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Baikuntha Sharma

CEO / Chief Lean Architect

Education - master’s degree from Eastern Kentucky University. Employed by Toyota motor corporation as a production engineering specialist. A member of Toyota’s J.D. Power Quality Improvement Team. Also part of the “buy locally” strategy by Toyota. Speaker for the Chartered Accountant Association of Sri Lanka, Society of Manufacturing Engineers, University of Kentucky, Southwestern Michigan College. Contributing author to the bestselling book, Lean Manufacturing: A Plant Floor Guide.


Horikiri Toshio

Senior Consultant

Toyota Engineering Corporation – CEO. Toyota Management Institute Corporation – CEO. Toyota Marketing Corporation – CEO. TPS Certificate Institution‐ President.


Mike Ward

Senior Consultant

Education - Bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from Michigan State University and Louisiana State University. 7 years experience as president for Autoliv Americas ($2.2 Billion, 13,000 workforce). Autoliv Americas grew market share by 9% and increased profitability by over 8% under his leadership and guidance. Achieved 8 Shingo awards and 2 Industry Week “Best Plant” awards 18 years of leadership experience developing and guiding lean transformations to Simpler. Diverse experience in automotive, aerospace, and the petroleum industry.


Pete Gritton

Senior Consultant (Leadership / People Development)

Former Vice President of Human Resources for Toyota Engineering and Manufacturing of North America, (for more than 22,000 employees). The guiding principle of Human Resources at Toyota was to develop philosophies, strategies, policies and procedures needed to create and sustain the “True Lean” culture. Adjunct Instructor for the Lean Manufacturing Program at the University of Kentucky.


Ownie McBride

Senior Consultant ‐

Served as a consultant to Toyota since 1998, and has worked with leaders in many industries including healthcare, manufacturing, gaming, and education. Work with the University of Kentucky Lean Systems Group focuses on the People Side of Lean. Has a long and practiced career in human performance improvement, public affairs and strategic communications. Served as Communications Director for the Bush 41 Presidential Inaugural Committee. Served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs for Transportation Secretary Elizabeth Dole.


Naresh Pradhan

Senior Consultant / IT Expert

20 years of experience in IT and financial management. Worked and managed complex projects for some of the best companies in Finland. Expert in streamlining and minimizing complex processes. Professional whose financial acumen and ability to act decisively were honed by an exemplary educational background.


Crittenden M. Fisher

Senior Consultant

Education – BS Industrial Technology (EKU), AA Drafting Technology (EKU). 46+ years of Manufacturing & Business Experience, 16 years Quality Engineering (Toyota A/M & Engr.) Adjunct Instructor for University of Kentucky 28 years of TPS/Lean Principles Application. 16 years. Quality Engineering (Toyota A/M & Engr.). 12+ years of Consulting and Contracting.


Tony Chamblin

Senior Consultant

20 years of experience with Toyota Motor Mfg, KY, adjunct instructor at University of Kentucky. Learned lean concepts and applied them in the process. Certified Toyota Production System trainer. Certified Toyota Global Production Center Point Trainer. Certified Toyota Business Practices trainer (8 Step Problem Solving).


Kai Koichi

Senior Consultant ‐

Toyota Engineering Corporation – Senior Consultant. Toyota Engineering Corporation Workshop support activity and lecturer on training of TPS Supporting activity on overseas plants.


Sakurai Katsuo

Senior Consultant

Toyota Engineering Corporation – Senior Consultant. TEC - Workshop support activity and lecturer on training of TPS Supporting activity on overseas plants. Planning and development the first FF vehicle at product planning as manager. Planning and development the first Lexus, Celsior and more also motor show (FX‐1) as Project manager.


Yuko Yabe

Senior Consultant

Well experienced business management analyst and consultant with extensive knowledge of world‐renowned Toyota Production System. Representative clients US Airplane Manufacturer. US Aerospace Component Manufacture. Swedish Track Manufacturer. Russian Pet Food Processing Plant. Japanese Local Government Agencies. Toyota Production System Seminar in Japan for Hong Kong Business Delegation. .


Nischal Pradhan

IT Consultant

IT Consulting Experience - University of Kentucky, LexTran, Lisibroker, Stairtek, Clark Manufacturing, Hawaii State Department of Education, Kentucky State Department of Education, CoPower. B2B software integration: Home Depot, Lowes, Floor and Décor. Software Solutions: Design/Development/Deployment of Custom Desktop and Cloud based Software application tailored specifically for the client to automate business processes and increase efficiency of the overall company. Digital Marketing/SEO Consultant: Designing/Planning/Implementing Digital Marketing strategies to generate online leads and increase the revenue from online platform. Online Competitive Analysis. Ecommerce Consulting: Design/Development/Deployment.


Lasse Laaksonen

Consultant and Business Developer

Education – Master of Social Sciences (Economics, Mathematics, IT, Statistics) Employers – Communication Ltd, Global Ballon Ltd, Fujitsu Tieturi Ltd, FCG International Ltd, KPMG Wideri Consulting Ltd, Programmatic AB, Tieto Plc, Kansa Insurance, OP Bank, Business and related ICT Architecture development ICT tailored enterprise systems. Project management/Team leading/Adult training/User work analysis . Large development aid projects. Finland, Nepal, Sweden, Norway, Check, Estonia.


Chameera Laknath

Business Analyst

Education – BSc (Hons) in Business Information Technology from Staffordshire University, UK. MBA Bucks New University. Won all island gold medal for Marketing communication in Charted Institute of Marketing, UK. 7 years experience as a senior Market Analyst for Jones New York Intimates, New York. CEO/Co-founder – Capture Eye, Sri Lanka. Video production company.