What an energizing and meaningful week we shared at the Southeast Regional Summit in Charlotte, NC. Bringing together practitioners, leaders, and continuous improvement champions from across the globe reminded me why the AME community is so special. It is built on people who care deeply about sharing, learning, and growing together.
Throughout the summit, we saw enterprise excellence come to life. From the plant tours to the breakout sessions, from hallway conversations to shared meals, every interaction reinforced that continuous improvement is not a program - it is a mindset and a commitment to respect for people.
We heard powerful stories from organizations that are on different points of their journey. Some are just beginning to establish daily management and problem-solving routines. Others have mature systems in place and are refining how they engage every employee in improvement. What stood out most was the openness with which everyone shared both successes and challenges. We were there not to be perfect; we were thereto learn from one another.
A few themes echoed throughout the week:
- Leadership sets the tone for a culture of improvement.
- Standard work and visual management create clarity and stability.
- Engaging frontline team members is where real transformation happens.
- Continuous improvement is sustained when people feel valued, heard, and empowered.
The plant tours at ConMet, Carolina Handling, Ketchie, and Pit Instruction & Training were cited as highlights of attendee experiences and gave everyone a firsthand look at these principles in action. Seeing how organizations apply lean thinking, daily accountability, and respect for people in real environments provided inspiration we can take back to our own workplaces.
Equally valuable were the conversations between sessions. Many of you connected, exchanged ideas, and formed new relationships that will extend far beyond this event. That networking is one of the greatest benefits of being part of AME. That is truly what inspired me to become part of this incredible organization over 16 years ago.
Thank you to our speakers, hosts, volunteers, and each of you who participated so fully in the week. Your willingness to share and engage is what made the summit a success. I want to extend my personal gratitude to the incredible keynote speakers Sarah Kernion and Colonel Arthur Athens.
Sarah Kernion touched our hearts as she shared that neurodiversity is not just something to support - it’s something to harness strategically. As a mother to two autistic children, she’s learned to navigate uncertainty, lead under pressure and value what others often overlook. That experience led her to the concept of "inchstones" - small, meaningful wins that drive sustainable progress in dynamic systems. Today, she applies that mindset to help organizations rethink leadership, inclusion, and operational design.
Colonel Athens shared his Fulcrum of Leadership and the relevance of “who packed your parachute?”. His challenge to the team on ethical leadership and whether we wanted to be “selfish or selfless” leaders resonated deeply. Personally, I was thrilled to meet his beautiful wife, Mistina, as well. Colonel Athens and I have spoken on the phone and via emails, but it was truly my honor to finally meet him in person.
Thank you to our sponsors HTL, Copia and Competitive Business Solutions. We always appreciate your support!
To our incredible speakers Hank Czarnecki, Leilani Hilton, Tim Hobbs, Dave Hyem, Eric MacDonald, Mark Preston, Oscar Roche, and Lisa Weis, I offer my sincere gratitude!
Thank you so much to the conference team - Lynne Johnson, Mike Burns, Steve Ebbing, Wesley Farris, and Bill Iacovelli and the amazing AME Home team – Barb Clayton, Regina D’Alesio, Sara O’Hara, and Andy Kirchner.
Thank you, Wesley, for serving as the event Master of Ceremonies.
Finally, the highlight of the week was the opportunity to meet Dr. Carla Holt, Career Development Coordinator of the Jay M. Robinson High school and two of their incredible students Katlyn Pauls and Jurnee Powell. Thanks so much to Bill Iacovelli for introducing us.
Katlyn Pauls is a junior holding a 4.52 GPA, an achievement that has earned her the role of Assistant Chief Marshal for the Class of 2026. She is a member of both the National Honor Society and the National Technical Honor Society and has been selected to serve as next year’s president of NTHS. Katelyn is also active in JROTC and contributes to the Academy of Engineering as part of its student executive team. While balancing a demanding schedule of college-level coursework, she is preparing to pursue a degree in the medical field.
Jurnee Powell graduates this spring an NAF Academy of Engineering graduate with a 4.32 weighted GPA and a full academic scholarship to North Carolina A&T State University. This year she has served concurrently as student body president, AFJROTC group commander,and president of the Academy of Engineering. In that last role, she organized the academy's first student-led capstone showcase, a well-attended event that gave students a real platform for their engineering work and set a new expectation for what the academy can produce. A four-year varsity athlete and recipient of the National Sojourners and Sons of the American Revolution Awards, Jurnee will spend this summer in flight training, working toward her private pilot's license.
Jurnee introduced Colonel Athens and did a wonderful job. These two students are wonderful examples of our future leaders.
I am proud to be part of a community that truly lives the spirit of “People First, Progress Together.” Please join us AME Milwaukee 2026 International Conference | October 26–29 to continue this experience.
As always, please stay safe and keep looking out for one another.
