N.E.W. LEAN Conference Session Descriptions

Drawing from experience leading lean implementations and cultural transformations in diverse industries, Joe will share learnings from his journey in creating lean cultures that both perform and are sustainable.  

Most lean implementations don’t stall because of the tools; they stall after momentum slows down and the culture cannot endure the adversity of change.  You will come away with a better understanding of the importance of communication tools like visual management, and how to tailor information for your stakeholders, in ways that generate energy and engagement early on.   

Every team comes across obstacles that can slow momentum.  Or, in some cases, halt progress altogether.  You’ll learn what to look and listen for within a team to identify risks, so you can address challenges before they impact progress.   Joe will talk about obstacles his team had to overcome, and what tactics were used to keep the team engaged and moving forward.

The goal is to develop a lean process that becomes part of the culture of an organization.  What does a lean culture, and more importantly, a sustainable culture look like?  Joe will share firsthand insight into what an accomplished team can achieve when they embrace and use lean principles as part of their daily routine.

Presenter: Joe Brittnacher, Robinson, Inc.

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.

Presenter: Katie Labedz, President and CEO Learning to Lean

Most Lean transformations stall when they are treated as a "toolbox" rather than a "mindset." We obsess over 5S, Kanban, and Value Stream Maps, yet wonder why engagement remains low and improvements don’t stick. The missing link is often the most critical pillar of the Toyota Way: Respect for People. In this session, we will move beyond the technical jargon to explore how psychological safety and radical empowerment form the foundation of a truly Lean culture. Attendees will learn how to shift their leadership style from "The Solver of Problems" to "The Facilitator of Solvers." We will discuss practical ways to build a culture where every employee feels safe enough to surface a problem and empowered enough to fix it.

Learning Outcomes:

• Diagnose the "Tool Trap": Evaluate current Lean implementation to identify where technical tools (like 5S or Kanban) are failing due to a lack of underlying psychological safety or cultural trust.
• Cultivate a "Bad News is Good News" Environment: Implement specific communication techniques, such as ‘the humble inquiry’, that encourage frontline employees to surface problems without fear of retribution.
• Operationalize the Power of Proximity: Redefine the leadership role from "Problem Solver" to "Coach" by applying a framework for delegating decision-making authority to the employees closest to the value-adding work.

Presenter: Raisa Ramos, Find Joy Off The Path, LLC

NEW Water transformed its Lean program by introducing a football-themed, team-based challenge inspired by Green Bay’s NFL culture. Staff earned points throughout a “season” by submitting improvement ideas, participating in events, and supporting sustainability efforts, driving a 185% increase in ideas. 

 By gamifying Lean and connecting it to organizational culture, NEW Water significantly expanded participation, fostered an improvement mindset, and made continuous improvement accessible to all staff. This flexible, scalable approach demonstrates how any organization can drive engagement and operational effectiveness by turning improvement into a shared, team-based experience.

Attend this session to learn how NEW Water designed and implemented this scalable model to build a culture of innovation and operational excellence.

Presenter: Beth Clausen & Roni Bach, NEW Water

Leaders often receive frequent project updates yet still struggle to see what is actually happening, where work is stuck, or whether strategy is turning into real value. While visual management is a core Lean practice, many organizations apply it only where work is physical and easy to see, leaving project and initiative work largely invisible.

This session reframes visual management as a leadership practice for knowledge‑based work, focusing on how clear, shared visuals help connect strategy to execution, clarify ownership and priorities, and surface risk earlier. Participants will work through real examples to identify invisible work, recognize early warning signals, and sketch simple visuals that make progress, risk, and value easier to understand and act on. Attendees will leave with practical visual patterns they can apply immediately to move work from plans to realized outcomes.

Presenter: Trista Loritz, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College

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.

(You must take both parts to earn your certification.)

Presenter: Katie Labedz, President and CEO Learning to Lean