

Rob is passionate about how learning and systems can transform lives and improve performance.  He began his career with IBM and is a graduate of Emory University in Atlanta.

Biography

Emily is a compassionate leader and strategic visionary with well-rounded background in project/program management and senior leadership in various industries including academia, international business, US military, US federal service, and aerospace industry. She has noted accomplishments in analyzing organizational culture characteristics, transforming leadership styles, and implementing new business processes with over 16 years of experience leading to operational excellence in each industry. Emily is currently a senior program manager leading the strategic implementation of Lean in the aerospace industry.

Biography

Biography

Biography

Biography

Ashish Chopra, is currently Head of Technology and Chief Information Officer for TDECU Bank. He is also a Wells Fargo veteran, where he served as SVP - Technology Chief Operating Officer (Office of Head of Technology) and Digital Product Leader for Cloud Blueprints. Chopra has more than 20 years of senior technology executive leadership experience solving complex business challenges by Modernizing Technolgy platforms, Leading strategic Merger & Acquisitions and Optimizing International Operations resulting in increased business value. He has a successful track record with major organizations including IBM Consulting, Target, New York Life Insurance and Sprint-Nextel. He holds a degree from Kit College of Engineering in India and completed leadership development training at Cornell University.

Biography

Anish Sharan is the Head of Digital Transformation at Pritzker Private Capital where he leads the development of digital capabilities that enhance customer experience, drive operational excellence, and deepen data utilization across PPC’s portfolio of companies. Pritzker Private Capital ("PPC"), a leader in family direct investing, partners with middle-market companies based in North America with leading positions in the manufactured products and services sectors.

He joins Pritzker Private Capital from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, where he was Director of Transformation and Execution, responsible for driving digitization, technology modernization, and enterprise transformation initiatives. Mr. Sharan brings 20+ years of global leadership experience across digital operations, e-commerce, and technology-focused roles at The Nielsen Company, Leo Burnett Worldwide, Motorola, and Toyota.

Mr. Sharan holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and is a certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt. He is also an adjunct faculty at the Lakeforest Graduate School of Management.

Biography

Thomas Bertels is a management consultant and business transformation expert on a mission to make work more productive, valuable, meaningful, and impactful. He has more than 25 years’ experience helping companies across a range of industries, from start-ups to Fortune 500, transform how work gets done. Prior to founding Purpose Works, Thomas was a founding partner at OXYGY/Valeocon Consulting, a global consulting boutique. Earlier in his career, he led the process improvement and design practice at Aon Consulting/Rath&Strong and held various line management positions at ABB. Thomas has written several books and authored numerous articles on process redesign, strategy deployment, change management, organizational learning, metrics, and innovation. His latest book, Fixing Work, will be published in September 2023.

Biography

Stan Howell, Vice President, Strategy & Business Excellence at Bristol Myers Squibb, holds an excellent track record in strategically leading and transforming organizations to achieve manufacturing excellence. He has expertise in developing strategic deployment plans that enable high-performance workforces to achieve stellar business results while serving customers through right-first-time business processes. With a career that spans across manufacturing, supply chain, strategy realization, program management and operational excellence. Stan is a proven leader in driving bottom-line results and improving KPIs across numerous operation modalities including Small and Large Molecule, Vaccines, Medical Devices and Cell Therapies.

Biography

Brad Morrow is a Master Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma. He is a Principal Process Excellence Champion and Lead LEAN 6 Sigma Trainer at the Tulsa Based firm Helmerich & Payne. Brad invented and published the Lean tool TaaG analysis (Trends at a Glance). He is also the creator of the new contemporary art form Ignatian Rogue Art. Beyond this he is a professional magician (who performs under the stage name Zane Black). As a magician he invented the magic genre of Improv Magic. Brad is also a motivational speaker who speaks on topics such as how to turn dreams into reality and he is the creator of the empowerment podcast

Biography

Niloofer is an accomplished leader, with proven expertise driving strategic initiatives at the CXO level, with significant impact for global conglomerates. She has an innate understanding of diverse cultures, working across Asia, Europe, and Americas.

Since joining Fiserv in 2016, she has lead multiple business innovation and transformation initiatives, around go-to-market strategies, improving customer experiences, and cost optimization. Preceding Fiserv, she was the transformation lead at Hewlett Packard involved in the design and execution of mergers & acquisitions, organization transformation and global delivery. She has been a Diversity & Inclusion leader at Fiserv a topic she is passionate about.As an industry-leading expert, Niloofer has been a key speaker at prestigious conferences across Asia, Europe and Americas. She was also a judge for the largest-scale, cross-industry leadership level event Digital Transformation & Operational Excellence Industry Awards in 2021, and was nominated for the "Change Agent" award at the Women in Payments USA Symposium 2022.

She is also a founding member of a global taskforce focused on creating more awareness of a genetic mutation called G6PD Deficiency that affects approximately 400 million individuals from diverse ethnicities.

Biography

Biography

Patrick Tam is the Vice President of Operational Excellence at ServiceNow. In this role, he is responsible for driving enterprise-wide operational performance. Prior to ServiceNow, Patrick held various executive roles at Cisco, including leading Corporate Transformation & Corporate Planning. Patrick is also a professor at San Jose State University, teaching operational excellence management to the next generation of leaders.

Biography

Monika is a Managing Director with our Los Angeles practice focusing on driving finance transformation across various global energy clients leveraging digital technologies. She is a consulting boomerang joining Deloitte after spending more than a decade in the OG&C industry. Outside of work, Monika is passionate about volunteering and mentoring, in the area of sustainability, education, and women empowerment, and serves on the board of a Maryland based non-profit. She enjoys spending time with family, especially reading and traveling with her son for soccer in her free time.

Biography

A seasoned Technology Executive with a proven track record in Silicon Valley, including Apple, eBay PayPal, Cisco, AppDynamics AWS, , I am highly adept at optimizing team performance and building world class organizations at scale.. Passionate about system design and architecture coupled with disruptive technologies to achieve remarkable results. Leveraging my expertise, I have successfully built and elevated world-class engineering teams, organizations and companies. My approach to work involves embracing the cutting edge of technology and assembling a team of exceptionally talented individuals to work smarter and more efficiently.

Biography

Biography

Dr. Kirchmer is an experienced practitioner and thought leader in the field of Business Process Management (BPM) and Digital Transformation. He is Managing Director of Scheer Americas, previously BPM-D. He co-founded BPM-D, a consulting company focusing on performance improvements and appropriate digitalization by establishing and applying the discipline of BPM. Before he was Managing Director and Global Lead of BPM at Accenture, and CEO of the Americas and Japan of IDS Scheer, known for its process modelling software and process consulting.

Dr. Kirchmer has led numerous transformation and process improvement initiatives in various industries at clients around the world. He has published 11 books and over 150 articles. At the University of Pennsylvania and at Widener University he has served as affiliated faculty for over 20 years. He received a research and teaching fellowship from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

Biography

Biography

Rob is the VP- Business Process at ProMach. He is responsible for developing and driving ProMach’s best practice approaches and KPIs for customer service, operational improvements and excellence, and margin growth. Rob’s experience spans 11 industries within 8 companies to include Sony, PepsiCo, Allegheny Technologies Inc., GE, Johnson Controls Intl., Global Container Terminals, and REV Group. In addition, Rob serves as the Chairman of the Board for Parkview Community Federal Credit Union and Committee Member for the Aviation Maintenance Program at Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics.

Rob has an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh and is a graduate of MIT’s Advance Certificate in Executive Leadership Program. Rob’s background is in Operations, Engineering, and Operational Excellence. In addition, Rob is a veteran of the United States Air Force. 

Rob has published breakthrough concepts through the American Society for Quality and is currently in the process of publishing his first book.

Biography

Biography

Lincoln Kirsten, SAP Offerings Leader at Fujitsu, is a Senior Director in the Global Business Applications division, responsible for leading the SAP Business Process Intelligence (BPI) and ERP transformation initiatives for Fujitsu globally. He has over 25 years of experience in consulting and IT services, including Business Management, Portfolio Management, Pre-sales, and Delivery roles. In addition to leading teams in the Americas, Caribbean Region, Middle East, and Europe, Lincoln has assisted numerous companies in various sectors, such as Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Food & Beverage, Retail, A&D, Telecommunications, and Automotive. Lincoln is also designated by SAP as an official Intelligent Enterprise Ambassador, and his current work involves, among other things, developing frameworks and methodologies around Digital Operational Excellence to meet customer needs and drive business processes efficiently.

Biography

Erin Pelletier is employed at Care England, the second largest health system in Rhode Island, as the Director of Operational Excellence. Here, she has led multiple transformation projects yielding savings over $100 million. As the organization continues to improve, she is installing an integrated approach to system-wide performance improvement activities designed to drive transformational change and maximize financial results.

Erin holds a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of New Haven, B.S. degree in Mathematics with a concentration in statistics, and is a certified Project Management Professional and Six Sigma Green belt.

Erin lives in scenic Connecticut with her husband and three children. She enjoys cooking and any activity outdoors such as hiking, passing the football, or lounging on the beach.

Biography

Brent is a seasoned professional renowned for his expertise in driving transformative change across diverse industries. His journey began in industrial manufacturing and assembly, where he earned Six Sigma Green Belt and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certifications, demonstrating his commitment to process optimization. With a background as a US Army Officer, Brent brings invaluable leadership skills and a results-driven perspective to every endeavor. Throughout his career, Brent has led large-scale transformations in various industries, achieving significant cost reductions, streamlining workflows, and implementing growth strategies. His leadership style emphasizes team building and collaboration, fostering high-performing teams that consistently deliver exceptional results. As the Director of Process Excellence and Mining at ROBOYO, Brent continues to leverage his extensive experience, military background, and innovative mindset to drive impactful and customized results for clients. With a relentless focus on innovation and efficiency, Brent remains dedicated to delivering sustainable solutions that drive lasting value for organizations.

Biography

Vatsala is a strategy, business transformation and operational excellence leader with business, technical and organizational skills focusing in the biopharmaceutical industry, with 17+ years of experience.

She has worked in 4 different biopharmaceutical companies across 3 continents, from R&D to clinical and commercial manufacturing operations. Skilled at driving transformation roadmaps from R&D to manufacturing and supply. Expertise around process simplification and optimization, implementation of best in-class technology and digital solutions and developing high performing organizations. A strategic thinker who is able to translate vision and strategy into operational solutions. Passionate about innovation and technology, global networking, benchmarking and experience in multicultural environments (North America, South America, Europe and Asia). 

Vatsala is currently the Global Operational Excellence Lead for R&D in Sanofi, where she is responsible for leading and driving the Operational Excellence program for global R&D. Prior to her current role, she was the Head of Operational Excellence for R&D North America Region and before that held various Operational Excellence roles within Sanofi in the Manufacturing and Supply business. Before joining Sanofi, Vatsala worked for Shire and Millipore in various functions from R&D to clinical and commercial manufacturing operations.

She holds a Masters in Chemical Engineering from Northeastern University-Boston and Bachelors in Chemical Engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She has a digital mindset and is passionate about AI applications for the life science industry and has completed the Executive Program in Artificial Intelligence - Implications for Business Strategy from the MIT Sloan School of Management. 

Biography

Ric Keller served as a U.S. Congressman for eight years. Today, Congressman Keller is an award-winning author, keynote speaker, and attorney. His book, Chase the Bears: Little Things to Achieve Big Dreams” was a #1 Amazon bestseller.

He is also a contributing author for two bestsellers in the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series. Ric’s TEDx Talk on self-deprecating humor was the 6th most watched TEDx Talk in the world in May 2022. Ric received his bachelor’s degree from East Tennessee State University, where he graduated first in his class, and his law degree from Vanderbilt. (Ric’s website is www.rickeller.net)

Biography

Biography

Biography

Jack is a seasoned professional with over a decade of experience at SAP, rich within Business and Enterprise Architects. Jack currently lends his expertise as a key member of the SAP Premium Engagement Center of Expertise with a specialty in the implementation of SAP Signavio for business process management and process automation and improvement. Jack is passionate about ensuring customers gain the utmost in business returns with a fierce commitment to propelling success and innovation in the realm of business process optimization

Biography

Steve Claus is an accomplished technology executive and Solution-Focused Coach with a proven track record of leading globally distributed organizations. With over twenty-five years of experience in technology leadership, Steve brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in research & development, strategic alliances, program management, quality assurance, management consulting, and business agility.

Biography

Michael is a distinguished thought leader and executive, specializing in addressing Digital Transformation and Operational Excellence challenges through his innovative, process-based framework. With over 25 years of experience in the Financial Services industry, he has primarily served as a management consultant, empowering clients with forward-thinking solutions in technology, process, and risk and spearheading large-scale business and digital transformations. Michael brings a powerful combination of superior sales and delivery skills, having personally sold and delivered over $100M in consulting services.

He is the author of the book, ‘Digital Transformation Success,’ in which he introduces his groundbreaking Process Inventory framework. This promises to be a transformative approach to achieving success in the digital era, unlocking unprecedented levels of operational efficiency and strategic alignment.

Biography

Shannon Brown-Hess is a seasoned success professional known for her innovative strategies and creative solutions. Shannon quickly rose through the ranks due to her exceptional leadership skills and dedication to her craft.

Throughout her career, Shannon has worked with a diverse range of clients, from startups to Fortune 500 companies, helping them achieve their goals and drive business growth. Her expertise lies in driving business performance improvements through strategic value planning and delivery, where she has consistently delivered impactful and measurable results.

Shannon’s passion for continuous learning and staying updated with the latest industry trends has been instrumental in her success. She is a strong advocate for data-driven decision-making and believes in leveraging technology to streamline processes and enhance effectiveness.

Currently serving as a Senior Director of Customer Success and team lead in the BPO vertical at CallMiner, Shannon leads a talented team and spearheads strategic initiatives to elevate brand visibility and customer engagement. Her commitment to excellence and ability to adapt toevolving market landscapes make her a valuable asset.

Biography

Biography

Biography

With over two decades of hands-on expertise in Operational Excellence, Mark Khabe has been instrumental in formulating strategies and executing successful implementations for leading organisations.

A seasoned BPM professional, Mark is passionate about technology and has a keen eye for innovation, empowering organisations to achieve more with less. Mark co-founded PRIME PMG – a Business Process Management consultancy firm, and following its success established PRIME BPM—a cloud-based BPM SaaS solution. Mark has worked extensively with numerous global companies, from Pfizer, Coca-Cola, GE, Sanofi, Suncorp and government organisations, contributing significantly to their journey towards operational excellence and steering them towards establishing a culture of continuous improvement.

Biography

Joseph Benz is Senior Account Executive at Finario, a capital planning & portfolio strategy solution for Capex stakeholders in operations and finance. In his role in managing strategy and sales, Joe speaks with hundreds of large enterprise decision makers every year across a broad range of industries – giving him first-hand perspective on how companies are choosing and managing their capital investments.

Prior to joining Finario, he held strategic account roles at LogicSource, a SaaS solution for procurement, and Lightbox,  a commercial real estate information and technology platform.  Joe is an active volunteer/fundraiser, highlighted by his annual swim across the Long Island Sound (21 miles wide at its widest point) to benefit St. Vincent’s Health Services.

Biography

Biography

Keith is an advocate of Continuous Improvement, goal planning and leader of the Culture of Productivity tribe. An author, a lifelong entrepreneur, a proud husband and father, tandem road cyclist, ice hockey player, and CEO at Complete XRM, inc.

Specialties: KPI, Dashboards, Strategy, Cloud, Saas, Culture, Visionary, Financing, Recruiting, Hiring, Development Management, Lead Measures, Lag Measures, DNA Selling, J2EE, Linux, Oracle, Sibel, Goldmine, Act, SalesForce, XML, HTML, JavaScript, CRM Sales, Contract Negotiation, Server Architecture, SaaS business Model, BPM, SOA, SOBA, SaaS, Java, AJAX, Web 2.0, Enterprise 2.0, BPM Business Process Mapping , FranklinCovey, etc

Biography

Nelson de la Cruz is a distinguished Senior Solutions Architect at Software AG, where he leverages his expertise in process optimization technology to enhance business operations. With a strong focus on operational efficiency, compliance and service delivery, Nelson plays a pivotal role in guiding organizations through digital transformation journeys.

He's actively involved in webinars and expert-led sessions, sharing insights on the strategic implementation of process mining to streamline organizations' processes and ensure their compliance with regulatory and policy standards. His work supports the development of digital services that aim to optimize customer and citizen experience, underlining his commitment to improving operations through innovative technological solutions.

Biography

Bart Schubert, an accomplished corporate strategist, has a 40-year history of fueling business growth in the U.S., Europe, and Southeast Asia. Proficient in crafting robust strategies, enhancing performance, and broadening portfolios. Today, Schubert Consultants, Inc. offers strategic planning, organizational development, expert facilitation, and coaching services. 

Biography

I work with organizations to align people and business strategies in order to achieve great business outcomes. My work includes change management, executive search, leadership development, human resources advisory and outplacement services, combining best-in-class technology and artificial intelligence with an amazing team of experts.

Biography

Randy works with companies of all sizes to help them leverage the power of KPI Fire software to turn their strategic objectives into tangible results.

Before joining KPI Fire Randy worked with Upland Software in Six Sigma Sales and had a number of record sales years.

Randy has spent over 25 years working in continuous improvement with emphasis in Six Sigma and the Baldrige criteria for performance excellence.

While with Whirlpool Corp. as Director, Global Quality, I directed a Baldrige-based improvement effort, implementing numerous approaches to measure and improve performance. Under my leadership Whirlpool was recognized as a best practice company by the American Productivity and Quality Center, as well as winning recognition in the Michigan Quality Award (State Baldrige Award).

While working with Pitney Bowes, as Director, Quality and Productivity, I deployed a Six Sigma initiative from the ground floor. Within the first seven months we trained 40 Black Belts producing over $13 million in first-year benefits.

A Black-Belt trained member of the American Society of Quality, I have also been a three-year examiner for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

Biography

Ted Iverson is a former Senior Operations Expert with McKinsey & Company and has led business improvement transformations in many industries and cultures.

His focus is global transformations including work on productivity, workflow improvement, alignment of costing and incentive systems, organizational design and purposeful employee engagement. He has been a Shingo Prize examiner for the past twenty-nine years.

Ted holds a B.S. in Manufacturing Engineering from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah USA. He also served a Baldrige examiner. He resides in eastern Oregon.

Biography

Bhavesh is an accomplished tech marketer and host of the ‘Ops Game Changers’ podcast. Since joining ActiveOps, Bhavesh has been on a mission to bring to the fore the stories and achievements of service operations leaders – including how AI can blend with human to drive better decision-making and how this combination is already transforming operations. 

Bhavesh has over 20 years of experience in fast-paced and disruptive markets. He has held senior roles in start-ups like ResponseTap and Kernolab, as well as global brands - Oracle and OpenText.

Biography

Spencer leads the North American division of ActiveOps - a provider of Decision Intelligence for service operations globally in Banking, Insurance, Healthcare and BPOs, delivering predictive and prescriptive insights to help our customers to make better decisions, faster. 

With a passion for operations management, Spencer helps organizations transform their service operations resulting in over 20% more capacity, over 30% boost in productivity, and significant business impact, quickly.

Spencer has over 30 years of experience leading sales and operations teams in North America, the UK, South Africa and India.

Biography

Biography

Biography

Jon Miciano is a Senior Innovation Engineer for SS&C Blue Prism. He has over twenty-eight years of experience with Intelligent Automation, most recently focused on product implementation and development of the SS&C platform for use by Fortune 500 companies within the Wealth and Healthcare space. 

In his current role, Jon is responsible for leading Intelligent Automation engagements related to product sales and marketing activities. He joined SS&C in November 2008 and holds an M.B.A. from Baker University and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Biography

He has spent the last 25 years teaching and advising more than one hundred thousand leaders on every major continent from the boardrooms of Fortune 500 companies to the slums of Nairobi, Kenya.

Biography

Subir has worked with many organizations across diverse industries including manufacturing, healthcare, food, and non-profit organizations. His client list includes major global corporations and industrial leaders such as American Axle, Berger Health Systems, Bosch, Caterpillar, Chrysler, Daewoo, Delphi Automotive Systems, Ford, General Motors, Hyundai Motor Company, ITT Industries, Johns Manville, Kaplan Professional, Kia Motors, Leader Dogs for the Blind, Loral Space Systems, Make It Right Foundation, Mark IV Automotive, Procter & Gamble, State of Michigan, Thomson Multimedia, TRW, Volkswagen, Xerox, and more. Under Subir’s leadership, ASI Consulting Group has helped hundreds of clients around the world save billions of dollars in recovered productivity and increased revenues.

Subir is the author of 13 books, including the international bestseller The Power of Six Sigma (Dearborn Trade, 2001), which has sold more than a million copies worldwide and been translated into more than 20 languages. Design for Six Sigma (Kaplan Professional, 2002) was the first book to popularize the “DFSS” concept.

His book, the critically acclaimed The Ice Cream Maker (Doubleday, 2005) introduced LEO® (Listen, Enrich, Optimize), a flexible management strategy that brings the concept of quality to every member of an organization. The book was formally recognized and distributed to every member of the 109th Congress. The LEO process continues to be implemented in many organizations. His most recent book, The Power of LEO (McGraw-Hill, 2011) was an Inc. Magazine bestseller. A follow-up to The Ice Cream Maker, the book shows organizations how the LEO methodology can be integrated into a complete quality management system.