2025 Annual Conference
Event Details
When
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
8:00 AM 7:00 PM
(Breakfast at 8:00 AM;
Conference begins at 9:00 AM)
Where
UrbanBeat
1213 Turner Road
Lansing, MI, 48906 (map)
Join us for a full day of insights, networking, and inspiration featuring speakers from Biggby Coffee, Labcorp, YesLMS, FKM Consulting, Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM), and more. The event includes a continental breakfast, lunch, and a post-conference networking reception with a cash bar.
Standard Rate
$100 per person
Colleague Combo
$80 per person when you bring a friend or co-worker! ($20 discount per person)
Seating is limited — register early to reserve your spot!
Agenda
8:00 am
9:00 am
9:30 am
10:00 am
10:30 am
12:00 pm
1:00 pm
1:20 pm
1:45 pm
2:45 pm
3:00 pm
3:30 pm
3:50 pm
4:30 pm
Continental Breakfast
Conference Starts - Welcome
Keynote Speaker: John Gilkey -- Leadership Challenges in Starting Transformation
Activity
Breakout sessions:
A:Frank Murdock
B: Eric Budd
Lunch
Keynote Speakers: Tom Lietz and James Young -- Storytelling
Activity
Breakout sessions:
A:Tammi Williams
B: Heidi Nielsen
"Adrian Bass" Award
Keynote Speaker: Brian Calley -- Leadership Challenges in an Unpredictable World
Activity
Conference Wrap Up
Networking and Cocktails
Breakout Sessions
In the Morning
In the Afternoon
“What Gets Measured Gets Mismanaged: A Leadership Wake-up Call”
Presenter: Frank Murdock
Leaders many times default to “Stop Light” scorecards without adequate reference standards or definition. Typical “Period-Over-Period” quantitative comparisons attempt to explain the reason for observed variances and/ or assign blame instead of recognizing random, system, common cause variation and avoiding wasteful and unproductive action. This breakout discussion will challenge this mindset and suggest a deeper, more insightful, predictive and proactive way of interpreting variation through the study of process behavior using real-life examples from the Teach-To-Learn activities of IQI Academy participants. Take-aways include 1) An awareness of typical traps associated with “data driven” decision making, 2) An understanding and tools for distinguishing between common vs. special cause variation, 3) An understanding of operational definitions and how they can be used to identify defective outcomes, 4) An alternative approach to the “zero defect” mindset that enables continuous improvement efforts instead of distorting and disabling them.
Breakout Session - B
Presenter: Eric Budd
Description will be added soon!
“Beyond Metrics: The Human Side of Quality”
Presenter: Dr. Tammi Williams
In this session, participants will explore W. Edwards Deming’s insights on psychology—the often-overlooked pillar of his System of Profound Knowledge. They will learn how systems, not individual effort alone, drive most workplace performance and how fear, incentives, and ranking can undermine motivation and quality. The discussion will highlight ways to restore intrinsic motivation, foster respect for people, and create psychological safety. Attendees will leave with practical questions and actions they can use immediately to improve both processes and the human experience of work.
No Blame, No Excuses—Just Better: High-Trust Reviews That Drive Results
Presenter: Heidi Nielsen, MSE, MBA
In this interactive session, participants will explore how After Action Reports (AARs) can be used to drive learning, accountability, and meaningful change. Attendees will walk away with practical tools and insights to:
Understand the purpose, structure, and timing of effective AARs.
Apply W. Edwards Deming’s principles to foster a culture of continuous improvement and systems thinking.
Establish a safe and psychologically secure environment that encourages honest reflection and open dialogue.
Use facilitation techniques to gather valuable feedback from diverse stakeholders, ensuring all voices are heard.
Translate lessons learned into a strategic action plan that aligns with organizational goals and drives measurable improvement.
Promote transparency, ownership, and learning across teams and functions.
Whether you're leading scientific programs, operational teams, or cross-functional initiatives, this session will equip you with strategies to make AARs a cornerstone of your improvement efforts.
Meet the Speakers
-
Heidi Nielsen is the Senior Director of Discovery Operations and Head of Antibody Reagents and Vaccines at Labcorp Drug Development. She leads strategic initiatives in early-stage drug discovery, with a strong emphasis on advancing innovative oncology therapies and vaccines. At Labcorp, Heidi has championed a quality-focused culture through the implementation of PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) cycles, a staff-led 5S team, and blame-free root cause investigation tools.
Previously at Emergent BioSolutions, Heidi was a strong proponent of peer-to-peer accountability safety initiatives and played a key role in establishing integrated, process-focused teams to enhance operational effectiveness. A dedicated advocate of W. Edwards Deming’s principles, she fosters continuous improvement, systems thinking, and data-driven decision-making. Her leadership continues to drive impactful solutions to global health challenges. Heidi is also a former board member of the Institute for Quality Innovation (IQI) organization and an IQI Academy graduate.
-
Frank Murdock is an industrial engineer and the principal consultant with FKM Consulting LLC located in Ann Arbor, MI and member of the IQI Board. He is an ASQ Certified Six Sigma Black Belt. Frank worked as an engineer at Ford for 28 years in a variety of positions and contributed to the development of the Ford Production System. As an independent consultant, Frank has worked in a variety of industries including aerospace, financial services, commercial and residential construction, and automotive. He recently managed supply chain operations for a Midwest manufacturer of specialty electrical equipment for large, automated systems. Frank is a member leader in the ASQ Lean Enterprise Division and also serves on the ASQ Board of Directors.
-
Dr. Tammi Williams brings over 17 years of experience in vocational rehabilitation with a proven track record in process improvement and system optimization.
As leader of the staff development team, she has implemented strategies that streamline workflows, enhance service quality, and foster continuous learning.
She earned her Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Counselor Education from Michigan State University, where her research focused on distance learning and its role in professional development.
Tammi’s expertise extends across Quality Management and the professional growth of those in the helping professions. Her passion lies in developing strategies that align people, processes, and purpose to achieve sustainable results.