Keynote Presentations
Fred P. Keller is chairman and CEO of Cascade Engineering, a multi-business manufacturer and marketer supporting multiple brands in the automotive, truck, solid waste/recycling, furniture, and renewable energy industries. A materials engineer by training, Keller founded the company in 1973, following an earlier career as a metallurgist with Pratt & Whitney. From its small beginnings as a plastics parts manufacturer, Cascade has grown into a solutions-based organization with 17 customer-focused business units comprising 1,000 employees and 12 facilities worldwide.
Underlying Cascade's organizational culture is Keller's belief that business has the unique opportunity to complement its focus on financial performance with important work in the social and environmental arenas. A strong advocate for "sustainable" business practices, Keller has emphasized the key role business can play in building financial, social and ecological capital, often through partnerships with government and community agencies.
Keller's innovative management approach and work in advancing sustainability are featured regularly in business and industry publications, and he serves as a visiting lecturer on Sustainability at Cornell University's Johnson School of Management.
Dan Radomski serves as VP of Industry Services for NextEnergy. His responsibilities include market and customer development support for alternative energy companies, and strategic support for manufacturing suppliers looking to diversify into the growing renewable energy markets. Dan also facilitates NextEnergy's technology working groups, including Hydraulic Hybrid, Wind Energy Manufacturing, the Detroit Area Clean Cities Coalition, and the US-Canada BioEnergy Exchange. Prior to NextEnergy, Dan spent over a decade with the Society of Manufacturing Engineers as a leader in new product development, and has also served in engineering and management positions at a manufacturing company and for a start-up venture.
Brian Walker is President and CEO of Herman Miller, Inc., overseeing the company’s global efforts to invent solutions that help create great places to work, to learn and to heal. In March 2003, he was named President and COO of the company and assumed the title of CEO in July 2004. He had earlier served as President of Herman Miller North America (2000), in which he oversaw the company's core business operations for the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Herman Miller, Inc. (1995), where he developed a strong team of finance professionals and an internationally respected finance organization. Brian had previously held various financial management positions within Herman Miller's international operations.
Brian serves on the Board of Directors for Briggs & Stratton. He also serves on the board of The Right Place, Inc., a regional, non-profit economic development organization dedicated to promoting area economic growth through high quality employment, productivity, and technology. In June 2006, Brian began his tenure as Chairman of the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer's Association (BIFMA).
June 24 Sessions
Grand Rapids native Jerome Alicki is responsible for marketing the Knu eco-friendly furniture line for Industrial Woodworking Corporation, a carbon neutral, environmentally responsible healthcare and office furniture manufacturer in Zeeland, Michigan. His prior experience includes non-profit fundraising, marketing and administration with several organizations including: the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, Michigan March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. Jerome attended the University of Oregon School of Journalism and U.O. Department of Environmental Studies where his studies focused on environmental planning, sustainable community development and natural resources management.
Adam Alt has been the Intern Packaging Engineer for Butterball Farms, Inc. since February 2008 and is an integral part of the company’s sustainability initiatives as they relate to packaging. Adam is completing his master’s degree in packaging engineering from Michigan State University, and will graduate in December 2008.
Steve Beurkens is the sales and marketing manager for H&L Advantage in Grandville, Michigan. He is one of the company’s leaders for its Green Supplier Network (GSN) initiatives, as well as a certified ISO auditor. Steve is responsible for new and existing business relationships with H&L’s customers, and has been directly involved with the explosive growth of H&L over the past four years, most of which can be attributed primarily to the Lean manufacturing efforts learned through involvement with GSN. Steve has Bachelor of Science degrees in biology and chemistry, and has been involved in manufacturing in West Michigan for 30 years. Over the past three years, Steve has made many presentations around the country concerning the GSN experience, often teamed with Steelcase Inc., and with the support and involvement of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
Mike Craig has served as Vice President of Operations for Butterball Farms since 2005. In his current role, Mike is primarily focused on Operational improvements for the US and Canadian facilities. This focus includes activities that support global growth strategies -- specifically those that increase manufacturing capacity. Mike joined Butterball Farms after 15 years in the automotive industry employed by Federal Mogul. Mike is a graduate of David Lipscomb University with a bachelors in accounting.
Brad Davis is a furniture designer and co-founder/CEO of Knu/Industrial Woodworking Corporation. He has been involved in the wood products industry for 22 years and has been engaged in environmentalism since his first National Outdoor Leadership School course at the age of 14. Since that time, countless wilderness backpacking, kayaking, hiking and camping adventures have cemented Brad's appreciation for the natural environment, and his career in manufacturing has given him a real-world perspective on the importance of environmental concerns and the balance that must be achieved to ensure these concerns are addressed in manufacturing.
Art Hoekstra is the Supplier Development Lean Consultant for Steelcase Inc. A 22-year employee of the company, he has served in many different parts of the organization including: manufacturing, human resources, safety, IT, and -- most recently -- in supply chain management. For the past three years, Art has been involved in establishing a lean supplier development program with the aim of helping Steelcase's strategic suppliers learn and implement lean manufacturing principles.
Mark Lindquist is President of Rapid-Line Inc., a $13-million, Grand Rapids-based, full service metal fabrication and tooling company. Rapid-Line designs, manufactures and finishes metal products for office furniture, automotive and other industrial customers. It provides engineering, laser cutting, powder coating, machining, stamping and other metal fabrication services. Leading the company for 25 years, Mark has bachelor’s degrees in engineering and business and two master’s degrees in business. Committed to lean manufacturing principles, he has worked with his internal teams to implement numerous waste-reduction initiatives that have helped Rapid-Line conserve significant resources as well as reduce lead times.
Lorissa MacAllister is Healthcare Studio Leader at Progressive AE. She has expertise in healthcare master planning, designing, programming, and sustainable healthcare design. She approaches the design and programming of a facility through process-based planning. Lorissa is working locally on developing quality measures in physician practices with the Alliance for Health with the support of a Robert Wood Johnson foundation grant. In 2007, Lorissa was recognized as one of Forty Under 40 Business Leaders in West Michigan. Lorissa is on the Gilda’s Club of Grand Rapids’ Board of Directors, the Keller Foundation Vice President, and was on the Cascade Charter Township Planning Commission.
Tom McCall is Vice President of Logistics for Meijer Inc. overseeing all of the company’s logistical operations for domestic and international shipping, including vendor shipments to Meijer distribution centers and store deliveries. Tom started at Meijer in 1987 as a supervisor in their Lansing Distribution Center. Since that time, he has held various leadership positions in both distribution and logistics. These leadership positions included systems and inventory control, loss prevention, warehouse management, as well as inbound and outbound logistics management at various regional Meijer facilities in Michigan and Ohio. Tom graduated from Michigan State University in 1987 with a degree in Materials and Logistic Management.
Marcie Palmer is a Marketing and Communications Specialist with Nichols, a distributor of janitorial and packaging supplies. Marcie has a dedication to green initiatives, life-long learning and quality and has consequently received ISSA Expert Certification for the Cleaning Industry Management Standard bringing the first such certification to a distributor of cleaning supplies in the state of Michigan. She began her sales and marketing career in 1988, joining the corporate team of Gantos, a women's specialty apparel retailer. Since then she has helped many businesses to implement efficient and effective marketing and customer relations strategies in an age of increasing multi-media through such initiatives as e-newsletters, podcasts, video and website marketing.
William A. Stough, CEO of the Sustainable Research Group (SRG), is the project manager for the development of the BIFMA Sustainability Assessment Standard and a member of its Joint Committee. SRG provides sustainability research, project design, marketing and management services that advance an organization's integration of sustainable development principles into its business model. SRG helps its customers identify ways to reduce their environmental footprint and increase their value proposition to stakeholders. Bill has over 25 years experience in environmentally sustainable business initiatives, industrial ecology, pollution prevention and ISO 14001 environmental management systems. He is a Charter Member of the International Society for Industrial Ecology and recipient of the Michigan Sustainable Business Forum's 2002 Individual Achievement Award.
Asim Syed joined Butterball Farms, Inc. in November 2007 as the Director of Research & Development. In this role, he leads Butterball's efforts to diversify its customer base through new product development and innovation. Asim is also part of the team focusing on Butterball's new sustainability initiative. He holds Masters degrees in food technology and analytical chemistry. His more than 15-year career in the food industry includes product development work with Unilever, Land O' Lakes and ConAgra Foods.
Pat Young is the Director of Product and Systems Improvement for Byrne Electrical Specialists, Inc., a supplier to the office furniture industry. Pat leads the engineering, quality and sales teams. In addition to these roles, Pat directs Byrne's Lean, green and sustainability initiatives. Pat has been with Byrne Electrical for five years. Prior to Byrne, Pat's career included roles in defense contract manufacturing, medical device manufacturing, automotive and high volume electronics.
June 25 Workshops
C I Associates President Richard Fleming has provided manufacturing companies and service firms with lean manufacturing consulting, training, and opportunity assessments for more than 18 years. In 1987, Richard became a student of the Toyota Production System (TPS) approach and began helping small manufacturing operations in Michigan and Ohio to understand and adopt TPS principles. He worked with Kiyoshi Suzaki, an ex-Toyota Manager and internationally recognized author of The New Manufacturing Challenge and The New Shop Floor Management, for four years helping companies implement principles of the Toyota Production System and lean manufacturing. Richard has conducted lean and clean assessments for the past four years and worked with more than 16 companies to identify and understand potential savings by integrating lean and environmental initiatives using lean principles. He speaks frequently on the many facets of implementing lean enterprise systems and environmental practices. He has written several articles on the techniques involved with continuous improvement and implementing mini-companies.
Kathleen Hoyle is Director of Market Knowledge Systems for Metrics Reporting and is a proven master innovator. She has extensive experience implementing comprehensive business intelligence systems using innovation techniques in challenging environments for large corporations and small businesses. She is skilled at analyzing market and technology trends for developing and executing marketing strategies. Her expertise includes developing innovation management systems from idea strategic planning through product launch.
William A. Stough, CEO of the Sustainable Research Group (SRG), is the project manager for the development of the BIFMA Sustainability Assessment Standard and a member of its Joint Committee. SRG provides sustainability research, project design, marketing and management services that advance an organization's integration of sustainable development principles into its business model. SRG helps its customers identify ways to reduce their environmental footprint and increase their value proposition to stakeholders. Bill has over 25 years experience in environmentally sustainable business initiatives, industrial ecology, pollution prevention and ISO 14001 environmental management systems. He is a Charter Member of the International Society for Industrial Ecology and recipient of the Michigan Sustainable Business Forum's 2002 Individual Achievement Award.