Roanoke, VA - The Virginia Tech Roanoke Center and the City of Roanoke will host a conference titled “Implementing Lean: Operational Excellence for Local Government” on March 3 and 4 at Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center in Roanoke.
“Any organization interested in improving services to its customers and addressing difficult budget challenges should attend this conference,” says Chris Morrill, City Manager. “Lean experts from around the country will talk about the importance of creating a culture of continuous process improvement.”
Over the past three years, city employees have completed Lean training at the Virginia Tech Roanoke Center. “This unique partnership between a senior land grant institution and a local government entity has produced positive results in eliminating waste, streamlining processes, and empowering employees,” said Kay Dunkley, director of the Roanoke Center. Results of the city’s projects will be shared at the March conference.
Event speakers represent government, healthcare, manufacturing, academic institutions, and small businesses. This includes Teresa Hay McMahon, executive director of the Iowa Lean Consortium; Jim Chrisinger, continuous improvement director for King County, Washington; Andrew Kleine, budget director for the City of Baltimore; and Jeff Fuchs, executive director of the Maryland World Class Consortia. Local talent includes Mike Parish, vice president for quality and patient safety at Carilion Clinic; Eileen Van Aken, engineering professor at Virginia Tech; and Roanoke’s police chief, Chris Perkins.
The Virginia Tech Roanoke Center offers an array of educational degrees and provides professional development opportunities to meet the specialized needs of those who live and work in the Roanoke region. Located on the seventh floor of the Roanoke Higher Education Center, the Virginia Tech Roanoke Center provides a gateway to opportunities provided by one of Virginia’s most prominent institutions of higher education.
As a six-time All-America City, Roanoke is a vital hub for education, industry, and transportation in Southwest Virginia. With a population nearing 100,000, its diversity is rich with more than 100 different cultures residing in the City of Roanoke. The community is nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and located midway between New York City and Atlanta within a 500-mile radius of over two-thirds of the nation’s population.
To learn more about Implementing Lean: Operational Excellence for Local Government, please contact:
Erin Burcham, Marketing and Program Coordinator
Virginia Tech Roanoke Center
108 North Jefferson St., Suite 701
Roanoke, VA 24016
Office: 540-767-6145
[email protected]
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