Event
Innovation in Continuous Improvement
Speaker(s)
Chris Hutchins
Cartamundi
Manager of Quality & Continuous ImprovementChris Hutchins, Manager of Quality & Continuous Improvement at Cartamundi in East Longmeadow, MA, has over 25 years of experience implementing and managing organizational change initiatives, primarily Lean/Six Sigma. He has a BSME and a PhD in Organizational Psychology. He has been a Shingo Prize and Baldrige examiner, is an ASQ-certified Six Sigma Black Belt, and recently became an AME examiner.
Chris will be discussing Cartamundi East Longmeadow's approach to Continuous Improvement over the past 15 years. He will talk about the successes and the lessons learned. He will outline the Continuous Improvement approach he would take if he were to start again today. He will touch on a few examples of the Lean/Six Sigma tools Cartamundi has employed, and what he wished he knew 15 years ago.
Peter Russo
Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Director of Growth & InnovationPeter Russo is the director of growth and innovation at Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MassMEP). Peter is personally passionate about creating value and growth in business. Prior to joining the MassMEP, Peter founded four start-up ventures based on innovative consumer products. He has created, licensed and sold hundreds of products and personally holds 16 patents. Peter has an MBA and BS from Babson College.
MassMEP believes new opportunities exist for startup companies and established manufacturers to work together efficiently and effectively. There now exist new processes to connect both groups on a personal, organizational, financial and intellectual basis, ultimately contributing to growth in both.
Peter Reinhart
Institute for Applied Life Sciences at University of Massachusetts Amherst
Founding DirectorDirector of a new translational Institute at UMass, Amherst – Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS, www.umass.edu/IALS). PhD in Neuroscience, background in biopharmaceuticals and medical devices with over 20 years of R&D management experience in academia (Duke Medical Center), biotechnology companies (Cogent Neuroscience, Proteostasis Therapeutics), and large pharmaceutical companies (Wyeth, Pfizer). Experience in the field of orphan diseases, neurodegenerative and respiratory diseases, novel technology platforms, and personalized health monitoring devices. Passionate about private/public partnerships to develop novel product candidates.
Discussing new models for academic institutions to become more relevant to industry partners
- as hubs for exploring new product candidates
- by providing access to cutting edge equipment facilities and providing employee training
- interacting on new R&D projects
- early identification of potential employees
James T. Krupienski, CPA, MSA
Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.
PartnerJim prides himself on providing clarity for his clients on complicated and technical matters. For him, it’s about giving his clients the information and understanding they need to make good business decisions. Jim’s wide range of experience and expertise allows him to make it easy to keep his clients focused on strategy, long-term planning and proactive problem solving. He takes care of the technical details so his clients can take care of their business.
Jim has 15 years of experience in public accounting in industries including manufacturing, wholesale, distribution, healthcare, real estate and professional services. He started with Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. in 2004 and prior to that he was a senior accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP and senior auditor with The Hartford. He has authored numerous articles on topics such as business operations, tax planning and retirement plan administration.
Jim received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master’s of Science in Accounting from Stonehill College. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants and Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants, as well as the MGMA (Medical Group Management Association) and HCAA (National CPA Health Care Advisors Association). He is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Jim serves as an active board member for the Sisters of Providence Philanthropy Committee, as well as the Roger L. Putnam Technical Fund and the Westfield State University Foundation Board.
Panel Moderator
Melyssa Brown, CPA
Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.
Senior ManagerMelyssa Brown is a Certified Public Accountant in Massachusetts with close to 15 years of public accounting experience. A Lean Six Sigma Greenbelt, she knows the importance of process improvement and believes firmly in the application these concepts in her work as an accountant and advisor to her clients.
She is a member of the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Melyssa holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Elms College and an M.B.A. from the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Melyssa serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of Girls Inc. of Holyoke and is a member of the Young Professionals Society of Greater Springfield. Melyssa was named to Business West’s Forty Under 40 list in 2013 and MSCPA’s Women to Watch in 2015.
Panel Moderator
Improvement and Innovation. The processes for achieving either or both can be intimidating. A company can have the first without the second but why not have both? This expert panel will look at bringing innovation to your business through the continuous improvement process.
Design & Development by Wild Apple Design Group
