Leadership Training & Certifications

Be prepared to lead with Lean

Set yourself up to lead efficiently and effectively with the tools, concepts, and coaching techniques taught in these Lean leadership training and certification courses.

Leading with Lean

A 2.5-hour short course on the Lean mentality and how to incorporate it into daily interactions with employees, customers, and the processes within the larger value stream. This is a Lean Institute Exclusive.

October 17, 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Lean Leadership

An eight-week training course on the Lean mentality and how to incorporate it into daily interactions with employees, customers, and the processes within the larger value stream to which they all contribute.

Business Culture Excellence Using the Deming Lens

Management seminar exploring the approach Dr. W. Edwards Deming shared with the Japanese, catapulting their ability to provide quality products and services. This is a Lean Institute Exclusive.

Introduction to System Thinking

Based on the message of Dr. W. Edwards Deming, this class will introduce the four elements of his System of Profound Knowledge (SoPK). This is a Lean Institute Exclusive.

October 17, 1:30 – 12:00 p.m.

Coaching

A service provided to companies offering them immediate feedback and guidance for transforming their current state approach to one shaped by a Lean mentality and structured problem-solving.

Strategic Planning Workshop

A hands-on strategic planning workshop used to create a path forward that maximizes the efforts of training, coaching, and execution of process improvement activities across the enterprise.

OU LEAN INSTITUTE INSTRUCTORS

OULI's team of instructors and consultants are practicing experts in the field with extensive history in implementing process improvement efforts and coaching students.

Brian deFonteny

deFonteny is the creator of Leading with Lean and other short courses offered by the OU Lean Institute. A certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt once active in the oil and gas industry, deFonteny has more than a decade of experience as a Lean practitioner, coach and instructor. He holds a master’s degree in human relations and a bachelor’s in psychology. deFonteny is committed to optimizing organizational success by helping others Lead with Lean. He is the author of Leadership Reimagined and an adjunct professor with the University of Oklahoma.

Joyce Hinton

Hinton is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and has served as an OULI Lean Six Sigma coach, instructor and consultant for many of the Institute’s major clients. She is the primary instructor for the Institute’s LSS White and Green Belt training workshops. She holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and has completed extensive training in Lean Six Sigma methodologies, as well as having extensive experience in both management and procurement.

Teresa Tobias

Tobias is a certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt trained by some of the original consultants in the industry (Sigma Sciences, Inc., p.k.a. Six Sigma Associates). She has worked with Six Sigma Academy, the first consulting organization created by the founder of Six Sigma, Dr. Mikel Harry. Tobias has extensive experience at the strategic level working with leadership. At the tactical level, she has coached and mentored clients' internal resources for hundreds of transformational projects.

Larry Fisher

Fisher is the Center Process Manager for Continuous Improvement and Innovation (CI2), Air Force Sustainment Center, Tinker AFB. He coordinates continuous improvement mentoring and training for 35,000+ Airmen. As a Lean Six Sigma (LSS) Black Belt, he is an instructor and facilitates multi-organizational improvement events, mentors, and coaches those utilizing CI2 techniques and seeking LSS Green Belt/Black Belt certifications. Since 1985, Fisher has held positions in engineering, quality, contracting and process improvement organizations.