Mary Andringa
CEO of Vermeer Corporation
National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Chair

Mary Vermeer Andringa is president and CEO of Vermeer Corporation in Pella, Iowa. Vermeer is an international, family-owned agricultural, construction, environmental and industrial equipment manufacturing company with over 2,500 employees worldwide. Its products are used in more than 70 countries.

Andringa began her two-year term as chair of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the nation's largest manufacturing association, in January 2011. She is the first female to chair the NAM, and she leads the association's efforts to promote a stronger manufacturing sector and more prosperous America. Andringa is also one of 18 private sector members of President Obama's Export Council, where she represents the manufacturing sector on important trade matters.

Andringa grew up in Pella, Iowa and attended Pella Christian schools. She received an A.B. degree from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan and taught in Iowa City, Iowa public schools from 1972 to 1975. She has been a member of the Vermeer Board of Directors since 1976. From 1976-1979, she directed and taught in a preschool in Omaha, Nebraska.

Andringa began working in market research at Vermeer in 1982. She was named president and chief operating officer in 1989, president and co-CEO in 2003, and president and sole CEO in 2009.

In addition to her leadership role at the NAM, Andringa serves on the following boards: director, Herman Miller Co.; trustee, Fuller Theological Seminary; past chair, Iowa Association of Business and Industry; and trustee emerita, Central College. She also has served on the Governor's Council on Fitness and Health; Iowa Safety Council; and as chair of the Governor's Task Force on Rural Health; director of Principal Mutual Life Insurance; and director of Northwest Bank.

Raymond Floyd
Senior Vice President
Suncor Energy, Inc.

Ray Floyd is currently senior vice president with Suncor Energy. Suncor is Canada's largest industrial company and the fastest growing energy major in the world. Floyd has responsibility for the oil sand mining, extraction and upgrading assets in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Previously he took normal retirement from Exxon Mobil Chemical where he was global manager of manufacturing services.

During his time with Exxon, Floyd led six different business units, each of which was publicly recognized for "industry best" performance. He has led teams that have received the UK Queen's Award, the JIPM TPM Prize, the IndustryWeek Best Plants recognition, and the Maintenance Technology designation as Best Maintenance Organization.

Floyd is the only person to lead teams in both liquid manufacturing and mechanical manufacturing to receive the IndustryWeek Best Plants designation. In 1991, he became, and still is, the only person in the energy or process industries to lead a team that has received the Shingo Prize for Operational Excellence. With the recent announcement that his new book Liquid Lean has received the Shingo Prize for Research and Professional Publication, he is the only person in any industry to have received the Shingo Prize for both operations and research.

Floyd co-chaired Exxon's Manufacturing Plant of the Future initiative that resulted in Exxon's Global Practices including reliability, manufacturing operations, and energy management. Both the Global Practices and Floyd's early demonstration and documentation of lean practice in the process industries are widely emulated worldwide in energy and process manufacturing.

Floyd was inducted to the 2011 class of the IW Manufacturing Hall of Fame.

Gregory B. Kenny
President & Chief Executive Officer
General Cable Corporation

Gregory B. Kenny has been president and chief executive officer of General Cable since August 2001. General Cable (NYSE: BGC), headquartered in Highland Heights, Kentucky, is a leader in the development, design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products for the energy infrastructure, construction, retail, telecommunications and OEM markets. With annual revenues of $4.9 billion, General Cable is one of the world’s most geographically diverse manufacturing companies. It operates 47 manufacturing facilities in 25 countries and employs more than 11,000 associates.

Kenny has a diverse career in government and industry. In 1975, through competitive exam, Kenny entered the U.S. Department of State as a Foreign Service Officer. His diplomatic career focused on international economics and trade and included tours in Washington, D.C. and South America. In 1982, Kenny moved to the private sector joining the Penn Central Corporation, then a $3.0 billion revenue, multi-industry conglomerate.

Kenny holds a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Georgetown University, a masters of business administration from The George Washington University and a masters of public administration from Harvard University.

Kenny is a member of the board of directors of Cardinal Health (CAH), a NYSE health care services and products company, as well as Corn Products International (CPO), a global agricultural products processing company, also listed on the NYSE. He is a member of the board of governors for NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) as well as The International Cablemakers Federation. Public service activities include serving on the board of directors of United Way of Cincinnati and as an Emeritus Trustee for the Cincinnati Museum Center.

James Tetreault
Vice President
North America Manufacturing -- Ford Motor Company

James Tetreault was appointed vice president, North America Manufacturing, effective December 1, 2008. In this role, Tetreault leads Ford's North America Manufacturing operations and drives the company's continued efforts to improve manufacturing flexibility and efficiency in North America as it retools several truck factories to launch a host of smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles.

Just prior to this position, Tetreault served as vice president, Manufacturing, Ford of Europe, a position he held since 2005. In Europe, he was responsible for all European vehicle and powertrain manufacturing operations including Manufacturing Planning and Logistics and the European Ford Land facility management for Ford plants in Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, Romania, Russia, Turkey and the UK.

Tetreault has held several management positions in Ford North American manufacturing facilities, including plant manager in three assembly plants and one stamping plant. From 2000 until 2002, he was Vehicle Operations Director of Quality, and from 2002 until 2005 he was Director of Manufacturing, Vehicle Operations.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1955, Tetreault joined Ford Motor Company in 1988 after spending the early part of his career at Chrysler Corporation, where he worked in management positions in production and engineering. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of Michigan in 1978.

Carol Williams
Executive Vice President of Manufacturing & Engineering
The Dow Chemical Company

Carol Williams is executive vice president of Dow Manufacturing & Engineering. She is also a member of the company's executive leadership committee and the strategy board.

Williams joined Dow in 1980, starting as an engineer in R&D for plastic films and foams in the Granville Research Center. In 1991, she worked in the Louisiana operations on the development of styrene butadiene/isoprene block copolymers as part of a Dow/Exxon joint partnership. In 1993, she took on the director's role for the analytical science lab in Midland, Michigan. In 1995, she moved to Texas as the global R&D director for the epoxy products and intermediates business.

Four years later, Williams was named the North America Chlor-Alkali Assets business operations leader and site leader for Oyster Creek in Freeport, Texas. She became business vice president for Chlor-Alkali Assets in 2000, and was named vice president of global purchasing in 2003. The following year, Williams became R&D vice president for hydrocarbons & energy, chemicals & intermediates and core (Corporate R&D).

In 2005, she was named vice president of business development for market facing businesses. From 2007 to 2008, Williams served as corporate vice president for Dow's market facing, business development and licensing portfolio, which included Dow Automotive, Dow Building Solutions, Dow Coating Solutions, Dow Footwear, Dow Oil & Gas and several other potential market facing businesses in development. Her portfolio also included Dow technology licensing & catalyst, and ventures & business development. Carol was named the senior vice president of basic chemicals in January 2009 and president of chemicals & energy in 2010. She began her current role of executive vice president of manufacturing & engineering in September 2011.

Williams earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA, and received an executive MBA at Indiana University. Williams is on the board of directors of the Alliance to Save Energy, an advisory board member for the engineering department and a member of the Energy Futures Institute Presidential Consultation Committee at Carnegie Mellon University, a member of the Society of Women Engineers and serves on the World Chlorine Council Governing Council.

Scott Adams
Director of Operations
Victaulic

Scott Adams is the director of operations for Victaulic. Located out of their Leland, North Carolina manufacturing facility, Adams oversees complete manufacturing and quality operations at multiple facilities, including production, engineering, supply chain and quality assurance; and has been heavily involved in the implementation of the Victaulic lean, factory excellence and continuous improvement initiatives.

Adams has been with Victaulic since 2006, before which he was a plant manager and management associate at Synthes.

Adams holds a bachelor's from Washington and Jefferson College and a master's in operations and manufacturing/technology management from Purdue University. He is also involved with the University of North Carolina - Wilmington (UNCW), where he serves as an advisory board member for The Cameron School of Business Operations Department and the UNCW career Services Center.

Adam Baldauf
Sr. Industrial Engineer
Lockheed Martin Missiles & Fire Control –Lufkin Operations 

Adam Baldauf obtained his bachelor’s of science in industrial engineering in 2005 and his master’s of engineering in industrial engineering in 2007, both from Texas A&M University. Baldauf joined Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control in 2008 and is currently the lead industrial engineer and lean six sigma site coordinator for Lufkin Operations. He obtained his black belt certification in 2009 and has facilitated over 30 events since getting trained. Several of these events resulted in the move plan that transitioned Lufkin into an expanded facility while rates increased and without ever shutting down production.

Todd Carrier
Head of Strategic Risk and Industry Practice
Zurich Services Corporation, Risk Engineering

Todd Carrier has over 17 years experience as a health, safety and environmental consultant in the insurance industry and is currently the head of strategic risk and industry practice for risk engineering at Zurich. Carrier has a degree in occupational health & safety from Keene State College (NH); he has earned the Associate in Commercial Underwriting (AU) and Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designations. Carrier currently provides enterprise risk management and business resilience consulting services to multibillion-dollar global customers and is a certified Lean Six Sigma black belt.

John A. Collins
Vice President, Integrated Supply Chain
E-Z-GO Textron

John Collins, vice president of integrated supply chain (ISC) for E-Z-GO Textron, is responsible for all activity associated with ISC which including: manufacturing, lean Initiatives, parts & accessories distribution, EH&S, production control & materials, logistics, procurement, manufacturing engineering, and custom vehicle applications.

Prior to being named VP ISC, Collins held the position of director strategic sourcing and materials, responsible for E-Z-GO's supply management and inventory control processes. This included leading and directing all supply chain activities to ensure quality, delivery and cost of all purchased components, materials and services to meet customer expectations.

Collins joined E-Z-GO in 2000. Since this time, he has held various management positions including plant manager, responsible for all aspects of operations and production, as well as program manager, responsible for operational readiness for the launch of RXV.

Collins earned a master's from Southern Polytechnic State University and a bachelor's in Technology Management from Clayton College and State University.

Eric Ethington
Fellow
Lean Enterprise Institute

Eric Ethington, president of Lean Shift Consulting and fellow with the Lean Enterprise Institute, has 30 years of work experience in multiple industries including automotive, aerospace, defense, medical devices, financial services and consumer products, the last 14 years focused in lean and Six Sigma. Mentored by a retired Toyota sensei, Ethington has learned how lean applies in all levels and aspects of an enterprise. He holds a bachelor's in industrial engineering from Kettering University (formerly GMI) and an MBA in operations from the University of Michigan, Flint campus. Additionally, he is a certified design for Six Sigma (DFSS) black belt and has completed the executive leadership program at the Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Larry Faist
Operations Manager
Siemens Industry Inc.

Larry Faist currently serves as the operations manager at the New Kensington, Pennsylvania facility of Siemens Industry Inc. In his current role, Faist focuses on meeting business and customer needs. He remains dedicated to the continued improvement of the operational effectiveness of Siemens' New Kensington facility. Faist's previous experience includes serving as the operations leader for one U.S. location and three international locations of Rockwell Automation where he was also responsible for the creation of the Greenfield manufacturing entity in Shanghai. Prior to becoming involved in operations leadership, Faist served as the plant manager for an ultra high mix manufacturing site. His expertise includes global manufacturing strategy and footprinting experience as well as significant international experience. Faist earned his bachelor's in mechanical engineering from Northern Illinois University and his master's in engineering management from the Milwaukee School of Engineering.

Mike Fitzgerald
Director of Lean and Reliability Services
Advanced Technology Services, Inc.

Mike Fitzgerald leads professional Lean/Six Sigma practitioners to help ATS customers deploy lean processes to improve their maintenance and operational performance. He is a Certified Maintenance and Reliability Professional (CMRP) with more than 28 years of experience in supervision, manufacturing, maintenance, engineering, product development, plant management, operations and executive level roles of a diverse group of product and service organizations.

John Frehse
Chief Strategic Officer
Core Practice

John Frehse speaks around the world on a variety of best practices in the labor management field. Frehse's experience covers a wide array of strategic issues -- from analytical resource deployment modeling to implementation planning and execution. Specific tactical problems include scheduling and shift management to increasing employee satisfaction, health, morale and performance. Over Frehse's career he has implemented solutions with Fortune 500 companies across a variety of industries. Those projects have generated over 100 million dollars in cost savings. Frehse has done this with diverse workgroups across almost every industry including those that don't work the traditional 9-5 schedule.

Frehse is a much sought after speaker and has authored numerous white papers and articles including the 11 Keys to Strategic Scheduling. His strategy papers have twice been awarded the Leading Idea of the Week by Booz Allen. He has given speeches at Reliant Energy Stadium, home of the 2004 Super Bowl as well as in other locations around the world. Previously of Merrill Lynch, he is uniquely versed in the economic modeling of flexible labor strategies within seasonal and variable environments and how to minimize adverse costs through performance management. He is a graduate of Wake Forest University where he received a degree in politics with a focus on the political economy.

Jessyca Gajewski
Value Stream Manager
Greatbatch Medical

As a manufacturing professional with over 15 years experience, Jessyca Gajewski has led continuous improvement activities in various industries including locomotive, aerospace and medical. In her current role as value stream manager at Greatbatch Medical Alden (New York), she oversees all operational and engineering activities for one of two value streams as well as develops and implements the Lean Sigma strategy for the entire facility.

Facilitating more than 100 kaizen events, Gajewski has a proven track record that has resulted in significant productivity gains and reductions in inventory levels. Her area of expertise includes lean manufacturing implementation, Six Sigma methodology, material systems, operations management, change management, and project leadership. Currently, she is an ASQ certified Six Sigma black belt and a certified lean practitioner.

Shawn Galloway
President and CEO
ProAct Safety

After proudly serving in the U.S. Army, Shawn Galloway attended the University of Houston to obtain a bachelor's degree in business management. He began his corporate career with Fluor Daniel in the specialty process engineering division. He left Fluor in 1999 to focus on private safety, management and organizational consulting.

Galloway is the president and chief operating officer of ProAct Safety, an international safety excellence firm. As a safety coach, motivational speaker and expert advisor and strategist, he has assisted hundreds of international organizations to achieve and sustain excellence in safety, culture, and operational performance. He is also the host of the highly acclaimed weekly podcast series, Safety Culture Excellence and a columnist for several magazines.

Chris Glover
Director - Milliken Performance System
Milliken & Co

Chris Glover is the director of Milliken Performance System with more than 25 years of manufacturing experience at Milliken. A Georgia Institute of Technology Chemical Engineering graduate, Glover has led lean enterprise facilitation, project management and leadership development and is an expert at design, development and delivery of training which supports the Milliken Performance System. Glover has served many roles -- from production manager and process improvement leader to quality assurance leader and plant leader.

Mark Goodman
Plant Manager, United Technologies
Carrier – Charlotte Chiller Operations and Houston Repair Center

Mark Goodman joined Carrier in March 2007 as plant manager of the Carrier Charlotte Factory. Under the direction of Goodman, the Charlotte factory achieved its ACE Silver certification in 2007. The Charlotte factory was the recipient of the 2007 Carrier President’s award for Operational Excellence and the 2008 Carrier President’s award for Quality Improvement. In 2009 the facility was awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. The Charlotte factory was among the first eleven manufacturing facilities in the world to achieve LEED status for existing buildings.

Prior to joining Carrier, Goodman worked 14 years with Dana Corporation. His last position held with Dana was senior global commodity manager for the automotive systems group, where he developed and leveraged sourcing strategies for all global product launches. Goodman was plant manager with Dana Corp. from 1998 through 2005 where he made lean management techniques and supplier development the cornerstones for his success. Before working for Dana Corporation, Goodman was an auditor for Arthur Anderson & Co. Goodman is a CPA and holds a bachelor's in accounting from Adrian College.

Bruce Hamilton
President
GBMP

Bruce Hamilton is the president of GBMP, a Boston-based non-profit provider of lean technology. Prior to joining GBMP, Hamilton led efforts at United Electric Controls to revise its manufacturing systems from traditional batch production to one-piece part and information flow. The firm was recognized as a 1990 recipient of the Shingo Prize for Manufacturing Excellence.

Hamilton has been featured in the SME (Society of Manufacturing Engineers) video, Mistake-proofing and in AME's video (The Association for Manufacturing Excellence) Winning Through Change. He stars in and wrote the 2004 video Toast Kaizen, which received the coveted Shingo Prize for Research and Academics in 2005. Toast Kaizen is now used world-wide to introduce the basics of lean manufacturing. Its sequel, Toast Value Stream Mapping was awarded the 2011 Shingo Prize for Research. He also wrote Moments of Truth, a how-to targeted to management and supervisors and 17 other lean training DVDs. Along with Patricia Wardwell, Hamilton co-wrote the book, The e2 Continuous Improvement System: Managing & Sustaining Your Lean Transformation through the e2 "everybody, everyday" Approach to Lean.

Hamilton is vice chair of the Business Board of Examiners for the Shingo Prize and also is on the Shingo Board of Governors. In May 2000, he was inducted into the prestigious Shingo Prize Academy. As an educator he has helped some of America's largest corporations -- as well as some of its smallest -- on the road to world-class practices. In addition to his 18 years in production, Hamilton has also held positions in marketing, computer systems, materials management and general management. He brings to his students a broad-based understanding of manufacturing.

Mary Beth Harper
Purchasing Manager
Greatbatch Medical

Mary Beth Harper is a supply chain professional and a Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) with more than 16 years of experience in the medical and pharmaceutical industries. Harper's expertise lies in building and aligning supply side business systems, as well as negotiating and implementing long term agreements.

At the Greatbatch Medical Alden (New York) facility, she was a pivotal leader on a cross-functional team that engineered the current supplier management, risk assessment, supplier assessment/audit, and APQP processes -- which anchor the supply chain and are used as models at the other 10 Greatbatch Medical facilities. In her current role, Harper also manages traditional purchasing, receiving and material movement functions that provide the transparency needed to keep the strategic and tactical arms in lock step.

Ed Hlava
Advanced Manufacturing Specialist
Purdue University Technical Assistance Program, Manufacturing Extension Partnership

Ed Hlava has 25 years manufacturing management experience in both operations and a manufacturing environment. Positions included quality assurance manager, customer service manager, production manager, regional operations manager, and plant manager. Hlava worked primarily in the printing industry for the Burroughs Corporation and Standard Register before joining Purdue University's Technical Assistance Program. Prior responsibilities included continuous improvement development, profit and loss management, and operational growth. As a Lean/Six Sigma champion, black belt mentor, and certified green belt, lava has successfully applied these methodologies to prioritize, manage, develop and sustain process efficiencies. Hlava has an associate's in printing technology and a bachelor's in printing management from West Virginia University, Institute of Technology. Ed holds a lean bronze certification from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME), The Shingo Prize for Excellence, and the American Society for Quality (ASQ).

Bill Horwarth
President Global Services
MAG Industrial Automation Systems

Bill Horwarth is president of Global Services for MAG Industrial Automation Systems, a leading machine tool and systems company serving the durable-goods industry worldwide with complete manufacturing solutions.

In this role, Horwarth has responsibility and accountability for all global operations of MAG's portfolio of service products and solutions. He oversees the operations of three major service centers located in North America, Europe and Asia. He was appointed to this position in the Spring of 2010 after serving one and a half years as president of MAG Americas where he lead all aspects of the business including business development, fiscal functions, operations, sales and marketing.

Horwarth began his career in 1987 at Cincinnati Milacron, a global leader in machine tool solutions. He worked in increasing roles of responsibility in manufacturing engineering, quality, manufacturing management, customer service and business development.

Horwarth has served as service sub-committee chairman for the Association for Manufacturing Technology's (AMT) marketing, sales, and service committee. He is also a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).

Dr. Shahrukh Irani
Associate Professor, Department of Integrated Systems Engineering
The Ohio State University

Dr. Shahrukh A. Irani is an associate professor in the department of integrated systems engineering in the college of engineering at Ohio State University. His research focuses on the development of new industrial engineering methods to assist high-mix, low-volume (HMLV) small and medium enterprises (SME).

He is the inventor of the PFAST (Production Flow Analysis and Simplification Toolkit) software that facilitates the implementation of lean in job shops and editor of the Handbook of Cellular Manufacturing Systems published in 1999 by John Wiley.

In 1996, Dr. Irani was voted Young Engineer of the Year by the Minnesota Federation of Engineering Societies and the Minneapolis Chapter of the Institute of Industrial Engineers. He served as the director of the Facilities Planning and Design (FAPAD) division of the Institute of Industrial Engineers from 1999-2001 and 2001-2003. Currently, he is the director of the Advanced Manufacturing Interest Group (AMIG), a consortium that seeks to incorporate industry experience across the industrial engineering curriculum through a variety of engagements with Ohio manufacturers.

Ralph Jackson
Assistant Plant Manager, Lean and Quality
Hamilton Caster & Mfg. Co.

Ralph Jackson has worked the past 30 years in various industries and organizations. Starting in 1981, he worked for Cincinnati Milacron as a control assembler, incoming inspector, plating system operator and circuit board press operator. In 1988, he joined Mitsubishi Electric-Automotive as an assembler after training in Japan. He later was promoted to quality technician. He left Mitsubishi in 1995 to join The Metalworking Group as a quality technician, later being promoted to quality supervisor. In 1998, he joined Select Industries as a quality engineer; he also worked as a quality manager, plant manager, and a lean leader. In 2006, he joined Hamilton Caster as the lean leader.

Paul Johnson
Advanced Manufacturing Specialist
Purdue University Technical Assistance Program, Manufacturing Extension Partnership

Paul Johnson has 27 years in manufacturing with General Motors and Delco Remy America. While with General Motors, his positions included supervisor, quality engineer and supplier development engineer. He also worked in the human resource department with divisional responsibilities for coordinating the employee involvement program, workers' compensation and safety. During his time at Delco Remy America, he worked as a lead supervisor, quality engineer and supplier development engineer. He traveled throughout the world auditing suppliers to the QS9000 quality standard. Before coming to the Purdue University Technical Assistance Program, Johnson served as the director of human resources for the City of Anderson, Ind. Johnson has a bachelor's in business administration from Butler University, a master's in management from Indiana Wesleyan University, and an master's in business administration from Indiana Wesleyan University.

Ed Kestel
Director of Manufacturing
Orbital Sciences Corporation

Edward (Ed) Kestel is the director of manufacturing at Orbital Science Corporation - Dulles Satellite Manufacturing Facility (SMF). With more than 20+ years of manufacturing/aerospace leadership experience in operations and material management, Kestel is responsible for establishing a process-focused capability for manufacturing spacecraft, promoting a culture of customer-centered excellence, backed by performance metric management.

In addition to his functional leadership, Kestel is the operational excellence champion for Orbital's Technical Operations East. He is responsible for leading multifunctional teams through process capability and improvement initiatives. He trains internal and external team members in Lean Six Sigma tools and drives data driven decision making through qualitative metrics. Orbital's SMF achieved a lean culture during a 50% increase in business growth through the implementation of lean manufacturing. Kestel is a Six Sigma Black Belt and holds a bachelor's in science and a master's in business administration.

Dave Lippert
President
Hamilton Caster & Mfg. Co.

Dave Lippert has served as the president of Hamilton Caster since 1995, and has overseen the lean journey from its inception. Prior to becoming president of this fourth generation family-owned manufacturing business, he served in various roles in manufacturing including project manager, supervisor, and plant manager. He has firsthand knowledge of most of the production processes, and is well-equipped to participate in improvement events.

Lippert earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1976. Following graduation he served six years in the Air Force as an instructor pilot. He joined Hamilton Caster in 1982 and now works with two brothers and a cousin in family leadership.

Since 2006 the company's lean journey has been augmented by the addition of a lean leader, Ralph Jackson, and an emphasis on sustainment of the journey. Lippert's role has been to maintain internal communication on progress and changes, to participate in events and encourage those involved, and to oversee quarterly company events to promote the need for change and celebrate the progress that has already been made. Leader standard work has contributed significantly to his continuing leadership in the lean journey.

Phil McIntyre
Director Business Development and Marketing - Milliken Performance
Milliken & Co.

Phil McIntyre is the director of business development and marketing for Milliken Performance Solutions. His career with Milliken spans 25 years with 10 years spent in manufacturing. McIntyre then spent 6 years directing several Milliken divisions' efforts in process and cost improvement. He attended Clemson University and earned a degree in industrial engineering. Prior to Milliken Performance Solutions, McIntyre served the company as market manager for several of the company's consumer products businesses.

Michael Neff
Vice President Operations
Swagelok

Michael F. Neff joined Swagelok as vice president, operations, in January 2005 and is responsible for global manufacturing operations. This includes the general industrial manufacturing activities for the organization’s valve and fitting service groups, as well as for the high purity group servicing the semiconductor market. Responsibilities also include global sourcing, warehousing, distribution and the manufacturing support activities supporting the global operations.

Prior to joining Swagelok, Neff gained experience in a number of operating positions where he established continuous improvement programs, new product introduction processes, and engineering standards programs. Previously, he was a group vice president, global operations, for Newell Rubbermaid. He also spent 16 years at Timken Company.

Neff earned a bachelor of science in industrial management and an M.B.A., both from the University of Akron. Mike serves on the board of Cornerstone of Hope, a bereavement services provider. He is also on the board at the University of Akron’s Department of Management Advisory Board and the Dean’s Advancement Council for the College of Engineering. Mike is also a board member of MAGNET, the Manufacturing Advocacy & Growth Network that supports and champions manufacturing in Northeast Ohio.

Jeff Powers
Vice President, Practical Process Improvement
Thermo Fisher Scientific

Jeff Powers has been with Thermo Fisher Scientific for 13 years. He has served in a number of engineering positions of increasing responsibility including manufacturing engineering manager. Utilizing lean principles, project management skills, Six Sigma black belt certification, APICS CPIM certification, and SPC knowledge, he progressed to division PPI manager and then manufacturing manager.

As the director of operations of the Marietta, Ohio, facility, Powers led his plant to win an IndustryWeek 2008 Best Plants award. The culture of the Marietta plant was transformed with his leadership. Highlights were: increased profitability of 45%, 3.0+ million hours with no-days-away-from-work injury, being a Red Cross preferred supplier, and 98% customer on-time delivery.

As the director of operations of the Asheville, N.C. facility, for 3 years, Powers's staff increased manufacturing productivity by 27%; reduced part shortages by 97%, improved on-time delivery performance by 20% and reduced RMAs by 70%. Powers introduced and implemented A3s, gemba walks, daily plant walks, standardized work for leaders, lean management, and communication boards. To respond to the voice of Thermo Fisher Scientific associates, he implemented the Employer of Choice Council to develop and strengthen a budding culture of pride and empowerment.

Most recently, Powers was promoted to vice president of practical process improvement. In this role, he will be responsible for the company's overall continuous improvement strategy and program to drive profitable growth through customer allegiance and employee involvement.

Rick Reed
Director of Continuous Improvement & Quality
WIKA Instrument Corporation

Rick Reed joined WIKA Instrument Corporation (WIKA) in July 2008 as the director of continuous improvement & quality. As Director, Reed -- a certified Lean Master, certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Master Trainer and Shainin Red X Journeyman -- manages the implementation of the Toyota Production System using kaizen methodology across the entire value stream.

Reed's strategic initiatives for the continuous improvement of WIKA's goals are to launch Six Sigma and project management at WIKA, manage daily improvements, lower customer complaints and increase customer response time. Reed also wants to emphasize that continuous improvement involves everyone in order to accomplish these directives. Once these pivotal initiatives are met, customers will receive products and information in a timelier manner thus growing their confidence in WIKA's ability to meet customer demand and create customer satisfaction.

Prior to joining WIKA, Reed was with St. Louis-based Siegel-Robert as the corporate manager of lean enterprise training, where he was charged with identifying, developing and implementing programs necessary to the corporations divisions. Reed reports to Michael Gerster, WIKA President.

Scott Reed
Production Manager
Siemens Industry Inc.

With over 20 years of experience in operations and manufacturing, Scott Reed is currently a production manager for the large drives division of Siemens Industry Inc. In his current role, Scott is responsible for all manufacturing, assembly, and testing at Siemens' New Kensington, Pennsylvania facility. His previous experience includes working at American Electric Power as an operations engineer at a coal-fired, 1400MW utility power station, serving as a manufacturing engineer and production manager of industrial compressors and steam & gas turbines at Elliott Company & Rolls Royce Energy, and working as a manufacturing manager of electrical drive equipment at Siemens Industry. Reed's expertise includes continuous improvement and lean manufacturing procedures. He earned his bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. Reed is also a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Pennsylvania and a Lean Sigma Six Black Belt.

Joe Rodibaugh
Corporate Logistics Manager
Klein Steel

Joe Rodibaugh brings over ten years planning and leadership experience ranging from U.S. Army operations and logistics to manufacturing expertise. Rodibaugh is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy (West Point) and experienced in project management, Six Sigma and risk management, compliance and transportation. As Corporate Logistics Manager at Klein Steel, he has overseen multiple distribution improvement initiatives, yielding savings of tens of thousands of dollars per year. Rodibaugh and his team at Klein Steel are responsible for the receiving, storage and distribution of over 100 million pounds of material and processed parts annually with customers throughout Northeast. His intelligent and engaging presentation style captures the audience's attention and informs and educates.

Jeff Rosenlund
Director of Business Development - Milliken Performance Solutions
Milliken & Co.

Jeff Rosenlund is the director of business development, Milliken Performance Solutions. His diverse career assignments during his 30+ years with Milliken & Company include leadership roles in change management, manufacturing management, business and product line development, and project management. Rosenlund's assignments have been at three different manufacturing locations, in three operational divisions as well as in corporate support. Rosenlund was plant leader & manufacturing manager at Magnolia Finishing, Milliken & Company's largest plant, for 7 years where he was responsible for overall plant performance in safety, cost, quality, environmental, and associate morale. He also utilized project management skills as he led a major, 4-year-long equipment modernization effort at the plant. Early in his career Rosenlund held multiple positions ranging from shift and department leadership, quality assurance, process improvement leadership, and plant manager roles at another of Milliken & Company's plants. Rosenlund holds a degree in chemical engineering from Clemson University.

Steven C. Schultz
Corporate Energy Manager
3M

Steve Schultz has global responsibility for 3M's energy management program with the objectives of reducing operating costs, environmental impacts, achieving corporate energy and greenhouse gas reduction goals and positioning 3M for future growth. His role includes strategic planning, development and implementation of programs and tools to achieve corporate goals, and oversight of corporate data tracking and measurement systems.

Schultz coordinates 3M's participation in various voluntary programs such as the EPA ENERGY STAR® program which has awarded 3M the Sustained Excellence Award Energy Management for seven consecutive years and the U.S. Department of Energy Better Buildings program.

Schultz is a Certified Energy Manager (CEM) with the Association of Energy Engineers and was named a Champion of Energy Efficiency by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy. He participates in an advisory role with the U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Manufacturing Office and serves on the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Energy Policy Committee.

Bill Schumacher
Director of Manufacturing
Orbital Science Corporation

Bill Schumacher is the director of manufacturing at Orbital Science Corporation - Dulles Satellite Manufacturing Facility (SMF). He has more than 20+ years of manufacturing/aerospace leadership experience in operations and material management. Schumacher is responsible for the cost and scheduling of all in-house electronic box, harness, MLI and mechanical builds. He is also responsible for material planning/control and government property.

Tyler Stillwell
North American FECT Venture Leader
Cummins, Inc. Emission Solutions Business

Tyler Stilwell recently took the position of FECT venture leader, North America for Cummins' emission solutions business. Prior to that, Stilwell spent the last 18 months with Cummins' Corporate HSE team, serving as the HSE global projects leader. Prior to joining the HSE team in February 2010, Stilwell held various operations positions within the company's fuel systems business. As HSEMS Global Projects Leader, He is also responsible for the organization's award-winning global road safety program, which has been deployed to nearly 50,000 Cummins employees worldwide. Stilwell holds a bachelor's from Ball State University, and a master's in business administration from Indiana Wesleyan University, and is a certified Six Sigma green belt.

Mike Thelen
Continuous Improvement Leader
Wells Enterprises -- Blue Bunny

For almost fifteen years, Mike Thelen has journeyed down a lean path. Starting with cellular design and now/next flow, progressing to value streams and supplier kanban, he constantly strives to see, and show others, both the forest and the trees. Utilizing Hoshin Kanri (policy deployment), Six-Sigma green belt training and showing respect for people, he has led continuous improvement efforts in positions from front-line supervision to organizational lean leadership.

In addition to training and guiding all levels of an organization, Thelen also works with local secondary, post-secondary and civic organizations to spread the concepts and theories of continuous improvement to a broader audience. He founded the Aberdeen Lean Forum, a dues-free monthly consortium in 2007, the Siouxland Lean Consortium in 2011, and is currently a continuous improvement leader for Wells Dairy, makers of Blue Bunny ice cream.

Jaime Villafuerte
Lean Six Sigma Director
Jabil, Inc.

Jaime Villafuerte has 12 years of experience in designing, managing and leading lean enterprise transformations. He has taught lean thinking to thousands of people worldwide.

Villafuerte is a Lean Six Sigma (LSS) director at Jabil, Inc. He leads the development and deployment of LSS education for Jabil. This includes designing learning solutions, developing the competencies of kaizen regional and site LSS managers and authoring new training courses.

Villafuerte started working for Jabil in 2004 after completing his master's in business administration from University of Florida. He currently is ASQ CSSBB, CQE and Lean Silver Certified. In 2010 he launched Jabil LSS certification to support worldwide LSS deployment. Villafuerte was responsible for curriculum development and today there are over 35 hours of blended instruction practical lean principles and tools.

Prior to his career in Jabil, Villafuerte worked for the largest bank in Peru as a continuous improvement manager. He earned a bachelor's in industrial engineering. He is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese and English. Villafuerte was born in Peru and now he lives in the U.S.

Mike Voigt
Executive Vice President of Carlisle Operating System
Carlisle Companies Inc.

Michael Voigt is responsible for leading the implementation and sustainment of Carlisle’s continuous improvement system throughout all of Carlisle’s business units. The Carlisle Operating System (COS) is based on lean principles and is quickly becoming ingrained in the Carlisle culture. Voigt has over 26 years of experience in financial and lean operations with Trail King Industries, a Carlisle subsidiary. Voigt was promoted to executive vice president of COS for Carlisle Companies in the fall of 2009. He is leveraging best practices from across Carlisle’s diversified operations to develop a COS footprint that creates and sustains a continuous improvement culture.

Wes Waldo
Chief Operating Officer
BMGI

As BMGI's Chief Operating Officer and North America Managing Director, Wes Waldo leverages more than 16 years of quality, operations management and performance excellence experience to continually improve BMGI's sales, marketing and internal processes. Prior to this, Wes spent many years as a lean master consultant and lean product manager and nearly two years as practice leader for BMGI's manufacturing team.

A respected authority in his field, Waldo is the co-author of A Team Leader's Guide to Kaizen Events, and contributed to The Complete Idiot's Guide to Lean Six Sigma (Penguin) and The Innovator's Toolkit: 50+ Techniques for Predictable and Sustainable Organic Growth (John Wiley & Sons).

Waldo enjoys working with a wide variety of organizations from healthcare providers to high-end technology manufacturers -- especially in developing their strategic plans and breaking them down into actionable objectives, projects and associated improvement methodologies at the local level. He spends much of his time in this regard coaching senior leaders on how to align their teams for ultimate success.