Learn why senior leaders at Cogent Power, Capital One, Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) and Tasty Catering developed a single purpose with which to focus their continuous improvement strategy. Hear how senior leaders ensure their purpose for change is being communicated to each member of the workforce whether: a three shift manufacturing site; a global banking service organization; a safety consulting and certification organization with thousands of employees located on five continents; or a Forbes’ 2016 Best Small Company in America’s catering and event planning business. Take part in discussing with each of these leaders how they know their employees remain focused on working toward the same common direction with senior leadership.
Many organizations describe themselves as “continuously improving” yet lack a specific purpose. Without a purpose, does each “improvement” help overcome key challenges or create greater customer value? Does having a single purpose minimize wasted time and effort, while acting as a catalyst for focused change? If so, how do you ensure everyone hears the same inspirational message leading to focused change? Join moderator, Amir Dan Rubin, CEO of One Medical, as he explores these questions with leaders from four highly successful, award-winning organizations, each of whom has deployed a purpose-driven change strategy that exceeded all expectations. During this two-hour “Expert Speed Chat” session, time will be split between a moderator-led panel discussion and individual small group discussions. This will allow attendees time to engage in longer, more personal conversations with each panelist and the moderator as each rotates from table to table.
As an experienced senior leader with leading health care organizations, Amir Dan Rubin has spent his career seeking to make significant impacts on health care. He currently serves as president and chief executive officer of One Medical focused on delivering better health through outstanding, coordinated clinical care; innovative digital technology; and the highest levels of service, access, and engagement. Previously, as EVP and divisional CEO of UnitedHealth Group’s Optum division, he oversaw a number of business lines focused on helping to make the health system work better for everyone. Prior to Optum, Rubin was president and CEO of Stanford Health Care where he helped raise patient experience and quality scores to the highest levels in the nation, grow a regional network of care settings, and advance digital health and corporate partnerships in the heart of Silicon Valley. Amir also previously served as COO for the UCLA Health System, and has been awarded the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award in Northern California in recognition of his role in innovation and industry transformation. He holds MBA and MHSA degrees from the University of Michigan. 
With over 25 years of manufacturing experience, Ron Harper has held key leadership roles in marketing, engineering, operations and general management. He began leading Cogent Power’s Ontario, Canada location on its lean journey in 2004 to help create a self-propelling lean organization and culture. In 2007, he was named president of the 330-person organization, noted as being North America’s largest supplier of steel magnetic transformer cores. His commitment to the power of lean is evidenced by his active participation and leadership on the AME Board of Directors, AME Executive Committee and Canadian Regional Board; in 2018, Harper will assume the role of Chairperson of the AME Board of Directors. He’s also involved in regularly advising on local government policies and initiatives for Canada’s next generation of manufacturing by serving on the board for The Centre for Skills Development and Training for the Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE).
Ron Oslin is a leadership coach/therapist at Capital One. He joined Capital One in 2007 with more than 20 years of lean application in manufacturing and service. He began his process learning journey in 1982 as an intern with Dr. Edward Deming and honed his leadership skills as a leader at Toyota. Oslin has held roles as CEO, COO and transformation leader in several organizations and has applied lean methodologies in printing, auto manufacturing, marine heating and air conditioning manufacturing, health care, education and banking. He specializes in organization change and transformation. Oslin co-authored "Motivational Interviewing and Lean Coaching" (Target magazine, 2015). He received his bachelor’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.
With 36 years of continuous improvement experience, Scot Webster is currently the senior vice president of Underwriters Laboratories (UL) operations across multiple consumer and retail testing locations worldwide. He initially furthered UL’s mission of promoting safe living and working environments by assisting clients and employees with their CI cultures through his work as the global engineering and lab operations leader, where he helped reduce team turnaround times by 50 percent while improving UL’s customer net promoter score by more than 30 points. Prior to UL, he worked at General Electric (GE) for 21 years where he developed and taught lean and six sigma, becoming GE’s first certified master black belt and its general manager of compliance and regulatory affairs. He then spent six years as a senior leader at Medtronic, leaving as its VP of global business solutions, responsible for improving internal processes as well as bringing lean sigma to Medtronic’s health care clients. Webster earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Bucknell University. He also sits on the president's council of the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry.
Tom Walter has more than 40 years of experience as an owner and operator in the service industry. He has participated in the startup of 32 companies and is active in 9, including Chicago-based, family-owned Tasty Catering where he is the chief culture officer (CCO) after many years as its CEO. Over Tasty Catering’s 28 years, it has continuously evolved, including spawning many spin-offs co-founded by his staff as part of 80 Nine Holdings (another of Walter’s organizations). Tasty Catering has been honored by a number of prestigious organizations, including: 2016 Forbes America’s Best Small Companies; Inc. Magazine Best Small Workplace; recipient of the Psychologically Healthiest Workplace in Illinois (IPA) and the US (APA); Wall Street Journal’s Best Small Workplace, Catering Magazine’s Caterer of the Year; and the 101 Best and Brightest Workplace National Award. Tasty Catering and Walter are the subjects of multiple dissertations, and he is co-author of award-winning articles and the award-winning book, “It’s My Company Too: How Entangled Companies Move Beyond Employee Engagement for Remarkable Results.”
