N.E.W. LEAN Conference
Embracing Change Through Continuous Improvement.
October 1, 2025
7:30am - 3:00pm
NWTC Corporate Conference Center
Join us for a day of insightful sessions and networking opportunities
to help you and your organization thrive in the face of rapid change.
20% Discount (Save $50 dollars) with Early Bird Pricing!
Use this promo code at checkout to receive discount: 2025Lean_EarlyBird
AGENDA
7:30am - 8:30am | Registration, Breakfast, & Marketplace | ||
8:30am - 9:30am | Get READY for Rapid Change; Simplify and Accelerate Organizational Change Presenter: April Callis Birchmeier, CSP, CCMP™, PMP® Organizations are inundated with change. New technologies, operational challenges, and adjusted expectations compound change. Learn to navigate personal and organizational change with a simple framework to increase resilience in yourself and others. You’ll learn techniques to clearly communicate change, how to connect leaders, and reduce resistance to change. Utilize the R.E.A.D.Y. framework to help yourself and others effectively adapt to and accept change.
This session provides a framework and tools to simplify change management practices and ensure stakeholders can adopt and sustain organizational change.
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9:30am - 9:45am | Break | ||
9:45am - 10:30am | Who Is Sinking Your Ship? Identifying Resistance to Lean Changes Dr. Andrew Paasch, Northeast WI Technical College This session helps participants recognize resistance before it derails progress. Through real-world examples and discussion, attendees will learn to spot warning signs, understand different types of resisters, and address challenges early to keep their organization on course for continuous improvement. | -OR- | White Belt Certification - Part 1 Katie Labedz, Learning To Lean A Lean Six Sigma White Belt certification is a start to your Lean journey! The White Belt certification introduces individuals to the basics of Lean Six Sigma methodologies including: an overview of Lean and Six Sigma, understanding the basics of DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control), basic problem solving tools and techniques and roles and responsibilities in a Lean Six Sigma project. (Participants must pre-register for this session) |
10:30am - 10:45am | Break | ||
10:45am - 11:30am | Solving Problems and Adopting Change Thom Keehan, Enterprise Kaizen Once the problem has a solution to implement, it's not enough for people to accept the change, they must also be willing to adopt it. The difference? Adopting Change is the use of the solution, not just pushing the solution through. | -OR- | Empowering Change: Continuous Improvement Through Employee Involvement Katie Chase & Jenny Riley, Thrivent In this session, we will explore the transformative power of employee empowerment in driving continuous improvement within organizations. By involving employees in decision-making, idea generation, and process improvement, we can foster a culture of change that is both sustainable and impactful. Join us to discover how empowering your employees can lead to a culture of continuous improvement and drive your organization towards greater success. |
11:30am - 12:45pm | Lunch & Power Panel Listen to our panel of continuous improvement experts from diverse industries answer questions about their challenges and successes with change in their organizations. This panel brings together different viewpoints and expertise to bring you a richer perspective on continuous improvement inside and outside a variety of industries. | ||
12:45pm - 1:00pm | Break | ||
1:00pm - 1:45pm | Driving Change: The Lean Journey at Cadence, Inc. James Long, Cadence Inc. Discover how Cadence, Inc. embraced change through the deployment of operational excellence foundations and governance. This session will highlight the impact of the Four Pillars—Customer Satisfaction, Employee Engagement, Commercial Impact, and Efficient Resource Usage—on the company's culture and operations. Gain practical insights and strategies for driving continuous improvement in your organization. | -OR- | White Belt Certification - Part 2 Katie Labedz, Learning To Lean A Lean Six Sigma White Belt certification is a start to your Lean journey! The White Belt certification introduces individuals to the basics of Lean Six Sigma methodologies including: an overview of Lean and Six Sigma, understanding the basics of DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control), basic problem solving tools and techniques and roles and responsibilities in a Lean Six Sigma project. (Participants must complete both parts to earn their White Belt Certificate) |
1:45pm - 2:00pm | Break | ||
2:00pm - 2:45pm | From Resistance to Readiness: Unlocking Change with the SWITCH Framework Dr. Becky Andree, Vertical Leadership Consulting and University of Wisconsin - Stevens PointLean methodologies provide a powerful framework for continuous improvement, offering a structured approach to what to do and when to do it. However, in practice, many change initiatives stall because they assume that behaviors and skills will naturally align with the process. The reality is that process alone isn’t enough—leaders must make small but strategic adjustments to keep change moving forward. In this interactive session, we will illustrate how to remove hidden obstacles, sustain momentum, and accelerate adoption by integrating behavioral change principles into Lean efforts. Drawing from the SWITCH Framework (Heath & Heath) and real-world leadership experience, we will equip attendees with tools to move teams from resistance to readiness. Attendees will explore: The three key forces of change: directing the Rider (logic), motivating the Elephant (emotion), and shaping the Path (environment). The 12 common obstacles to change success—why people resist and how to remove roadblocks. Practical strategies to create small wins, reinforce motivation, and ensure lasting behavior shifts. By bridging the gap between Lean process design and human behavior, this session will provide actionable insights to help leaders sustain continuous improvement efforts and drive meaningful change. | ||
2:45pm - 3:00pm | Closing Remarks Katie Labedz, Learning To Lean & Denise Hansel, NWTC | ||
LEARN MORE about the 2025 N.E.W. Lean Conference speakers, explore their expertise in lean and continuous improvement, and learn about the organizations they represent.
Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to gain valuable insights and knowledge
from the best of the best. Register now for the 2025 N.E.W. Lean Conference!
