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Summit Thought Leaders and Presenters
The Lean and Green Summit is gather some of the world's great lean and sustainability experts.
Some will present, others will be instrumental in interacting with attendees.

Organizing Committee

 Terry Benoche Society of Manufacturing Engineers
 Dwayne Butcher Lean Accounting and TWI Summits
 Catherine Greener Saatchi & Satchi S
 Dave Gustashaw vice President of Engineering for Interface Americas
 Robert "Doc" Hall Association for Manufacturing Excellence.
 Jim Huntzinger Lean Accounting and TWI Summits
 Gary Langenwalter Lean Manufacturing Authority
 Michael Sklar Continuous Improvement Expert at DTE Energy
 Sharon Paterson Manager, Business Development, N.A. Water Systems
 Jack Ward Association for Manufacturing Excellence


Presenters


 
Dr. Paul Chalmer
Senior Program Manager

Dr. Chalmer manages collaborative research projects in areas involving a diverse array of environmental aspects of manufacturing, including topics such as alternatives to hexavalent chromium for surface finishing processes and air pollution control technology. He is the Director of seven Internet-based sector specific EPA-sponsored Compliance Assistance Centers in areas including metal finishing, paints and coatings, healthcare, construction, printed wiring boards, automotive recycling, and transborder waste shipment issues. He also leads the NCMS Sustainable Products Initiative and the Benchmarking Environmental Performance program.

Publications from previously completed projects include Pollution Prevention and Control Technology from Plating Operations, written by G. Cushnie (the “Blue Book”), the GreenScore™ environmental assessment program, the Metalworking Fluids Optimization Guide, and numerous articles and presentations.

Dr. Chalmer holds a B.A. in Chemistry from Swarthmore College, and a Ph.D. in Chemical Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.


 


 
Jean Cunningham
Founder of Jean Cunningham Consulting

Jean Cunningham is co-author of Real Numbers: Management Accounting in a Lean Organization, 2004 Shingo Prize for Research recipient and Easier, Simpler, Faster: System Strategy for Lean IT, 2008 Shingo Prize for Research recipient.  

Jean is the founder and president of Jean Cunningham Consulting which has clients throughout the U.S. and provides business strategy and business process improvement services that drive lean principles throughout the enterprise. She is currently the CFO at Stiles Associates, the premier executive retain search firm focused on lean. Jean is also the CFO and a Director-at-Large for the Association for Manufacturing Excellence.  She is the former Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Company Services, at both Lantech, LLC and Marshfield DoorSystems, Inc. 

From 1991 through 2004, Jean was a leader in Lantech’s evolution of a small, family owned business to a lean industry leader. Lantech’s Lean Journey was chronicled in the best seller, Lean Thinking. 

Jean joined the continuous improvement effort at Lantech from their first kaizen, and took the revolution of lean from the manufacturing floor to the business office of this Louisville, Kentucky manufacturer of packaging equipment. She was actively involved with Lantech's product expansion efforts through acquisition and product development.   

Prior to joining Lantech, Jean was a finance professional with Digital Equipment Corporation and Westinghouse Electric. She cut her teeth in the business world in her mother’s business from age 12, later teaching school and managing a restaurant, which provided a base of practical experience. 

In addition to co-authoring her two books, she has contributed to several publications related to lean accounting and lean.  A former instructor of Operations Management in the Boston University MBA program, Jean has lectured on Lean Accounting and Operations Management on many occasions.   

Jean has a BS in Accounting from Indiana University and an MBA from Northeastern University's Executive Program. She lives in Chicago area with her husband, Alan Riggs, and has two sons.

 


 
Mike Gnam
Executive Director, Lean Product Development Initiative

Michael C. Gnam, Executive Director, Lean Product Development Initiative (LPDI), for the National Center of Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS), Ann Arbor, Michigan, is currently responsible for managing all LPDI activities.  This encompasses new and continuing research in this topic and providing presentations, seminars, workshops, and consulting in the area of Lean Product Development based on the Toyota principles.   Mr. Gnam managed a two year collaborative project which studied the world’s best practices in Product Development with a focus on engineering productivity and fast-to-market issues.  He is a frequent speaker for companies and for conferences, both nationally and internationally. 

Prior to his current position, Mr. Gnam was Director of Engineering for a medical equipment manufacturer.  As such, he was responsible for all R&D and Manufacturing Engineering functions and, additionally, was responsible for the company’s three year Deming style TQM transformation.  Mr. Gnam has over 27 years of experience in new product and process development and 15 years at NCMS performing studies of the world’s best practices in numerous business and management areas. 

Mr. Gnam holds a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University and has MBA courses at the Graduate School of Business, Indiana University.  He is also a licensed Professional Engineer and is listed in Who’s Who in Technology.

 


 
Catherine Greener
Vice President of Consulting for Act Now

Catherine Greener is Act Now’s Vice President of Consulting. Catherine has more than 20 years of experience in the implementation of sustainability, lean manufacturing, and industrial quality management systems.  She has led sustainability and resource efficiency projects for clients ranging from entrepreneurial start-ups to the industrial facilities of multinational corporations and Fortune 500 companies.  Additionally, Catherine sits on several advisory boards addressing sustainability in higher education programs, for-profit companies, and the city of Denver.  She has experience in the food and beverage processing, automotive, chemical, semi-conductor, facility automation (robotics), and construction industries.  She combines her sustainability, quality management, and lean manufacturing experience with acute problem solving skills and an exceptional ability to uncover process waste.  Catherine has given numerous talks, facilitated visioning sessions and conducted training classes in sustainability, continuous quality improvement and other disciplines, developed waste reduction programs, and led problem-solving groups for manufacturing strategy.  Additionally, she has experience in ISO 9000, ISO 14000 and Six-Sigma. She holds a BS in Industrial Engineering from Northwestern University and a MBA from University of Michigan.  Catherine lives in Boulder Colorado with her husband Alan in a home featured on the Boulder Solar Home tour.

 


 
Dave Gustashaw
Vice President of Engineering for Interface Americas

Mr. Gustashaw is a senior executive with over 30 years experience in research, design, and management. Mr. Gustashaw’s area of expertise is process improvement using applied sustainable methodologies. Mr. Gustashaw is an author and guest lecturer at many universities, businesses, and local, state, and federal government functions. Mr. Gustashaw is a member of the Green Power Market Development Group at the World Resources Institute, on the Board of Directors at the Southface Energy Institute, is past Chairman of the City of Atlanta Solid Waste Management Planning Advisory Group, and is member of the Water Conservation Technical Advisory Committee for the State of Georgia Environmental Protection Division. Mr. Gustashaw has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida.

 

Robert "Doc" Hall

Robert W. “Doc” Hall is Professor Emeritus of the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University.  He is a founding member of the Association for Manufacturing Excellence, and is now editor-in-chief of the association’s publication, Target.  His experience with lean operations dates to the late 1970s. 

Doc has been an examiner for the U. S. Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.  He is now a judge for the Pace Award (innovative auto suppliers).  He has reviewed applicants for Industry Week’s annual 10 Best Plants competition since it began in 1990. 

Dr. Hall first book was Zero Inventories in 1983.  He is at work on a seventh, Compression, on business system change to meet 21st century challenges. 

Before academia, Dr. Hall worked for Eli Lilly and Union Carbide.  His undergraduate degree is chemical engineering; his graduate degree is in operations management. 

 
This is the rollover text. Jeff Harvey
President and CEO, Burgerville

Jeff Harvey is president and CEO of Burgerville. Since 2004, Jeff has been gearing up the company to take bold steps to become a stronger player in the food industry and to become a significant influence in how business can be responsible and sustainable in all aspects, including people, profitability and community. Jeff has played an integral role in achieving double-digit sales growth in 2006 and 2007 and, with Tom, has developed a chief operating team and leadership team that have a proven track record in growing the company.

Prior to joining The Holland, Inc. in 2004, Harvey held senior executive-level positions with Energy Conversion Devices as Senior Vice President of Marketing and also served as the Director of Product Management for Chevron Texaco.

He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Oregon State University.

 

Eric Hespenheide

Eric Hespenheide serves as the global managing partner of the Internal Audit Services practice for Deloitte & Touche LLP. His leadership has led to significant growth and has resulted in the practice's being widely recognized as a leading provider of internal audit services among Fortune 1000 companies. In addition, he currently serves as the lead or advisory partner on a number of global engagements in a variety of industries.

He frequently presents to, and meets with, client audit committees, chief audit executives and other members of executive management to understand their needs as they strive to meet the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. 

Eric joined the Deloitte & Touche LLP Detroit practice in 1977. He was named global managing partner of Internal Audit Services in 2001. Prior to 2001, he served as the Assurance and Advisory managing partner for the Great Lakes Region and as an audit partner for large global manufacturing companies.

Eric has been actively involved in working with the Institute of Internal Auditors since 2001 in a variety of capacities. As a board trustee for the Institute of Internal Auditors’ Research Foundation, Eric plays an active role in contributing to and strengthening the internal auditing profession. He is a frequent speaker on the topic of internal auditing at various forums around the world.

He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants and serves on the national board of directors of the United Cerebral Palsy Association. He also serves on the Dean's Advisory Council at Louisiana State University.

 

Gary Langenwalter

Gary Langenwalter is an authority in Lean Manufacturing, ERP Leadership, Lean accounting and costing, and organization change.  He has consulted to RR Donnelley, the US Navy Supply Corps, Hasbro, and dozens of other companies ranging from very large to very small.  Prior to starting his own consulting firm in 1988, Gary worked for KPMG Peat Marwick, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, and Unisys.  He is the author of four books, including The Squeeze, a novel approach to business sustainability (2007), two professional courses (one for AICPA, one for AMA) and several articles, and he has led hundreds of classes, both locally and nationally. 

He has been an environmental enthusiast since the 7th grade.  He is committed to sustainability as a way of operating for each organization and as a way of life for each person.  He is pastor of the Dundee United Methodist Church, in Dundee, Oregon.  He is chair of the Oregon Interfaith Global Warming Campaign.  He earned his BA in management from the University of Oregon and his MBA in management from Michigan State.  He also earned a degree in international management from Nyenrode Business Universiteit in The Netherlands.  He is currently completing an MTS degree in Leadership from Boston University.

 

Susan Skjei ("shay")

Susan has been consulting with leaders and executive teams of businesses, non-profit organizations and government agencies for over 20 years. She has a unique ability to create energetic and high trust learning environments that accelerate practical business results while building strong, collaborative relationships.  She provides facilitation, training and coaching in the areas of leadership, strategic planning, organizational culture, and change management.   

She has designed and led large-scale change initiatives for such diverse client groups as Hewlett-Packard, Phipps Construction, Rocky Mountain HMO, The Colorado Air National Guard, StorageTek and the Mental Health Center of Boulder County.  These initiatives have included the development of core values and purpose, leadership competencies and succession planning, strategic planning, process reengineering and improvement, goal alignment and organization design.  Susan is a Certified Organization Development Consultant (CODC) with Associated Consultants International. 

In her last corporate position, Susan was Vice-President and Chief Learning Officer for StorageTek, a $2.4B provider of electronic storage solutions.  She was responsible for developing the learning and change management strategy for the corporation and implementing it across 40 countries and 8,500 employees worldwide.  She also implemented a virtual corporate university to provide education and training to employees, customers and partners of StorageTek throughout the world.  She has also served on the boards of several non-profit organizations.  

With her diverse corporate and non-profit executive experience, Susan is in demand as a leadership coach, and for the last seven years has worked closely with CEOs, executives and managers to help them articulate personal and professional goals and to implement these goals effectively within their own organizations.  She specializes in working with high-performance female executives.  Susan is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation. 

Susan has a Master of Science degree from American University in Human Resource Development and is completing her Ph.D. at Fielding Graduate University.  In addition to consulting and coaching, she has designed and taught classes, workshops and conferences at Naropa University in leadership, strategic planning and organization development.  She is the founder and director of the Authentic Leadership Certificate program at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, (http://www.naropa.edu/leadership) and is a founding member of the Shambhala Institute for Authentic Leadership in Halifax, Nova Scotia http://www.shambhalainstitute.org). 

 

 

Michael Sklar

Michael currently serves as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Continuous Improvement Expert at DTE Energy, specializing in electric power distribution. He has assisted numerous manufacturing, service, and public sector organizations in designing and implementing solutions to operational problems based on lean production systems, integrated quality management, Six Sigma problem solving methods, and applications-oriented information technology deployment.

 

Darcy Winslow

Ms. Darcy Winslow is currently on a one year Senior Advisor assignment with the Nike Foundation, which seeks to empower disadvantaged girls ages 10 to 19 years, through poverty alleviation and creating economic livelihood opportunities. She most recently co-led a holistic Business Re-Alignment effort within the
Nike Brand.
 

She has worked at Nike for 20 years and has held many positions within the business, including Biomechanical Researcher, Director of Footwear and Apparel Product Testing, Product Development Manager, core team member of Nike’s Footwear Business Reengineering initiative, Director of Advanced Research and Development, Global Director for Footwear Research, Design and Development, General Manager of Sustainable Business Strategies, a role focused on developing and implementing more environmental and socially sustainable business strategies across the organization. In 2001 she led the creation of the Women’s Footwear Division as General Manager, and then in 2004 she led the creation of Nike’s Global Women’s Fitness Footwear, Apparel and Equipment business as General Manager. 

Ms. Winslow received her BS in Exercise Science and MS in Exercise Physiology and Biomechanics, and is a 2003 graduate of the Stanford Executive Program. She has served on several boards, including the International Sustainable Development Foundation, the China-US Council on Sustainable Development and the American Heart Association; she currently serves on the Board of Directors for SOLV, an Oregon non-profit; the Board of Advisors for World Pulse Media/Pulse Wire and the Board of Advisors for Greenopolis. In her spare time, she participates in a variety of sports.