A few weeks ago we gathered at Grand Valley State University for the 8th Annual Grand Rapids Lean Summit, themed Align & Communicate: Leading with Purpose and Honesty. From a keynote that reframed communication as a human discipline, to breakout sessions connecting Hoshin Kanri and ethical AI, to a student competition that had the room on its feet, this was a summit that reminded everyone why showing up in community matters. 

Setting the Stage: The People Who Make It Happen 

A day like this doesn’t run itself. Serving as Mistress of Ceremonies, Debra Levantrosser kept the energy high, the audience engaged, and the day running flawlessly from start to finish. 

We had a dedicated group of MLC Champions in attendance whose commitment to the organization makes events of this scale possible: Brian DeVries, Patrick Adams, Jerry Browne, and Dennis Sergent. A special note on Dennis Sergent: in addition to his champion contributions, Dennis has recently stepped up to help develop and lead the MLC Ambassador Program, a new initiative to extend MLC’s reach and deepen practitioner connections across Michigan. 

The summit was beautifully documented by photographer Maggie Rothney. Volunteers Kim Egan and Shawna Alejos gave generously of their time to ensure a smooth and welcoming experience, thank you. 

The day would not have been possible without our sponsors, and special recognition goes to Diamond Sponsor Lean Solutions, whose investment in this community exemplifies the spirit of continuous improvement. 

The Keynote: Radical Honesty as a Leadership Discipline 

Ken Bogard, bestselling author of Know Honesty and self-described "Open and Honest Expert" opened the summit with a session that challenged the room to rethink communication from the ground up. His presentation, "Solving Every Leadership Team's #1 Problem — Communication," drew a sharp and memorable line between talking and truly communicating. 

Breakout Sessions: Tools You Can Use Monday Morning 

Three breakout sessions each offered a distinct and practical perspective on alignment, communication, and continuous improvement. 

Jennifer Schoenherr, Lean and Six Sigma Manager at Ford Motor Company, introduced cartooning as a surprisingly powerful problem-solving tool.  

Christopher Davis, Technology Analyst at Consumers Energy and founder of Country Roads Data Consulting, tackled one of the defining questions of the AI era: Is your organization using AI to amplify human capability or as a crutch masking systemic weakness?  

Dawn Armfield, Senior Director of Operational Diligence Services at Hilco, brought more than three decades of manufacturing expertise to her Hoshin Kanri session. Her premise was pointed and practical: most organizations don't lack strategy — they lack traction.  

The summit also brought exciting news for the MLC community. We are thrilled to announce that Dawn has accepted the role of MLC Outreach Director for 2026.  

Student Competition: The Future of Lean Is in Great Hands 

If one activity captured the spirit of the day, it was the Lean Student Competition. Teams from Grand Valley State University, the University of Michigan, and Western Michigan University went head-to-head in a live Kaizen-style challenge, building towers from marshmallows and spaghetti while iterating through rapid PDCA cycles under real constraints and a ticking clock. 

Western Michigan University took home the top prize, earning well-deserved recognition for their performance across the competition. But the contest revealed something richer than a single winner. The University of Michigan team achieved both the tallest final build and the highest performance improvement across iterations, demonstrating the power of disciplined learning cycles. Grand Valley State University brought fierce creativity and energy throughout, representing their home institution with pride. 

Watching students adjust, experiment, and improve in real time was, for many in the room, the high point of the summit. The future of Lean is in great hands. 

Thank you to every speaker, sponsor, volunteer, student, and practitioner who made the 8th Annual Grand Rapids Lean Summit a day to remember. The Michigan Lean Consortium is a membership-based nonprofit in its 17th year. To learn more or become a member, visit www.michiganlean.org/join.