Marcus Buckingham, World renowned author and authority on human productivity

Be prepared to be challenged and inspired by world renowned author and keynote speaker, Marcus Buckingham. According to Marcus, the companies that focus on cultivating employees’ strengths rather than simply working on improving their weaknesses stand to dramatically increase efficiency while allowing for maximum personal growth and success. In his role as author, independent consultant and speaker, Marcus has been the subject of in-depth profiles in The New York Times, Fortune, Fast Company, Harvard Business Review and USA Today and is routinely lauded by such corporations as Toyota, Coca-Cola, Master Foods, Wells Fargo and Disney as an invaluable resource in informing, challenging, mentoring and inspiring people to find their strengths and obtain and sustain long-lasting success. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain new insights and learn how to combine your personal strengths and skills to make needed change happen at home, at work and in your community. Marcus also has two books on The New York Times ‘Top Ten Business Books’ list.

Dan T. Jones, Chairman of the Lean Enterprise Academy, United Kingdom

Dan T. Jones is the founding chairman of the Lean Enterprise Academy in the UK, dedicated to pushing forward the frontiers of Lean thinking and helping others with its implementation. His work has inspired the very successful implementation of Lean by many companies around the world. Dan’s leadership in Lean thinking is world renown and he has been the host of global summits on Lean manufacturing, healthcare and service in every corner of the globe. Dan will provide a clear perspective on Lean’s expanding role in and impact on your ability to thrive in this highly competitive global economy. He and his co-authors, Dan Roos and Jim Womack were architects of the most extensive analysis of any business sector ever undertaken – the automotive
sector – which produced the bestseller, The Machine that Changed the World. Dan
and Jim followed this seminal work with Lean Thinking: Banish Waste and Create
Wealth in Your Organization and Lean Solutions: How Companies and Customers
Can Create Value and Wealth Together. Dan is considered to be one of the world’s top Lean thought leaders.

Ken Goodson, Executive VP Operations, Herman Miller

Herman Miller has been critically acclaimed as the number one furniture maker by Fortune magazine. Last October, Fast Company also rated them as one of their top 50 most innovative companies in the world. And although no one has replicated the Toyota Production System, Herman Miller, known worldwide for innovative thinking, designs and business practices, has powerful results and important learning to share after years of experience under Toyota’s mentorship. Ken will provide a clear, practical first-person picture of the tough choices that must be made in order to compete and become great. Ken has proven Lean approaches to share at the conference that have made Herman Miller so successful. Many of these Lean applications are now being used to provide guidance to some of North America’s top manufacturing companies. His presentation will help every attendee extract maximum value out of the conference.

Jason Myers, President and Chief Economist, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters

As head of the largest and oldest industry association in Canada, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME), Jason Myers understands what North American manufacturers and exporters have to do to compete and win in today’s economy and what perspective is needed to sustain a winning way into the future. Jay brings a pragmatic look at current trends in manufacturing globalization. He opens this conference with a reality check on the current manufacturing forces, threats and opportunities facing North American manufacturers. Over three million manufacturing jobs have disappeared in the last three years across North America. Even the most innovative in industry need new ideas to grow and prosper at this critical time. Jay brings new insight into what is needed to create tangible economic solutions for sustainable growth. Such perceptions are of high value for manufacturers who understand that they must accelerate their journey toward greatness. Known as Canada’s most accurate economist on national and international economic issues, Jay will provide the colour commentary to kick-off the conference.

Brigadier General Taco Gilbert, United States Air Force, Air Mobility Command

In the Fall of 2005, the Secretary of the Air Force announced its 700,000-personnel organization would embark on a revolutionary program called Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century (AFSO21), the largest Continuous Process Improvement (CPI) transformation ever attempted. Three years after its inception, Brigadier General Gilbert will describe how AFSO21 was conceived and deployed with an emphasis on effective leadership and strategies, providing invaluable insights for CPI implementation. Brigadier General Taco Gilbert III is Director of Strategic Plans, Requirements and Programs, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. He is responsible for force structure planning and programming, doctrine and requirements for the nation's airlift and refueling force. All manufacturers implementing CPI, large or small, will find his message about the guidelines and key factors learned in implementing CPI throughout the entire United States Air Force, invaluable. Imagine the challenge. Hear the results.

John Dineen, President and CEO, General Electric Transportation

Thomas Edison built the first electric locomotive in 1880 and since then GE Transportation has faithfully served the transportation industry. Over a century later, one achievement in particular makes John Dineen proud: “We are a company of unyielding integrity.” John is president and chief executive officer of GE’s top operating business unit –Transportation. The division employs 8,500 workers around the world and generates revenues in excess of $4 billion serving the rail, mining, marine and energy industries. John will reveal insights from Fortune magazine’s 2007 Most Admired Company in North America at the conference. GE’s excellence in outstanding sustainability is recognized most by the fact that it is the only company on the New York stock exchange that was there when it started. To achieve such a feat of endurance has required GE to be a world leader in outstanding sustained leadership, processes and achievement. John will share how to build a sustainable culture to compete and win now and in the future using the power of unyielding integrity.

Steven Spear, Senior lecturer, MIT and Fellow Institute for Healthcare Improvement

The title of Steven Spear’s topic says it well: Chasing the Rabbit – Why market leaders outdistance their competition and what great companies can do to catch up. Hear from four-time Shingo Prize winner, noted author and celebrated MIT lecturer, who will share his insights on what lies at the core of superlative performance and competitive dominance. Market leaders (or rabbits) outrun and escape the pack by constantly raising the bar through self-improvement and innovation that occurs at rates faster, durations longer and breadths wider than anyone else can muster. Steven introduces us to a new approach to achieving a competitive advantage. He demonstrates how the world’s greatest companies manage complex processes by eliminating obstacles to operational excellence and how making problem solving a core organizational capability can help achieve lasting success. If you’re versed in Lean, you are more than likely familiar with Steven’s publication, Decoding the DNA of the Toyota Production System, which helped accelerate the deployment of Lean in plants everywhere. Now hear from his latest research findings about how to catch up and outdistance your competition.

Captain Michael Abrashoff, Former Commander, USS Benfold Naval Destroyer

"The most important thing a captain can do is to see the ship from the eyes of the crew," says Captain Michael Abrashoff. This belief has successfully guided Michael, the captain of one of the U. S. Navy's most modern warships and author of the acclaimed book, It’s Your Ship. He has revolutionized how to handle challenging problems such as excessive costs, low morale and constant turnover. Participants at the conference will learn about Michael’s guiding belief that your focus should be on empowering your people rather than on chain of command. Hear how shifting organizing principles from obedience to performance has rewarded managers with remarkable productivity. The more people are involved and enjoy the process, the better the results. Under his command, his ship has become widely known as “The best damn ship in the Navy,” as his people relentlessly surpassed long-standing performance records dating back to 1908. One key measure of the success of his 'Grassroots Leadership' as he calls it, is the percentage of the crew that sign up for the next tour of duty. Typically, 54 percent re-sign. But on this captain’s ship, 100 percent of the crew re-sign for the next tour. His Leadership style can work anywhere on land or at sea - or in any plant or office.

Stan Askren, Chairman, President and CEO, HNI Corporation

There are but a handful of companies who have continued to pursue Lean since its introduction to North America in the last decade of the 20 th century. HNI Corporation (formerly HON INDUSTRIES) is one of those companies. Sharing Golden Lessons from an American Pioneer; Stan will marshal the messages heard by conference attendees all week…what it takes to go from good to great.

 While the many tools and techniques for a lean conversion are easily learned and practiced, leading an organizational evolution to a Lean Culture requires inscribing a new set of guiding principles. As one of the early pioneers wandering in the lean wilderness, HNI Corporation aligned with these principles to remain focused and moving forward. As the conference draws to conclusion, Stan’s message will provide the inspiration for attendees to initiate or rejuvenate their own company’s lean efforts.

 HNI Corporation is the second-largest office furniture manufacturer and the nation’s leading manufacturer and marketer of gas and wood burning fireplaces. In 2008, HNI was recognized by Fortune Magazine as one of America’s Most Admired Companies in the furniture industry. They were also recognized in 2007, by IndustryWeek Magazine as one of the 50 Best Manufacturing Companies for the fifth consecutive year.