Our Team

The Lean Learning Center was founded by Andy Carlino, Dennis Pawley, and Jamie Flinchbaugh.
Please select a team member from below to learn more.

Andy Carlino

A nationally recognized consultant, educator and speaker, Andy Carlino is founder of Achievement Dynamics which specializes in training, education and consulting in the areas of Toyota Production Systems, Lean Systems Development, Kaizen Implementation, Lean Learning Laboratories, Executive/Leadership Coaching and Development, Program Development, Shop Floor Management, Control Point Standardization, Value Stream Management, and Facilitator Development. He is also co-founder and partner of the Lean Learning Center. Over the past 19 years, the resources of these two companies have assisted organizations in transforming vision into performance and developing leaders and learners for lean transformation.

Carlino has over twenty years experience in real-world senior management, including president and COO, and is a nationally renowned lean expert. He has worked with thousands of individuals from the boardroom to the shop floor, in virtually all sectors of industry and is well known for the ability to help companies implement and sustain organizational change. His clients have included, BISSELL, Siemens, Deere & Co., Detroit Edison, BlueCross BlueShield, Visteon, Johnson & Johnson, Irish Rail, Land O'Lakes, Northeast Health, Foster Farms, Glanbia Foods, AGCO and Wise Foods. Additionally, he provides organizational assessments and due diligence for the private equity investment community and for food processing companies, heavy and light manufacturing, assembly, medical devices, foundries and more.

Carlino has presented programs at Harvard and Clemson University, is a frequent keynote speaker for a variety of professional organizations and conferences. He is co-author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to Lean: Lessons from the Road and also authored numerous industry publications specific to the Principles and Practices of Lean Systems Implementation.

Carlino holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and is a member of ASQ, AME, and other industry and professional associations.

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Jamie Flinchbaugh

Jamie Flinchbaugh is co-founder and partner of the Lean Learning Center, bringing successful and varied experiences of lean transformation as both a practitioner and facilitator. Under the leadership of Jamie and the Center's senior managers, the Lean Learning Center has become one of the most recognized and premier lean providers in the world.

Prior to founding the Center, he worked at DTE Energy, parent to Detroit Edison, as a lean thought leader to help transform the operations, leadership and thinking of the utility industry towards a philosophy of lean systems. Earlier in his career, Flinchbaugh was part of the development, training and implementation of the Chrysler Operating System, a widely-benchmarked lean change program. He also has a wide-range of operational experiences, including product development production, maintenance, quality, materials and manufacturing engineering, and has worked at every level from the board room to the shop floor. Flinchbaugh co-authored with Andy Carlino The Hitchhiker's Guide to Lean: Lessons from the Road, a best-selling lean book.

Client assignments for the Lean Learning Center include worldwide projects for a variety of industries and include Intel, Intevac, Simmons Foods, Simmons Mattress, Numonyx, Freescale Semiconductor, Del Monte, Hallmark, M&M Mars, Amazon.com, Harley-Davidson, United Technologies, Trane, AVL North America, Detroit Medical Center, Takasago, Intermatic, Schwak, Dana, Universal Forest Products and ZF Industries.

Flinchbaugh is also the founder of the Old Dutch Group, LLC, an investment company, and a principal of Cobra Motorcycles. He also serves on the board of directors of S&S Cycle, Inc. and is an investor in Flinchbaugh Engineering, Inc.

In addition to his business activities, he chairs the Board of Advisors to Oakland University's Pawley Institute and is a member of the Lehigh Leadership Council at Lehigh University. In 2004, Flinchbaugh received Lehigh University's prestigious Alumni Award for outstanding service, and in 2006 was an Entrepreneur-in-Residence, and delivered the keynote address for the Honors Convocation.

Flinchbaugh is a graduate fellow of the highly-regarded Leaders for Manufacturing Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he received a Master of Business Administration degree from the Sloan School of Management, and a Master of Science degree in Engineering. He has also received a Master of Science degree in Engineering from the University of Michigan and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from Lehigh University.

Flinchbaugh resides in Riegelsville, Penn. with his wife, Jill, and children Emma, Jack and Ben.

You can also follow Jamie on his blog at www.jamieflinchbaugh.com.

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Dennis Pawley

Dennis Pawley is co-founder and partner of the Lean Learning Center, bringing more than 30 years of experience in manufacturing and labor relations, including planning and implementing operating systems that work to the benefit of stockholders, the company and the workforce.

Prior to co-founding the Center, he served as executive vice president of manufacturing for DaimlerChrysler in North America, where he was responsible for more than 80,000 employees in 12 car and truck assembly plants, along with five manufacturing technical centers and 18 component stamping and power train plants. In addition, he had responsibility for powertrain and stamping operations in Mexico and was in charge of DaimlerChrysler joint venture manufacturing relationships abroad, principally in China and Austria. He also directed all labor relations activities in North American as a member of the corporate executive committee.

Prior to joining DaimlerChrysler, Pawley was a vice president for Otis Group, United Technologies Corporation; vice president for manufacturing at Mazda Motor Corporation, USA; and held various manufacturing management positions with General Motors Corporation. He was chairman and chief executive officer of the Guide Corporation, the largest North American provider of headlamps and signal lights to the Automotive Industry, from January 2000 through December 2000.

Pawley was a trustee of the Chrysler Institute of Engineering, the Chrysler Corporation Fund and the Boys and Girls Club of southeastern Michigan. He also served as a member of the Oakland University Foundation Board of Trustees. In September 2002, Governor John Engler appointed him to the Oakland University Board of Trustees. Pawley also earned recognition for his manufacturing quality initiatives by being inducted as a member of the Shingo Award Academy in 1998. In February 2002, Mr. Pawley funded a 1 Million-Dollar endowment to the University for the establishment of the Pawley Lean Learning Institute.

He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resource Development from Oakland University in 1982. Born in Milan, Michigan, Mr. Pawley maintains residences in the Detroit area and in Las Vegas.

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Susan Pleasant

Susan Pleasant is a partner of the Lean Learning Center specializing in lean systems, procurement, manufacturing, supply chain, quality and customer service. Formerly senior vice president of manufacturing and supply chain for Wise Foods, a $400 million manufacturer of snack foods, she was responsible for procurement, manufacturing, contract manufacturing, warehousing, transportation, quality, and engineering. While at Wise she reduced COGS 4.5% net of escalating commodities pricing by reducing manufacturing wastes, redesigning manufacturing assets and supply chain, transforming scheduling processes, and implementing restructured carton and packaging configurations.

Prior to joining the Lean Learning Center, Pleasant developed and implemented training and lean systems for a global provider of wind turbine components. She was also responsible for the complete organization realignment of a major auto transport company to combat the impact of reduced volume and higher costs.

As senior vice president of Consolidated Container Company, an $850 million manufacturer of plastic bottles, Pleasant improved EBITDA 5.6% at 10 targeted lean system plants with changeover reduction, waste elimination processing, workstation organization, and operating metrics. She led the design and implementation of new products commercialization process at three other companies resulting in 100% of products being launched on time and under budget while delivering planned inventories.

In addition, Pleasant served as senior vice president of Brach and Brock Confections, vice president of operations Lifesaver Company for Nabisco Holdings Corp. and director of operations for Frito-Lay.

As partner and senior consultant with the Lean Learning Center, Susan's experience includes development and launch of lean leadership training materials for Amazon.com; development and implementation of A3 performance and systems improvement processes for leadership at Intel Corporation delivering instrumental improvements in '09 results; coached business leaders on lean systems at Intel, United Technologies and General Dynamics; the complete organization realignment of Allied System Holding to combat the impact of reduced volume and higher costs; improvement of cycle times 46% in LM Glasfiber's wind turbine component plant in India during lean production system implementation; facilitation of a Kaizen workshop to increase speed and reduce wastes in commercialization processes for Ocean Spray; and conducted Kaizen workshop training for Continuous Improvement and Blackbelt leaders at TAMKO.

Pleasant holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C. She is a graduate of Lean Leadership (Lean Learning Center), Leading Product Development (Harvard University), Principle Centered Leadership (Covey Leadership Center) and Leadership Development Program (Center for Creative Leadership).

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Al Pond

Al Pond currently serves as a senior consultant with the Lean Learning Center. He is a retired senior manager from Ford Motor Company with 38 years of manufacturing experience in operations, engineering and strategic planning. He was one of the founding executive members of the Ford Production System team responsible for design, development, and deployment of lean engineering methods across global operations. This included the executive lead for ensuring that major new vehicle programs worldwide were in full compliance with lean practices. In addition, Pond was the senior coach and mentor for lean implementation in South America, Asia-Pacific and all Component operations.

He was recognized by the American Society of Training and Development for outstanding program achievement in the automotive industry as the author of Ford's New Employee Orientation program, a comprehensive indoctrination program for technical new hires. In addition, Pond was the driving force behind Ford's sole achievement of the prestigious TPM prize awarded by the Japanese Institute of Preventive Maintenance at the Charleville Climate Operations plant in France.

Pond started his career as a union represented production worker then progressed through skilled trades via the apprenticeship program and on to engineering and management. His many assignments, starting as worker, progressing on to the executive level coupled with his passion for manufacturing have given him a most unique perspective and background as a lean change agent.

Pond holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and a Master of Business Administration degree.

Pond is a guest lecturer at the University of Michigan and is involved in curriculum development centered on lean. He is also a lifetime Certified Manufacturing Engineer by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.

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Bill Artzberger

Mr. Artzberger brings extensive strategic, project management, lean manufacturing, and information technology experience to The Lean Learning Center.

Bill is founder and Director of Artmoore Associates. He specializes in Lean Training, Theory of Constraints Education and Consulting in Lean Manufacturing, Project Management, Kaizen Implementations, Shop Floor Management, Information Systems, and Supply Chain Management.

Bill has over twenty five years experience in real-world senior management, including CIO, VP, President and CEO. He has worked with thousands of individuals from the boardroom to the shop floor, in virtually all sectors of industry. His clients have included: DaimlerChrysler, General Motors, DTE Energy, Ford Motor Company, and BlueCross BlueShield. Additionally he provides information systems analysis, portfolio management, organizational assessments and due diligence for the private equity investment community.

Holder of two patents and published dozens of times, Bill is a regular speaker on college campuses and corporate events around the country. He enjoys a reputation as a consultant with a unique combination of broad business backgrounds, strong manufacturing experience, and deep technical knowledge.

Mr. Artzberger earned his Master of Business Administration degree (MBA) from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan with a major in management and a minor in marketing. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree (BA) from Walsh College in Troy, Michigan with a major in Information Systems and a minor in finance. He also holds an Associate of Applied Science degree (AS) from Oakland Community College in Farmington Hills, Michigan with a major in systems analysis. Mr. Artzberger is ITIL Certified and a PMI certified Project Management Professional (PMP).


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Jim Sonderman

Jim Sonderman is a lean consultant and coach for the Lean Learning Center. His background encompasses more than 18 years of experience in the automotive industry.

Prior to joining the Lean Learning Center, he held the positions of technical manager, lean supplier development and production systems advisor at Delphi World Headquarters. Earlier in his career, he served as general supervisor and production systems leader at Delphi Chassis Systems.

He was exposed to lean systems early in his career while working closely with Toyota as a parts supplier to the Georgetown, Ky. and NUMMI assembly plants. He was recognized as an early adopter of lean thinking and was selected to aid in the development of the Delphi Manufacturing System. He served several years as a Kaizen Leader in the plant driving excellence in manufacturing.

Sonderman spent approximately nine years in management and nine years in direct continuous improvement roles supporting the lean transformation of Delphi. He chaired the Operational Availability Circle of Colleagues and led in the development and dissemination of Total Productive Maintenance strategies globally. He spent the last four years of his career in automotive as a technical manager in the Delphi Supplier Development Organization coaching and assisting suppliers in his or her own lean transformation.

Jim's current experience with the Lean Learning Center includes learning labs at Northrop Grumman; lean training for executives and managers in Texas, Arizona and Malaysia and numerous kaizen events in facilities in the U.S., Europe and Asia for Freescale Semiconductor; learning labs and lean coaching, Fox River Mills; Kaizen boot camp and lean training for managers and leaders for Trane in their U.S. and Mexico facilities; Kaizen events, learning labs and lean coaching at Foster Dairy Farms; learning labs and plant assessments, RSR Corporation; lean consulting for AGCO; set-up reduction workshop at Johnson and Johnson; and Kaizen boot camps for AVL North America.

Sonderman holds a Bachelor of Science degree in operations management from Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. He currently resides in Lake Orion, Mich. with his wife Michelle and daughter Samantha.


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Melissa Curtis-Hendley

Melissa Curtis-Hendley is the instructional design director for the Lean Learning Center Her diverse background includes designing training initiatives for and consulting with numerous manufacturing and non-profit organizations.

Curtis-Hendley's responsibilities with the Lean Learning Center include designing customized curriculum content and delivery methods for client and public courses, planning and evaluating design, delivery and instructional flow of training and instructional products and conducting needs analysis to identify learning audiences. She also engages with clients to facilitate content development reviews, and defines project tasks, identifies resources required, assigns responsibilities and monitors progress against established timelines.

Melissa's instructional design projects for the Lean Learning Center include a leadership course for United Technologies; learning activities and participant guide for the Lean Learning Center's, Tactics of Lean Innovation public workshop; facilitator, participant guides and game materials for the Lean Learning Center's Mouse Trap game; materials and participant guides for the Lean Learning Center's Leading Lean workshop; facilitator guides and reference materials for Amazon.com Aces lean course curriculum including Kaizen Essentials, Leading Lean Events and ACES for Leaders; and participant guides for LM Glasfiber's lean courses and AGCO's lean workshop. She designed the Lean Learning Center's Single Point Lesson package and is currently working on packaging the Center's Lean Quad 4-wheeler simulation and the Lean Learning Laboratory package. Additionally, Melissa has assisted in facilitating lean workshops for Burger Boat Company and provides support for Lean Experience® classes held at Simmons Foods in the U.S. and Intel Corporation worldwide.

Curtis-Hendley currently lectures on instructional design methods and human resource technologies at Oakland University's School of Education and Human Resources.

Prior to joining the Lean Learning Center in 2006, she served as a human resource generalist for a county community bank.

Curtis-Hendley holds a Bachelor of Arts degree. as well as a Master of Training and Development degree, from Oakland University in Rochester, Mich. In addition to her formal degrees, she also earned a professional certification in human resources from the Human Resource Certification Institute in Alexandria, Va.


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Tom Bechtel

With over 30 years experience in operations management, Tom Bechtel is an accomplished trainer, mentor, facilitator and consultant for Lean Manufacturing and ERP strategies and techniques. He has facilitated over 80 kaizen workshops in industry, health care and power utilities. Tom has provided education and consulting services to thousands of individuals from all sectors and levels of North American industry since 1985 and held engineering and management positions up to VP of Operations with companies such as General Electric, Nortel, Mitel and Kaval Wireless Technologies.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from Penn State and is a Certified Fellow in Production and Inventory Control (CFPIM) by APICS.



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