September 15-17 2026

Founder and COO at Elevate Construction

Jason Schroeder | Keynote

Jason Schroeder is the Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Elevate Construction, where he helps construction professionals and companies dramatically improve performance through world-class training, project support, and consulting. With more than 25 years of experience spanning roles from field engineer to project director, he has led projects across multiple sectors and regions, bringing practical, field-tested insight to every engagement. Jason is a recognized Takt and Lean expert, the inventor of the Takt Production System® and the Integrated Production Control System™, and the creator of numerous tools and resources that serve the global construction community. Through his books, podcasts, and consulting work, he is on a mission to make construction as efficient as manufacturing and as respected as health care—while elevating leaders and preserving families along the way.

CEO & Co-Founder at Menlo Innovations

Rich Sheridan | Keynote

Richard Sheridan is an entrepreneur, business leader, and author best known as the co-founder, CEO, and “Chief Storyteller” of Menlo Innovations, a software and IT consulting firm recognized for its innovative and positive workplace culture. He was inducted into the Shingo Academy in 2022 for his contributions to organizational excellence.

After becoming disillusioned with the chaos of the tech industry, Rich co-founded Menlo Innovations in 2001 with a bold mission: to end human suffering in the workplace. Today, thousands travel each year to learn from Menlo’s unique, human-centered approach to leadership and software development. Rich is the bestselling author of Joy, Inc.: How We Built a Workplace People Love and Chief Joy Officer, championing the belief that joyful leadership is not only possible, but powerful for business.

President at DISHER

Joe Dyer | Keynote

Joe Dyer is a purpose-driven leader passionate about people, innovation, and making a positive difference. As President of DISHER, a nationally recognized engineering, manufacturing, talent, and consulting firm headquartered in Zeeland, Michigan, Joe guides the organization with a culture-centric approach that balances mission, profit, and growth. Joe’s journey with DISHER began in 2013 as a Manufacturing and Quality Engineer, where he contributed to manufacturing projects, process development, project management, automation, design, and quality. His leadership gifts led him to become a Team Lead for Manufacturing Tech Solutions. In 2019, Joe briefly stepped away to serve as a full-time Executive Pastor at his church, deepening his commitment to servant leadership. He returned to DISHER as President-Select in 2021 and assumed the role of President in January 2022. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, working around the house, being active with his family, and traveling.

Cindy Darnell | Breakout Speaker

Cindy is a seasoned leader with over 25 years of experience in customer service leadership, operations management, and operational excellence. As Director of Operational Excellence, and a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, she is passionate about improving business and operational processes while training and mentoring others in the use of Lean tools to enhance delivery to the end customer. Cindy is the founder of Ignite Excellence Group, where she serves as a leadership development coach, and is also a John Maxwell Certified DISC Behavioral Analysis Consultant. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Indiana Wesleyan University and enjoys facilitating team-building workshops, coaching, and mentoring leaders at all levels.

Rebecca Moyers | Breakout Speaker

Rebecca Moyers, Director of Operational Excellence for the State of Missouri, champions initiatives that make government services faster, simpler, and truly citizen focused. For the past five years, she has led efforts to transform how agencies deliver value by streamlining processes, boosting reliability, and embedding data driven decision making to improve service quality and satisfaction. Prior experience includes nearly 20 years in the healthcare sector, starting in the clinical laboratory and advancing into enterprise level performance improvement. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Cincinnati and is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.

Patrick Adams | Breakout Speaker

Patrick is an internationally recognized leadership coach, consultant, and professional speaker, best known for his unique human approach to sound team-building practices; creating consensus and enabling empowerment.

He founded Lean Solutions in 2018 to work with leaders at all levels and organizations of all sizes to achieve higher levels of performance. As the author of the best-selling, Shingo Award-winning book, Avoiding the Continuous Appearance Trap, host of The Lean Solutions Podcast, and a lecturer for the #1 Supply Chain Undergraduate Program at the University of Arkansas, his mission is simple: empower and equip people for positive change.

Dr. Jeff Liker | Speaker

Dr. Jeffrey K. Liker is Professor of Industrial and Operations Engineering at the University of Michigan and a leading authority on Toyota and Lean leadership. He is the author of the international bestseller The Toyota Way and has authored or co-authored more than 75 articles and book chapters and eleven books.

His work has earned eleven Shingo Prizes for Research Excellence, and The Toyota Way received multiple Book of the Year honors. In 2012, Dr. Liker was inducted into the Association for Manufacturing Excellence Hall of Fame. He is also a frequent keynote speaker and consultant, helping organizations around the world apply Toyota Way principles to leadership, culture, and continuous improvement.

Darren Walsh | Breakout Speaker

Darren Walsh is the Founder and Director of Making Lean Work Ltd, a leading management consultancy tackling a problem most leaders prefer to ignore: why so many teams fail to make continuous improvement and problem-solving actually work. A Lean Leadership Coach with over 25 years’ experience across automotive, aerospace, medical devices, energy and financial services, Darren helps senior leaders build the systems, routines and mindsets that deliver real, sustainable results. A graduate of the Lean Enterprise Research Centre (MSc), his work has been featured in industry-leading publications and conferences, positioning him as a trusted voice in operational excellence and leadership transformation.

Natalie Howden | Workshop Speaker

Natalie is an Executive Lean Coach, Senior Trainer, and Consultant at Lean Solutions, where she helps organizations transform the way they operate by reducing waste, accelerating flow, and embedding continuous improvement into everyday culture. She also leads business development initiatives, connecting organizations with tailored training, coaching, and talent solutions. Natalie is dedicated to building the skills, systems, and culture needed for sustainable success.

Phil Ranck | Breakout Speaker

Phil Ranck is a retired U.S. Army Warrant Officer and founder of Lean Alaska, where he brings over two decades of military leadership, logistics expertise, and a deep passion for Lean Six Sigma to help individuals and organizations fuse people, process, and project into operational excellence.

A certified Master Black Belt with credentials from ASQ, IASSC, CSSC, and the Department of the Army, Phil has trained hundreds of Green and Black Belt students and led transformative improvement initiatives using Lean, Design Thinking, and Change Management. A Pennsylvania native now based in Alaska, Phil combines his academic background—including a master’s in Transportation and Logistics Management—with a relentless drive to serve, teach, and create lasting impact across both military and civilian sectors.

Paul Doyle | Breakout Speaker

Paul Doyle is the founder of LeaderWork and a seasoned executive with more than 35 years of business experience, including 15 years as a CEO leading manufacturing and growth-focused organizations. He has led companies ranging from $20 million to $450 million in revenue and has held executive roles in operations, human resources, sales, marketing, and organizational development. Paul is passionate about preparing leaders for the challenges of leadership through practical development and coaching. He is also a published author, board member, and advisor, with degrees from the University of Notre Dame and West Virginia University.

Brett Lesiewicz | Breakout Speaker

Brett is Vice President of Operations at EV Construction, where he leads project managers, field managers, and self-perform teams in delivering complex construction projects with a focus on reliability, collaboration, and field execution. A builder by background, Brett grew up in the carpentry trade and brings a practical, field-tested perspective to how construction teams plan, communicate, and perform.

 At EV, Brett helps shape the operating systems that turn early planning into predictable outcomes to align owners, designers, trade partners, and field teams around a shared plan. His work reflects a core belief behind EV’s approach: LEAN tools and technology only create lasting value when they are strengthened by relationships.

Judd VanBergen | Breakout Speaker

Judd VanBergen is a Project Manager at EV Construction, where he leads complex construction projects from early planning through closeout. He recently completed the Pediatric Center of Behavioral Health for Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services; a highly specialized healthcare project shaped by stringent building codes, complex user needs, tight budgets, and urgent schedule demands.

Judd approaches project delivery as both a builder and a systems thinker. By combining Lean practices, Takt planning, VDC, and emerging tools such as AI with intentional trade-partner relationships, he helps project teams create the capacity to solve problems early and maintain flow in the field.

Jon LoDuca | Breakout Speaker

Jon LoDuca spent 25 years as an intellectual capital advisor helping nearly 600 of the top-performing teams capture and scale their best practices — including serving as Strategic Coach’s designated resource. He founded PlaybookBuilder in 2009. The platform is licensed by EOS Worldwide, used at their headquarters, and runs in organizations with tens of thousands of users. His TEDx talk is “In a World of AI, EQ Is Our Competitive Advantage.”

Drew Veach | Breakout Speaker

Drew Veach is the CMS and AI Strategy Lead at BizStream, a digital agency in Allendale, MI, where he helps organizations create better digital experiences for their audiences. With over 20 years in business development and marketing, Drew has spent his career at the intersection of marketing, technology, and brand storytelling. He speaks regularly on AI topics and how organizations can put emerging technology to practical use, and he is co-host of the AI Lab Unfiltered podcast.

Whether it’s modernizing a customer experience, streamlining content operations, or exploring how AI can extend a team’s capacity, Drew brings a practical, outcomes-first approach. He has a knack for translating complex technical decisions into clear business value, making him a trusted partner for marketing leaders, executive directors, and teams navigating what their audiences actually need.

Mark Schmidt | Breakout Speaker

Mark Schmidt has spent 25 years turning messy technology problems into things that actually work for businesses. He founded BizStream around a simple belief that people, not products, are an organization’s strongest asset. Today the company builds websites, custom software, and AI solutions for organizations across the country. Mark is a certified developer who still builds things himself, and he has spent years hands-on with the technology behind AI. That gives him a practical, unhyped view of where AI creates real business value and where it does not.

Beyond running the company, Mark has made mentorship and community a throughline of his career. He founded BizStream Academy in 2012 to help develop the next generation of developers, and has advised on curriculum for technology and computer science programs at Grand Valley State University, Baker College, and Careerline Tech Center. He has also served on a number of boards, including Lakeshore Advantage, ACRE AgTech, the local Chamber of Commerce, and Juvenile Justice Vision 20/20.

Shawna Hondorp | Workshop Speaker

Shawna Hondorp brings energy and insight to every partnership she forms. As Managing Director of DISHER Talent, she is passionate about helping organizations recruit, develop, and retain exceptional people while building stronger cultures and improving employee engagement.

With a background in hands on recruiting and strategic leadership, Shawna has led impactful talent initiatives for organizations like TGW and Yanfeng, supporting intern programs, talent pipeline development, and nationwide recruiting operations. She now leads DISHER Talent, a five time ClearlyRated Best of RPO Award winner.

Internally, Shawna has also championed culture building initiatives at DISHER, including the Denison Culture Survey and the Connections Team, focused on creating a welcoming and connected workplace.

A graduate of Hope College with degrees in Business Management and Communications, Shawna is also a SHRM Talent Conference guest speaker and facilitates HR and AI integration workshops throughout the Midwest.

Trent Davison, Steve Burgett, Jordan Kimble | Workshop Speaker

The Gentex Continuous Improvement team brings practical experience, collaborative leadership, and a passion for operational excellence to this year’s workshop at the Lean Solutions Summit. Representing Gentex are Trent Davison, Continuous Improvement Engineer; Steve Burgett, Continuous Improvement Engineer; and Jordan Kimble, Corporate Continuous Improvement Manager. Their team has been actively involved with a Continuous Improvement network that has practiced CI for more than 25 years, beginning when TSSC partnered with Gentex as a supplier. They are also part of the Toyota Supplier network through BAMA (Bluegrass Automotive Manufacturing Association), a group of non competing Toyota suppliers dedicated to sharing best practices, Lean tools, and real world Continuous Improvement strategies. Together, they bring valuable insight into building stronger systems, empowering teams, and sustaining a culture of continuous improvement.