2024 Best Practices in Operational Excellence Presenters

Nate Craig is an associate professor in the Department of Operations and Business Analytics. He researches the application of data science and artificial intelligence to managerial decision-making, focusing on the financial services and retail industries. Leading outlets have published his research, including Harvard Business Review, the Journal of Operations Management, and Manufacturing and Service Operations Management. At the Fisher College of Business, Nate is academic director of the Executive MBA program and coordinator of the Ph.D. program in Operations and Business Analytics.

Nate earned a doctorate in Technology and Operations Management from Harvard Business School and master's and bachelor's degrees in Systems Engineering from The Ohio State University. He is the recipient of research awards, including the Wyss Award and the Ralph Gomory Industry Studies Award. Nate serves on the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) Community Board and the Ohio Union Council.

Emmanuel Aouad is the Strategy, Transformation, and Operational Excellence Leader for Stripe. He is a Six Sigma Black Belt with nearly 13 years of experience in Operational Excellence, Lean and Six Sigma, and Strategy Planning and Execution. Throughout his career, he’s worked for several companies, including Fidelity, Capital One, Lennox International, and Fisher Investments. Emmanuel is a proud alumnus of Wabash College, where he studied Economics and Music. In his free time, he enjoys training for American Ninja Warrior, rapping at nerd conventions, traveling with his wife, and playing Rocket League.

Gustavo Lage is the Senior Director of Operational Excellence, Process and Leadership Excellence for Medtronic Inc. Gus has over 20 years of experience in OpEx and manufacturing management. He is a proven leader with exceptional business acumen and leadership skills demonstrated in large manufacturing settings in the automotive, medical, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and defense industries. Before joining Medtronic in 2019, Gus served as Vice President of Operational Excellence and Continuous Improvement for Novanta. Gus has master's degrees in Science and Analytics from Villanova University and Business Administration from the University of Michigan, and a bachelor's degree in Industrial Systems Engineering from Monterrey Institute of Technology. He is also a certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt. Gus and his family reside in Littleton, Massachusetts.

Toby Locke is the Senior Global Director of Operational Excellence at Greif. He provides strategic OpEx leadership to a Global team supporting 236 Sites Globally located in 37 different countries. Locke is a proven operational executive with strong operational perceptiveness and a demonstrated ability to educate, initiate, lead, and implement policies and solutions. He is recognized for delivering results through a participative management style and a commitment to continuing education and innovation. Toby has a Master of Business and Operational Excellence from The Ohio State University, a Management and Human Relations degree from Trevecca Nazarene College, and is a Six Sigma Black Belt.

StephanieChen leads continuous improvement for The Wendy's Company in Dublin, Ohio. In this role, she focuses on building people and team capabilities, leads process improvement and cost savings initiatives, and provides project and change management thought leadership. Stephanie joined the Wendy's Company in September of 2015, where she led Organizational Development in Human Resources. In that role, Stephanie helped activate the company's Diversity & Inclusion strategy by forming, leading, and advising Wendy's employee resource groups. She also led performance planning and employee development programs for the enterprise. Prior to joining Wendy's, Stephanie led plant manufacturing and continuous improvement for General Mills and Kraft Foods. She holds a BA in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and a minor in Supply Chain Management from the University of California at Davis.

Sid Bhatnagar joined the American Society for Quality, Inc. (ASQ) in 2020 and serves as its Chief Executive Officer, after holding multiple executive roles with ASQ during the last four years. He is a dynamic and accomplished executive, with a series of transformative leadership roles across various industries.

Bhatnagar’s career is characterized by his creative and entrepreneurial approach to complex, fast-changing environments. He has an extensive track record of leading enterprise-wide initiatives that bring people, process and technology together to navigate complex challenges and drive significant growth across diverse sectors. Bhatnagar’s strategic prowess has allowed him to build and coach cross-functional teams, and establish collaborative relationships with top-level stakeholders, including Board of Directors, strategic partners, and peers.

With a robust background in the packaging and containers industry, the individual has distinguished themselves as an adept Chief Operating Officer. Their expertise spans across various critical domains, including Process Engineering, Operations Management, and Statistical Process Control (SPC). They have a proven track record in spearheading Business Process Improvement initiatives and leading cross-functional teams towards achieving collective goals. Their strong operational acumen is further enriched by a solid educational foundation, holding a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Political Science and Government from the University of Francis Marion. This blend of practical experience and academic knowledge positions them as a formidable professional in their field, capable of navigating and optimizing complex operational landscapes.

With two decades of experience, this Industrial Engineer specializes in driving process improvement that aligns with strategic goals, holding titles like Six Sigma Master Black Belt and Certified Supply Chain Professional. Their expertise in teaching Lean Six Sigma and problem-solving techniques has fostered significant advancements in Health Care, Supply Chain Distribution, and Telecom Service Industries. They adeptly employ tools such as Tableau, SynapseIQ, and Visio to anchor their data-driven problem-solving approach.

Dedicated to organizational excellence, they focus on streamlining processes and optimizing resources through continuous improvement initiatives. Their commitment to team success is evident in their hands-on approach to guiding and supporting cross-functional teams, aiming to enhance their efficiency and achieve their strategic objectives.