Keynote Location: Carriage Hall
Presenter: Bill George, Professor of Management, Harvard Business School, former Chairman/CEO, Medtronic

Title: Finding your True North: The Power of Authentic Leadership

Speaker Bio:

Bio coming soon

Presentation Overview:

Portico Benefit Services

Breakout Location: Tack
Presenter: Margie Kissner, Director, Quality & Customer Experience

Speaker Bio:

Title: Big Data in a Small Organization

Session Takeaways

• Examples of how blending & correlating data from difference sources
• Hands on tools to look at data and metrics in a new way
• Discover creative options to use data as a management tool
• Connections to Baldrige Cat 4

Session Overview:

Information coming soon

University of Wisconsin-Stout

Breakout Location: Harvest A
Presenter: Meridith Drzakowski, Assistant Chancellor & Libby Smith, Evaluation Project Manager

Speaker Bios

Dr. Meridith Drzakowski is an Assistant Chancellor for Planning, Assessment, Research and Quality (PARQ) at UW-Stout. Dr. Drzakowski has a doctorate in evaluation studies and over 15 years of experience in institutional research, strategic planning, assessment, quality and accreditation. She serves as a Senior Examiner for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the Accreditation Liaison Officer for UW-Stout, and a peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission. She presents regularly on UW-Stout’s award-winning planning and data management practices.

Libby Smith is an Evaluator at the University of Wisconsin-Stout Applied Research Center (ARC). She has been with the ARC since 2012. She holds a Master’s degree in Evaluation Research and has more than 10 years of project management experience. As an evaluator, she follows a utilization-focused approach, working with clients to develop evaluations that meet their needs and answer critical questions. She sees evaluation as a way of fostering change through systematic inquiry and evidence-based decision making.

Title: Collecting & Using Stakeholder Feedback to Inform Decision Making

Session Takeaways

• Stout’s Approach for collecting feedback from faculty & staff that are deployed campus wide
• See how they learn from the feedback to inform decision making
• Share how data informed decisions are shared with the campus through integration with existing processes

Session Overview:

Information coming soon

TPI Hospitality (Homewood Suites Rochester)

Breakout Location: Harvest B/C
Presenter: Dan Nelson, Director of Sales

Speaker Bio:

Dan Nelson has over 40 years in the hospitality business after graduating Summa Cum Laude from UW-Stout.

Early career experience includes Hyatt Hotels in Chicago, to resorts in Glacier Park and Maddens Resort in Brainerd.

For the past 20+ years Dan managed award winning hotels in Rochester, while also the service team leader for Raymond Management Company. Dan is the lead hospitality facilitator for Rochester’s Certified Tourism Ambassador program and has trained over 1400 hospitality and Mayo staff on concierge level type service and the nuances of medical patient-guests. He is currently the Director of Sales & Service for three TPI Hospitality hotels; the new Homewood Suites by Hilton and the Marriott SpringHill Suites and Courtyard. TPI is based in Willmar, and has approx. 2000 employees at 38 hotels and 10 restaurants in MN., and is the largest employee owned hospitality company in the country.

Title: Service that $ells

Session Takeaways

• 1st Impressions
• Go-To Lines
• Customer Loyalty
• Caring Conversations

Session Overview:

Take a service journey through the customer’s lens. A menu of service strategies that have little costs and very high returns in terms of customer satisfaction, loyalty and sales. First impressions set the stage; on line, over the phone and finally in person, where a show-time mentality.  Provide initial important “Go to lines” versus a script. Tell them what they CAN do with the right tone and volume of voice. Did you know the Golden Rule is Not good enough anymore, we need to be more thoughtful. Leadership needs to set the example and take on the toughest customers and maintain an environment where service is paramount. Look for opportunities to provide outrageous memorable signature service/s. These special services and caring conversations lead to 5 star reviews and generate sales. “Outrageous Old School” service can be your cutting edge.

Olmsted Medical Center

Breakout Location: Garden City
Presenter: Dr. Kathryn Lombardo, President and Chair, and Tim Weir, CEO

Speaker Bios:

Title: Strategic Planning Process

Session Takeaways

• To outline a process of strategic planning in a healthcare organization
• To illustrate how to utilize organizational structure in strategic planning
• To illustrate how to utilize organizational leaders and staff in the strategic planning process
• To examine how internal and external factors impact the development of strategy

Session Overview:

Over the past decade, Olmsted Medical Center leadership, board members, and staff and have been included in annual activities supporting our organization strategic planning efforts. These strategy planning efforts have included three year plans to the development of a one year tactical plan. Responsibility for creating our system wide strategic goals have ranged from exclusively the efforts of administrative staff to the other extreme of involving multiple work groups. Despite our organizational success over the past decade, we realized our strategic planning efforts were not optimal in today’s healthcare environment.

Our intent is to share our recent planning efforts in developing Olmsted Medical Center Vision 2021.

MN Dept. of Health

Breakout Location: Captains
Presenter: Stephanie Lenartz, Planning Director & Molly Crawford, State Registrar

Speaker Bios:

Stephanie Lenartz is a Planning Director with the Minnesota Department of Health. She provides performance-related consultation, facilitation and training to leadership and staff focusing on performance management, continuous quality improvement and performance measurement. She joined the agency in June of 2012. Stephanie began working in CQI in 2008 as a Senior Planner with the Washington County Department of Public Health and Environment in Stillwater, Minnesota where she managed assessment, planning, and performance-related initiatives. Prior to working in the public health arena, she served as a consultant for small and micro-business development programs in the non-profit sector. Stephanie is a Certified Quality Improvement Associate, Certified Six Sigma Green Belt, and also holds a MBA.

Molly Crawford, MBA, is the State Registrar at the Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Vital Records. In that capacity she oversees the registration, certification, and issuance of vital records certificates and data which include birth, death, and fetal death records. She served the State of Minnesota for nearly two decades working also in human services, child support, and newborn screening before vital records. She manages an office of 38 fulltime staff who assures that the statewide system is secure, efficient, and available. She works with many partners and health professionals and feels privileged to have the responsibility of recording the important vital events of Minnesotans—taking extra care to mark the beginnings and endings of each life, one record at a time, while helping to inform and improve public health.

Title: CQI Monitoring & Success at MDH

Session Takeaways:

• Understand metrics & strategies for creating a culture of quality
• Use best practices from CQI leaders to achieve project success
• Leverage existing data sources & automated performance measures to track project success

Session Overviews:

Lenartz, Planning Director in the Center for Public Health Practice from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), will outline how the agency is advancing a culture of continuous quality improvement (CQI). She will discuss the six key components for creating a culture of quality and how MDH measures achievement of that culture over time. Practical tools used at MDH for both monitoring and advancing CQI will be shared. 

 Molly Crawford, State Registrar from the Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Vital Records, will discuss two recent projects, The Death Data Delivery Project and the current Paper Cut Project, that demonstrate how the department encourages and supports continuous quality improvement efforts. She will share discuss the CQI journey within vital records; how the culture has and continues to change, how measures and SMART goals are generating energy and enthusiasm, and how staff welcome the opportunity and permission to examine, test, plan, and improve.

Park Place Lexus

Keynote Location: Carriage Hall
Presenter: Jamie Capehart, Performance Improvement Specialist

Title: The Evolution of Excellence

Speaker Bio:

Jamie Capehart joined Park Place Dealerships, and the Lexus family, in March 2013. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts and Applied Sciences from the University of North Texas. Jamie is a member of the American Society for Quality and is a previous Examiner for the Texas Award for Performance Excellence. Jamie has extensive experience leading performance improvement teams, working with all quality methodologies and most recently formally trained in Toyota Production Systems (TPS). Prior to joining the Automotive Industry, she served within the Healthcare Industry for 13 years in various performance excellence/healthcare improvement roles. Jamie is a native Texan and lives in North Dallas with her husband Todd. They have two beautiful children, Tristan (24) and Amaris (20). Jamie is an avid dog lover and proud parent to 6 rescue dogs. In 2003, Park Place Lexus Plano received the prestigious Texas Award for Performance Excellence. Park Place Lexus was named the 2005 Award recipient, small business category of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the highest level of national recognition for excellence. Park Place Lexus is the only luxury Dealership to ever receive the Baldrige Award. In 2016, Park Place Lexus received best practice recognition in the Client focus category. This distinction indicates excellence in overall organizational performance, demonstrated mature processes that are linked to appropriate results, demonstrating favorable levels and trends.

Session Takeaways:

• Learn what Park Place Lexus has done to further their journey since becoming a MBNQA Recipient in 2005
• Understand the evolution of the Park Place Lexus Client experience
• Learn the benefits of utilizing the Baldrige Framework

Presentation Overview:

Since becoming a MBNQA recipient in 2005, Park Place Lexus has experienced exponential growth. Due to that growth, the decision to pursue the award for the second time was made in 2013. We will share how we re-engaged our Members, the pitfalls we discovered, the improvements we made and the bond that was created through the process.

Receiving customer focus category best practice recognition in 2016 demonstrates our commitment to the Client Experience. In this session, we will share lessons learned as we evolved into one of the nation’s top dealers for the Lexus brand and touted as a nationwide leader in our industry.

Keynote Location: Carriage Hall
Presenter: Intensive Speakers (Mini Keynote Overviews)

Speaker Bio:

See information below

Presentation Overview:

See information below

Rendement Group

Intensive Location: Tack
Presenter: Edwin Boon & Mike Gratz

Speaker Bios:

Edwin Boon developed his problem-solving skills at world-class companies including, Hertz, GE and Sleep Number.

He has global experience as a CFO and CIO with Hertz in Europe, and is a former VP of Customer Experience & Lean Six Sigma at Sleep Number. He is a certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt by GE.

Michael Gratz developed his problem-solving skills serving in leadership roles as a founder and entrepreneur with multiple early stage and start-up technology companies.

He has experience as CEO, and a broad background in Sales, Marketing, Business and Technology Development, and International Consulting. He is a Baldrige Evaluator.

Title: The Metric of Urgency: The Best Metrics to Transform Your Organization’s Performance

Session Takeaways: Transform your organization’s performance improvement efforts by learning how to:

• Create urgency by identifying and tracking a key process metric that will drive the right change in your organization
• Deliver meaningful results by focusing on the vital projects that will be most impactful to your organization’s strategic needs.

Session Overview:

If you need to solve strategic issues, “boiling the ocean” is a common approach that often results in project failure. Creating alignment between strategic issues and the vital few projects that matter is the key to success. But, how do you start? The solution is simple. You need a systematic method to link strategic needs to operational execution through the use of key metrics, with the purpose of delivering meaningful impact.   The Metric of Urgency® is the best metric to transform your organization’s performance.

The Metric of Urgency is a key leading indicator, an in-process metric that drives urgency around the change you need.  But how do you find it?  The SPS Kaizen is a strategic approach to identify key metrics and align organizational thinking around the vital few projects that will achieve your organization’s improvement goals.  In this 90 minute PENworks intensive you will explore the key components of the SPS Kaizen and learn how the Metric of Urgency has transformed healthcare, school districts, manufacturing, non-profit and service organizations.

Good Leadership Enterprises

Intensive Location: Harvest A
Presenter: Paul Batz, CEO and Founder

Speaker Bio:

CEO and Founder, Good Leadership Enterprises Inspirational Leadership Coach, Author, Speaker Paul Batz created the Good Leadership movement through coaching executives, professional speaking, writing books and tools, and hosting terrific events. The Good Leadership Breakfast Series has touched thousands of leaders in five years, and is now one of the hottest tickets in Minneapolis/St. Paul. An abundant author, his Tuesday morning Good Leadership blog is recognized as one of the top leadership posts in America today.

Title: How good leaders create great results: A Data Driven case study from 2016 Johnson Controls IT Separation Project

Session Takeaways

Session Overview:

Summary: In this workshop we will learn how Superhero effort will not create great results. See how The VP of IT at Johnson Controls invested in using the Good Leadership Team Momentum Survey as a calibration and coaching tool to get his once-in-a-lifetime project back on track. Four color-coded Dashboards about his team’s performance led to substantial behavior change and a rapid increase in the leadership skills that saved the day. His project was the only one of seven to finish on time, and $30 million under budget. Sit in on this workshop and learn how he did it.

Thera Rising International

Intensive Location: Harvest B/C

Presenter: Anna Maravalas, President

Speaker Bio:

Anna Maravelas is a Licensed Psychologist, M.A., and the president of the Thera Rising International. She has resolved more than 300 workplace conflicts and authored "How to Reduce Workplace Conflict and Stress" (Career Press) now in its 12th printing.

Combining their success in conflict resolution with findings neuroplasticity, system thinking and continuous improvement, Thera Rising trains trainers in their popular course, “Certification in Workplace Conflict Resolution.” Their strategies have been featured in dozens of publications including The New York Times, Harvard Management Update, Oprah Magazine, and MSNBC. Thera is a Greek word, meaning, “to heal.”

Title: Self-Defeating Habits of Otherwise Brilliant People®
Preventing and Reversing Workplace Tension and Mistrust

Session Takeaways:

• Strategies to avoid flooding (the biofeedback word for anger): the impact of adrenaline, hormones, and cortisol on reasoning, memory, and mortality
• Dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins – the power and practice of connectedness: nature’s antidote to stress
• How to leverage reciprocity - the most reliable predictor of human behavior
• The five root causes of workplace tension

Session Overview:

When employees are under stress they react in one of three ways. They break into divisive factions, fueled by finger pointing and anger, they disengage, or they come together for mutual support and optimal productivity. Each individual, either consciously or unconsciously, contributes to this trajectory.

In this session, the specific behaviors that determine these outcomes become stunningly clear. You will learn why negative assumptions pick up momentum and spread, how to short-circuit destructive disagreement and extinguish cycles of mistrust.

Culture matters. In a study at the University of Florida, disrespect cut team performance by more than 50%. Invest in the opposite direction – a rock-solid legacy of connectedness and trust.

Communities of Excellence 2026

Intensive Location: Garden City
Presenter: Information coming soon

Speaker Bio:

Title: Applying the Principles of Excellence to Improve Community Outcomes

Session Takeaways

Session Overview:

Information coming soon

Baldrige Town Hall

Intensive Location: Captains
Presenter: Information coming soon

Speaker Bio:

Title:

Session Takeaways

Session Overviews:

Information coming soon

Rochester Public Library

Breakout Location: Tack
Presenter: Audrey Betcher, Director

Speaker Bio:

Audrey Betcher has been with the Rochester Public Library since 1996 and was named director in 2000. Prior to working at RPL, Audrey managed a computer system for public and school libraries in southeastern Minnesota. She also worked for a library automation vendor in St. Louis. She is a graduate of St. Catherine’s University and holds her Master’s of Library Science from the University of Missouri – Columbia.

She is involved in the community through volunteering: Rotary including the STRIVE mentoring program, Rochester Area Chamber Board of Directors, United Way, Community Networking Group, Ready to Lead, and the Rochester Arts and Cultural Collaborative.

Title: Risky Business: How Living and Breathing Our Strategic Plan Transformed Our Org.

Session Takeaways

• Learn how to engage stakeholders to create a meaningful plan
• Learn how to create systems to hold you accountable to the plan.
• Learn how to build the plan into your

Session Overview:

When you finished your strategic plan, did you check it off your list and put it on the shelf? 

In 2012 Rochester Public Library created a new strategic plan with community stakeholder input. Since that time the organization has experienced a "swerve" and gone beyond traditional library services to focus on what the community said was important. 

Learn how to make your strategic plan a true driver for change.  Hear about the Rochester Public Library experience (the good, bad, and the ugly) and discuss how to improve your strategic plan.

3M

Presenter: Martin Bevan, Quality Director, 3M Oral Care
Breakout Location: Harvest A

Speaker Bio:

Martin Bevan, Quality Director, 3M Oral Care Solutions Division.

Originally from the United Kingdom, Martin grew up in the south west of the country. Martin graduated from the University of Nottingham with a degree in Chemical Engineering. Following graduation Martin worked in London, England for a firm of Patent Attorneys and joined the 3M as a Process Engineer in 1983. In 1993, Martin moved the 3M UK Head Office in Bracknell, England as a regional Training Manager with a focus in team building and organizational development. These experiences created an opportunity to join the 3M Pharmaceuticals Division in 1995. After five years in Health Care, Martin moved to Birmingham, England as a Plant Manager for 3M Automotive. With a varied career in the UK, Martin made the move to the US in 2002 rejoining 3M Pharmaceuticals at the Northridge, CA manufacturing location. He became the site Quality Manager in 2004 and held that position until moving to St Paul, MN into his current position in October 2014. Martin is married to Susan and their two children are starting careers of their own. In his spare time, Martin is a keen runner and enjoys kayaking.

Title: Driving Growth through Continuous Improvement

Session Takeaways:

• How to deploy continuous improvement in a Health Care business
• Managing Risk within a culture of Innovation

Session Overview:

Information coming soon

Lakeville Public Schools

Presenter: Lisa Snyder, Superintendent
Breakout Location: Harvest B/C

Speaker Bio:

Title: Educational Transformation & Improvement through Quality Learning

Session Takeaways: Leaders must support a system of incremental, continuous improvement while also creating the conditions for transformation to occur through teacher and student empowerment and innovation.

Leaders must adopt a clear and compelling, shared vision and mission and provide the framework and tools to support the work.

Session Overview:

Lakeville Area Public Schools has a commitment to continuous improvement while creating a culture where staff are empowered to innovate and try new and relevant methods through meaningful collaboration.  Dr. Snyder will share the critical ingredients needed to support the changing needs of learners in order to create transformative, personalized learning experiences for all students. Learn how the district empowers their teachers to collaborate in order to design personalized, future ready learning experiences.

Essentia Health

Breakout Location: Garden City
Presenter: Matthew Cox, Sr. Process Expert and Roberta Maughan, Sr. Process Expert

Speaker Bio:

Matt Cox is a Senior Process Expert at Essentia Health based in Duluth, MN. Essentia Health is a fully integrated healthcare system serving patients in Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Idaho. He received a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and a Master’s of Industrial Engineering with an emphasis in Engineering Management from the University of Tennessee. He has nearly 20 years of experience in process improvement spanning three industries: semiconductor manufacturing, transportation and healthcare. He is a certified Black Belt through General Electric, and served as a Master Black Belt for Penske Truck Leasing for 7 1/2 years prior to joining Essentia Health in his current role.

Roberta Maughan is a Senior Process Expert at Essentia Health based in Duluth, MN. Essentia Health is a fully integrated healthcare system serving patients in Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Idaho. She received a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Tennessee and a B.A. in Psychology from North Carolina State University. She has 18+ years of experience utilizing Lean Six Sigma methodologies to increase process effectiveness by facilitating teams, managing change and coaching/leading improvement projects. Prior to Essentia Health, she served as a Black Belt for Covenant Health in Knoxville, TN and Mercy Health System which is based in St. Louis, MO and has facilities in Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma.

Title: The Evolution of a Lean Six Sigma Program: Essentia Health’s Process Excellence Journey

Session Takeaways

• Describe the history and future of PE at Essentia Health
• Understand our successes, challenges and lessons learned
• Explain how our evolution has influenced the development of our Primary Care Model

Session Overview:

Essentia Health has utilized process improvement methodologies since the 1980’s, but we began our Process Excellence (PE) journey using Lean Six Sigma in 2007. During the progression of our program, we have developed/delivered an internal training curriculum, implemented a lean management system and advanced our process improvement project methodologies to positively impact cost, service and quality for our patients/families.

Minnesota State University, Mankato

Breakout Location: Captains
Presenter: Dr. Lynn Akey, Asst VP, Institutional Research, Planning & Assessment

Speaker Bio:

Dr. Lynn D. Akey serves as the Assistant Vice President for Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment within the Office of the Provost at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Dr. Akey has a record of more than 12 years of assessment experience, 10 years of planning experience, and 5 years of research experience at divisional and institutional levels. Dr. Akey's leadership in institutional research, planning, and assessment was preceded by positions of increasing responsibility in Student Affairs. Dr. Akey’s numerous major scholarly accomplishments include a record of refereed and invited scholarly publications and presentations, consultantships, grants, and professional service, as well as multiple honors and awards.

Dr. Akey earned her PhD in Educational Policy and Administration, Higher Education from the University of Minnesota, a MA in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University, and a BS in Psychology from Northeast Missouri State University/Truman State University.

Title: A Strategic Priority Funding Process: Advancing Big Ideas

Session Takeaways

• Showcase of an adaptable process to deploy seed funds to sponsor employee initiatives that advance organizational priorities.
• Methods for supporting innovation and aligning resources with organizational priorities.

Session Overview:

This session will showcase a strategic priority funding process used to make organizational investments that advance big ideas, priorities and innovation. The speakers will share how the core components of the process were developed, implemented, and improved to increase results.

Keynote Location: Carriage Hall
Presenter: Greg Haralson, CEO Memorial Hermann Sugar Land
Speaker Bio: 

Greg is the Senior Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital (MHSL) where he has served since 2012. In early 2017, he became CEO of both MHSL & Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital.  During his 17 years in healthcare, Greg’s career has primarily centered on hospital operations, strategic planning, and construction/project management. Under his leadership, Memorial Hermann Sugar Land has experienced tremendous growth and has twice been listed among the 100 Great Community Hospitals in the nation by Becker’s Hospital Review as well as being named a 100 Top Hospital by Truven Health Analytics in 2014, and the 2016 recipient of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.
 

Presentation Overview: 

Greg will take the PENworks attendees on Memorial Hermann Sugar Land’s (MHSL) Journey to Excellence Since 2011. He will detail his personal and organizational growth through the challenges that came with adopting the framework and the many milestones of success along the way. This session will explore MHSL’s core competencies of Family Caring for Family and Patient Safety in conjunction with a Values-Driven Leadership System. Lastly, the audience will gain an understanding of MHSL’s cultural mantra “Why Not Us” and how to deploy it to any.

Keynote Location: Carriage Hall

Title: A World Class Formula: Culture + Strategy = Great Results

Presenter: Jeff Mihelick, Asst. City Manager, City of For Collins CO

Speaker Bio:

Having joined the City of Fort Collins, CO in April 2014, Deputy City Manager and Chief Operating Officer Jeff Mihelich holds a Master of Science degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Portland State University and more than 25 years of experience in city and county government operations.

Mr. Mihelich is responsible for day-to-day operations of the City’s municipal services and staff as he works with the City’s Executive Leadership Team (ELT) to implement the organization’s strategic plan. He also serves as Acting City Manager in the absence of the City Manager.

Most recently, Mr. Mihelich hailed from Surprise, Arizona where he served as Assistant City Manager since 2011. Before that he filled the role of Community and Economic Development Director for Surprise since 2008. Prior to his tenure in Surprise, Mihelich was the Community and Economic Development Director in Illinois.

Presentation Overview: What do you believe that no one else does?

For Fort Collins, it’s that city government can be great. For many, “city government” and “great” don’t go hand in hand. In some cases it’s the exact opposite. However, the City of Fort Collins is focused on transforming from a “trust us” to a “data driven” model, which takes effort, perseverance and humility. Learn how the City of Fort Collins uses Baldrige Performance Excellence criteria in its leadership system to provide a focused alignment of culture and strategy.

The City of Fort Collins launched its Journey to World Class in 2010 when the City Manager realized the organization had multiple initiatives occurring in silos. Human Resources implemented a Performance Management system, Finance was launching Budgeting for Outcomes, and there was a comprehensive planning effort (Plan Fort Collins) that occurred every 6-7 years. There was no alignment among these initiatives. To put it in Baldrige’s terms, the arrows were all going in different directions. When the City Manager shared this with a local Baldrige recipient executive, he was introduced to the Baldrige Excellence framework. Thus the journey began.

To start, the City applied at the initial Foothills level of the Rocky Mountain Performance Excellence (RMPEx) program. It included a five-page Organizational Profile and a fifteen-page application. While it may sound easy enough, it was an eye-opening experience as the City did not achieve the Foothills award level. That was in 2011. Today, five years later, and through intentional focus and drive, the City received a Baldrige site visit in 2016.

The Foothills feedback report raised questions such as: How do we lead?” “What are the essential processes?” And, “How do they fit together?” Based on these questions, staff created the Leadership System. The system is composed of key processes that begin with listening to the community and City Council. It centers on the organization’s Mission, Vision and Values. Each year the City implements and/or improves the key processes, and now our arrows are headed in the same direction. While there’s always work to be done, the City knows how it will proceed with a shared focus on culture and strategy to get great results.

AgStar Financial Services

Breakout Location: Tack
Presenter: Jodie Hermer, SVP Operational Excellence and Quality

Speaker Bio:  

Jodie has been with AgStar for over 20 years and is known to be one of AgStar’s best in the area of innovation and process efficiencies.    

Julie Bruggeman is the Sr. Director of the Quality Solutions team at AgStar Financial Services.  In addition to her current leadership role within the areas of process improvement, Julie has over 33 years of organizational leadership experience in the areas of strategy, operations, marketing and manufacturing.   Julie holds a bachelor’s degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN and has certifications in Lean Manufacturing, Lean for Service and Six Sigma. 

Along with a team of 5, Jodie and Julie are charged with leading AgStar’s continuous process improvement effort through process expertise, tools, best practices and facilitation skills.  Through their partnership with business team members, they have realized opportunities to better serve clients and positively impacted AgStar’s operational goals.

Title: Quest for Success: Getting Started and Maintaining Momentum

Session Takeaways:

• PI Strategy and Definitions
• Tools for Success
• Recognition and Award

Session Overview:

AgStar Financial Services, as part of the Farm Credit System, is committed to enhancing life in agriculture and rural America.  Farm Credit was established more than 100 years ago and provides over $235 billion in loans, leases and related services to the Agriculture community. AgStar has a rich history of serving its’ clients and creating loyalty; however, it’s also important to seek innovative ways to support our clients and our internal operations.  AgStar is known as an innovative leader in the Farm Credit System and excited to share the trials and tribulations experienced on their journey to create process excellence. Join speaker Jodie Hermer, SVP Operational Excellence & Quality, to learn how AgStar successfully implemented a process improvement strategy using quality tools and best practices to create change, improvement, and innovation in their organization.  Not only will you leave with tips on how to get started, but also how to keep momentum going using rewards and recognition. 

College of St. Scholastica

Breakout Location: Harvest A

Presenter: Dr. Lynne Hamre, Dean of the School of Business & Technology & Melissa Goodson, Assistant Professor in the School of Business & Technology

Speaker Bios:

Lynne Hamre, DBA, is the Dean of the School of Business and Technology at The College of St. Scholastica. For over 25 years, Lynne worked as an information technology professional most recently serving as the CIO at St. Scholastica. Lynne’s academic interests include technology acceptance, social network analysis and change leadership. Lynne’s passion is international travel and she enjoys leading study abroad experiences for the College’s MBA students.

Melissa Goodson, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the School of Business and Technology at The College of St. Scholastica, St. Paul campus where she teaches and develops courses for the MBA in Leadership & Change program. For over 12 years, she has worked in leadership roles in marketing communications, product management and strategic planning for media companies. She serves as a board member and Marketing & Communications Director for the Minnesota Organization Development Organization. Her professional interests include brand management, leadership development and organizational culture.

Title: SEAM: A new approach to leading change.

Session Takeaways:

Participants will receive an overview of SEAM, the Socio-Economic Approach to Management. A case study will be presented that outlines one way to identify, quantify and reduce hidden costs in an organization and how to successfully lead change through an inclusive, people-led process.

Session Overview:

Like other industries, higher education is rapidly changing. New leadership in the School of Business and Technology at The College of St. Scholastica was looking for a strategic planning model and the Socio-Economic Approach to Management (SEAM) was identified as a well-researched, inclusive process. And it fit nicely with the institution’s Catholic Benedictine values.

Through a presentation of this case study, participants will learn how to apply the basics of SEAM, including identifying hidden costs and related dysfunctions, establishing strategic priorities, and implementing change. The focus of this research intervention is on uncovering the potential of people and recovering hidden costs. The benefit to any organization is an improvement in efficiency of the work of individuals and teams and the successful attainment of strategic goals.

Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota

Breakout Location: Harvest B/C
Presenter: Stephanie Jacobs, Director and Jenn Mein, Innovation Manager

Speaker Bios:

Stephanie Jacobs is director of the Public and Nonprofit Leadership Center (PNLC), a community that creates and nurtures excellence in public affairs management and leadership. Prior to joining the PNLC, Stephanie was Program Director at the Nonprofits Assistance Fund. Previously, she was director of member services at the Minnesota Council on Foundations and consulting associate with Fieldstone Alliance. Stephanie is a graduate of St. Olaf College and holds a master's degree in public policy from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. She participated in the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Leadership Institute and is an active volunteer in the Minnesota nonprofit community. Jen Mein is highly successful in cultivating authentic engagement that invites diversity of perspectives into critical conversations, fosters creativity and innovation, and energizes motivated individuals and groups to experiment with new ways of working, learning, and leading. She is recognized as someone who contributes to the field and honors the integrity of practices within the Art of Hosting and Harvesting Conversations That Matter local and global community. Prior to joining the Future Services Institute team, she served as an internal consultant to University of Minnesota leaders in areas of leadership development, engagement, and campus climate. She has an M.Ed. in Human Resource Development and B.A. in Sociology from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.

Title: Nurturing Innovation in the Public Sector

Session Takeaways:

The Public and Nonprofit Leadership Center and the Future Services Institute have learned through their work in supporting innovation some key elements to nurturing innovation in state government:

• Investing in individuals and their ideas
• Creating organizational environments that reward trying, failing, and learning
• Prioritizing collaborative innovations to promote sustainability

Session Overview:

The public sector is fertile ground for innovation when the elements that nurture innovation are present. Public employees are often on the forefront of ideas and solutions to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of government while also improving service to citizens. The Humphrey School has taken a lead on observing and recognizing innovations in the public sector. The Public and Nonprofit Leadership Center and the Future Services Institute have learned through their work in supporting innovation some key elements to nurturing innovation in state and local government:

• Investing in individuals and their ideas
• Creating organizational environments that reward trying, failing, and learning
• Prioritizing collaborative innovations to promote sustainability

Mayo Clinic Health System SE MN

Breakout Location: Garden City
Presenter: Doug Parks, Chair of Administration in SE MN Region

Speaker Bio:

Doug Parks is the Chair of Administration for the Southeast Minnesota Region of Mayo Clinic Health System. He partners with David Agerter, M.D., to provide administrative leadership for a diverse network of hospitals and clinics in Southeast Minnesota. Doug has held a number of administrative assignments in his 28 years at Mayo Clinic including clinical operations roles in surgery, medicine, medical specialties and community health. Quality improvement and the pursuit of performance excellence continue to be areas of interest for which Doug has shown great passion. He is currently engaged in an initiative with his leadership team to use Baldrige Performance Excellence criteria as a framework for system integration in Southeast Minnesota. Doug received his undergraduate degree in Communication from the University of Colorado in Boulder and his Master’s degree in Public Health at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. David Berg is associate administrator for the Mayo Clinic Practice Owatonna, Faribault and the Hospital Service Line in the Southeast Minnesota Region. David partners with Brian Bunkers, MD and Thomas Witt, MD to provide administrative leadership for the practices and hospital service line. David has held a number of administrative assignments in his 30 year health care career. Employing evidence based leadership, David has focused on measuring health care needs in communities and taking the steps within the health care system to partner with community resources, and ensuring community health needs are addressed. David is currently serving as a board member of the Steele County United Way and chairs the United Way Strategic Initiative Committee. David is also a board member of South Central Human Relations Center, a multi-county organization focused on providing mental health. David is a Fellow in the American College of Medical Practice Executives (ACMPE); and has completed the executive program at the American College of Healthcare Executives. David received his undergraduate degree in finance and management at Northern State University, and his master’s degree in business administration at the University of South Dakota.

Title: Community Engagement: A Strategy for Improving Health in SE MN

Session Takeaways:

• Understand the business case for community engagement in healthcare
• How PEN Assessment feedback is translated to improvement
• Examples of Integrated community engagement framework
• Describe the Community Health Needs Assessment process.

Session Overview:

The Southeast Minnesota Region of Mayo Clinic Health System began its journey to excellence in 2014, using the Baldrige healthcare criteria as a framework for system integration and performance improvement. In times of disruption and market uncertainty, staying connected and engaged with the voice and needs of the customer is an area that demands attention and focus. The SE MN Region has identified Community Engagement as a key business strategy for meeting this need in today’s rapidly changing healthcare environment.

Doug Parks, Chair of Administration, and Dave Berg, Associate Administrator, will define community engagement and describe the business case for implementing community engagement as a primary strategy for connecting with customers, identifying customer needs, and building capacity for community health improvement in the future. Participants will take away an understanding of key elements of the community engagement framework, as well as specific community examples and an opportunity to think about applications in their own organizations.

Ecolab

Breakout Location: Captains
Presenter: Paul Langlois, Global Deployment Leader, Enterprise Excellence

Speaker Bio:

Bio coming soon

Title: Leveraging Technology to Drive Learning in Continuous Improvement

Session Takeaways:

• Using iPad technology to create an immersive experience for project managers and problem solvers
• Creating Micro-Learning to support coaching and continuous learning
• Leveraging Instant Polling to gauge the knowledge and interest of your learners real-time

Session Overview:

Working in the continuous improvement area can be challenging and exhilarating, especially when it comes to the challenge of continually improving the quality and efficiency of our learning efforts. Providing our employees with the knowledge, practice and experience they need, while being good stewards of our resources, is critically important.

During our session, we will discuss the challenges we face at Ecolab related to delivering learning efficiently and effectively for our continuous improvement professionals. We will then share how we have leveraged technology to meet those challenges, and how we plan to continue down the digital path to create more effective and efficient learning in the future.

Good Samaritan Society

Breakout Location: Tack
Presenter: Tom Syverson, CAO and Dr. Vicki Walker, Chief Quality & Medical Officer

Speaker Bio:

Victoria Walker MD, CMD is the Chief Medical and Quality Officer for the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society, the largest non-profit provider of LTC and senior services. Her background training is in family medicine. She began her career as a family practice physician in a small Midwestern community. After several years providing community care, she shifted to working in a psychiatric hospital, where she developed a special interest in caring for those with dementia with challenging neuropsychiatric symptoms, advanced illness care, and the medical director role. She received her medical degree from the University of SD School of Medicine, residency training in Washington, PA, and Certified Medical Director in Long Term Care through AMDA. Dr. Walker is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Geriatrics at the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine and is a APSA Congressional Health and Aging Policy Fellow.

Mr. Thomas Syverson assumed his current position of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer on February 28, 2014. Prior to his appointment Mr. Syverson served as Vice President, Operations Systems – Northern Territory from July 2010 to February 2014. Mr. Syverson graduated from Augustana College in 1987 and began his career with the Society as an intern. After completing his internship at the Good Samaritan Society – Sioux Falls Center, he served as administrator of the Good Samaritan Society center in Syracuse, Nebraska from 1988 to 1996. He then transferred to Windom, Minnesota and served as administrator from 1996 to 2001. During that time he earned a masters degree in applied gerontology from the University of North Texas. In 2001, Mr. Syverson joined National Campus staff and began serving as an associate regional director, and in 2002, he began serving as the regional director for Southern Minnesota. Mr. Syverson has served on a number of committees and task forces during his career, and recently served as the chairman of the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards.

Title: Supporting Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI) through Performance Excellence

Session Takeaways:

• Crosswalk the QAPI CMS regulatory requirements with the Baldrige Framework
• Discuss viewpoints from different leadership perspectives

Session Overview:

The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society is the largest not-for-profit provider of senior services and housing in the United States, providing services at more than 240 locations in 24 states. As we contemplated starting a Baldrige journey, we noted alignment between the Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI) regulatory expectations for several of our service lines and the Baldrige framework. Through a panel discussion, we will explore how leaders with different responsibilities within the organization are approaching the performance excellence journey, including both “aha” moments and pain points as we crosswalk the two frameworks.

Minnetonka Public Schools

Breakout Location: Harvest A
Presenter: Eric Schneider, Asst. Superintendent

Speaker Bio:

Eric Schneider is in his sixth year as Assistant Superintendent for Instruction in Minnetonka Public Schools. Recognized in Minnesota as a leader in the area of student achievement, Minnetonka is also recognized nationally for its work in the area of innovation, using crowdsourcing software and strategies with staff, students, and parents to identify new solutions that have the potential to improve the student experience and better prepare graduates for the 21st century. Minnetonka has a strong history of implementing innovative programs, such as its K-12 language immersion program in both Spanish and Mandarin that serves over 3,000 of the district’s 10,000 students. Minnetonka is also a leader in the use of technology with over 7,000 iPads deployed 1:1 in grades 5 through 12. In 2013, Minnetonka launched three major innovative initiatives: the VANTAGE program for profession-based learning, a virtual-learning platform called Tonka Online, and a K-12 Computer Programming curriculum called Tonka >codes<. In 2014 the district launched a grassroots campaign for teachers to reimagine their classroom interiors in Design for Learning, which has been featured at state and national conferences. In 2016 the district launched an advanced authentic research program called Minnetonka Research that features a new state-of-the-art lab facility. Minnetonka has developed an instructional framework that drives teaching and learning as well as all innovation efforts. Schneider taught English at Patrick Henry HS and was an Assistant Principal at Washburn HS in Minneapolis Public Schools, he served as a Director of Curriculum in Osseo Area Schools, and was the principal of Vintage HS in Napa, CA. Schneider uses the Twitter handle @Eric21cLead and blogs at www.eric21clead.org.

Title: The Power of Innovation to Transform K-12 Education

Session Takeaways:

Session Overview:

Over the past ten years, crowd-based innovation programs have become the new normal for industry-leading companies. Tapping into the cognitive surplus (re: Clay Shirkey) of employees has proven to not only deliver valuable small, medium, and big ideas that improve internal practices or stimulate new opportunities, these innovation programs also help improve workplace culture as ALL members of the organization gain access to the future design and direction of the organization. Get ready folks, it’s education’s turn to join the party.

In this informational session, attendees will learn about Minnetonka Public Schools’ six year journey into innovation programming and how it has replaced the organization’s traditional approach to strategic planning. Minnetonka has leveraged this shift to surface game-changing new innovations while also reinvigorating its frontline employees and attracting Millennial workers who are drawn to organizations that engage new employees in meaningful ways. As school districts begin to implement this model, K-12 education may never be the same again!

MN Pollution Control Agency

Breakout Location: Garden City
Presenter: Todd Biewen, Assistant Direct & Sr. Leader Champion of Environment Results Team

Speaker Bio:

Shannon Lotthammer is the Director of the Environmental Analysis and Outcomes Division at the MPCA, and champion of the agency’s Environmental Results Management Team. Through her career, Shannon has served in various positions at the MPCA, ranging from section manager to watershed project management. She also spent 3 ½ years in local government as the administrator of the Prior Lake-Spring Lake Watershed District in Scott County.  Shannon has a B.S. in Biology from the University of Minnesota-Duluth, and an M.S. in Ecology from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

Todd Biewen is an Assistant Division Director at the MPCA and the Lead for Environmental

Results Management Team and a member of the Fiscal Systems Management Team.  Todd has

played a lead role in strategic planning and measurement at the agency for many years.  In addition, Todd has participated in PEN events for many years and has recently been trained to become a Baldrige Evaluator.

Todd has a B.A. in Biology from St. Olaf College and an M.S. in Environmental Health from the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota.

Title: How Baldrige Improved MPCA’s Strategic Planning System

Session Takeaways:

Session Overview:

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Mission is to protect and improve the environment and human health.   Many years before being exposed to the Baldrige criteria, the MPCA put into place a system for strategic planning and organizational performance review.  The presenters will describe how the MPCA develops and implements its strategic plan and continually assesses its organizational performance.  This will include how these MPCA systems have changed over time, through numerous cycles of improvement.  The presentation will then explain the specific improvements the MPCA is making to these systems as a result of going through the process of preparing a Baldrige application and receiving feedback from the Performance Excellence Network. 

SD National Guard

Breakout Location: Captains
Presenter: Col. Mike Oster, Director of Strategic Plans

Speaker Bio:

Michael Oster currently serves as the G-5 Director of Strategic Plans and the State Partnership Program. He is responsible for the Strategic Planning and development of strategic goals on behalf of the Adjutant General for both the Air and Army National Guard of South Dakota. He provides oversight to the State Partnership Program with the country of Suriname and has additional responsibility for the Army National Guard’s participation in the Army Communities of Excellent program along with managing a Continuous Process Improvement program. As the G-5 he is responsible for continual monitoring and updating of the strategic priorities, goals, objectives and overall vision of The Adjutant General COL Oster began his military service when he enlisted in the South Dakota Army National Guard in Mitchell, SD in 1986. He received his commission through the State Officer Candidate School in 1990. He commanded both the 665th Maintenance Company and the 727th Transportation Company. In October of 2004 COL Oster deployed to Iraq working for the Rapid Fielding Initiative, Program Executive Office Soldier Fort Belvoir, VA in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In September of 2011, COL Oster was named Commander of the 152nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion in Pierre, SD and deployed with the unit too Kandahar Afghanistan in August of 2013. Upon return from deployment COL Oster was assigned as the Deputy Human Resource Officer and was selected to attend the US Army War College through a Fellowship at the University of Denver, Josef Korbel School of International Studies in Denver Colorado in 2014. Upon his return from War College, COL Oster assumed the position of G-1, Director of Personnel. He was then selected in March of 2016 to serve as the G-5, Director of Strategic Plans, Continuous Process Improvement and the State Partnership Program with the country of Suriname.

COL Oster’s awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, NATO Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal and numerous other awards and decorations.

COL Oster received his Bachelors of Science in Business Economics and Masters of Science in Industrial Management both from South Dakota State University in 1991 and 1998 respectively.

COL Oster has been married to his wife Jo for more than 28 years. They have four children and reside in Rapid City, SD.

Title: South Dakota National Guard - How we went from good to great

Session Takeaways:

Session Overview:

This session will focus on the difference between developing a process improvement program in your organization and actually developing a CULTURE of process improvement.  Organizations need to embrace and refine the informal process improvements they're doing now, not push those aside as ad hoc and start from scratch.  One way the South Dakota National Guard does this is by translating the "buzz words" into terms we know and use every day.  It's not about forcing your organization to adjust to a new set of tools.  It's about forcing those tools to adjust to your organization.

11:15am – 12:05pm

Keynote Location: Carriage Hall
Presenter: Maryruth Butler, Executive Director, Kindred Nursing & Rehabilitation Mountain Valley
Speaker Bio:  

Maryruth’s healthcare passion has led her to be the Executive Director at Kindred Nursing and Rehabilitation – Mountain Valley in her hometown of Kellogg, Idaho. She attributes using the Baldrige Excellence Framework for shifting her professional approach and creating a culture of performance excellence. She guides her workforce to continuously improve, encourages innovation, and is dedicated to providing the highest quality care for residents. She received her Master of Business Administration in Health Care Administration from Jones International University and enjoys sharing her performance excellence journey by presenting at conferences, her favorite topic being “The Journey to the AHCA Gold Award.”
 

Presentation Overview: 

The full Baldrige criteria is complex and requires significant commitment, but also generates significant return.  One leader of a Baldrige organization will tell you the key to their success is through the application of the Baldrige criteria.   She will explain why and how they became involved with the Baldrige criteria and share keys to their success as well as results achieved while on their Quality Award Journey.  And since success is not final, she will share with you the cycles of evaluation and improvement based on examiner feedback for 2017 – the journey to excellence continues…..

Keynote Location: Carriage Hall
Presenter: Bryan Williams, owner, B. Williams Enterprise LLC (and formerly of Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company)
Speaker Bio: Bio coming soon
Presentation Overview: Information coming soon