Interested in helping organizations use Lean and Six Sigma to reduce their environmental impact, improve their communities and engage their employees to drive greater financial and mission results

  • Founder of Business Performance Improvement in 2016, a member of 1% for the Planet business
  • Lean and Six Sigma instructor for 6sigma.US since 2017
  • Spent 18 years at Rockwell Collins as Statistician/Quality Engineer/Six Sigma Black Belt at enterprise level position.
  • Masters degree in Quality Management and Productivity from University of Iowa, Bachelors degree in Statistics, Certificate in Sustainability.
  • Six Sigma Black Belt certified (ASQ), Master Black Belt certified (6Sigma.US) and Lean Master certified (Rockwell Collins). Taught and mentored numerous Green Belts, Black Belts and Lean practitioners.
  • Sustainability and environmental education and certification achievements
  • Highly experienced in Microsoft Office applications (especially Access and Excel)

Education

Courses completed

Mathematics/Statistics: Linear Algebra, Calculus III, Mathematical Statistics I and II, Regression and Design, Experimental Design and Analysis, Economical and Social Statistics, Statistical Analysis and Computing, Data Analysis, Applied Multivariate Statistical Techniques, Longitudinal Data Analysis, Applied Time Series Analysis, Data Mining Practices, Nonparametric Statistical Methods

Quality/Six Sigma: 6sigma.US Master Black Belt Training (5/2/16-5/6/16, 8/22/16-8/25/16), Design for Lean Sigma, Rockwell Collins, Cedar Rapids, IA (May 2007), Design for Six Sigma, Smarter Solutions LLC, Austin, TX (April 2006), Total Quality, Continuous Quality Improvement, Psychology of Business and Industry, Quality Engineering II, Quality Control

Environment: Agent of Change (Spring 2017), Master Recycler (Class 64 – Spring 2017), Continual Improvement for Social Responsibility (CISR) Certified Practitioner (Fall 2016), Employee Engagement in Energy Efficiency Workshop (4 hours, 11/7/13), PGE Energy Champions Workshop (4 hours, 9/14/16), Lean and Green Training (10/27/14-10/28/14), Applied Environmental Statistics (11/18/13-11/22/13), Preparing for a RCRA Inspection (11/6/12), Contemporary Environmental Issues (Fall 2012), Planning, Designing, and Managing Your Own Solar Electric Installation – SPV504 (6/10/12), Intro to Sustainability (Spring 2012), Environmental Health (Spring 2012), Baldrige Green Seminar (5/6/10), SME Green Manufacturing Specialist Certificate Preparation Workshop (Dec 2011), Intro to Environmental Science (Fall 2011), Senior Certified Sustainability Professional coursework (Spring 2011), Sustainable Systems (Syllabus)(Spring 2010) [Paper: Poplar Tree Biomass Test Burn at the UI Power Plant and 2013 update on biomass at UI], Global Change Seminar (Fall 2010), Contemporary Global System (Fall 2010)

Other: OSHA 4-Hour CEU Safety Training (3/9/13), Medical Errors Part I and II (9/14/07), Medical and Technical Terminology [textbook], Management Information Systems, Operations Strategy, Engineering Admin I, Operations Research

List of Books Read: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1FX1C8RL0TM6B?&sort=default

Certifications

2017 – Present: Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt – Business Performance Improvement (BPI)
Fort Lauderdale, Florida (2023 – Present), Saint Louis, Missouri (2021-2022), Portland, Oregon (2017-2020)

Switched to full-time consulting in July 2017 to help spread Lean and Six Sigma concepts and skills to organizations working on sustainability (environment and social issues). Achieved Certified B Corporation status in Jan 2018, and became a member of 1% for the Planet in April 2018. Mentoring large U.S. companies and small organizations with lean six sigma training, strategy and deployment, including Fleischmann’s Vinegar (Kerry), Johnstone Supply and Calderys/HWI. Instructor for UCSD Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and UCSD Health Yellow Belt program. Conducting Lean and Green coaching program with State of Washington as of 2020. Learn more about our certification approvals and impact.

2017 – Present: Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt – 6sigma.US

Partner with consulting firm to teach Green Belt, Black Belt and Lean Fundamentals public courses, primarily in the Pacific Northwest. Work with organizations to teach Lean and Six Sigma in-house, mentor and coach internal process improvement experts, review and approve projects of certification, and facilitate lean kaizen events. Worked with major companies such as Tesla, Western Union, T-mobile and numerous biotech firms.

Rockwell Collins
2013-2017: Lean Six Sigma Black Belt – Rockwell Collins
Wilsonville, Oregon Facility

Transferred to Operations organization and relocated to Wilsonville (Portland, OR). Finalist on team for 2017 corporate Lean Achievement award (award | letter). Setup and managed Earth Day Fairs (2015-2017). Supported Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) and Six Sigma training and implementation (F-35 Black Belt Project #1) at Wilsonville facility, and facilitated Lean standard work events at numerous manufacturing facilities (award nomination). Finalized corporate Green Belt training program (facilitator and instructor guide books). Supported APQP implementation training and support at key suppliers, leading to finalist for RC Supply Chain Innovation Award in 2016. Featured on ASQ website under member profiles (Mar 2015). Operations lead for acquisition of Pacific Avionics in Singapore.

Setup and led Wilsonville Green Team. Led effort to obtain Clackamas County Leaders in Sustainability Gold Certification in Dec 2015 [article|speech and award ceremony at Clackamas County Commissioners meeting|City of Wilsonville newsletter|article]. Led and implemented composting program with cafeteria, along with food scrap collection for post-consumer waste, which avoided 3,128 pounds of food waste (Aug 2014-Jul 2015), and was awarded annual corporate ES&H pollution prevention award in Oct 2015. Launched electricity reduction program in winter 2015, with results expected by summer of 2016. Continued to provide technical support to TDMS developers and developed formal training program for practitioners.

Rockwell Collins
2009-2013: Lean Six Sigma Black Belt – Rockwell Collins
Cedar Rapids, Iowa Facility

Relocated back to Cedar Rapids from Melbourne in Nov 2009 to work on Enterprise Lean Six Sigma training and certification initiatives. Revamped the existing Green Belt training and certification to include blended learning (CBT and classroom), and streamlined project format to reduce overall completion time. Participated in tour of HNI facilities in Muscatine, IA (2013), John Deere facility in Waterloo, IA (2013) and Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing facility in Georgetown, KY (2013). Attended “The Role of Leadership in Creating a Lean Culture” taught by Mike Hoseus (4/11/13). Focal point for Engineering and Technology (E&T) and International and Service Solutions (I&SS). Facilitated events in wide variety of processes, including: Creative Services, General Counsel, Manufacturing, Product Transition, Engineering, Advanced Technology, Human Resources, and Environment Safety and Health (ES&H). Taught all Lean core courses. Participated in Enterprise Quality Process Optimization (EQPO) initiative. Supported and mentored Advanced Technology Center (ATC) on Lean Transformation. Facilitated events to define company enterprise scorecard metrics and review process. Developed and managed advanced certification program for company (online database and process for self-assessment, validation and reporting). Presented Regression Analysis at ASQ April 2012 meeting. Presented Minitab Quality Trainer overview at annual RC Lean Conference (May 2012). Supported the PFMEA and control plan standardization and deployment initiative as subject matter expert.

Environmental Initiatives: Organized and managed University of Iowa Football Landfill Reduction Project (EPA Game Day Challenge) in 2012 Click for details

Co-taught Lean and the Environment training for Iowa Lean Consortium (12.11.12). Co-creator of Sustainability Network with Iowa Quality Center, and presented at inaugural meeting. Co-developed “Go and See” energy waste identification events for employees. Organized Earth Day Fair for employees, and coordinated, conducted interviews and helped edit videos (2012 Overview|2011 Overview|2011 Company|2011 Vendors. Kicked off Electricity Reduction project to reduce $4M annual expense, and implemented pilot project for AHU setback that saved over $200K in electricity. Interviewed for company newsletter about environmental initiatives (Aug 2010). Supported Lean Six Sigma events with Alliant Energy (electronic 5S in Mason City, VSM for document publishing in Cedar Rapids corporate office). Co-leader of Green Employee network (helped setup monthly meetings, Earth Day event, established and managed employee suggestion program). Prepared and facilitated lean events in ES&H for Contractor Badging, Mandatory Training, Legal & Other Requirements, and Injury/Illness Recording Tool improvements. Continued to provide technical support to TDMS developers and teach users.

Rockwell Collins
2004-2009: Lean Six Sigma Black Belt – Rockwell Collins
Melbourne, Florida Facility

Responsible for leading Melbourne product/process improvement teams using Lean and Six Sigma tools and methodology, focused on reducing biggest financial impact to facility. Focused on deploying Lean Sigma training to facility, and mentoring potential Green Belts and Black Belts through certification projects (mentor for 5 Black Belts and over 20 Green Belts). Training and educating facility leadership on Lean Six Sigma techniques.

Major accomplishments: Chair of ISO-14000 committee, kicked off numerous improvement projects related to Energy, Landfill Tonnage, Hazardous Waste and Paper Usage reduction). Creation and deployment of Lean Six Sigma program in Manufacturing/Operations department (which led to Six Sigma being added to Enterprise-level initiative in May 2007), along with Green Belt curriculum (including course development), enhancements to web-based SPC and control plan system developed for manufacturing processes, deployment of Lean Six Sigma program in Melbourne, Florida. Project co-leader of $2M cost reduction project in Coralville (IA) facility. Attended ‘Next Generation Leadership’ Training (360 Feedback Results available upon request). Statistical analysis of new product design, used to accurately predict manufacturing test yields in full-rate production environment. Mentored 5 Black Belt candidates and numerous Green Belt candidates. Taught six waves of Green Belt training. Continued to provide technical support to TDMS developers and teach users.

Rockwell Collins
1999-2004: Statistician/Quality Engineer – Rockwell Collins
Cedar Rapids, Iowa Facility

Responsible for on-call statistics and quality support and training for all RC business units. Duties included: DOE setup and analysis, weibull analysis, regression analysis, general statistical analysis and support, training and course development (SPC, DOE, FMEA, Root Cause Analysis), Test Data Analysis SPC system development and support, SPC implementation and support, quality improvement team facilitator, electronic data acquisition and charting programming, and quality engineering mentor.

Major accomplishments: Development and deployment of Root Cause Analysis training to entire company, development of product test data analysis database and reporting system using SPC, development of product transition assessment tool (Manufacturing Introductory Index (MII)), assisted and mentored product improvement team to $8 million cost avoidance using Lean and Six Sigma tools (View congratulatory letters received from Senior VP of Operations and VP of Enterprise Product Assurance). Early developer of database system to parse and analyze test data for Six Sigma analysis (later became Test Data Management System (TDMS)).

Major Training Classes Taught

Course Development

Have developed online and instructor-led courses in the following topics

  • Lean Six Sigma and the Environment/Sustainability/Nonprofits (numerous courses and presentations)
  • Green Belt Training (64 hours)
  • Black Belt Training (64 hours)
  • Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ)
  • Data-Driven Decision Making (Basic quality tools with M&Ms)
  • Statistical Process Control (SPC)
  • Capability Analysis (Cpk/Ppk)
  • Basic and Advanced Statistics
    • Regression Analysis, ANOVA, Hypothesis Testing
  • Design of Experiments (DOE)
  • Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP)
  • 5S Workplace Organization
  • FMEA
  • Control Plans
  • Mistake Proofing
  • Metrics Development
  • Key Characteristics
  • Problem Solving and Root Cause Analysis
  • Process Inputs and Outputs
  • Process Flow Diagrams and Value Stream Mapping (VSM)
  • Kaizen Events
  • Team Building
  • Change Management
  • Lean and Six Sigma overview for leaders
  • Behavior Change
  • Lean Startup
  • Standardized Work
  • Personal Lean
  • Management of lean JIT courses (Minitab Quality Trainer, Resource Engineering)

Publications

Personal and Volunteer Projects

  • Supported Lean improvement work at local nonprofits The Rebuilding Center, Free Geek (video presentation), OEN, and Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
  • Led Recycling Advocates board members through 2016 campaign planning to develop Coffee Cup reduction initiative. Board of Directors President from 2016-2020.
  • Instructor for Weatherization Workshop through Community Energy Project (CEP), which provides free workshops and kits to low income residents in the Portland metro area. Received 2017 “Good Energy Award” as a volunteer [image]
  • Founding member of Lean Portland, and led effort to setup community consulting of Lean and Six Sigma projects for nonprofits in the Portland metro area. Worked with SVP, The Rebuilding Center, OEN, and Free Geek.
  • Developed KIX rating for analyzing high school football punters and kickers performance using statistical analysis, developed Arena football kicker rating system, developed a histogram and control chart charting system (with trend analysis) for monitoring patient test records. Watch a news story about the KIX system.

Speaker

Awards

Conferences

Guest Lecturer

  • Iowa State University (2011) – Supply Chain
  • University of West Indies (2018)
  • Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (2019) – Six Sigma
  • Western Carolina University (2020)
  • Montclair State University (2022)
  • East Carolina University (2022)
  • Kennesaw State University (2023) – Statistical Quality Control
  • Quinnipiac University (2023) – Industrial Engineering – Lean and Green Case Study
  • Florida Atlantic University (2024) – Executive MBA course – Lean Six Sigma

International Experience

  • Mexicali, Mexico – Rockwell Collins facility – Root Cause Training for Engineers and Managers, Project selection and support, Standard Work kaizen event, Green Belt training
  • Ottawa and Toronto, Canada – EMS Satcom – Root Cause and SPC Training for Engineers – Oct 2002, Nanowave standard work event preparation, Fall 2013, 2014 IIE Conference speaker in Montreal
  • Hamburg, Germany & Toulouse, France – EADS/Airbus – Root Cause Training for Engineers – Sept, 2000
  • Tokyo, Japan – Printec (Mitsui) – Rockwell Collins Supplier – Statistical Process Control training for Managers, project support and facility assessment for Lean Sigma techniques
  • Migdal HaEmeq, Israel – PCB Technologies – provided one week of Six Sigma Green Belt training – July 2008
  • Burgess Hill, England – Rockwell Collins facility – provided six weeks of on-site quality support to aid in critical delivery issues – July-Aug 2010
  • Singapore and Indonesia – Evaluated company for acquisition by Rockwell Collins based on manufacturing and quality systems – 2014/2015
  • United Kingdom – Lean and Sustainable Consortium, toured Worldwide Fruit, Valliant, and Welsh Water facilities (2016)
  • Republic of Georgia – Lean Six Sigma training and strategy deployment for large healthcare system (2018)
  • Trinidad and Tobago – Presented Lean Six Sigma and Lean and Green workshops at University of West Indies in Trinidad (2018), virtual presenter in 2022
  • Kosrae (Micronesia) – Consulting support for banana leaf paper company (2019)
  • Brunei Investment Agency – 3-day Root Cause Analysis virtual course (2021)
  • Tenaga Nasional Berhad (Malaysia) – 3-day Root Cause Analysis virtual course (2021)
  • Plastic Packaging (Pty) Ltd (Namibia) – 2-day Yellow Belt virtual course (2023)

Environmental Plant Tours