Independent Leader | Operational Excellence | Risk & Quality Oversight

Organizations today face increasing pressure to deliver results while managing operational risk, regulatory complexity, workforce challenges, and long-term sustainability.

Boards need direction and insights to understand how systems actually perform, not just at the strategy level, but down through to the execution level where value is created (at the front line where customers interact with your employees).

I help your organization understand where to better flow your primary products and services quickly and effectively through the value stream to ensure customer satisfaction.

Once the bottlenecks are identified, I can help your organization understand what is needed to engage the workforce and leadership with an improvement culture and mindset using statistical data and analysis to address these constraints.

I have a strong reputation as a practical, data-driven leader with expertise rooted in risk management, social and environmental sustainability and over 25 years of operational excellence and continuous improvement (Lean Six Sigma) consulting expertise in numerous sectors and industries.

Detailed biography available

Invite me to join your organization as an independent board member

How I Add Value at the Board Level

I help boards strengthen oversight without drifting into management by focusing on the right questions, the right metrics, and the right culture.

Areas where I regularly add value include:

  • Operational Excellence & Execution Risk
    • Oversight of operating systems, KPIs, daily management (communication) systems and performance dashboards
    • Early identification of systemic inefficiencies before they impact earnings
    • Translating strategy into measurable, sustainable execution
    • Guidance on process improvement culture and strategy to engage staff and management
  • Quality, Safety & Compliance Oversight
    • Governance of quality systems, controls, and corrective action processes aligned with customer feedback and complaints
    • Experience in regulated, safety-critical, and compliance-driven environments
    • Strengthening management accountability without micromanagement or disrespect
  • Risk Management & Internal Controls
    • Evaluating enterprise and operational risk frameworks
    • Supporting audit, compliance, and risk committees with data-driven insights
    • Helping boards distinguish signal from noise in performance reporting and prioritization
  • Continuous Improvement & Culture
    • Assessing whether improvement programs are delivering real ROI to the bottom line financials
    • Connecting culture, leadership behavior, employee engagement and results
    • Ensuring improvement efforts are aligned to strategic priorities
  • Sustainability & Long-Term Value Creation
    • Integrating environmental, social, and operational sustainability into governance and organization structure
    • Balancing short-term results with long-term system health
    • Ensuring system level improvements are prioritized over suboptimization
  • International Experience
    • Teaching and consulting across multiple countries and cultures
    • Frequent traveler to non-traditional locations

Why Boards Find This Perspective Valuable

Many organizations invest heavily in improvement initiatives, but boards often struggle to answer:

  • Are these efforts actually working?
  • Where is risk accumulating below the surface?
  • Are leaders solving root causes or managing symptoms?

My role at the board level is to help directors and executives:

  • See how the organization behaves as a system
  • Ask better questions to coach leadership towards a new way of thinking
  • Make informed decisions using clear, meaningful data
  • Avoid surprises that emerge from unmanaged operational risk

Experience & Background (Summary)

  • Deep experience in Lean, Six Sigma, and systematic improvement
  • Delivering bottom-line results to companies through improvement projects and events, resulting in millions of dollars of savings and cost avoidance
  • President and board member of recycling nonprofit organization for 7 years (5 years as President)
  • President and board member of engineering trade association nonprofit
  • Worked with organizations on improvement projects across:
    • Aerospace
    • Automotive
    • Manufacturing
    • Healthcare
    • Government & nonprofit
    • Service and knowledge-based industries
  • Advisor, trainer, and consultant to leadership teams on:
    • Operational performance
    • Quality systems
    • Risk management
    • Data-driven decision-making
    • Organizational structure
    • Employee engagement programs
    • Coaching and mentoring for improvement
  • Comfortable engaging with:
    • Boards of Directors
    • Executive leadership teams
    • Audit, governance, sustainability and ESG committees
  • Accomplished athlete

Detailed biography available

What to Expect When Working With Me

  • Independent, objective perspective that is willing to drive the organization forward
  • Clear communication without jargon
  • Respect for governance boundaries
  • Trust and integrity so you never have to worry about negative publicity from me
  • Focus on questions that improve oversight and strategy while understanding what will work in the day-to-day operations (gemba)
  • Strong preparation and follow-through
  • Driven and motivated to make the world a better place (I’m persistent in a good way)
  • Enjoyable to work with

Let’s Start a Conversation

If your organization is:

  • Expanding its board
  • Seeking operational or risk expertise
  • Strengthening governance during growth or transition
  • Preparing for public markets, regulatory scrutiny, or increased investor expectations

I welcome an initial conversation.

Let’s discuss opportunities to work together