Valentine’s Day is such a wonderful day to show our love and appreciation to those around us. As I shared last year, I love Maya Angelou’s quote, “Family isn’t always blood. It’s the people in your life who want you in theirs. The ones who accept you for who you are. The ones who would do anything to see you smile and who love you no matter what.” AME truly is that family.
The dedication and collaborative spirit of our members and volunteers drive AME. Through problem-solving, lean thinking and people-centric leadership, we continuously refine and improve processes to create better environments for those around us. By fostering this culture of respect, active listening and collaboration, we build stronger connections and a shared commitment to making things easier, more efficient and more effective. That’s the essence of a true continuous improvement family.
This year is shaping up to be transformative. We are building on past successes while embracing new opportunities for growth and learning. AME’s Back to Basics Virtual Lean Summit 2025 in March (free for members) and AME’s Yellow belt lean certification (2-half days) in February provide valuable learning experiences. In May, we head to my hometown for the AME Hampton Roads 2025 Lean Summit, another excellent opportunity to deepen your team’s lean knowledge. Finally, in October, we will come together for the AME St. Louis 2025 International Conference, where we will advance lean thinking at the Gateway to the future.
I am so proud of our collaborators and grateful to each of you. As we know, “Success is never a solo journey. We rise higher when we lift each other up, support one another and embrace the power of teamwork. Together, we achieve the impossible!”
I want to share an especially important new partner and collaborator with AME, the Missouri Association of Manufacturers (MAM). MAM’s mission of promoting, preserving, and advancing the manufacturing industry in Missouri aligns with our global mission to inspire a commitment to enterprise excellence through experiential learning by bringing people together to share, learn and grow.
MAM invited us to join them at the Midwest Manufacturers Trade Show & Conference on February 24-26 in Branson, MO. They have graciously offered AME members a promo code: MEMBER2025 for a $100 discount per registration to this conference. AME will also be exhibiting at this event at booth #10. I invite you all to join me at this incredible show. I heard a special football guest from the St. Louis community will be there as well!
On this Valentine’s Day, I want to take a moment to appreciate each of you. Your dedication to continuous improvement and respect for one another make AME stronger every day. I am honored to be part of this journey with you. With gratitude and appreciation — happy Valentine’s Day!
As always, please stay safe and keep looking out for one another.
