When I think about what makes AME so special, I heard a phrase last week that resonated. “We came for the people and stayed for the mission.” That truly is AME!
Many of us were first drawn to AME because of the incredible people. I know I was. I still remember when Glenn Marshall stopped me in the hallway of Newport News Shipbuilding decades ago and asked me what I knew aboutAME. I replied, “Nothing.” He said, “You should know this organization.” And my journey began!
He introduced me to the AME legends: Doc Hall, BillBaker, Burgess Oliver, Michael Bremer, Phil Roether, Tony Laraia, David Hogg, Pat Carguello, Doug Carlburg, Maria Elena Stopher, Bill Fierle, Wayne Pitchford, Kenneth McGuire, and many more talented and accomplished people.I learned a great deal in those early days and shared that one day I hoped to work for this organization. In my wildest dreams, I never imagined I would be honored to serve as president and CEO.
Being invited to join AME was being invited to join a passionate group of professionals who generously share their time, knowledge and experiences. I developed strong relationships, established mentorships and enjoyed the sense of belonging that makes this community unlike any other.
What keeps us here and what inspires us to giveback year after year is the mission.
AME inspires a commitment to enterprise excellence through experiential learning by bringing people together to share, learn and grow.
Together, we are driving excellence in manufacturing and beyond. We help organizations transform, leaders grow and future innovators discover their purpose. That mission connects us in powerful ways and remindsus that what we do matters.
WeShare(collaborate without boundaries),Learn(master today, innovate tomorrow),and Grow (strengthen workforce, shape industry). This practitioner-led approach ensures that AME remains grounded in real-world experience and continuous improvement.
AME was born from the lean movement, fueled by a vision todrive continuous improvement, apply lean thinking and achieve operationalexcellence. For over 40 years, we have empowered members worldwide, leading theway as a trusted thought leader in shaping the future of the industry.
Today, our journey continues under the banner of enterpriseexcellence. This vision embraces lean practices, anticipates future trends, andharnesses emerging technologies, including AI, while putting people at thecenter of everything we do. Together, we empower our members not only toimprove operations but also to transform their organizations for today and forgenerations to come.
I am inspired and deeply grateful every day for each of youand the remarkable impact you make in strengthening industries worldwide.Together, we are building more than operational excellence. We are shaping abrighter future. We truly come for the people and stay for themission.
As always, please stay safe and keep looking outfor one another.