8th Annual Grand Rapids Lean Summit
Align & Communicate: Leading with Purpose and Honesty
Friday, March 6, 2026
GVSU L.V. Eberhard Center, Grand Rapids, MI
In a time of constant change, alignment and communication are not optional—they are essential.
This year’s summit centers on how organizations can move strategy into action through hoshin kanri while cultivating transparent, trust-based communication that drives engagement, innovation, and sustainable results.
Summit Objective
Participants will gain practical tools and real-world insights to:
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Translate strategic goals into clear, actionable priorities using hoshin kanri
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Strengthen alignment across teams, departments, and leadership levels
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Practice honest, purpose-driven communication that builds trust
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Reduce confusion, silos, and rework through clearer strategic execution
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Lead change with integrity in complex, people-centered systems
Keynote
Ken Bogard | Know Honesty 
Ken Bogard is the best selling author of “Know Honesty”, entrepreneur, Expert EOS Implementer, and the Open and Honest Expert. Ken’s Know Honesty approach is transforming people's lives, raising the bar on communication, leadership collaboration, and sparking a movement. His entrepreneurial grit and enthusiasm for positive results provide people with the momentum they need to achieve what they really want. Ken has impacted over 75 organizations, 400 owners and leaders, and thousands of employees. His work has been endorsed by EOS Worldwide and featured on outlets like Fox, NPR, and other top streaming platforms. Ken is changing how the world communicates.
Presentation: Solving Every Leadership Teams #1 Problem - Communication
You will learn how these two healthy rules, open and honest, positively impact Vision, Traction and most importantly, team health. Top performing teams and great communication are correlated, but unfortunately most communication training only teaches you how to talk. We'll explore why real communication can't happen without you being you, how brutal honesty kills progress, and what it takes to say (and receive) what actually needs to be said. This is about the raw, human work of showing up, speaking up, and staying open, especially when it is hard.
Breakout Speakers
Jennifer Schoenherr | Lean and Six Sigma Manager, Ford Motor Company
Jennifer Schoenherr is a Lean and Six Sigma Manager at Ford Motor Company, with over 25 years of experience leading cross-functional teams to deliver simple solutions to drive problems to zero. Known for her use of data and drill down trees, she successfully solved a major epoxy fill issue on the F150 Lightning Stator. Jennifer holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Technological University, a Masters in Engineering Management from Oakland University and is currently working on her PhD in Manufacturing Engineering at Michigan Technological University. She is proficient in Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen Activities, and Problem-Solving. Outside of work, she is an advocate for community service, which fuels her passion for giving back to those who gave her a head start. Jennifer is married to Todd and has one son, Samuel, and a black lab, Tornado.
Presentation: Cartooning As a Problem-Solving Tool
The research investigates whether cartooning—defined as a simple, visual communication method using caricatures—helps teams simplify complex ideas and reach their goals more effectively than traditional Lean problem-solving methods alone. The Study found that although cartooning did not have a statistically significant effect on a team’s results when used alongside other Lean tools, the data did show that the teams using cartooning had less variation in their results and a high rate of reaching stated goals. Cartooning is a low barrier tool that forces clarity, engages the brain, enhances collaboration, and visualizes the “invisible”. Cartooning is presented as one of seven simple strategies to expedite problem-solving. While it isn't a replacement for other Lean tools, it is a highly effective way to get an entire team involved, ensure everyone is looking at the same problem, and understand how a process is supposed to work versus how it is actually working. The second portion of the presentation will examine cartooning examples and the audience will complete an exercise to practice cartooning to allow them to implement this tool when they return to their workplace.
Christopher Davis | Technology Analyst, Consumers Energy and Founder, Country Roads Data Consulting, LLC
Chris Davis grew up in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where his first “real job” at 13 involved tending an orchard, with his grandfather, and selling apples and peaches to the community. After serving four honorable years in the United States Marine Corps and working on natural gas pipelines, Chris realized his true calling lay in technology and data—a realization that set the stage for a bold career pivot.
In 2013, Chris moved to Michigan and started from scratch, earning two associate degrees and a bachelor’s in Engineering Technology Management while completing internships at Nexteer Automotive, the VA Hospital, and Consumers Energy. During his time at Consumers, Chris enrolled in an in-house data analytics program—a decision that changed his life. That program sparked a passion for data and analytics, ultimately leading him to earn a master’s degree in Data Analytics from West Virginia University. While completing his graduate studies, Chris was introduced to the world of Artificial Intelligence and Large Language Models, which ignited a new mission: promoting ethical, responsible AI use.
Today, Chris is a Technology Analyst at Consumers Energy and the founder of Country Roads Data Consulting, LLC, where he helps small businesses and organizations harness big data and AI without breaking the bank. He is a passionate advocate for ethical AI, working to dispel misconceptions and ensure technology serves as a tool for positive impact. From teaching the intricacies of apples and peaches to translating technical jargon into business language, Chris has always excelled at bridging gaps and bringing people together. Outside of work, he’s a proud husband and dad, a self-professed nerd who loves Star Wars, comic books, music, and LEGO, and enjoys life with his wife Krystal, daughter Rylie, three dogs, and thirteen cats.
Presentation: Ethical AI
In this presentation, we’ll tackle a defining leadership challenge in the age of AI: Will your organization use AI as a tool to amplify human capability—or as a crutch that masks systemic weaknesses? Leading with honesty and purpose means acknowledging that this choice cannot rest solely with executives or technologists. In today’s environment, everyone—from the C-suite to the front line—must be knowledgeable about AI’s potential, limitations, and ethical considerations to lead effectively. Without this shared understanding, organizations risk blind dependency, eroding critical thinking, and automating flawed processes instead of fixing them.
Conversely, treating AI as a tool fosters resilience, innovation, and trust—empowering people to do higher-value work while maintaining agency and judgment. Hoshin Kanri provides a powerful framework to operationalize this philosophy, aligning a vision of “AI that strengthens, not substitutes” with breakthrough objectives, ethical design principles, and continuous learning loops. This approach reframes ethics as a driver of value, not a compliance checkbox, and makes governance tangible through measurable outcomes and transparent practices. The result? AI that accelerates progress without immobilizing growth—a compass for purposeful leadership rather than a splint for fragility.
Dawn Armfield | Senior Director of Operational Diligence Services | Hilco
Dawn Armfield is Senior Director of Operational Diligence Services at Hilco and an accomplished Operations and Engineering Executive with more than three decades of experience driving operational excellence. She brings deep expertise in Lean manufacturing, operations management, and manufacturing engineering, and has led transformational initiatives across organizations ranging from several million to several billion dollars in revenue, with the strongest emphasis on mid-market manufacturing.
Throughout her career, Dawn has served in senior operational leadership roles, led cross-functional continuous improvement initiatives, and supported organizations through operational redesign, quality system strengthening, and rapid performance turnarounds. She is recognized for building alignment between strategy and execution, developing practical operating systems, and delivering measurable results in complex, high-mix environments, including restoring profitability and strengthening execution discipline.
Dawn holds an MBA in Finance and Operations Management from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University, and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Tennessee Technological University. She combines academic rigor with practical expertise in driving operational excellence and sustainable performance improvement. Dawn is married, has three daughters, and four cats and resides in Grand Blanc, Michigan.
Presentation: Stop Chasing Priorities: How Hoshin Kanri Creates Traction Without Burnout
Most organizations do not lack strategy. They lack traction. Leaders feel pulled in every direction, teams are overloaded with initiatives, and improvement work becomes disconnected from what the business truly needs. When everything is urgent, priorities blur, execution slows, and people lose confidence that change will stick.
Hoshin Kanri is a proven Lean strategy deployment system that helps organizations narrow focus, align leadership, and turn strategic intent into daily execution. In this breakout session, Dawn Armfield will show how to use Hoshin Kanri to move from “too many priorities” to a small set of clear breakthrough objectives, supported by measurable targets and disciplined follow-up.
Participants will learn how catchball creates real alignment across functions, how to translate strategy into executable work without losing meaning, and how to build review routines that make progress visible and sustainable. This session will also address common failure points, including vague goals, initiative overload, and weak accountability rhythms. Attendees will leave with practical steps and tools they can apply immediately to simplify priorities, strengthen ownership, and create measurable traction without burning out their people.
Lean Student Competition
A DYNAMIC TEST OF TEAMWORK, CREATIVITY, AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
Gather your team of four and compete in this fast-paced, hands-on challenge where real-world problems meet innovative student solutions. Modeled after the Lean Excellence World Championship, this student edition invites future Lean leaders to take on a live Kaizen-style challenge designed to push the limits of collaboration, critical thinking, and continuous improvement.
Sponsors
Why Sponsor the Summit?
Parking
Please park in the Fulton Lot as indicated by the map below:
Hotel Block
We’re excited to offer a convenient hotel option for Summit attendees. Reserve your stay at the Holiday Inn Grand Rapids Downtown and enjoy a special group rate exclusively for our event participants.
Details
Booking Information:
Hotel Cancellation Policy
Guests can cancel their reservation without penalty according to the hotel’s standard cancellation policy.
Book your Stay Here
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Summit Registration Cancellations
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.
