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• MLC/DemingNEXT™ Lean Learning Alliance

  • Start
    Friday, September 01, 2023
  • End
    Tuesday, December 31, 2024
  • Location
    Virtual

  Register

  
  

  MLC/DemingNEXT™ Lean Learning Alliance

  The Michigan Lean Consortium, in cooperation with the W. Edwards Deming Institute, are proud to announce the formation of the MLC/DemingNEXT™ Lean Learning Alliance!

  • 12 Month Subscription
    
  • Online & In-Person Training through the Deming Institute
  • Training for All Levels of Experience and Understanding
  • Learn at Your Own Pace
  • $200 Discount for MLC Members
  • Group Rates Available

  February 21, 2024 - LEAN AND DEMING COURSE BEGINS 16 WEEK COHORT
  

  • Free to MLC Members who are Subscribed to DemingNEXT™
  • “Lean and Deming” course filled with knowledge about how Lean practice is supercharged when we learn to see things through Deming’s System of Profound Knowledge
  • Lean 101 - 105 with curated DemingNEXT modules in 2-week
    intervals
  • • Lean 101 - Foundations of Lean
    • Lean 102 - Understanding Lean
    • Lean 103 - Implementing Lean
    • Lean 104 - Coaching Lean Teams
    • Lean 105 - Leading Lean Teams
  • Includes 5 more weeks of In-Person Events at 1 or more participant’s sites, before capstones in week 16
    

  WHAT IS DemingNEXT™?

  DemingNEXT is online learning

  • Authentic Deming Institute content
    
  • Award Winning Courses
    
  • Designed by learning professionals
    
  • Interactive lessons
    
  • Case studies
    
  • Real-world scenarios
    
  • Downloadable resources
    
  • Curated and moderated learning pathways
    
  • Self-paced with access to regular webinars for questions and challenges with Deming Institute Advisory Council Members

  HOW IT WORKS

  MLC Members:

  1. Register for the Lean Learning Alliance Courses through the MLC events portal
  2. Look for the Welcome Email from DemingNEXT
  3. Create a Deming Institute account
  4. Take the courses
  5. Apply the Lean Learning to your work!

  Non-Members:

  1. Join the MLC!
  2. Register for the Lean Learning Alliance Courses through the MLC events portal
  3. Look for the Welcome Email from DemingNEXT
  4. Create a Deming Institute account
  5. Take the courses
  6. Apply the Lean Learning to your work!

  New To The MLC?

  At the MLC, we do our best to be inclusive at every level of experience, whether it’s a conference, Gemba walk or any other of our membership activities.

  An individual or organizational membership gives you a year’s worth of great Lean learning and networking at low- or no-cost!

  

  Show details
• Lean Book Discussion Group--Avoiding the Continuous Appearance Trap by Patrick Adams

  • When
    Thursday, April 25, 2024
  •  
    4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • Location
    Virtual

  Register

  
  

  WHAT ARE WE READING?

  Avoiding the Continuous Appearance Trap – Patrick Adams.

  Patrick Adams will be joining for the Conversation!
  

  Seeking the best way to understand your company’s operations and leadership, hoping to finally see what’s truly underneath your culture? Take a trip with business performance coach Patrick Adams inside two different cultures—one you’d like to avoid and one you’d like to emulate—and then ask yourself the right questions. The answers may lead you—and your organization’s various stakeholders—somewhere extraordinary.

  A Fantastic Account of Two Companies with Very Different Cultures
  

  Avoiding the Continuous Appearance Trap: 12 Questions to Understand What’s Truly Underneath Your Culture is a transformational book that weaves together the stories of two companies that, on the surface, appear to be quite similar. Underneath, however, they couldn’t be more different. There is a devastating distinction between being a company dedicated to continuous improvement and being one that’s about “continuous appearance” instead. The 12 questions that Patrick Adams outlines in his debut book for business leaders give readers the ability to assess their operations. At last, a practical guide to better understanding your company’s leadership and culture.
   
  Step inside “Company Continuous Improvement” and its counterpart, “Company Continuous Appearance.”
  

  PRE-WORK 

  Please read the whole book before the discussion session.

  AUTHOR

  Patrick Adams
  CEO / Executive Lean Coach,
  Lean Solutions
  

  Patrick is an internationally recognized leadership coach, consultant, and professional speaker, best known for his unique human approach to sound team-building practices; creating consensus and enabling empowerment. He founded his consulting practice in 2018 to work with leaders at all levels and organizations of all sizes to achieve higher levels of performance. He motivates, inspires,
  and drives the right results at all points in business processes. Patrick has been delivering bottom-line results through specialized process improvement solutions for over 20 years. He’s worked with all types of businesses from private, non-profit,
  government, and manufacturing ranging from small business to billion-dollar
  corporations. Patrick is an Author of the best selling book, Avoiding the Continuous Appearance Trap.

  DISCUSSION LEADER

  

  Melissa Sherman,
  Sr Quality Improvement Consultant,
  Consumers Energy

  Melissa has worked in the utility industry for over 27 years, both for an Investor Owned and Cooperative, gaining experience in Electric and Gas Distribution Engineering, Business Support for Pumped Storage, River Hydro and Renewable Generation, Online Scheduling for Fossil Generation, and Enterprise Change.

  Throughout her career, Melissa has instituted lean methodology while embedding change management methodology.  From scheduling to warehouse redesigns, to value stream analysis. Melissa analyzes and measures the effectiveness of existing business processes and develops sustainable, repeatable, and quantifiable business process improvements. She analyzes data to drive problem solving, root cause analysis and functional area process improvement. Responsible for delivering significant results in Company Breakthrough Objectives.

  She is passionate about leading others on their continuous improvement/lean and change management journey.  She enjoys being able to share her love for teaching/coaching others and seeing the “ah ha” moments when someone truly understands the methodologies. It is through breaking down those methodologies in terms they understand that they can then tackle those big problems.

  Melissa has also taught higher education since 2008 both in-seat and on-line in management, entrepreneurship and engineering disciplines, relating a lot of her teaching to the utility industry.

  Melissa holds a Bachelors in Industrial Engineering Technology, a Master’s in Leadership Studies from Baker College, along with a Graduate Certificate in Leadership Strategies from Davenport University.  She also holds an Associates Certificate in Project Management from George Washington University and is certified in Change Management through Acuity Institute.

  New To The MLC?

  At the MLC, we do our best to be inclusive at every level of experience, whether it’s a conference, Gemba walk or any other of our membership activities.

  An individual or organizational membership gives you a year’s worth of great Lean learning and networking at low- or no-cost!

  
  

  Show details
• MLC Lean Coffee Chat––Embracing Uncomfortable: Leading Through Uncertainty

  • When
    Friday, May 17, 2024
  •  
    8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
  • Location
    Virtual

  Register

  
  

  Join us for a virtual MLC Lean coffee chat!

  Virtual | Free For Members | 8:30am - 9:30am

  Embracing Uncomfortable: Leading Through Uncertainty
  

  This talk focuses on navigating the complexities of leadership during uncertain times and the impacts of ambiguity on decision-making and team performance.  We will also take a dive into what you can do about it in fostering a trust-based team environment and improving adaptability to change.

  Presenter:

  Kris Liebau, ACC
  Founder, Action & Ease Leadership Coaching

  

  As the founder of Action & Ease Leadership Coaching, Kris helps engineering executives and managers propel themselves and their teams forward. She’s best known for her innovative coaching solutions empowering you to identify the most valuable actions to take to grow yourself, lead with ease, communicate effectively, and guide your team to reach their potential.

  Kris comes to this work having trained hundreds of people across her 20+ year career in leadership roles in engineering, quality, manufacturing, and the National Ski Patrol.  As well as inspiring hundreds more on topics of leadership and personal and professional development in organizations including Society of Women Engineers, American Society for Quality, and Project Management Institute.

  In all that she does, Kris is passionate about guiding you to be able to trust yourself, reach others, and act with impact together.
  
  

  What is a Lean Coffee Chat?

  Connect, Share, and Collaborate with your MLC network

  It's an open atmosphere to discuss all things Lean, share professional challenges people are experiencing in their Lean journey, and network with like-minded peers.

  Pros to attending a coffee chat:

  • Leverage our MLC membership knowledge base
  • Focus on implementation of Lean tools
  • Opportunity to network
  • Share best practices
  • Stay connected with other MLC members

  Non-MLC members welcome too.

  • Meet and greet other Lean thinkers
  • Join us with a topic that you need help brainstorming
  • Learn about MLC and upcoming events
  • Networking, networking, networking!

  
  

  New To The MLC?

  At the MLC, we do our best to be inclusive at every level of experience, whether it’s a conference, Gemba walk or any other of our membership activities.

  An individual or organizational membership gives you a year’s worth of great Lean learning and networking at low- or no-cost!

  
  

  Show details
• Lean Book Discussion Group--Take The Ride Of Your Life by Joyce Weiss

  • When
    Thursday, June 27, 2024
  •  
    4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • Location
    Virtual

  Register

  
  

  WHAT ARE WE READING?

  "Take the ride of your life" by Joyce Weiss.

  Joyce will be joining us for the discussion!

  Joyce Weiss’s coaching insights help us improve the quality of our lives using this universal “balance equation.” We become more productive at the office and happier in our personal lives.

  Remember the first time you rode that big kid’s two-wheeler bike? It required balance, and as your courage grew, you had so much fun – riding with the wind in your face! Joyce uses this simple and universal “bike” lesson to show you how to live a more balanced and productive life.

  The actual “life lessons” help us navigate those inevitable life “bumps” more easily and resolve real burnout issues – to relieve inner stress. 

  This book is for you if you are interested in enjoying going to work again. And retain and engage key employees. Joyce shares activities that promote an engaging environment at work or home And new facts on relieving inner stress and avoiding burnout. Take the Ride of Your Life: Shift Gears for More Balance, Growth, and Joy is a perfect gift for team members, friends, or relatives who need inner peace and a smile even when the road is bumpy!

  You will learn rich insights and action steps. Besides this, “shift gears” to produce better results at work and home. Take the Ride of your Life! is your own personal “passport” to living the life you want.
  

  PRE-WORK 

  Please read the whole book before the discussion session.

  AUTHOR

  Joyce (Morris) Weiss, M.A., CSP, CVP
  Joyce Weiss Training & Development LLC
  

  I'm Joyce Weiss, Queen of Conflict Resolution and Expert Communication Coach. I support department managers and leaders in inspiring and educating their employees who are tired of feeling invisible and overlooked and ready to confidently use their voices without losing their cool. Their input is respected and recognized, and their expertise is taken seriously.

  It's time for us to talk if you're tired of conflict resolution consuming your time and energy and want to explore what's possible!

  With my guidance and support, you will be able to implement new strategies or have me work directly with the company's employees so they experience more enjoyment at work and a higher level of productivity, and your top management will be thrilled with the overall positive direction the company is taking. 

  DISCUSSION LEADER

  

  Melissa Sherman,
  Sr Quality Improvement Consultant,
  Consumers Energy

  Melissa has worked in the utility industry for over 27 years, both for an Investor Owned and Cooperative, gaining experience in Electric and Gas Distribution Engineering, Business Support for Pumped Storage, River Hydro and Renewable Generation, Online Scheduling for Fossil Generation, and Enterprise Change.

  Throughout her career, Melissa has instituted lean methodology while embedding change management methodology.  From scheduling to warehouse redesigns, to value stream analysis. Melissa analyzes and measures the effectiveness of existing business processes and develops sustainable, repeatable, and quantifiable business process improvements. She analyzes data to drive problem solving, root cause analysis and functional area process improvement. Responsible for delivering significant results in Company Breakthrough Objectives.

  She is passionate about leading others on their continuous improvement/lean and change management journey.  She enjoys being able to share her love for teaching/coaching others and seeing the “ah ha” moments when someone truly understands the methodologies. It is through breaking down those methodologies in terms they understand that they can then tackle those big problems.

  Melissa has also taught higher education since 2008 both in-seat and on-line in management, entrepreneurship and engineering disciplines, relating a lot of her teaching to the utility industry.

  Melissa holds a Bachelors in Industrial Engineering Technology, a Master’s in Leadership Studies from Baker College, along with a Graduate Certificate in Leadership Strategies from Davenport University.  She also holds an Associates Certificate in Project Management from George Washington University and is certified in Change Management through Acuity Institute.

  New To The MLC?

  At the MLC, we do our best to be inclusive at every level of experience, whether it’s a conference, Gemba walk or any other of our membership activities.

  An individual or organizational membership gives you a year’s worth of great Lean learning and networking at low- or no-cost!

  
  

  Show details
• 2024 MLC Annual Conference—We Have NEVER Done It This Way!

  • Start
    Tuesday, August 13, 2024
  •  
    5:00 PM
  • End
    Friday, August 16, 2024
  •  
    12:00 PM
  • Location
    Grand Traverse Resort

  Register

  
  

  Early Bird Pricing
  Ends May 1!!
  

  Conference Days—What's Included
  

  Date	Activity	"Full Experience" Registration	Regular Registration
  August 13th	Late Afternoon Icebreaker Activity*	✅
  August 14th	Learning Day	✅	✅
  	Networking Hour	✅	✅
  August 15th	Learning Day	✅	✅
  	Excursion Activity*	✅
  August 16th	Gemba Walks*	✅

  *“Full Experience” registration required to attend 
  

  This year, our theme for the conference is We Have NEVER Done It This Way! Surpassing The Norm. Sometimes we need to take our own medicine. Something is broken in the Lean world, what used to work for us seems to be changing.

  • What are we doing differently in the Lean world?
  • How are we moving from simply using tools to actually solving problems?
  • How are we creating pull for our services instead of pushing our thinking on everyone?

  Come find out! Four days of incredible networking and learning will transform how you think about improvement for yourself, for businesses, for Michigan, for the world!

  What Can You expect?

  • Up to 4 days of amazing learning and networking — Including 2 days of Breakout Sessions and Keynote Speakers
  • Breakout Sessions — Divided into beginning, intermediate, and advanced tracks
  • Panel of Lean Experts — An incredible opportunity to learn
    
  • Networking — Dedicated activities outside the classroom to network and bond with other learners, make connections, and continue “informal” learning*
  • Gemba Walks — “Go see” what is happening and learn from others experiences*

  *Wednesday networking is included in regular ticket price. Activities Tuesday and Thursday, and the Gemba Walks Friday come with the “Full Experience” registration.

  Check Out Our Excellent Presenters!
  

  Sponsor the Annual Conference!

  Sponsorship Opportunities
  

  Hotel Blocks

  When reservations are made, we will require a credit card or cash deposit equal to the room rate and tax for the first night for each reservation.
  

  Grand Traverse Resort

  Grand Traverse Resort Website
  100 Grand Traverse Village Blvd
  Acme, MI 49610 (map)
  

  Guestroom Type	Guestroom Rate
  Hotel Guestroom	$269.00
  Tower Guestroom	$309.00

  Phone: 800-968-7352 call and ask for the Michigan Lean Consortium discount rate.

  Book Online At The Discounted Rate!
  

  The daily resort fee is currently  $20.95 per room, per night, which includes; unlimited use of resort fitness center including cardiovascular and strength training equipment, whirlpools, saunas and indoor pools, seasonal access to outdoor pools and beachfront facilities, preferred guest pricing for our golf courses and tennis facilities, in-room coffee, high-speed internet access in Hotel and Tower guest rooms and condominiums, on-property shuttle service to Cherry Capital Airport and Turtle Creek Casino, unlimited toll-free and credit card access phone calls, voicemail message service, , use of safe deposit box,, golf bag storage, and parking. The resort fee will be automatically posted to your attendees’ guest room account. Fee and services are subject to change.

  Hotel Cancellation
  

  An individual’s deposit is refundable to that individual minus a $25.00 cancellation fee if the Resort receives notice of an individual’s cancellation at least 72 hours prior to scheduled arrival.

  Bayshore Resort

  Bayshore Resort Website
  833 East Front Street
  Traverse City, MI 49686 (map)
  

  Guestroom Type	Guestroom Rate
  Hotel Guestroom	$249.00
  Eastside Guestroom	$259.00
  Bayfront Guestroom	$319.00

  Phone: 231-935-4400 and ask for the MI Lean Group Rate.
  

  Hotel Cancellation

  If cancellation of an individual reservation becomes necessary, it must be done within 48 hours of the arrival date or the guest will be charged one nights stay plus taxes.
  

  Traverse City

  Traverse City is a city located along the coast of Lake Michigan. Known for its picturesque outdoor offerings, Traverse City is a popular destination when visiting the Great Lakes. 
  

  Check Out What Traverse City Has To Offer!
  

  Looking For Speakers

  If you or someone you know has a burning desire to share their insights with conference guests, or at one of our many other programs we welcome suggestions!

  Events Speaker Form
  

  New To The MLC?

  At the MLC, we do our best to be inclusive at every level of experience, whether it’s a conference, Gemba walk or any other of our membership activities.

  An individual or organizational membership gives you a year’s worth of great Lean learning and networking at low- or no-cost!

  
  

  Conference Cancellation Policy

  We understand that plans change. In the event you are unable to attend an event, refunds will be issued in full for cancellation refund requests received in writing via the events@michiganlean.org email at least seven (7) days before the event. Refunds will not be issued when less than a seven (7) day notice is provided. After submitting your cancellation refund request via email, please allow up to ten (10) business days for your refund to be processed. If the event is rescheduled, all purchases will be honored for the rescheduled event date. If the event is cancelled, all purchases will be refunded in full.

  Show details
• Lean Book Discussion Group--Steel Toes and Stilettos by Shannon Karels & Kathy Miller

  • When
    Thursday, August 22, 2024
  •  
    4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • Location
    Virtual

  Register

  
  

  WHAT ARE WE READING?

  "Steel Toes and Stilettos" by Shannon Karels & Kathy Miller.

  Shannon and Kathy will be joining us for the discussion!

  The authors joined forces professionally when Kathy hired Shannon to be a member of her leadership team. This book describes the transformation they led to convert operations from traditional manufacturing to a lean enterprise.

  Kathy (executive leader responsible for profitability) and Shannon (transformation leader) share the finer points of a comprehensive change process, the challenges and triumphs, and the real emotion involved during their quest for success. Each describes the professional journey from their unique perspective and the highlights of an endearing friendship that was formed along the way.

  This story will inspire female leaders in any organization, showcasing an example of high-performing women thriving in an intense and fast-paced world. Kathy and Shannon are role models for those juggling intense, fulfilling careers, alongside life's complexities such as dual-career marriages and raising children.

  Their story provides a powerful case study of women supporting each other in the workplace to drive positive culture and significantly improved business results by leading with authenticity and inclusivity.
  

  PRE-WORK 

  Please read the whole book before the discussion session.

  AUTHORS

  Shannon Karels
  Co-Founder, OPSisters
  

  Shannon Karels is a Sr. Operations Manager who has lead multiple lean transformations and run operations for two large publicly traded corporations across various industries and business models.  She started her career in supply chain management and progressed through lean and operations leadership roles.  Through this journey, Shannon has improved cultures in numerous manufacturing facilities by leading employee empowerment and engagement, and building highly successful teams, with a focus on business results.  Shannon is known for leading accountable organizations built on trusting relationships that improve the companies’ profitability and customer experience.

  Kathy Miller
  President and Co-Founder, OPSisters
  

  Kathy Miller is a Senior Operations Executive who has held numerous global vice president and director roles both in manufacturing and lean enterprise leadership.  Kathy is a Shingo Prize Recipient for Large Businesses as a Plant Manager.  She started her career in Operations as a 17 year old co-op student at a vehicle assembly plant, and progressed through engineering, marketing, lean and operations leadership roles, working for four large publicly traded corporations in executive roles.  Kathy is a transformational leader who consistently delivers impressive business results through team development, process discipline and continuous improvement.  Kathy is known for creation of inclusive culture based on trust, respect and accountability

  DISCUSSION LEADER

  

  Melissa Sherman,
  Sr Quality Improvement Consultant,
  Consumers Energy

  Melissa has worked in the utility industry for over 27 years, both for an Investor Owned and Cooperative, gaining experience in Electric and Gas Distribution Engineering, Business Support for Pumped Storage, River Hydro and Renewable Generation, Online Scheduling for Fossil Generation, and Enterprise Change.

  Throughout her career, Melissa has instituted lean methodology while embedding change management methodology.  From scheduling to warehouse redesigns, to value stream analysis. Melissa analyzes and measures the effectiveness of existing business processes and develops sustainable, repeatable, and quantifiable business process improvements. She analyzes data to drive problem solving, root cause analysis and functional area process improvement. Responsible for delivering significant results in Company Breakthrough Objectives.

  She is passionate about leading others on their continuous improvement/lean and change management journey.  She enjoys being able to share her love for teaching/coaching others and seeing the “ah ha” moments when someone truly understands the methodologies. It is through breaking down those methodologies in terms they understand that they can then tackle those big problems.

  Melissa has also taught higher education since 2008 both in-seat and on-line in management, entrepreneurship and engineering disciplines, relating a lot of her teaching to the utility industry.

  Melissa holds a Bachelors in Industrial Engineering Technology, a Master’s in Leadership Studies from Baker College, along with a Graduate Certificate in Leadership Strategies from Davenport University.  She also holds an Associates Certificate in Project Management from George Washington University and is certified in Change Management through Acuity Institute.

  New To The MLC?

  At the MLC, we do our best to be inclusive at every level of experience, whether it’s a conference, Gemba walk or any other of our membership activities.

  An individual or organizational membership gives you a year’s worth of great Lean learning and networking at low- or no-cost!

  
  

  Show details
• Lean Book Discussion Group--The Kind Leader by Karyn Ross

  • When
    Thursday, October 24, 2024
  •  
    4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • Location
    Virtual

  Register

  
  

  WHAT ARE WE READING?

  "The Kind Leader" by Karyn Ross.

  Karyn will be joining us for the discussion!

  Kindness and leadership aren't often synonymous. Ask someone to describe "good leadership" to you and you will hear many adjectives used. And though there are many more that come to mind, kindness isn't one of them. And here's the problem with that. 

  What a leader models—how they think, speak, and act—influences the people they lead. Leaders who think, speak, and act unkindly give legitimacy and permission to those they lead to think, speak, and act in exactly the same unkind ways. In an increasingly fragmented, polarized, and divided world, we need leaders who will bring people together, not divide them. We need kindness to become synonymous with good leadership.

  The purpose of this book is to teach leaders how to lead with kindness so they can influence the people they lead to create kinder workplaces, organizations, and the world.

  This book gives you a deep theoretical understanding of the importance of leading with kindness and also provides practical exercises for you to use. By the time you finish the book, you will feel confident in your ability to lead with kindness and also to address organizational problems at work, at home, and in the community with kindness.

  PRE-WORK 

  Please read the whole book before the discussion session.

  AUTHOR

  Karyn Ross
  Lean Services Consultant and Coach
  Karyn Ross Consulting
  

  I'm on a mission to Activate People to Create a Kinder, Better World. That's why I wrote my latest book The Kind Leader: A Practical Guide to Eliminating Fear, Creating Trust and Leading with Kindness and started The New School for Kind Leaders.

  A better, kinder world for all starts with YOU! All problems big and small, at work, in the community, and at home, are solvable. We just have to stop waiting for others to solve them, and start taking action! 

  That's what I'm here for! To help you solve the problems that are affecting you and your organization. I use a simple, straightforward, positive and kind action-oriented approach to teach people how to generate ideas and then how to turn those ideas into better, ways to work and kinder ways to live. My 15-minute coaching approach is accessible, practical and easily understood and used by anyone.

  All of my coaching, consulting, classes and workshops are available remotely and in-person. And I ensure affordable and accessible help to all through my ‘Right-Size-Pricing’ model. 

  DISCUSSION LEADER

  

  Melissa Sherman,
  Sr Quality Improvement Consultant,
  Consumers Energy

  Melissa has worked in the utility industry for over 27 years, both for an Investor Owned and Cooperative, gaining experience in Electric and Gas Distribution Engineering, Business Support for Pumped Storage, River Hydro and Renewable Generation, Online Scheduling for Fossil Generation, and Enterprise Change.

  Throughout her career, Melissa has instituted lean methodology while embedding change management methodology.  From scheduling to warehouse redesigns, to value stream analysis. Melissa analyzes and measures the effectiveness of existing business processes and develops sustainable, repeatable, and quantifiable business process improvements. She analyzes data to drive problem solving, root cause analysis and functional area process improvement. Responsible for delivering significant results in Company Breakthrough Objectives.

  She is passionate about leading others on their continuous improvement/lean and change management journey.  She enjoys being able to share her love for teaching/coaching others and seeing the “ah ha” moments when someone truly understands the methodologies. It is through breaking down those methodologies in terms they understand that they can then tackle those big problems.

  Melissa has also taught higher education since 2008 both in-seat and on-line in management, entrepreneurship and engineering disciplines, relating a lot of her teaching to the utility industry.

  Melissa holds a Bachelors in Industrial Engineering Technology, a Master’s in Leadership Studies from Baker College, along with a Graduate Certificate in Leadership Strategies from Davenport University.  She also holds an Associates Certificate in Project Management from George Washington University and is certified in Change Management through Acuity Institute.

  New To The MLC?

  At the MLC, we do our best to be inclusive at every level of experience, whether it’s a conference, Gemba walk or any other of our membership activities.

  An individual or organizational membership gives you a year’s worth of great Lean learning and networking at low- or no-cost!

  
  

  Show details
• Lean Book Discussion Group--How’s the Culture in Your Kingdom? by Dan Cockerell

  • When
    Thursday, December 19, 2024
  •  
    4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • Location
    Virtual

  Register

  
  

  WHAT ARE WE READING?

  "How’s the Culture in Your Kingdom?" by Dan Cockerell.

  How's the Culture in Your Kingdom? explains how to lead yourself and your team or organization by using relevant stories and practical examples from Dan Cockerell’s 26-year Disney leadership journey.
  
  Dan Cockerell started his Disney journey as a parking attendant. Over the next 26 years and 19 different jobs, he became the vice president of the biggest theme park in the world, The Magic Kingdom Park. During the course of his Disney career, Dan learned many life and leadership lessons and teaches those learnings within How's the Culture in Your Kingdom? Within this book, Dan explains how to lead yourself and how to lead your team and organization by using relevant stories and practical examples from his 26-year Disney leadership journey. How's the Culture in Your Kingdom? helps prepare leaders to lead their team by teaching them how to:
  

  • Surround themselves with the right people
  • Build trusting relationships
  • Set clear expectations
  • And provide regular feedback, positive and critical

  PRE-WORK 

  Please read the whole book before the discussion session.

  DISCUSSION LEADER

  

  Melissa Sherman,
  Sr Quality Improvement Consultant,
  Consumers Energy

  Melissa has worked in the utility industry for over 27 years, both for an Investor Owned and Cooperative, gaining experience in Electric and Gas Distribution Engineering, Business Support for Pumped Storage, River Hydro and Renewable Generation, Online Scheduling for Fossil Generation, and Enterprise Change.

  Throughout her career, Melissa has instituted lean methodology while embedding change management methodology.  From scheduling to warehouse redesigns, to value stream analysis. Melissa analyzes and measures the effectiveness of existing business processes and develops sustainable, repeatable, and quantifiable business process improvements. She analyzes data to drive problem solving, root cause analysis and functional area process improvement. Responsible for delivering significant results in Company Breakthrough Objectives.

  She is passionate about leading others on their continuous improvement/lean and change management journey.  She enjoys being able to share her love for teaching/coaching others and seeing the “ah ha” moments when someone truly understands the methodologies. It is through breaking down those methodologies in terms they understand that they can then tackle those big problems.

  Melissa has also taught higher education since 2008 both in-seat and on-line in management, entrepreneurship and engineering disciplines, relating a lot of her teaching to the utility industry.

  Melissa holds a Bachelors in Industrial Engineering Technology, a Master’s in Leadership Studies from Baker College, along with a Graduate Certificate in Leadership Strategies from Davenport University.  She also holds an Associates Certificate in Project Management from George Washington University and is certified in Change Management through Acuity Institute.

  New To The MLC?

  At the MLC, we do our best to be inclusive at every level of experience, whether it’s a conference, Gemba walk or any other of our membership activities.

  An individual or organizational membership gives you a year’s worth of great Lean learning and networking at low- or no-cost!

  
  

  Show details