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Community Inspiration

Tuesday, June 8; 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. 

Non-profits and community organizations must be extra diligent in how they spend time, funds and other resources. Hear inspiring stories of organizations that have embraced the continuous improvement mindset to make a difference in their community!

Community Panel: Kitchens for Good and San Diego Humane Society 

Kitchens for Good

  • Ryan Rizzuto, Production Chef, Kitchens for Good
  • Karen Marcum, Production Lead Cook, Kitchens for Good
  • Tina Nguyen, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, Vice President, Employee Engagement, San Diego Humane Society
  • Audrey Lang, SPHR, Senior Vice President of Organizational Development, San Diego Humane Society

Non-profits understand better than anyone the importance of doing more with less. In pursuit of their missions they’re constantly re-inventing how they stretch dollars and resources while also inspiring and empowering staff and volunteers.

During this session we’ll hear from Kitchens for Good and San Diego Humane Society on how they’ve adopted and embraced a continuous improvement mindset. For them it’s all about effectively and efficiently expanding program services and making an impact.

The San Diego Humane Society, an open-admission shelter, is creating a more humane world by inspiring compassion and advancing the welfare of animals and people. Its lifesaving safety net has helped San Diego become the largest city in the U.S. to keep healthy and treatable shelter animals from being euthanized.

Meanwhile, Kitchens for Good strives to provide struggling community members with skills that will launch them into meaningful careers and escape a life of poverty. During 2020 alone, Kitchens for Good increased hunger relief meal production from 300 meals per day to up to 2,500 meals per day to support food insecure San Diegans.

Featured Talk: Philosophical Ruminations on the Personal Nature of Improvement 

  • Vince Kellen, Chief Information Officer, UC San Diego vince-speaking-2.jpg

A continuous improvement mindset powers life at UC San Diego. Staff are encouraged to fine tune operations and implement small, incremental changes - for the services they manage, and as individuals.

During this closing talk, UC San Diego CIO Vince Kellen will lead a discussion on the deeply human and definitely personal side of continuous improvement.

The Great LSS Race: Finish Line #2

The Great LSS race, Process Palooza’ unique Lean Six Sigma competition, draws to a close. It’s time to hear from the teams and award a winner for process #2!

Speaker Bios

Community Panel

  • Audrey Lang, Sr. Vice President, Organizational Development, San Diego Humane Society

    Audrey Lang, Sr. Vice President, Organizational Development, San Diego Humane Society

    At San Diego Humane Society, Lang leads the critical work associated with process improvement, employee engagement and building the capacity of the organization to meet its strategic goals and mission. Lang has held several leadership roles for nonprofit organizations, including COO/SVP for American Humane and Director of Org Development for the Chicago Department of Public Health
  • Tina Nguyen, Vice President, Employee Engagement, San Diego Humane Society

    Tina Nguyen, Vice President, Employee Engagement, San Diego Humane Society

    Tina has held various leadership roles in human resources, supporting and driving initiatives to render positive organizational results while creating an exciting environment to facilitate innovation, a high-performing workforce as well as ways to make work fun!

    At San Diego Humane Society, Tina also leads the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion initiatives to strive for equal representation and to ensure all voices are heard, considered and, above all, respected.

  • Ryan Rizzuto, Production Chef, Kitchens for Good

    Ryan Rizzuto, Production Chef, Kitchens for Good

    Ryan is the Production Chef at Kitchens For Good, a workforce-development nonprofit. Chef Ryan brings 10 years of international and local culinary expertise to foster apprentice education through hunger relief meal production. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chef Ryan and his team at Kitchens for Good have prepared well over 100,000 nourishing meals for families and individuals in their community who are struggling to keep food on the table. 

Featured Talk

  • Vince Kellen, CIO, UC San Diego

    Vince Kellen, CIO, UC San Diego

    Vince Kellen is the Chief Information Officer at UC San Diego, as well as a member of the Chancellor's Cabinet, and vice chancellor and chief financial officer's senior management team. Vince’s recent work has been in the areas of student success and learning analytics and application of advanced technology in higher education. He was recently inducted into the CIO Hall of Fame, to go along with numerous other awards. He joined UC San Diego in 2016 following similar roles at the University of Kentucky and DePaul University, and a many years as an IT strategy consultant. He earned his Ph.D. in computer science, an M.S. degree in information systems, and a B.A. degree in communications all from DePaul University in Chicago.