True transformation is self-regenerative and comes from the collaborative effort of people from within your company.
This is why our global, interdisciplinary team works cross-functionally throughout the hierarchy of your organization. We guide the formulation of vision, education of the workforce, and development of unique solutions born out of the real needs and goals that matter to your business. We believe that the key to creating a more sustainable future is through businesses like yours that are ready to lead the way.
Meet The Team
Ray Littlefield
Strategic Transformation Architect
Ray Littlefield - Strategic Transformation Architect
Ray has a passion for designing, leading, and supporting enterprise wide organizational transformation based upon a people centric problem solving appraoch. He has been a student to lean thinking since 1997 beginning his career as a production engineering trainee at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK), Powertrain Division. Ray gained further insight into lean systems as Industrial Extension Specialist, teaching and researching lean transformation methodologies as a member the Lean Systems Group, an industry-academic partnership between Toyota and the University of Kentucky College of Engineering.
Over the years, Ray has led several transformation programs in vastly different industries from manufacturing, food processing, healthcare, government, and service environments, engaging at all levels from front line team members to CEO’s.
Ray holds a Master of Science, Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Lean Systems Emphasis, and a Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering. Ray also holds certifications in Lean Systems, Human Systems for Lean (Toyota Culture), Lean Accounting, Toyota Production Systems and Toyota Problem Solving.
Rina Sinha
Transformation Coach and Instructional Designer
Rina Sinha - Transformation Coach and Instructional Designer
With a background in lean systems and human resource development, Rina brings a people centric approach to applying lean systems methodology to organizations.
She has been heavily involved in designing and leading lean systems training programs, delivering to many levels of the organisation from front line team members to senior managers. She has a unique ability to coach and build teamwork to assist organizations to undertake a disciplined approach to achieving lean systems transformation, supporting sustainable results while respecting the workforce.
Rina holds a Bachelor of Human Resources in Organizational Learning, a Graduate Certificate in Competitive Enterprise, Masters of Business Administration, a Diploma in Environmental Sustainability, has completed advanced study in Industrial / Organizational Psychology, Training and Education for Sustainability, Lean Systems (USA and Japan Study Missions), and is currently pursuing her PhD at Swinburne University of Technology Faculty of Business and Enterprise.
Trevor Price
Team Builder, Business Firestarter, and People Enabler
Trevor Price - Team Builder, Business Firestarter, and People Enabler
Trevor is a successful entrepreneur, bringing his foresight and energy as director and owner of multiple
businesses.
Trevor has over 15 years’ experience driving organizational transformation, through product, process and user experience, in which the alignment of a customer focused approach and the development of people and systems to result in significant growth of revenues and bottom line.
He understands that meeting the true needs of people and aligning them with organizational purpose, inspires them to grow as they create business opportunities and success.
Trevor enjoys bringing fresh thinking and determination to each engagement.
Darril Wilburn
Coach, Strategist, and Educator
Darril Wilburn - Coach, Strategist, and Educator
Darril was a leader in the development and implementation of some of Toyota Motor Manufacturing’s highest profile leadership development programs. Darril led the Toyota Way 2001 (Toyota core values and principles) implementation at Toyota’s largest manufacturing plant in North America. Darril worked with The Toyota Institute in Japan to develop the Toyota Business Practice (TBP) leading the global pilot of this program as well as the North American Senior Executive sessions.
While at Toyota, Darril studied the Toyota Production System as a student of OMDD, Toyota’s internal Sensei group. Darril was also part of the team that launched Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas where he led the assimilation and training of new to Toyota management.
Other clients include, Johnson Controls, Wrigley Europe, M&M Mars, Volvo Trucks, Carl Zeiss, Valero Energy, Kimberly-Clark, Monomoy Capital Partners, Department of Labor and Industry (Washington State,) The Port of Seattle and Toyota Motor Manufacturing.
Samuel Obara
Coach, Strategist, Lean Practitioner
Samuel Obara - Coach, Strategist, Lean Practitioner
Sammy learned and implemented the Toyota Production System (TPS) at Toyota facilities in Japan, Brazil, Venezuela and in the United States. He has taught Lean to a multitude of consulting firms, educational organizations such as Harvard and Stanford, and even in humanitarian missions thru Asia and Africa. With close to 30 years of Lean experience, he has helped more than 350 companies. These include TPS projects in environments ranging from schools, to hospitals, to military and many others and in a variety of countries, including China, Mexico, Canada, Indonesia, Brazil, Japan, Austria, the U.K., and the U.S..
Mastered in Technology Management, he also is a faculty member with the Lean Institute and an instructor of Global Strategy Management for the California Community College system. He is a guest lecturer on lean for post-graduate classes at Stanford University and San Diego State University, and has been a speaker at conferences sponsored by the American Production and Inventory Control Society, the Association for Productivity and Quality (APQ), and the American Society for Quality (ASQ). He is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, and English and has a basic knowledge of Japanese.
He currently aids companies implementing lean through Honsha.org.
Rebecca Michalik
Culture Analyst, Transformation Agent, and Coach
Rebecca Michalik - Culture Analyst, Transformation Agent, and Coach
With a background in Organizational Psychology, Rebecca is committed to working with organizations to achieve sustainable outcomes which center on the people within the system. Rebecca has experience working with businesses to assist them in understanding the impact of leadership on culture and the elements important for organizational change.
Rebecca has senior leadership experience, a proven track record in facilitating cultural change, and tailoring solutions to suit the unique circumstances of the business. She has provided coaching and mentoring support to all levels of people employed within an organization, from those at the front line of a business to the CEO. Rebecca also has experience coaching at board level.
Rebecca is a registered psychologist, having completed a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (hons) and Sociology, a Master of Organizational and Industrial Psychology, has a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and has completed advanced study in lean systems. Rebecca is also an accredited practitioner with Human Synergistics Australia.
Sasha Neser
Problem Solver, Coach, and Educator
Sasha Neser - Problem Solver, Coach, and Educator
With a background in engineering, business, lean systems and environmental sustainability, Sasha brings a systematic approach to assisting organizations in their improvement journey. His leadership experience in various roles from project engineer, operations analyst, operations manager, to lean transformation manager, has given him the skills to rapidly grasp the operational condition and design highly effective improvement programs throughout Australia, Southeast Asia, and USA.
Sasha holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, a Graduate Certificate in Competitive Enterprise, a Graduate Diploma in Manufacturing Operations, and, has completed advanced study in Training and Education for Sustainability, Carbon Accounting, Six Sigma, Lean Systems (USA and Japan Study Missions), and is currently pursuing his PhD at Swinburne University of Technology Faculty of Business and Enterprise.
Charlotte Cordier
Optimizer, Analyst, Coach
Charlotte Cordier - Optimizer, Analyst, Coach
Charlotte is a Lean / Continuous Improvement specialist with 10 years of experience leading hands-on transformation initiatives in a broad range of sectors such as defence, power metering, optical, media broadcasting and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Charlotte is passionate about helping businesses create prosperous work environments where people improve their ways of working, innovate and collaborate.
With Masters in industrial engineering, Charlotte can quickly understand complex systems and processes.
Problem solving, Visual management, Total Productive Maintenance and Gemba walks are some of Charlotte’s favourite Lean topics. She’s also very interested in innovation, creativity and the integration of new technologies in the workplace.
Lando Nishida
Systems Analyst and Designer
Lando Nishida - Systems Analyst and Designer
With 15 years lean transformation experience, Lando has an abundance of experience in lean transformation covering a wide range of industry sectors including automotive, aerospace, food, chemical, construction, healthcare, financial, IT and other service sectors. As a Senior Advisor at Institut Lean France (ILF) he developed and coached managers in over 30 countries in South America, Europe and Asia to lead their corporate Lean deployment programs worldwide.
With a background in mechanical engineering, Lando is in charge of Lean AI (Artificial Intelligence) research and development programs, supporting innovative companies to implement AI platforms by building source quality in their manufacturing and supply chain processes. This included adding APIs (Application Programming Interface) to self-learning systems that predict problems or potential issues in advance and reduce quality defects continuously through machine learning algorithms with user friendly interfaces and visual management devices.
In addition, he is co-founder and Vice President at Lean Academy Portugal (LAP) and Project Manager at Lean Institute Brazil (LIB).
Barry McCarthy
Explicador
Barry McCarthy - Explicador
Barry is a recent graduate of the Toyota Production System but will always be a student. Experiencing the rhythmic production lines of Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Kentucky, and of course Japan at its heart, has been meaningful work. Barry specializes in the implementation of integrated systems and routines; always respecting human resource development. He has implemented company-wide: Hoshin Kanri, Toyota Business Practices, On-job-development, Leadership Development, and the Toyota Way. At the shop floor level: Management, Engineering, and Logistics Development Systems, Jishuken, Standardized work, A3, and PDCA. He worked in the Toyota Institute, Manufacturing Organizational Planning and Development, and the TPS office within Toyota.
With a grounded engineering background Barry has also implemented continuous improvement in food processing, manufacturing, packaging, printing, and front of house food service and management.
In addition to the practical experience Barry has completed a Master degree in Applied Positive Psychology, Graduate Diploma in Business, Diploma of Training and Assessment, Diploma in Competitive Systems and Practices. Interestingly Barry’s first degree was civil engineering and is a chapter president of AME in Australia.
Martyn Bradfield
Health and Safety Coach, Advocate and Change Agent
Martyn Bradfield - Health and Safety Coach, Advocate and Change Agent
Martyn has over 30 years’ experience in work health, safety and environment in New Zealand, Australia and many other parts of the world, working and consulting across all industry, service and government sectors. Martyn has experience in occupational hygiene, coaching, leadership development and providing a broad range of improvement services to organizations.
Martyn’s interest is in making a difference, continuous improvement, reducing waste and improving the management of risks. He is highly effective at empowering people to make better choices, so that everyone stays safe and well every day and can enjoy life to the fullest.Martyn is passionate about driving positive change in Work Health and Safety practices and culture. He has a firm belief that getting “Everyone Home Safe and Well Today” is achievable.
Martyn has a Bachelor of Science, Diploma in Safety Management (Occupational Hygiene), Graduate Certificate in Competitive Management Systems and Practices and is a Member of Australian Institute of Occupational Hygiene.
Martyn is a keen diver and kayaker, a dive instructor for 20 years, lives in Margate Tasmania on 20 acres of bush and loves to landscape the native environment with his wife. He has an adult daughter who is a Navy Officer and training to be a helicopter pilot.
Oliver Bodak
Leader, Coach, and Relationships Manager
Oliver Bodak - Leader, Coach, and Relationships Manager
Oliver has over 15 years working in the health and safety profession focusing on effective leadership and strategy implementation to ensure key risks are managed practically and effectively.
He’s a dynamic trainer, speaker and problem-solver. Rooms energize when Ollie speaks and listens; he brings a rare authenticity that connects with people from all walks of life.
Oliver has led and supported programs in industries as diverse as Railways; Local Government; Mining; Manufacturing and Health Care. His training in sports science and psychology brings human first thinking, improvement focus and a commitment to set people up for success.
Oliver has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Human Movement Studies / Exercise Science), Bachelor of Arts (Major in Sports Studies / Major in Psychology), Postgraduate Certificate of Ergonomics, Safety and Health and a Graduate Certificate in Competitive Systems and Practices
Alan Parsley
Continuous Improvement Catalyst and Leadership Coach
Alan Parsley - Continuous Improvement Catalyst and Leadership Coach
Alan has gained the unique combination of operational and administrative experience over his 27 year career. During those years, Alan was involved in the start-up of the Toyota company’s first North American auto manufacturing operation in Georgetown, Ky. which employed over 8,000 Team Members and produced over 200,000 vehicles per year.
Alan moved from manufacturing management to Human Resources and was assigned to lead HR initiatives for all NA facilities. Alan continued his career at Saft America where he again served both human resource and operations functions for a greenfield start-up of a $220 million Lithium Ion battery manufacturing facility. Alan progressed to the role of Director of Operations where he implemented state of the art human resource and continuous improvement programs.
Alan has also taken a leadership role in the Jacksonville community where he has served as Vice Chairman of the Jacksonville Lean Consortium and serves on the Board of Directors of the First Coast Manufacturer’s Association, Executive Member of the Dean’s Leadership Council and is a Jax Chamber Trustee at the Leadership Level.
Pedro Henrique
Continuous Improvement Catalyst and Leadership Coach
Pedro Henrique - Continuous Improvement Catalyst and Leadership Coach
Pedro Monteiro is founding partner of PM&LEAN Portugal. He specializes in lean construction initiatives, process optimization software, augmented reality, virtual reality, and gamification project teams.
Pedro has a background in production engineering from the Pontificial Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, he has worked as process engineer, production manager and since 2013 as a Lean trainer and coach of managers and change agents for lean implementation in the manufacturing, civil construction, administrative, services sectors in Brazil, Peru, Portugal and the United States.
Pedro has a passion for digital technology and has dedicated the last few years to the development of tools and applications involving augmented reality, virtual reality, gamification and artificial intelligence for innovative companies, creating environments for training and qualifying employees aiming at effective learning in a safe, fast and scalable way.
Jay Peters
Strategist, Design Lead, Coach
Jay Peters - Strategist, Design Lead, Coach
Jay Peters is a Design and Innovation Management/Leadership specialist with a background in consulting, coaching and educating clients from major leading global brands such as LEGO, Nestle, Sony, Kimberly-Clark, Novo Nordisk, BASF, Unilever, Bose, Roche and many others using design and innovation lead practices to maximize value across the triple (profit, planet & people) bottom line.
Throughout his career he has held various roles ranging from corporate to agency to consultancy to entrepreneurial startups, while spanning creative fields from products to services to communications. Jay has a special interest in business model innovation, design thinking, and professional education.
Jay has lived and worked extensively across Europe and the USA and holds a bachelor’s degree in Product Design and marketing Minor from Southern Illinois University and a Master’s Degree in Business Design from Domus Academy in Milan, Italy.
Natalie Schraufnagel
Design Strategist, Product Designer, Coach
Natalie Schraufnagel - Design Strategist, Product Designer, Coach
With a background in product design and development, Natalie practiced product design working in medical, electronic, consumable and automotive industries. She led creative roles from designer to lead designer to design manager in start-ups, consultancies and corporations across the USA. Natalie has a passion for design in visual brand language, process, strategy, consumer journey and how information is communicated within corporations and externals.
Natalie Schraufnagel is an associate of Niwaki where she consults and coaches major leading global brands on how to maximize design value. In addition, she is a tutor who educates and coaches professionals of product development disciples on design and innovation lead practices.
Natalie has graduated from Northwestern University with a Masters in Product Design and Development Management and holds a BFA in Industrial Design and Minor in Communications Graphics from Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design.
Mikel Wisler
Video and Creative Team Lead
Mikel Wisler - Video and Creative Team Lead
Mikel J. Wisler is an award-winning narrative filmmaker who now specializes in documentary storytelling for Niwaki story. He has authored one non-fiction book on filmmaking, Short Films 2.0: Getting Noticed in the YouTube Age, as well as two novels and several short stories. His short films have played in dozens of film festivals around the world and received multiple nominations and awards. His work in video production has received multiple Telly Awards.
Mikel has a Bachelors degree in Philosophy and a Bachelors degree in Liberal Studies with concentrations in Writing, Theatre, and Cinematography, both from Bethel University in Indiana. While in college, he studied at the Los Angeles Film Studies Centre and had an internship in the film industry.
Trevor Pendleton
Video and Creative
Trevor Pendleton - Video and Creative
Trevor Pendleton is a visual storyteller with a deep desire to bring meaningful stories to life. Passionate about continuous development and learning, he is ever on the quest for the best means to capture a moment through cinematography and editing so that the audience can experience something transformative.
Trevor is a graduate of Fitchburg State University where he studied communications with a specialization in film and video production. With hands-on experience working in feature films, short films, documentaries, and commercials, he has continued to hone the craft of visual storytelling and audience engagement.
Working with Niwaki Story has enabled him to tell impactful stories of real transformation for individuals and organizations. His continued development as a storyteller and strategist has expanded the capabilities of the Niwaki Story as it takes on new challenges. Always ready for a new challenge or adventure, Trevor has his eye on how to most faithfully and beautifully capture moments of truth and humanity.
Paco Estrada
Coach, Trainer, Strength Builder
Paco Estrada - Coach Trainer, Strength Builder
Paco has over 15 years of experience in supporting the implementation of Lean methodologies across numerous industries including: Pharmaceutical, Healthcare, Steel, Beer, Non Woven Fabric, Pet Food, Medical Equipment, Banking and others.
He is particularly passionate about helping people to improve and grow within the lean transformation. Paco has applied this approach with companies in Latin America, the United States and Europe.
With a Degree in Design, and post-graduate studies in Quality Engineering and Project Management, Paco brings a unique perspective and approach on how to address change in organizations. He is also a Certified Six Sigma and Lean Sigma Black Belt.
Kshanika Patel
Design Coach
Kshanika Patel - Design Coach
With a background in Fashion, she completed her Master’s degree in Design Management from Savannah College of Art and Design. Kshanika takes a people-centric approach towards design and business, strategically enabling innovations. She has a knack for creativity and tries to implement out-of-the-box thinking towards every problem thrown at her. Kshanika is a driven idealist working passionately towards enhancing experiences and generating new offerings for organizations.
Jackson
Chief Relations Officer
Jackson - Chief Relations Officer
For the last 8 years, Jackson has maintained a keen focus on chasing big goals and his achievements has seen him bring his team internationally from Melbourne to Boston.
He believes strongly in go and see and on the job training. His leader standard work involves a strict routine to train his trainers on a daily go and see walk.
Jackson has been the CRO of niwaki for the past 4 years and its clear that that he believes in rewards for development (some say that he was the brains behind the Inception).
He does his some of his best work when he’s on his own and is able to find opportunities that others maybe keeping out of reach.
Oliver Fearman
Leader, Coach, and Relationships Manager
Oliver Fearman - Leader, Coach, and Relationships Manager
Oliver has over 15 years of experience in the design, implementation and assessment of workplace health and safety systems and the integration of cultural programs that establish the context of healthy and safe work for teams.
With a background in farming, construction, oil and gas, mining and forestry he brings extensive practical knowledge from high hazard industries.
Oliver’s experiences working with teams in the Sahara Desert, jungles of Papua New Guinea and with remote land based drilling rigs has developed a genuine appreciation for team work in challenging environments. This drives a passion for empowering teams to create a work environment that enriches the lives of those in the workplace and the ones they return home to.
Oliver has a Bachelor of Science (Zoology / Botany), Diploma Occupational Health and Safety, Diploma of Quality Auditing and a Graduate Certificate in Competitive Systems and Practices.
Henry Li
Continuous Improvement Catalyst and Leadership Coach
Henry Li - Continuous Improvement Catalyst and Leadership Coach
Henry takes a practical yet principle-based approach to transformation drawing from his engineering background, his first hand Toyota experience, and the breath of experience and study of lean thinking and practice.
Henry has more than 20 years of operation management experience in various roles including Senior Specialist at McKinsey & Co, Vice-President at Lean Enterprise China (LEC), Director of Production at Qoros, in addition to engineering roles at both Ford and Toyota Kentucky.
His consulting experience covers a wide range of manufacturing, and service industries including different types of enterprises including State Owned Enterprises (SOE), multinational (MNE), and local private companies in China. Hong Li maintains a global presence having worked throughout China, Southeast Asia, North America, the EU, Russia, and Australia. His transformation support has included both operations in manufacturing, warehousing, and supply chain management.
Mitch Parerra
Accounting
Mitch Parrera - Accounting Expert
Mitch is an accounting professional with over 10 years corporate experience. She has worked in various industries such as banking, manufacturing, consulting and retail entities operating in Australia and internationally.
Mitch is passionate about finding innovative solutions to client needs. In addition to sharing her accounting and financial expertise, she is also knowledgeable on the technical aspects of business.
Her end to end exposure to systems development life cycle and lean has made her committed to continuous process improvement.
Mitch has a Masters of Professional Accounting, a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and advanced lean and six sigma training.
Fernando Ponce
Video and Creative
Fernando Ponce - Video and Creative
Fernando studied General Business and Polynesian and Asian Culture at Hawaii Pacific University and Marketing at Worcester State University in Worcester Massachusetts, where he now lives.
As a part of the storytelling arm of Niwaki, Fernando loves capturing nature and the beauty of life in visual mediums like photography and motion pictures. He is passionate about helping communities and jumped at the opportunity to be part of Enactus, one of the largest student organizations in the world where he has worked alongside fellow entrepreneurial and value-driven social innovators to identify needs and create solutions in the Worcester community. By focusing on the United Nations Development Goals, Fernando has created visual arts projects that have competed regionally, nationally, and globally. Driven by a desire to be a positive impact on the world by continuously improving and using his creativity to solve problems around him, Fernando brings light-hearted and energetic enthusiasm and a keen eye for visual storytelling to the Niwaki Story team.
Cosette Saliba
Design Strategist
Cosette Saliba - Design Strategist
Cosette is passionate about catalyzing the power of business to solve societal challenges through corporate social innovation so that both business and communities can thrive and flourish together. She works to support several purpose-driven businesses globally in Design Strategy, Strategic Marketing, and Business Models Design.
Cosette also facilitates learning of Design Methodologies, User Experience Design, Design For Sustainability, Sustainable Design Futures for bachelor and master levels at universities in France and in Lebanon.
She researches and writes about purpose-driven businesses and the impact of sustainability-oriented innovation on their business model and their relationship with their stakeholders. She has published articles in Business And Organizational Excellence journal and Ground Research Networks journal.
Cosette is a Fulbright scholar, she holds a Masters of Fine Arts degree (MFA) in Design Management from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), and a Bachelor of Science degree in Graphic Design.
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