Speakers

Plenary & Keynote Speakers

EVC Elizabeth H. Simmons

Dr. Elizabeth H. Simmons (she/her/hers) is the Executive Vice Chancellor at the University of California San Diego. As UC San Diego’s chief academic officer, she is responsible for policies and decisions relating to all academic programs and curriculum, instructional support programs, and faculty appointments and performance. She is the institution’s second-ranking executive officer and acts on behalf of the Chancellor in overseeing the University in his absence.

Simmons aspires for UC San Diego to work collectively and coherently in becoming an inclusive student-centered, research-focused, service-oriented university. She envisions that the university will scale up the size, connectivity, and impact of research collaborations; be as proudly innovative in education as in scholarship; and empower every Triton to succeed – undergraduates, graduate students, staff, and faculty.

As Executive Vice Chancellor, Simmons works with colleagues throughout Academic Affairs and partners across UC San Diego (and the broader community) to develop overarching strategic goals -- and purposeful habits of collaboration required to make those aspirations attainable and sustainable.
CIO Vince Kellen

Vince Kellen is the Chief Information Officer for the University of California, San Diego, as well as a member of the Chancellor's Cabinet, and vice chancellor and chief financial officer's senior management team. UC San Diego is recognized as a top 15 university world-wide and 7th best public university in the world, with over $1.1 billion in annual research funding, 36,000 students, 16 Nobel laureates who have taught on its campus and 161 faculty with national Academy memberships.

Vince's recent work has been in the areas of student success and learning analytics and application of advanced technology in higher education. Vince is a recipient of the CIO Magazine “Top 100” award in 2007, 2014 and 2025, was one of InformationWeek’s “Chiefs of the Year” in 2013, received the Computerworld “Honors Laureate” award in 2013, and was one of four recipients selected globally for Dell’s 2012 “Transformational CIO” award. Vince has authored more than 220 articles, four books and more than 150 presentation on IT topics and is a Fellow with Cutter Consortium, a leading IT industry think tank, where writes on digital transformation and data and analytics topics.

Vince is a Board of Director member for IMS Global and has served on advisory boards for Apple, Microsoft, Dell, SAP, AT&T and Blackboard. He was previously CIO and Senior Vice Provost at University of Kentucky and CIO at DePaul University. Before his tenure in higher education, Dr. Kellen was an IT strategy consultant working with Fortune 500 firms on marketing and CRM digital transformations. Vince has taught graduate and undergraduate courses on IT strategy, information strategy, and enterprise systems at DePaul University and University of Kentucky. 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, Illinois.
Ron Glickman
Dr. Ron Glickman is a seasoned business executive with a proven track record for developing high potential talent and motivating culturally diverse teams to deliver breakthrough results. Throughout his 30+ year career, a dual focus on “performing while transforming” has been the cornerstone of his change leadership philosophy and the basis for his award-winning book Lead for a Change: Proven Strategies to Clarify Expectations, Foster Growth, and Achieve Breakthroughs. Ron is currently the CIO at Trader Joe’s Company. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Cal State LA, where he teaches in the colleges of Business and Economics and Professional and Global Education.
Vincent Nijs

Vincent Nijs is an Associate Professor of Business Analytics and Marketing, and co-founder and faculty director of the Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) program at the Rady School of Management, UCSD. He holds a master's degree in marketing research from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands and a Ph.D. in marketing from the University of Leuven in Belgium. Professor Nijs' research focuses on the effectiveness of marketing actions, competitive retaliation and timing, inertia in decision making, and Generative AI.

Before joining Rady, Professor Nijs was an assistant professor of marketing at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, where he served as the McManus Research Professor and received the Sidney J. Levy Teaching Award for outstanding teaching in an elective course. At Rady, he has received the Excellence in Teaching Award, the Most Valuable Professor award, and the 2025 Distinguished Teaching Award for Academic Senate Members at UCSD.

Speakers

Mojgan Amini
Mojgan Amini, M.S. Computer Science, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, is an enthusiastic leader with a proven track record in driving large-scale innovation and digital transformation. She specializes in spearheading and implementing world-class solutions, collaborating with C-suite executives, and enhancing team engagement and productivity. Passionate about modernizing operations and fostering a positive workplace culture, she leverages solid methods to tackle complex challenges and deliver measurable results. Mojgan has played an active leadership role at UC San Diego and UC San Diego Health for close to 20 years.
Tina Austin
Tina Austin is an AI innovator and higher education educator revolutionizing the integration of artificial intelligence across disciplines. Since 2022, Tina has designed and implemented transformative AI-driven approaches for teaching regenerative medicine, statistics, social studies, computer science, programming, journalism, and communication. By leveraging custom tools like custom GPTs and Gemini Gems, Tina has equipped students with practical skills to ethically and effectively use AI while promoting critical thinking and interdisciplinary collaboration. A sought-after speaker and workshop leader, Tina has conducted AI faculty development programs that empower educators to adopt cutting-edge technologies and enhance their teaching practices. Faculty testimonials, available on Tina’s website, reflect the widespread impact of these initiatives, from inspiring innovative classroom strategies to improving student outcomes. Tina’s work has been recognized with consecutive nominations and awards for advancing AI in education, further establishing their expertise in AI adoption and integration. Whether presenting on ethical AI use, AI biases, designing AI-enhanced curricula, or guiding educators through custom AI applications, Tina is dedicated to preparing students and faculty for a future shaped by AI advancements. For real-world success stories and insights, visit Tina’s website to learn how they are reshaping education and empowering the next generation of learners and educators.
Bethany Bezak

Bethany Bezak is the Director for the City of San Diego’s Transportation Department, where she is responsible for leading a team of over 500 employees who deliver the City’s planning, engineering, quick build, and operations and maintenance for all forms of transportation and mobility. The Transportation Department manages over 100,000 customer calls and service notifications annually and currently operates with a $100M annual budget plus manages over $250M in active grant projects.

Ms. Bezak has experience working in the public and private sectors and strives to implement practical and implementable solutions in the urban environment. Ms. Bezak has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Lawrence Technological University and Master of Science in Biological Systems Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She is a registered Professional Engineer and a LEED AP.
Galen Davis

Galen Davis is a Senior Education Technology Specialist on the Multimedia Services team at the University of California San Diego. He’s responsible for the Kaltura service offering, managing its configuration, documentation, and support. He also writes about best practices focused on the effective use of educational multimedia. Prior to UC San Diego, Galen worked as an academic technologist at Stanford University and also worked in the for-profit online education sector. He lives in Carmel Valley with his wife, a fertility doctor, and his three daughters. In his free time Galen enjoys e-biking, playing video games, and tinkering with his 3D printer.
Laura de la Pena
Senior Strategy Manager with 12+ years' experience leading high-impact strategic projects, driving operational excellence, and advancing AI initiatives.
Bri DuBose

Bri DuBose is a distinguished Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and a registered nurse with extensive clinical experience in emergency nursing. Bri has achieved significant outcomes, such as over $77 million in cost savings and avoidance during her 9-year tenure in the Office of Transformation. With a robust background in innovation and process improvement, Dr. DuBose has been recognized for her excellence in leading complex systems initiatives across various sectors. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing and a Master of Healthcare Innovation, and is passionate about health policy and advocacy, particularly in the realm of LGBTQIA+ equity. As an Adjunct Faculty at the University of San Diego and San Diego State University, she teaches in the Doctor of Nursing Practice and Masters in Nursing programs respectively. Dr. DuBose is also a published author and an active participant in professional discussions and panels, contributing her expertise on topics such as change management and healthcare leadership.
Christopher Ferrier
Christopher Ferrier a Process Improvement Facilitator at a state government-funded non-profit called IEHP (Inland Empire Health Plan) that serves the people of San Bernardino and Riverside counties in California, an instructor at Central Coast Lean, and a lecturer for the Industrial Technology and Packaging department in the Orfalea College of Business at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Christopher received his Master of Science in Industrial and Technical Studies, and a Bachelor of Science with a Packaging Minor from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Prior to practicing Lean in the healthcare sector (a decidedly transactional office environment), Christopher got his hands dirty doing improvement work in heavy-industrial organizations.

Christopher’s interest in Lean was born when he was a student at Cal Poly when his professors introduced him to the books, The Goal, by Eliyahu Goldratt, and Learning to See, by Mike Rother and John Shook. He has spent the entirety of his career pursuing the question, “This Lean thing makes sense, why doesn’t everyone think and work this way?”

When not practicing Lean, Christopher enjoys trail running, playing the guitar and harmonica, singing, and reading fiction. Christopher lives in Fullerton, CA with his wife and two children.
Ron Glickman
Dr. Ron Glickman is a seasoned business executive with a proven track record for developing high potential talent and motivating culturally diverse teams to deliver breakthrough results. Throughout his 30+ year career, a dual focus on “performing while transforming” has been the cornerstone of his change leadership philosophy and the basis for his award-winning book Lead for a Change: Proven Strategies to Clarify Expectations, Foster Growth, and Achieve Breakthroughs. Ron is currently the CIO at Trader Joe’s Company. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Cal State LA, where he teaches in the colleges of Business and Economics and Professional and Global Education.
Sherry Hayes

Sherry’s career began with over two decades of service in the United States Navy, starting as a Preventive Medicine Technician and transitioning into an Environmental Health/Public Health Officer. In her current role, Sherry shares her expertise as a Lecturer at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), Rady School of Management, teaching Project Management-Health Services to a diverse set of undergraduate students. She earned her Masters in Public Health (MPH) and Public Administration (MPA) from San Diego State University (SDSU). She holds certifications as a Project Management Professional (PMP) from the Project Management Institute (PMI), Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSS-GB) from UCSD Extended Studies, Certified Change Practitioner from Prosci, and Certified Public Health Professional (CPH) from the National Board of Public Health Examiners.
Alex Hempton
Alex Hempton joined the Performance & Analytics Department (PandA) in September 2015 and launched the Get It Done pilot project. With Get It Done, a mobile app and redesigned web interface were introduced, which transformed how customers engage with the City.

Building on the interest with Get It Done, Alex led the Get It Done expansion effort, which expanded the program from one to nine departments, over 250 end users, and the replacement of legacy applications that no longer met customer needs. The goal of Get It Done is to make it simple and easy for customers to interact with the City and provide employees with the necessary tools to work efficiently.

Alex currently leads the Technology & Innovation team within PandA. Prior to the City, Alex worked with Apple Computer as an independent publisher with coverage in USA Today and the San Diego Union-Tribune, contributed to neighborhood revitalization efforts with New City America, Inc., and worked as a Planner and Development Project Manager with the City's Development Services Department, where he was named Innovator of the Year.

Alex graduated from the University of California, San Diego, with a bachelor of arts degree in Urban Studies & Planning. He is certified by the American Planning Association's American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) program and earned a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification through UC San Diego Extension.
Zach Herman
Zach Herman has over 20 years of experience in Project and Program Management with a focus on helping people understand Project Management, and prepare for a career in the field. Zach is currently the Associate Director for the Project Management Office in the Information Services department at UC San Diego Health, and has overseen large-scale programs in Healthcare for over 10 years with a focus on Process Improvement and Implementation Best Practices. Zach holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration, a Project Management Professional Certification (PMP), a Disciplined Agile Scrum Master (DASM) and a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (LSSBB).
Bernadette Hill
Bernadette Hill is a dynamic leader with a passion for driving operational excellence and fostering innovation. As a Six Sigma Black Belt, Project Manager, and Continuous Improvement Trainer & Coach with the UC Davis Office of Business Transformation, she leverages her expertise to build a culture of continuous improvement in Higher Education.

With over 15 years of leadership experience spanning Manufacturing, Healthcare, and Biotech, Bernadette specializes in project management, business process improvement, and strategic problem-solving. Her ability to streamline processes and enhance efficiencies has made her a trusted advisor in complex organizational transformations.

Bernadette holds an undergraduate degree in Organizational Leadership and a master’s degree in Human Resources Management. She is dedicated to empowering teams, optimizing workflows, and enabling sustainable innovation through data-driven decision-making.
Laura Kimmich
Laura Kimmich is a dedicated and compassionate Telehealth Workflow Optimization Specialist with over 20 years of experience in clinical and administrative leadership. With a unique background spanning multiple organizations, she has developed a deep understanding of what drives success in healthcare operations. Having witnessed the transformative power of a well-implemented Daily Engagement System (DES), Laura is passionate about helping organizations unlock their full potential. As a DES Champion, she brings her expertise to streamline workflows, elevate patient care, and boost efficiency, always with a focus on empowering teams and fostering a culture of collaboration and engagement. With a proven track record of leadership and a commitment to innovation, Laura is driven to make a positive impact in healthcare, and is humbled by the opportunity to work with talented teams and dedicated professionals who share her passion for delivering exceptional care.
Joshua Liggett
Joshua Liggett is the Abdominal Quality Specialist for Liver and Kidney Transplant programs at UC San Diego Health. He received his Bachelors in Anthropology from Fresno State, in California’s Central Valley, and his Master of Science in Applied Anthropology from University of North Texas. He has worked in program evaluation for a behavioral health provider that serves counties throughout California, an evaluative consultant for public service organizations across California, before joining the Transplant Quality team at the UC San Diego Health Center for Transplantation where he currently supports their Quality and Improvement efforts. He is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality and has earned his Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.

As a Medical/Evaluative Anthropologist, Healthcare Quality Professional, and Process Improvement practitioner he has a passion for working with people to solve human problems and make the world a more benevolent and efficient place to call home. Trained as a professional anthropologist, he brings a human-centered approach to improving the experience of both colleagues and patients.
Marcus Lostracco
Marcus Lostracco joined the Performance & Analytics Department as a Program Coordinator in September 2019. He is responsible for driving the continuous development of the Get It Done application system, focusing primarily on process optimization.

Prior to joining the City of San Diego, Marcus spent eight years as an IT systems consultant with expertise in delivering successful Microsoft product suite implementations for manufacturing companies across the globe. He was a principal contributor in taking more than a dozen companies live, both in the US and internationally, for on-premise as well as cloud-based systems. He has also led process improvement initiatives using lean principles and driving kaizen events, during which he worked with end users to gather data, establish performance metrics, and deliver analysis.

Marcus is passionate about efficiency and optimization, and he is dedicated to using his skills to make San Diego the best city in which to live and visit. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Cathi Lyons
With over 43 years of experience in ophthalmology, Cathi Lyons brings a deep and diverse background in clinical care, surgical assistance, research coordination, and healthcare administration. She currently serves as the Director of Ophthalmology Services at the Shiley Eye Institute, UC San Diego Health, where she also contributes as a DES Core Coach.

Cathi holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Redlands (1982) and a Master of Health Administration from National University (1998). She has been a Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT) through JCAHPO since 1987 and earned the Certified Ophthalmic Executive (COE) credential from the American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators (ASOA) in 2013.

Throughout her career, Cathi has held numerous leadership positions, including her current role as Vice President of the National Board for Certification of Ophthalmic Executives (NBCOE) for the 2024–2025 term. Her previous roles include Regional Director at VGH Holdings, Administrator of an office-based surgical center, and Director of Operations and Administrator in various multi-specialty ophthalmic practices.

Her clinical and technical expertise includes working as an ophthalmic technician and surgical assistant, serving as a LASIK-certified assistant, and acting as a clinical research coordinator.

Cathi is passionate about advancing ophthalmic care through operational excellence, team development, and delivering patient-centered services.
Stewart McMaken
Stewart is a Senior Business Systems Analyst in IT Services at UC San Diego, with over 20 years of experience delivering IT software solutions across higher education institutions including UT Austin, UC Berkeley, and UC San Diego. He brings a wealth of expertise in business analysis, systems implementation, and process improvement, with a focus on aligning technology with operational needs to drive organizational efficiency.
Kaylen Nielson
Kaylen Nielson is an accomplished Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, skilled Project Manager Professional, Certified Play Facilitator and MBA Candidate. She specializes in healthcare transformations and has a proven track record of implementing process improvements and achieving substantial cost savings in various lines of business. She sparks joy and utilizes data-driven insights to deliver high-quality results and elevate overall experiences for all. She is skilled in applying various process and performance improvement methodologies with added flair like play to optimize processes, drive efficiency and realize cost savings. She has won numerous awards including the 2023 Innovator of the Year. Kaylen has also trained and mentored LSS Yellow Belts and Green Belts for the last 8 years.
Sammy Obara

Sammy’s journey with Lean principles began at the age of 17 when he joined Toyota Brazil as an electromechanical technologist. During his 13-year tenure at Toyota, Sammy gained hands-on experience in various production engineering roles, eventually relocating to Toyota City, Japan, for three years. There, he received advanced training from the Overseas Production Engineering Division and was part of the team responsible for launching the Corolla and Land Cruiser models, as well as establishing a new plant in Venezuela. Sammy played a key role in the successful transition of the plant into full production.

Sammy became a Lean instructor for renowned institutions like the Lean Enterprise Institute, San Diego State University, and the University of California, San Diego. His passion for Lean, ignited at Toyota, drove him to share his expertise globally, with engagements across China, Mexico, Canada, Indonesia, Brazil, Japan, Austria, Lithuania, Russia, the United Kingdom, East Timor, Kenya, Australia, and many other countries. Sammy has supported humanitarian missions in Asia and Africa. With over 40 years of experience, he has brought Lean principles to over 450 companies across various sectors, including schools, hospitals, banks, military organizations, and factories of all sizes.

Outside of work, Sammy enjoys spending quality time with his wife and their middle school-aged twins. Together, they enjoy activities like biking, playing volleyball, ping-pong, and chess, as well as tackling backyard projects. Sammy is also the co-author of the book Toyota by Toyota and has contributed numerous articles and podcasts on Lean and continuous improvement.
Tracy O’Rourke

Tracy O’Rourke is a lead instructor for UC San Diego Extended Studies’ Lean Six Sigma programs and a nationally recognized expert in process improvement. She is the Co-Founder of the Just-in-Time Café and co-author of The Problem-Solver’s Toolkit: A Surprisingly Simple Guide to Your Lean Six Sigma Journey. With over 30 years of experience, Tracy excels at making Lean Six Sigma approachable and practical—empowering individuals and organizations to achieve measurable results.

Tracy began her Lean Six Sigma journey as a Black Belt at GE Appliances in the late 1990s during Jack Welch’s tenure. Since then, she has served as a Lean Six Sigma consultant across industries, helping teams apply improvement strategies to real-world challenges.
Kevin Popović
Kevin Popović is a leading expert in problem identification, design thinking, and AI-driven innovation, with a career spanning over 30 years in strategic problem-solving. As the Founder of The Idea Guy®, he has helped organizations across industries refine their problem statements, optimize processes, and implement AI-driven solutions to drive efficiency and impact.

Kevin has held leadership roles at San Diego State University and UC San Diego, where he has developed and facilitated experiential learning programs that integrate design thinking, problem statements, and generative AI. His work at The Design Lab at UCSD has empowered teams to apply structured frameworks for problem identification, ensuring that solutions align with root causes rather than symptoms.

A recognized thought leader in AI-powered problem-solving and process optimization, Kevin has worked with startups, enterprises, and public sector organizations to leverage generative AI for root cause analysis, continuous improvement, and digital transformation. His Problems > Problem Statements + Gen AI methodology has been widely adopted, helping teams across disciplines break down complex challenges into actionable strategies.

As an advocate for HI + AI (Human Intelligence + Artificial Intelligence) collaboration, Kevin teaches teams how to integrate AI tools into their problem-solving processes to improve clarity, accelerate innovation, and enhance decision-making. His approach ensures organizations optimize their resources, eliminate bottlenecks, and improve workflow efficiency through structured problem statements and AI-assisted analysis.

Kevin is a sought-after speaker, educator, and workshop facilitator who has presented at major conferences and led executive training sessions on AI in problem-solving, Lean methodologies, and innovation management. He is the author of Satellite Marketing: Using Social Media to Create Engagement and a TEDx speaker on the power of creativity in driving change.

At Process Palooza 2025, Kevin will demonstrate how AI-powered problem statements can revolutionize root cause analysis and process improvement, equipping attendees with scalable frameworks to diagnose, refine, and solve their organization’s most pressing challenges.
Michael Schank

Michael is a distinguished thought leader and executive, specializing in addressing Digital Transformation and Operational Excellence challenges through his innovative, process-based framework. With over 25 years of experience in the Financial Services industry, he has primarily served as a management consultant, empowering clients with forward-thinking solutions in technology, process, and risk and spearheading large-scale business and digital transformations. His book, ‘Digital Transformation Success’, which is available on Amazon, introduces his groundbreaking Process Inventory framework.

He is also on the Board of Directors for the Association of Business Process Management Professionals (ABPMP), where he is VP of Education Services.
Brad Sollenberger
Brad is a healthcare and higher education administration professional with over 15 years of experience in health system and higher education strategic planning, operational improvement, and project management. Currently, Brad serves as a Senior Manager, specializing in project management, strategic planning, Lean Six Sigma instruction and practice, and internal consulting for UCSD Campus and Health clients.

When Brad is not on the job, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing with his daughter and son, as well as bow hunting, writing novels, reading scripture, and teaching himself new things.
Ashok Suratkal
Ashok Suratkal is a Transformational Healthcare Coach at UC San Diego Health with years of experience in inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services. Certified in Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, he brings a strong focus on quality improvement and process optimization. His previous leadership roles at Sharp HealthCare, Vibra Healthcare, and Scripps Clinic involved managing multidisciplinary teams and driving operational excellence. Ashok holds a master’s in health science in orthopedic physical therapy from Washington University in St. Louis and has completed executive leadership training at UC San Diego Extension.
Jimmy Thai
Jimmy Thai's journey to success is a testament to the resilience and determination of the human spirit. As a "Boat People" refugee who escaped Vietnam 15 times and was imprisoned twice, Jimmy arrived in America with no English, money, or education. But through hard work and perseverance, he rose from a janitor at Miramar College to a Vice President for Technology with SAIC in 2011, a Fortune 500 company with $11 billion in revenue and 47K employees.

Jimmy holds a BSEE degree from UCSD, as well as MSEE and MBA degrees, and has received executive leadership training at Harvard University and the Federal Executive Institute. Today, he devotes his time to Build a School Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity he founded and has built 175 schools for poor children around the world.
Priya Venkatesan
Priya Venkatesan is a Business Systems Analyst at UC Davis’s Administrative Innovation and Technology Unit. With a rich background in the Finance and Education sectors, Priya has made significant contributions at ICICI Bank and ProctorU, enhancing her expertise in customer-centric operations. She holds a Master's degree in Computer Applications from Bharathidasan University, India, and is certified as a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, a Certified Scrum Master, and a Gallup CliftonStrengths Coach.

At UC Davis, Priya is a Volunteer Strengths Coach and plays a pivotal role in revitalizing the Lean Community of Practice. She collaborates with her team to drive initiatives that enhance engagement with Lean Six Sigma methodologies and excels in facilitating Yellow Belt trainings. Priya also contributes to the design of e-learning tools for process improvement, leveraging her team's diverse skills to create impactful resources
Helena Weiss-Duman
Helena Weiss-Duman is an accomplished Organizational Excellence Manager with a distinguished career at the University of California since 1994. She taught Project Management for 15 years at UC Berkeley Extension, where she was honored with the Honored Instructor Award for her outstanding contributions to student learning. Helena earned Prosci and PMP certifications and is pursuing her Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, further solidifying her expertise in process improvement. Known for bringing order to chaos, Helena excels at leading initiatives that drive operational efficiency and foster continuous improvement.
Ming Wung
Ming Wung manages operations for UCOP's RASC (Retirement Administration Service Center) which includes all inbound channels (phone, secure email) and processing and benefits initiation for all retirements. RASC's focus is building a world class member experience for the UC employees in the pension plan.

Add-On Trainings & Certifications Instructors

James (Jim) Athon
Jim Athon is a Continuous Improvement COE leader and Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt. He has nearly 25 years of success driving process improvement methodologies, principles, and best practices. Since 2001, Jim has served as the President of The Athon Group, Inc., a premier supplier of Lean Six Sigma training, coaching, and consulting services at all levels of Lean Six Sigma deployment, including Executive Leadership, Champion, Master Black Belt, Black Belt, and Green Belt. He personally trained and coached over 500 Black Belts and over 200 Green Belts, with his primary focus being teaching the DMAIC (Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control) problem-solving framework.

After earning a Master Black Belt at General Electric, Jim led Lean Six Sigma projects for prominent organizations such as Target, Chevron, Cisco, Nokia, Kraft Foods, Schwab, and Adena Health Systems, and spearheaded over 42 million dollars in revenue gains. He is a catalyst for standardization of processes, digital transformation, technology optimization, and is passionate about transforming inefficient and error-prone activities into lean, efficient, and repeatable processes.

As a Lean Six Sigma expert and trainer, Jim has presented at over 30 industry seminars. His vast experience and unique ability to communicate complex concepts into commonly understood language and relatable examples make him an exceptional coach and mentor. Jim also proudly served for 10 years in the US Air Force Reserve & was honorably discharged as E5 Staff Sergeant.
Sammy Obara
Sammy Obara is a seasoned professional with deep expertise in Lean and the Toyota Production System (TPS). Over four decades, he has successfully introduced, guided, and applied Lean practices in various organizations and countries.

Sammy's Lean journey began at Toyota facilities in Japan, Brazil, Venezuela, and the United States. Through immersive hands-on experiences, he gained a thorough understanding of the fundamental principles of TPS/Lean. Today, he serves as a trusted mentor, coach, and trainer, sharing his knowledge with esteemed Lean consulting firms, renowned educational institutions, and even engaging in humanitarian missions across Asia, Africa, and South America.

As a faculty member at Lean Enterprise Institute (LEI) and an instructor of Global Strategy Management for the California Community College system, Sammy imparts invaluable insights to the learning setting. He is invited as a guest lecturer for post-graduate classes at esteemed institutions like UC San Diego, Harvard University, Stanford University, University of Southern California, La Verne, and San Diego State University. Having assisted over 450 companies worldwide in implementing TPS/Lean projects, Sammy's expertise spans diverse sectors and countries. He has successfully guided organizations in their Lean journey in environments ranging from schools and hospitals to military organizations.

Currently, Sammy continues to contribute his skills to the implementation of Lean practices through Honsha.org. His extensive experience and significant contributions have solidified his reputation as a respected figure in Lean methodologies, making him an invaluable resource for organizations and individuals striving to reach their next level of operational excellence.