Sessions

Results Washington team would like to invite you to attend the 13th Annual 2024 Washington State Lean Transformation Conference!

  • The conference will be 100% virtual using Zoom webinar.
  • We are offering sessions over 6 days. Each tab below lists 4 sessions per day and includes a session description and bio for each presenter.
  • Each session will last 1 hour.
  • The All Sessions tab allows you to see a summary of all of the offerings for this year's conference.
  • Attendees must register for each session individually.
  • For a quick tutorial on how to register click here.

We look forward to seeing you!

 

Session Title Date Presenter Registration/Password

Navigating the What Works City Certification as a Small-to-Medium Sized City

 Oct 24, 2024 - 1:00pm Dale Markey-Crimp
Registration
Lean2024

Forces of Change: Too Much Change, Not Enough Direction

 Oct 24, 2024 - 3:00pm Jennifer Haury
Registration
Lean2024

Results, Not Resistance - Optimizing Buy-In and Execution in your CI projects

 Oct 29, 2024 - 9:00am Craig Szelestowski
Registration
Lean2024

Team Resilience 2.0: Heightened Capacity Beyond Recovery

 Oct 29, 2024 - 11:00am Jason Feldman & Michelle Zou
Registration
Lean2024

The Power of the Pilot

 Oct 29, 2024 - 1:00pm Jennifer Yeaman
Registration
Lean2024

Enterprise Resilience - facing our future changes together

 Oct 29, 2024 - 3:00pm Cheryl D'Angelo Gary
Registration
Lean2024

Lean Leadership Using the Situational Leadership Model™

 Oct 30, 2024 - 9:00am Jared Thatcher
Registration
Lean2024

Productivity in the Digital Workplace

 Oct 30, 2024 - 11:00am Kerry Tse & Ron Matthews
Registration
Lean2024

Transform Your Influence: 8 Essential Skills for Becoming a Katalyst™ in Your Organization

 Oct 30, 2024 - 1:00pm Katie Anderson
Registration
Lean2024

3 Critical Things that Shape People’s Ability to Get Along

 Oct 30, 2024 - 3:00pm Wendy Fraser
Registration
Lean2024

Pages

9 AM Session

Welcome, Opening Remarks, and Keynote

Presenter:
Governor Jay Inslee

Governor Jay Inslee
Registration
Password:
Lean2024

Presenter:
Governor Jay Inslee

Governor Jay Inslee
Session Description:

Governor Inslee will provide the opening remarks for the 13th annual Washington State Government Lean Transformation Conference. He will discuss the value of continuous improvement and Lean in Washington State government during his administration, and how it helped us to work more efficiently and effectively to serve our fellow Washingtonians. 

Immediately following Governor Inslee will be our keynote by Marcus Glasper, Director of the Washington State Department of Licensing.

Marcus Glasper - Director, Washington State Department of Licensing

Before joining DOL, Marcus was the director of Washington’s Lottery. Prior to that, he served in leadership roles with the state’s Department of Revenue and spent a decade working for the United States Department of Energy. He began his career as an engineer with General Motors before coming to work for Washington’s Department of Corrections in 2003.

Marcus is a native of Plaquemine, LA. He received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA, and a Master’s in Engineering Management from Washington State University. He has also completed senior executive programs at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, the USDA Graduate School, and the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Affairs.

 

About Governor Jay Inslee:

Governor Jay Inslee

Jay Inslee is a fifth-generation Washingtonian who has lived and worked on both sides of the state. He grew up in the Seattle area where his father, Frank, was a high school teacher and coach. His mother, Adele, worked as a sales clerk at Sears & Roebuck. Jay worked his way through college and graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in economics before earning his law degree at Willamette University. He and his wife, Trudi, then moved to Selah, a small town near Yakima where they raised their three sons. Jay worked as an attorney and prosecutor. 

Jay and Trudi are now proud grandparents to six active little Inslees. Besides writing and illustrating books for his grandchildren and sketching scenes from around Washington, Jay is an avid cyclist and charter member of Hoopaholics, a youth basketball academy. 

Jay first became involved in public service in 1985 when he and Trudi helped lead the effort to build a new public high school in Selah. Motivated to fight against proposed funding cuts for rural schools, Jay went on to represent the 14th Legislative District in the state House of Representatives. He was then elected to Congress in 1992. The Inslees later moved back to Kitsap County where Jay was elected to Congress in 1998, serving until 2012 when he was elected governor. 

He is currently the longest serving governor in the United States.

 

11 AM Session

Navigating Work-Life Harmony in a Fast-Paced World

Presenter:
Amy Leneker

The Leneker Team, LLC
Registration
Password:
Lean2024

Presenter:
Amy Leneker

The Leneker Team, LLC
Session Description:

Have you ever tried to find work life balance but ended up feeling like you weren’t succeeding at work or at home? There’s a better way! In this fun and informative workshop, we will explore what work life harmony is and how it can improve your overall well-being.  

Extensive research has shown that achieving and sustaining work life harmony has a significant impact on one’s engagement at work, overall wellness, and productivity. In the most recent Global Workforce Report, Gallup reported that one of the leading causes of burnout is a lack of separation between work and life. We will explore strategies to mitigate the risks of burnout and increase work life harmony.  You will learn tools and skills that you can implement immediately.  

About Amy Leneker :

Amy Leneker is an optimistic, joy-seeking, recovering workaholic. She is also a Leadership Consultant, a Certified Dare to Lead Facilitator, and a self-proclaimed public service nerd. Amy spent over 20 years working for the State of Washington, in six Cabinet agencies and the Legislature. While working for the state, Amy earned her Bachelors and then her Masters of Public Administration with a focus on public policy and leadership development. She is a first generation college student and is the happiest when she is learning (and laughing) alongside others. Amy and her husband have two wonderful kiddos, two wacky dogs, and zero guinea pigs despite her daughter's powerpoint presentation on why they couldn't live without one. They make their home in the Pacific Northwest.

1 PM Session

Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Government: Revolutionizing Enterprise Performance Management

Presenter:
Aaron Howard & Sven Akerman Jr

Mass Ingenuity & Outlook Insight

Registration
Password:
Lean2024

Presenter:
Aaron Howard & Sven Akerman Jr

Mass Ingenuity & Outlook Insight

Session Description:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) significantly augments government Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) systems boosting agency efficiency and driving ongoing improvements. This presentation explores how integrating AI data analysis into agency EPM systems transforms leaders’ and employees’ actionable insights, decisions, and outcomes.
The EPM / AI connection accelerates operational and strategic excellence, key performance measures, lean process improvements, change management, and the ability to drive continuous improvements. Pairing AI with Lean methodologies allows government offices to streamline processes, reduce waste, save money, and deliver better value. AI also improves the development of performance measurement systems by offering real-time data and predictions, making it easier to track key performance indicators accurately and dynamically.

This presentation will offer practical tips and best practices for using AI in various management areas, helping your organization achieve top performance and greater agility.

Objectives:

• Define artificial intelligence and benefits to an EPM system
• Describe importance of accessibility and inclusivity for all in the digital age
• Illustrate how to empower a culture of self-sufficiency
• Demonstrate how to access the critical and in-depth information stored in every agency’s filing cabinet, bookshelf, or stack of paperwork piled on employees’ desks
• Describe how to ensure every precaution is taken to ensure the highest levels of accessibility, security, and integration
• Demonstrate how an AI chatbot is revolutionizing how state and local government access critical business information
• For example, instantly access laws, regulations, policies, and guidelines with direct access to comprehensive sources
• Demonstrate how to quickly read and easily retain user-friendly story-like answers to employees most critical questions

About Aaron Howard & Sven Akerman Jr:

Aaron Howard- CTO and President, Mass Ingenuity
Aaron Howard brings 15 years in state government consulting and 20 years as a Seattle high-tech executive. As CEO and Chief Technology Officer, Aaron’s vision for Mass Ingenuity’s enterprise performance management methodology began in 2007 leading to the company’s Results Management System™ and Software. Aaron’s engineering and mathematics background has been applied to biomedical devices, complex data visualization, and now AI and it’s application to government agency performance. This vision has been implemented at dozens of state agencies including the Arizona Department of Corrections, California Department of Motor Vehicles, New Mexico Department of Health, New Mexico Attorney General’s Office, Oregon Information Services, Oregon Department of Human Services, Oregon Health Authority, Oregon Department of Transportation, Oregon Fish and Wildlife, Washington Health Care Authority, and Washington Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.

Sven Akerman Jr - CEO, Outlook Insight
Sven Akerman Jr has over 20 years in state government consulting as a seasoned technology executive and change agent. He is passionate about harnessing the transformative power of technology to achieve business objectives. He gauges his success by his clients’ eagerness and adaptability to emerging technology. He has spearheaded IT, engineering, and cloud managed services teams. As the CEO of Olympia’s Outlook Insight, he works with clients to strike a balance between organizational freedom and procedural discipline in order to achieve innovative solutions. During Sven’s tenure as CTO of Alliance Enterprises, the company was awarded the Rising Star Partner of the Year award from Microsoft in 2016 and Microsoft’s Partner of the Year for Digital Transformation in 2017. Outlook Insight’s include state agencies from across the country.

 

3 PM Session

Continuous Improvement Leadership Development: Setting your continuous improvement efforts up for success

Presenter:
Shannon Boswell, Alenka Fields and Kristi Hoaglan

Snohomish County Executive Office
Registration
Password:
Lean2024

Presenter:
Shannon Boswell, Alenka Fields and Kristi Hoaglan

Snohomish County Executive Office
Session Description:

Using Continuous Improvement in government can be exciting for teams. Empowering and engaging the front-line team members is valuable and can unleash some great ideas and countermeasures. However, coaching from the middle has challenges. Executive leaders, Directors, Division Directors, Elected Officers as well as middle and front-line leadership need to understand their role in Continuous Improvement. Leader behaviors impact the success of projects and sustainment. Some of these Lean behaviors may be different than are found in traditional leadership models.

To address this gap, we created an interactive CI Leader Program. Our goal was to develop leaders as coaches to transform their teams as well as team culture. We developed a set of tools and resources to support leaders in promoting team engagement in innovative and creative solutions for improving their work.

We will share:
• Why the CI Leader Program is important for the development of a continuous improvement culture, the development of the leader, and to support the effort of the front-line team members
• The journey of discovering what was needed and the framework for building the curriculum
• Our lessons learned and next steps for this program including advancing opportunities for certified leaders

Objectives:

o Identify the value of investing in your leaders
o Define the core concepts and leader behaviors important for empowering and engaging front-line team members in continuous improvement efforts
o Describe ways to develop a shared learning environment

About Shannon Boswell, Alenka Fields and Kristi Hoaglan:

Kristi Hoagland, Director of Operational Excellence at Snohomish County

Kristi draws upon 23 years of experience in Lean Leadership. Her healthcare leadership background includes overseeing revenue cycle, clinic, and hospital operations, where she successfully implemented and sustained a Lean Management. Kristi’s passion for Lean drives her mission to build programs that cultivate lean leaders who champion innovation, empower staff, and foster a continuous improvement mindset for the benefit of both employees and residents.



Alenka Fields, Continuous Improvement Specialist, Project Manager and Change Practitioner at Snohomish County

She has over 20 years of Lean transformation experience as a coach and consultant for a variety of organizations in Healthcare and Insurance, within the US as well as the UK and Canada. Alenka has a passion for coaching and guiding leaders and teams. On her deck overlooking the sound with her husband and doodle is her Zen place.



Shannon Boswell, Continuous Improvement Specialist/Project Manager at Snohomish County

Shannon brings over 20 years of hands-on Lean experience in healthcare as well as consulting in organization transformation and change management. Pairing Lean concepts with practical experience, she works with executives, frontline staff, and everyone in-between in the implementation, adoption, sustainment and realization of successful Lean management.

9 AM Session

Influencing the Joy and Success of Others

Presenter:
Brett M. Cooper

Integris Performance Advisors
Registration
Password:
Lean2024

Presenter:
Brett M. Cooper

Integris Performance Advisors
Session Description:

In this lively presentation, Brett M. Cooper will examine the power each and every one of us have to influence the success and joy of those around us.

Using research data and personal stories, Brett will highlight actions you can take right now to be the leader your colleagues need you to be. Brett will provide tangible tools and resources to help you on your journey to becoming a better version of you!

About Brett M. Cooper :

Brett M. Cooper, Co-Founder of Integris Performance Advisors

Brett is the Co-Author of Solving The People Problem: Essential Skills You Need To Lead & Succeed In Today’s Workplace, has been supporting Washington State’s Lean Journey since 2011. He and his team from Integris have coached and trained thousands of agency employees, which has helped people across Washington government learn to work together in more productive, more effective, and more human ways.

11 AM Session

Co-Creating Change in Public Service with Lean Change Management Practices

Presenter:
Iwin Nayak and Breanne Khouri

Ontario Public Service
Registration
Password:
Lean2024

Presenter:
Iwin Nayak and Breanne Khouri

Ontario Public Service
Session Description:

Successful lean transformations hinge on effective change management.

This session will dive into Lean Change Management (LCM) practices, offering participants concrete tools and methods for managing change within their organizations. Attendees will explore unique LCM strategies that differ from traditional change management approaches, gaining insights into planning, implementing, and sustaining change initiatives that align with Lean principles.

The session will include interactive exercises and include representative examples of public service work/processes, highlighting how LCM principles can drive continuous improvement and support diversity, equity, and inclusion in public service. Participants will take away practical templates and tools that can be immediately applied to foster a culture of adaptability and resilience in their areas of work.
A thought-provoking question will guide our exploration: "If lean culture is embedded in an organization, are traditional change management strategies even necessary?"
This session also underscores the role of LCM in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion by ensuring all voices are heard and valued throughout the transformation process.

Objectives:

1. Understand and Apply Lean Change Management Principles: By the end of this session, participants will be able to understand and apply key Lean Change Management principles to guide organizational transitions, particularly in public sector settings. This includes techniques for involving employees early in the change process and using iterative feedback loops to enhance engagement and reduce resistance.
2. Develop and Implement Effective Change Strategies: Participants will learn how to develop and implement effective change management strategies using tools such as impact mapping, clear communication plans, and pilot programs. These strategies will help participants anticipate and address potential challenges, ensuring that changes are rolled out smoothly and effectively.
3. Integrate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into Change Management: Participants will gain the skills to integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) considerations into their change management processes. This objective includes learning how to create inclusive feedback mechanisms and co-create solutions with a diverse workforce, ensuring that organizational changes support a more equitable and inclusive workplace.

About Iwin Nayak and Breanne Khouri:

Iwin Nayak, Team Lead within the Capacity and Change Management team at the Lean and Continuous Improvement Office, Cabinet Office, Ontario

I am Iwin Nayak (pronounced “eye-win” "na-yk"), With a Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma and Project management professional certification, I spearhead lean capacity building and change management initiatives and coach managers in lean management principles across the Government of Ontario.


Breanne Khouri- Senior Business Analyst with the Capacity and Change Management team in the Lean and Continuous Improvement Office, Cabinet Office, Ontario 

I’m a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and have 7 years of experience applying Lean within the Ontario Public Sector, including leading teams through organizational changes and through lean process improvements.

1 PM Session

LEADERSHIFT: Strategies for Cultivating Future-Ready Government Innovators

Presenter:
Brigitte O'Michaels

Brigitte O'Michaels Consulting LLC
Registration
Password:
Lean2024

Presenter:
Brigitte O'Michaels

Brigitte O'Michaels Consulting LLC
Session Description:

In today's rapidly changing world, government leaders must do more than stay the course—they must adapt and innovate. This dynamic session introduces the concept of "Leadershift," empowering attendees to elevate their leadership and cultivate future-ready government organizations.

Participants will explore the 11 Essential Changes to Shift Leadership Higher, learning to:
• Move from goal-oriented to growth-oriented mindsets
• Continually learn, unlearn, and relearn
• Unlock mental blocks hindering potential
• Become more innovative and influential

Through interactive exercises, government-specific case studies, and practical applications, attendees will gain concrete tools to enhance their professional growth and drive organizational innovation. This session builds on Lean principles, integrating diversity and inclusion to foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Participants will leave with actionable strategies to transform their leadership approach, navigate change effectively, and lead their agencies into the future.
(Intermediate to advanced level audience.)

About Brigitte O'Michaels :

Brigitte O'Michaels is a sought-after author, speaker, and transformational leadership coach with over 20 years of global experience. As the founder of Brigitte O'Michaels LLC, a certified Minority Woman-Owned business, she holds a Master's in Public Administration and certifications in Cybersecurity, Scrum, and SAFe. Additionally, Brigitte is trained in John Maxwell's leadership programs and Robert Cialdini's persuasion principles, specializing in enhancing leader productivity, performance, and profitability.

3 PM Session

Catalyzing Change

Presenter:
Toni Benner and Elizabeth Aikman
Registration
Password:
Lean2024

Presenter:
Toni Benner and Elizabeth Aikman
Session Description:

In this session, we will explore practical socio-technical tools and methods for leading change in today's ever-changing world. We will focus on leaning into the future, advancing ourselves, our teams, and our organizations. Attendees will discover change management insights within themselves to implement immediately, enhancing their ability to navigate and influence day-to-day dynamic landscapes.
We will delve into contemporary issues and future possibilities, addressing the unique challenges and opportunities of our times. Participants will learn techniques for fostering an inclusive workplace, driving equitable outcomes, and leveraging diverse perspectives to create resilient, forward-thinking teams. The session will utilize interactive platform functionalities to keep participants engaged and eager to learn, including real-time polling, and live Q&A. Join us to equip yourself with the skills to lead change effectively and efficiently, ensuring a more equitable and inclusive future.

About Toni Benner and Elizabeth Aikman:

 

ELIZABETH AIKMAN, MBA, MPOD, RN

Elizabeth comes from a diverse healthcare background beginning at the bedside as an oncology nurse, transitioning through hospital leadership and into quality management. As a coach and consultant, she has worked with teams throughout the New York City healthcare system in improving organizational performance through emotionally intelligent leadership, team development and engagement. She holds certifications as an Emotional and Social Competence Inventory coach, a running coach, a mindfulness instructor and is a member of the National Training Laboratory. Elizabeth holds a BS in Exercise Physiology from the University of Miami, a BS in Nursing from New York University and an MBA in Strategic Healthcare Management from Hofstra University and an MS in Positive Organization Development & Change from Case Western Reserve University. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Organizational Change from Hult Ashridge at Hult International Business School.



TONI RACCO BENNER, MSPOD

Toni is an esteemed practitioner blending with over 20 years of experience in process improvement, people development, engineering research and design, and supply chain management in sectors, including non-profits, academia, automotive, healthcare, and the Military. Toni, a third-year scholar-practitioner in the Doctorate of Organization Development and Change at Bowling Green State University, focuses on interprofessional team learning and its influence on engagement, quality, and innovation within Organization Design and Learning Health Systems.

9 AM Session

Lean and Remote: Because Efficiency Doesn't Need an Office

Presenter:
Serge Alfonse

UW-Medicine
Registration
Password:
Lean2024

Presenter:
Serge Alfonse

UW-Medicine
Session Description:

FPPS division Manages the Physician side of UW-medicine. Lean Management was introduced in 2016. Shortly after the program kickoff, training was developed, and every member of staff instructed. Following the training, pockets throughout the division adopted Lean Visual Management practices. The 2020-2021 pandemic took everyone home. Eventually FPPS transitioned permanently to a work-from-home model, undoing some of the progress made.

The presentation will focus on actions that can be taken to keep making progress toward our OE vision: “Lean Thinking is the Norm.”

A multiprong approach is necessary:
1- Getting a data driven view of the OE Program with the implementation of the “One-List” Process Improvement inventory
2- Connecting Lean skills and knowledge to the employees closest to the work using mentors
3- Transferring Lean skills that add value to our staff and foster the number of PIs with PULL trainings
4- Bridging top-down and bottom-up support for Lean Six Sigma through accountability
5-Monitoring Maturity with two bi-annual self-assessments for Leaders/Managers/Supervisors and All Staff
6- Building recognitions at all levels and with high frequency

Objectives:

o How to monitor Operational Excellence program’s health real-time
o How to support and build OE staff skills and engagements
o How to ensure Operational Excellence returns solid ROI to the organization

About Serge Alfonse :

Serge Alfonse, Operational Excellence Program Manager for UW-Medicine FPPS division

Serge Alfonse, M.Sc. IT, Six Sigma Black Belt, Lean sensei, PMP, PROSCI certified, mediator, and pilot has accumulated vast business and consulting experience gained through hundreds of consulting engagements for Fortune 100, thousands of hours as an instructor, and numerous leadership and entrepreneurial positions. Serge started his 30-year career in the field of Enterprise Quality Management.

11 AM Session

Making Change Management Part of Your Organization's DNA

Presenter:
Kelli Smith and Judy Hall

Prosci & Washington State Department of Health

Registration
Password:
Lean2024

Presenter:
Kelli Smith and Judy Hall

Prosci & Washington State Department of Health

Session Description:

This session will provide information about Enterprise Change Management (ECM) and how improving change capability throughout an organization supports Continuous Improvement (CI) efforts and the culture. Will be brought to life as a case study shared by the Washington State Department of Health and their ECM (Enterprise Change Management) journey.

Objectives:

o Learn what Change Management Capability means for an organization
o Discover how CM capability supports/ lean processes and practices
o Learn steps for an Enterprise Change journey as illustrated through a case study
o Where to find resources and support

About Kelli Smith and Judy Hall:

Kelli Smith, Director at Prosci

Kelli is a skilled senior leader with over 25 years of change management experience, with deep expertise in digital transformation, merger and acquisitions and executive coaching. She is a Director and Engagement Leader at Prosci where she works with clients to build enterprise change capabilities and help them mature into change-ready cultures. She has advised companies in the financial, manufacturing and retail space as well as nonprofit organizations, and state and local government agencies.

Judy Hall, Performance Office at the Washington State Department of Health

Judy Hall has over 20 years of experience in the public sector working in the areas of strategic planning, partnership development, program development, program evaluation, continuous improvement and change management. She currently manages a stellar team at the Department of Health that is working to build change management and continuous improvement capabilities across the organization.

1 PM Session

Navigating the What Works City Certification as a Small-to-Medium Sized City

Presenter:
Dale Markey-Crimp

City of Issaquah
Registration
Password:
Lean2024

Presenter:
Dale Markey-Crimp

City of Issaquah
Session Description:

Innovation, data analytics, and continuous improvement teams seem like the stuff of large cities and counties. Becoming a data-driven city with 0.5 FTE focused on performance measurement can seem next to impossible. Nearly every single city with a Bloomberg What Works Cities certification has a population of over 100,000. Where are all the small cities?

In late 2020, the City of Issaquah, Washington adopted its first Performance Measurement Plan. Over the past four years, the City went from meeting zero certification criteria to becoming the first city under 50,000 population to achieve the What Works Cities certification. Join this informative session on how Issaquah took its limited capacity to build citywide staff data literacy, invest in performance measurement and data analytics, and develop data storytellers across the organization. This session will provide valuable insights, practical strategies, and lessons learned that can empower smaller cities to overcome challenges and build a data-driven culture.

This session is designed for city managers and administrators, local government leaders, and performance managers from small to medium-sized jurisdictions looking to attain their What Works Cities certification or to build the data literacy and investment in evidence-based decision making of their organizations

About Dale Markey-Crimp:

 

Dale Markey-Crimp, Assistant to the City Administrator in Issaquah, Washington

Dale has led the City’s performance measurement since 2021, stewarding the City’s effort to build more sustainable practices and processes in data-driven decision-making. She is an active member of the Government Performance Consortium and Local Government 2030. In 2022, she co-founded a regional association for early-to-mid career local government analysts with an intent in providing more support, networking, and development for those new to local government.

3 PM Session

Forces of Change: Too Much Change, Not Enough Direction

Presenter:
Jennifer Haury

All Angles Consulting LLC
Registration
Password:
Lean2024

Presenter:
Jennifer Haury

All Angles Consulting LLC
Session Description:

Continuous improvement implies constant change, but what about when there is too much change? Unable to get new changes stabilized before more change is upon us? Leadership changes driving an inability to get important things done due to ambiguity about what is next? In this session, we explore helpful ways to navigate some of these high change scenarios by applying continuous improvement principles to your change processes. You will leave with some helpful approaches to change you can implement right away.

About Jennifer Haury :

Jennifer Haury (she/her) is a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt and Organizational Anthropologist who brings her talents to the nexus of culture and process, helping teams create futures designed to improve the human condition.
Jennifer lives in Olympia on traditional lands of the Nisqually people--now home to the Haury Family- amazing humans, dogs, and farm animals who have taught her to apply her talents while always in learning mode!

9 AM Session

Results, Not Resistance - Optimizing Buy-In and Execution in your CI projects

Presenter:
Craig Szelestowski

Lean Agility Inc / Telfer Center for Executive Leadership
Registration
Password:
Lean2024

Presenter:
Craig Szelestowski

Lean Agility Inc / Telfer Center for Executive Leadership
Session Description:

How many great ideas stall because of low buy-in? How many projects have great buy-in but fade away because of poor execution?
Learn to use the Results Equation (Results = Idea x Buy-In x Execution) to reach improved, sustained results in your change initiative.



Participants will create a buy-in/execution plan for a current initiative to create and sustain breakthroughs using a reusable template.

Objectives:

Increase buy-in to your initiative by:
• Using the power of Natural Attractors and harness the energy of First Followers/influencers
• Influence without authority
• Dealing with objections

Improve the execution of your initiative by:
• Creating focus 
• Optimizing project sequencing
• Using visual management and retrospectives to create and sustain momentum
• Applying the principles of Atomic Habits to increase adoption

About Craig Szelestowski :

Craig Szelestowski, Found of Lean Agility and Director of Lean programs at the Telfer Centre for Executive Leadership at the University of Ottawa

Craig is an award-winning expert on the application of Lean/Agile/Design Thinking/Human Systems to both knowledge/project-based work and to more high-volume transactional work in the public sector. As a public servant then founder of Lean Agility Inc. he reduced wait times by up to 95%, increased capacity by up to 200% and dramatically increased engagement using virtual approaches. 

11 AM Session

Team Resilience 2.0: Heightened Capacity Beyond Recovery

Presenter:
Jason Feldman & Michelle Zou

Founder Pacific Technologies Consulting Group & Behavioral Science Research Institute
Registration
Password:
Lean2024

Presenter:
Jason Feldman & Michelle Zou

Founder Pacific Technologies Consulting Group & Behavioral Science Research Institute
Session Description:

The premise of resilience argues for returning to a level of capacity and efficiency following stressful events. Research demonstrates that people and teams can push through adversity to gain adaptability and strength while faced with challenges. The field of positive psychology reinforces the goal of returning to healthy capacity levels notwithstanding external, internal threats or setbacks of different degrees. In this presentation, we propose that a model of Anti-Fragility allows each of us to recovery from setbacks and advance beyond our familiar levels of managing to enhance our team collaboration, creativity, relationships, innovations and endurance.

We will go through foundations of positive psychology as well as organizational change theories and evidence-based research. We will provide examples of resiliency models in organizations. We will share techniques from research on relationships among employees in terms of giving, receiving, and matching levels of help for positive spirals of collective success. We will facilitate activities for participants to work through which will bring out issues, questions, challenges, and experiences that will stimulate interactive portions of this presentation. Participants will leave with expanded knowledge of happiness studies foundations, approaches to manage change, and broad collaborative frameworks for leading with empathy as a model of expressing a healthy range of natural emotions for organizational systems to thrive.

Objectives:

o Understand the principle of Anti-Fragility and how it applies to collective success.
o Recognize techniques to build endurance for adaptable thriving team dynamics.
o Identify systems thinking techniques to develop strong organizational culture.

About Jason Feldman & Michelle Zou:

Jason Feldman - Project Manager at Behavioral Science Research Institute 
Jason Feldman is a public health consultant with an interest in workforce development, public policy, capacity development initiatives, and quality improvement program implementation. Jason seeks out projects at the intersection of community health and environmental, systems change. His versatile experience includes collaborating with partners in different jurisdictions such as developing legislative safeguards to restrict “Forever Chemicals” in Oregon, HIV/STD prevention interventions at the Washington State Department of Health as well as the Florida Department of Health, where Jason also provides project management for statewide cancer control. Mr. Feldman is a graduate of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Public Health Prevention Service leadership training fellowship program. Jason earned degrees at Northeastern University, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and has completed advanced coursework from the George Washington University, University of Washington. Currently, Jason is completing a certificate training in Happiness Studies—the science and facilitation of happiness and wellbeing for individuals and teams.



Michelle Zou, Founder Pacific Technologies Consulting Group

Michelle Zou is an international speaker, a career and leadership consultant and coach specializing in helping leaders and professionals grow their business and achieve their career goals. As the founder of Pacific Technologies Consulting Group and co-founder of Happiness Studies Academy Alumni and Business Club, Michelle passionately promotes well-being in organizations, she has developed happiness at workplace workshops and has trained hundreds of leaders, HR and trainers. As a key facilitator in Microsoft’s company-wide culture transformation initiative, Michelle has trained Microsoft managers and employees globally in the past ten years. She is frequently invited by the US Embassy to Asia for speaking engagements on leadership, DEI, career, and organizational wellbeing. Michelle holds numerous training certifications, an MBA, MS in Finance, and MA in Happiness Studies.

1 PM Session

The Power of the Pilot

Presenter:
Jennifer Yeaman

Full Circle Strategies, LLC
Registration
Password:
Lean2024

Presenter:
Jennifer Yeaman

Full Circle Strategies, LLC
Session Description:

Pilots are a critical tool for demonstrating proof of concept, gaining engagement, gathering feedback, and fostering iterative development. In this session, participants will explore the essential role of pilots in nurturing process improvements. This workshop is perfect for beginners looking to enhance their skills in advancing improvements and innovations within their organizations.

During this session participants leave with:
• An overview of pilots and their place in the process improvement schedule.
• Benefits of using pilots and to help validate ideas, build stakeholder engagement and gain buy-in.
• Real-world scenarios that illustrate the practical application of small-scale pilots in different applications.

Objectives:

After this session participants will be able to:
• Describe pilots and their place in the process improvement schedule.
• Evaluate the benefits of using pilots to help validate ideas, build stakeholder engagement and gain buy-in.
• Discuss real-world examples that illustrate the practical application of small-scale pilots in different scenarios.

About Jennifer Yeaman:

Jennifer Yeaman is a partner at Full Circle Strategies, LLC with over 20 years of experience in public service. She has presented at local workshops and national Native conferences, sharing insights on individual development plans, change management, and diversity and inclusion. She holds a Master of Public Administration-Tribal Governance, Certified Diversity Practioner certification, and recently attained Lean Master Black Belt certification. Aside from work, Jennifer enjoys volunteering, golfing, traveling, and seeing her family grow.

3 PM Session

Enterprise Resilience - facing our future changes together

Presenter:
Cheryl D'Angelo Gary

Washington State Labor and Industries
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Presenter:
Cheryl D'Angelo Gary

Washington State Labor and Industries
Session Description:

Change is constant, not all planned, not always with the luxury of planning time and clear direction. Thus,
It’s critical to build resilient organizations to do the following:

  • Trust building
  • Team building
  • Distributed decision making (hierarchy too slow to respond, opportunities missed, people left in unnecessary uncertainty
  • EQ training and hiring
  • Intentional work on healthy cultures and connection at all levels of the agency

About Cheryl D'Angelo Gary :

Cheryl D’Angelo-Gary, Enterprise Readiness Officer at Washington State Labor and Industries

Cheryl D’Angelo-Gary has over 15 years of experience in change management, project management, and continuous improvement. She runs the change management training and agility development programs at Labor and Industries. Cheryl offers Prosci Change Practitioner training through L&I and DES, and is the lead for our statewide Organizational Change Management Community of Practice.

9 AM Session

Lean Leadership Using the Situational Leadership Model™

Presenter:
Jared Thatcher

Port of Seattle
Registration
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Presenter:
Jared Thatcher

Port of Seattle
Session Description:

What is your leadership style? It's those you lead that really define your leadership style. Join us in this interactive session to truly understanding the concept of "Respect for People" in leadership and how to improve your ability to adapt your leadership style to demonstrate that respect. Your leadership shouldn't be a one approach fits all style. Understanding the Situational Leadership Model™ will assist you to be an even better leader. It will also help you coach and mentor leaders to improve their leadership approach to maximize their team performance to become a Lean Leader.

Objectives:

o Understand how leadership that demonstrates “Respect for People” can produce greater results.
o Use the Situational Leadership Model™ to improve team performance.
o Identify your dominate leadership style(s) and build strategies for strengthening your weaker leadership style(s).

About Jared Thatcher :

Jared Thatcher, CPI Program Manager at the Port of Seattle

Jared has built a Lean network with other US Ports, hosts the annual Virtual Lean Summit and Global Lean Summit (an in-person event), coaches other Lean professionals, and is an Amazon Best Selling author with his book, “Parenting the Lean Way”. He holds a B.A. in Japanese from Portland State University and an International MBA from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. He also is a PMP and a Certified Scrum Master.

11 AM Session

Productivity in the Digital Workplace

Presenter:
Kerry Tse & Ron Matthews

Insurance Corporation of British Columbia
Registration
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Presenter:
Kerry Tse & Ron Matthews

Insurance Corporation of British Columbia
Session Description:

A sharing of experiences and approaches to unlocking productivity in the digital workplace through application of core lean practices such as PDCA, 5S, skills matrix, and documenting standards to help teams see and solve the daily waste that may be occurring in how they work and collaborate. Since Covid - many agencies/companies quickly adopted remote working and new tools - however, in the speed of change, not all teams have put aside time and space to really think through how they work together efficiently. Examples of common waste are the plethora of team sites/channels, OneDrive, network files that have been abandoned over time, wasted time searching/recreating work, and the frustration of variation of how technology is used across members of the same team. Having managers re-focus lean thinking and practices into this space is not only advisable, but critical to increasing the value of working it in the digital space and unlocking the full potential of what these digital tools can bring to users and help in creating value for end customers.

Objectives:

o Application of lean methods and principles in a digital workplace
o Change management and leadership development considerations when tackling improvements involving the digital workplace

About Kerry Tse & Ron Matthews:

 

Kerry Tse, Associate Director of Operational Excellence at the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) 

ICBC is a Crown Corporation providing driver licensing and automobile insurance coverage to British Columbians in Canada. She has been part of ICBC's operational excellence practice for almost a decade and leads a team that supports integration of lean management practices, provision of lean training, and continuous improvement project support as an internal service provider.

Ron Matthews, Operational Excellence Advisor at the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia.

He helped formulate the continuous improvement theme as part of the corporate strategy over ten years ago and has remained active in the program ever since. Working with all areas of the business, Ron assists in sustaining continuous improvement through coaching and supporting leaders, training, and leading improvement initiatives. With a background in technology and process improvement, the tie into lean and lean management opened a connection to new thinking about “the work” and learning how to improve “improvement” every day.

1 PM Session

Transform Your Influence: 8 Essential Skills for Becoming a Katalyst™ in Your Organization

Presenter:
Katie Anderson

Katie Anderson Consulting
Registration
Password:
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Presenter:
Katie Anderson

Katie Anderson Consulting
Session Description:

Ready to Amplify Your Influence and Transform Your Organization?

Is it time for you to elevate your role from being a process improvement practitioner to transformational change leader? Are you eager to pair your technical expertise with the social skills necessary to catalyze real change, accelerate learning in your organization, and get results?

In this session, you’ll discover how to become a true Katalyst™ - an agent of change equipped with behavioral routines and patterns that consistently drive progress and impact through continuous learning.

“Katalyst” is a combination of two words: “catalyst” – an accelerant for the rate of change –
and the Japanese word “kata” – meaning behavioral routines and patterns, which in continuous improvement circles has become synonymous with problem-solving and coaching behaviors.

You’ll gain insight into eight critical change leadership competencies and actionable strategies that every lean practitioner needs to accelerate the rate of learning as a source of organizational impact and progress.

Don’t miss this opportunity to discover how to blend your technical problem solving and process improvement skills with your newfound capabilities as a Katalyst™ so that you step into the role of transformational change agent in your organization.
 

Objectives:

o How some continuous improvement practitioners become transformational change leaders
o 3 common mistakes that lean practitioners make that keep them into in the “doer” trap (and how to overcome them)
o 8 key competencies to boost your influence and credibility with senior leaders, even when you have no positional authority, and create a culture of continuous improvement across your organization
o Why the rate of learning – and progress towards business results -- in your organization will increase if you stop telling leaders that “lean” is important (and what to do instead)

About Katie Anderson :

Katie Anderson is an internationally recognized leadership consultant, coach, professional speaker, and learning enthusiast, dedicated to helping purpose-driven leaders create cultures of learning and accelerate individual and organizational impact.

Katie is the author of the bestselling book "Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn", which has received multiple international awards, including the prestigious Shingo Publication Award, and has been translated into over eight languages. Katie is also the host of the transformational leadership podcast Chain of Learning®.

KBJAnderson.com

3 PM Session

3 Critical Things that Shape People’s Ability to Get Along

Presenter:
Wendy Fraser

Fraser Consulting
Registration
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Presenter:
Wendy Fraser

Fraser Consulting
Session Description:

People and groups get stuck sometimes in patterns we are unaware of that impede our ability to work well together. This practical session explores recent results of working with teams to strengthen their relationships and productivity and the patterns that have been emerging that have deeply affected how people get along. We will learn about the three critical mindsets and behaviors that shape the psychological safety, trust, and productivity of groups. We will also learn a couple of tools that support strengthening people’s ability to work well together.

About Wendy Fraser :

Wendy mentors the collective wisdom in organizations by engaging the talents and hearts of people. She fosters and builds capacity by strengthening relationships and systems, so groups and organizations thrive. She brings fresh approaches with a flare of humor and gets results. Wendy works with clients in the US and abroad. She is the author of the book "Trust Repair: It IS Possible," and is a speaker, consultant, mentor, volunteer, and international humanitarian.

Wendy has over 30 years in the continuous improvement and organization development field. She has worked both inside government as an employee and externally as a consultant and teacher in higher education.

9 AM Session

Leveraging Psychology for Effective Behavioral Change with Process Gemba Walks

Presenter:
Tracy Orourke

JIT CAFE
Registration
Password:
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Presenter:
Tracy Orourke

JIT CAFE
Session Description:

Do you have a painful process, but people don’t seem to want to embrace change to improve it? Does it seem that people are comfortable in the status quo? One of the most powerful Change Management tools you have is…Gemba Walks! I will discuss the different types of Gemba Walks, and we’ll explore the psychology behind Gemba Walks and why they are a MUST when you need difficult change to be easier.

Objectives:

● Describe change strategies to leverage when change is hard
● Recognize why process walks help make change easier
● Identify how to make your process improvement efforts easier

About Tracy Orourke :

Co-Author "The Problem-Solver's Toolkit"
Co-Founder of the Just-in-Time Café
Co-Host of the Just-in-Time Café podcast
Master Black Belt
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Instructor @ UC San Diego
Creator of Parody Music Videos
A ZEALOT for process improvement!

For 25+ years, Tracy has consulted in the process improvement industry. She’s advised companies on many aspects of process improvement, cultural change, leadership development, team facilitation and strategic alignment.

Just for fun, Tracy created two parody music videos!
The 80’s rap song “Baby Got Back” by Sir MixAlot was turned into “Baby Got Tools” by Ms. FixAlot and Vanilla Ice’s “Ice Ice Baby!” was turned into “5S Baby!”

Check out her music videos here:
Baby Got Tools: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjLFdbiJ_yM
5S Baby: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqtZyrF65XM

You can find Tracy ORourke at
https://www.tracyaorourke.com/ or on linkedin.com/in/tracy-orourke

11 AM Session

Apply Agile Methods to Improve Process Improvement Performance

Presenter:
Eric Stewart

Bellevue College
Registration
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Presenter:
Eric Stewart

Bellevue College
Session Description:

Agile Project Management has come a long way since the Agile Manifesto was developed in 2001 but many of the methods only seem to apply to software development. This presentation identifies 5 agile approaches and gives examples of how each of these can be applied to process improvement.

About Eric Stewart :

Eric Stewart is the Program Chair for the Healthcare Informatics program at Bellevue College. He was a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt for GE and Providence Health and provided process improvement in departments like IT, HR, Supply Chain, Finance, Legal, Pharmacy, and Surgical Operations. He also teaches process improvement, project management, and change management for government and business. Eric has worked with the Cities of Renton and Yakima, Snohomish County, and the Kennewick Fire Department. He is currently authoring an open education resource (OER) textbook on Clinical Informatics for the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.

1 PM Session

Form Frenzy: Rebuilding Trust

Presenter:
Vincent LaBella

Government Transformation Office with the State of Arizona
Registration
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Presenter:
Vincent LaBella

Government Transformation Office with the State of Arizona
Session Description:

The State of Arizona’s approach and focus on 'rebuilding trust between government and the people'. Form Frenzy is a statewide initiative to improve the user experience of our customers through better form design and delivery. Consider: What services do people have access to through your agency? How can this service change people’s lives? Who will be the people impacted? What will it mean for the people who need the services?
Takeaways:
The outcome of Form Frenzy is not simply to update a form in our agencies in hopes that more people complete it. It is about expanding resources equitably and expanding accessibility; it’s about rebuilding trust between government and the people.

About Vincent LaBella :

Vincent LaBella, Senior Lean Consultant with the Government Transformation Office (GTO) with the State of Arizona

Prior to the Government Transformation Office that I served at the Arizona Department of Transportation in various roles,including serving as a senior Lean coach and administrator of the Office of Continuous Improvement. At ADOT, I played a leadership role in embedding the state’s continuous improvement program, the Arizona Management System, into the culture. I had oversight of all of ADOT’s employee engagement programs, including mentoring, 1:1 coaching, recognition and new employee onboarding. I am a graduate of Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts, where I majored in business administration and management. After growing up in Boston, I now enjoy the warm Arizona weather by staying active outdoors and spending time with my wife, two college-age children and a black Labrador Retriever named Brady.

3 PM Session

Getting Past Ready, Doing, Done; Making your kanban work for you

Presenter:
Heidi Loveall

Washington State Department of Enterprise Services

Registration
Password:
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Presenter:
Heidi Loveall

Washington State Department of Enterprise Services

Session Description:

Kanban is one of the most powerful tools in the Lean toolkit. It's simple, instinctive, and tremendously effective. So why do we occasionally get stuck or drop using it altogether?

In this session, I will go over:
• what gets in the way of using personal kanban effectively
• practical tips for embedding the kanban practice seamlessly into your work
• how to build a system that endures

Even if you have tried and failed at using kanban before, at the end of this session, you should leave with the knowledge and inspiration you need to build a kanban system that truly works for you.

Objectives:

After this session, attendees will be able to :
o Describe the core principles of kanban
o Understand their personal tendencies and how those inhibit or enable good kanban practice
o Effectively build a kanban system designed to endure

About Heidi Loveall :

Heidi Loveall, Strategy & Performance Consultant with Department of Enterprise Services

With over 15 years in government, Heidi is deeply passionate about public service and committed to the vision of making government better for Washingtonians. Her specialty is translating big ideas, principles, or technical tools into practical steps that people can take to make impactful improvements for themselves and their customers. When not at work, she is spending time with her children, planning epic parties, and enjoying the Northwest rain.