As we head into Thanksgiving, I want to take a moment to say thank you. You are the heart of the AME community, and your passion for people-centric leadership, learning and continuous improvement inspires us every single day.
Thanksgiving reminds us to pause, reflect with gratitude and look ahead with hope. In many ways, that’s exactly what continuous improvement is all about. We celebrate what’s working well, learn from our challenges and commit to making tomorrow just a little better than today.
At AME, we often say that operational excellence begins and ends with people. This season is the perfect reminder of that truth. Your willingness to share ideas, open your doors and support one another makes this community special. Whether you’re driving improvement on the shop floor, mentoring a new team member or helping your organization grow, your efforts truly matter.
I am especially grateful for our AME Emerging Leader (EL) Program and for our dedicated volunteer EL director, Becca Jenkins. If you didn’t have the chance to hear the Emerging Leaders’ capstone presentation at the AME St. Louis 2025 Conference, you missed something powerful.
But instead of hearing it from me, here’s how AME senior marketing specialist Jessi Elder, a 2025 graduate, describes her journey.
Grateful for growth:
My journey in the AME Emerging Leaders Program
Written by: Jessi Elder
Jessi Elder | AME Senior Marketing Specialist & 2025 AME Emerging Leader
This year, I was lucky to be a part of the 2025 AME Emerging Leaders cohort. The AME Emerging Leaders Program is a one-year commitment focused on professional development, learning and networking. Participants are nominated and selected to become engaged with the AME community by collaborating with their cohort, utilizing lean tools, completing a capstone project and presenting at the AME International Conference. The program cultivates the next generation of continuous improvement leaders who will help shape with future of AME.
With Thanksgiving approaching and a feeling of deep gratitude inside, I want to share what I’m most grateful for after being part of this program.
I am grateful for...
1. Community!
Now that I’ve been part of this organization for almost three years, I can truly say that AME is a community more than anything else. More than a conference or a learning space, it’s a collective of people connected through a shared growth mindset and a deep passion for what they do.
I love being surrounded by people who care deeply about both personal and professional growth. The AME community constantly inspires me. Getting to work alongside my cohort — people who are passionate, always learning and always improving — sparked fresh ideas I’ll carry forward.
The wider AME community of leaders and volunteers welcomed us with mentorship and encouragement, and over the course of the year, our one-hour Zoom calls grew our professional relationships into lasting friendships.
2. Hands-on insight into lean tools (through a marketing lens)
Our capstone project gave me hands-on exposure to tools like A3 problem-solving and fishbone diagrams — the very tools the AME community is passionate about, but that I’d never had the opportunity to use myself.
Getting to apply them firsthand showed me just how powerful lean thinking can be in strategy, marketing and even daily life. I gained a deeper understanding of what AME’s audience values and how these tools and our lean certifications can help them achieve excellence. This perspective helps me market AME more effectively and serve the community with more empathy and clarity.
3. Diverse voices
I’m especially grateful that this program enhances and celebrates diverse voices. Our cohort brought together people from different backgrounds, industries and experiences, but we were all united by a common interest in learning and growth.
I’m proud to see more diversity of thought, perspective and lived experience becoming more of a part of the AME story. The Emerging Leaders Program helps open the door to new faces and new ideas. And as a younger group, we’re bringing in fresh energy and inclusive leadership.
4. Service through purpose
I already have ample opportunities to give back to the AME community as a member of the AME Home Team. But after participating in the Emerging Leaders Program, I feel even more connected to the organization and its mission. My cohort and I now have a deeper understanding of what AME is all about, what we each personally care about within the lean and continuous improvement space, and how we individually want to give back to or make an impact on this community.
We’ve all come away with a clearer sense of purpose, and we’re already talking about how we can apply what we’ve learned, support others in the community, and keep giving back in ways that align with our values and passions.
This is service through purpose. It’s close to our hearts because it’s rooted in who we are and what matters to us. And I think this alignment gives us the best chance to truly spread good in the world. It really feels like this year's cohort is ready to lead with intention!
5. The opportunity to speak to a live audience
I’ve been a fully remote worker for five years now, with very few chances to stand in front of a live audience and speak. And don’t get me wrong — I prefer it this way! I’m a behind-the-scenes creator, and I wouldn’t trade the quiet of remote life for a bustling, social office.
But the podium hits different than the Zoom calls.
Presenting our capstone project during a live session felt a bit like exposure therapy, and I’m grateful for that! I was surrounded by my cohort, who offered reassurance and encouragement as I navigated my nerves.
The challenge of public speaking pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way and helped my personal growth-obsessed soul grow! After a full year of learning and collaborating, presenting just a few minutes of our journey was the hardest part. But it was also the most meaningful. Seeing a room full of engaged, curious faces and receiving thoughtful feedback made it all worth it.
Additionally, being recognized on the keynote stage the following day added a beautiful sense of closure and celebration. It felt extra meaningful to graduate in the spotlight, in front of the AME community. I hope this tradition continues for future cohorts!
2025 AME Emerging Leaders cohort graduating on stage
To my cohort: thank you for your friendship and inspiration. I’m proud of what we accomplished together!
📸 From left to right in the photo above:
Kimberlee Humphrey (AME president & CEO) and Joshua Buchanan (volunteer director, programs and founder of the Emerging Leaders Program)
2025 cohort: Will Adele, Oscar Serrano, Andre Cail, Brian Donovan, Jessi Elder, Michael Cougras, Drew Thomas, Miro Dekic, Jen Flournoy, Billy McCarty and David Farley
And the wonderful Rebecca Jenkins (volunteer director, Emerging Leaders)
Congrats, everyone!
Lastly, thank you, Kim, for nominating me to become an Emerging Leader and for sponsoring my participation. I’m so grateful for this experience and excited for what comes next.
Thank you so much for sharing, Jessi. You represented AME so well in this recap of your EL program experience, and we are so grateful you joined the AME Home Team!
Again, I want to express my deepest gratitude to Becca Jenkins and to our former Emerging Leader volunteer director, Josh Buchanon. Five years ago, Josh stepped into this role and transformed a simple idea into something far greater than we ever imagined. His vision and dedication laid the foundation for what we celebrate today.
And to all our graduates, congratulations! Your hard work and passion inspire us all. You are truly amazing, and we cannot wait to see the impact you’ll make in the future.
To our U.S. members: have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
As always, please stay safe and keep looking out for one another.