The Iowa Lean Consortium (ILC) Annual Conference remains Iowa’s premier event for continuous improvement professionals. Three hundred forty attendees from 96 organizations participated in this year’s event on October 24 in Altoona. Organizers attribute the event’s continued success to three key factors: engaging keynote speakers, breakout sessions led by national experts and local members, and networking opportunities that foster valuable connections.
“This conference stands out for providing tools and fostering peer connections to tackle organizational challenges,” said Tracy Schuster, ILC director. “Leading change is not easy. Whether you’re part of a team or a solo leader, it’s rewarding and energizing to come together with other like-minded individuals.”
Kicking off the main conference, which followed a day of preconference workshops, was Billy Ray Taylor. Taylor, founder and CEO of LinkedXL, discussed the LinkedXL process from his best-selling book, The Winning Link. His process has enabled global brands to achieve record-breaking results by understanding and implementing the concept of a “winning link” within their organizations.
As he spoke, Taylor encouraged attendees to “set the standard,” reminding them that “what you accept, you cannot change.” This takeaway was a powerful reminder for many attendees to uphold and reinforce high standards within their teams and organizations.
This was the second time Taylor served as an ILC keynote speaker, following his previous appearance at the 2013 event. Schuster received several requests from members to bring him back.
The conference closer was Anne Bonney, author of Get Over It: 47 Tips for Embracing the Discomfort of Change. Her presentation focused on change management and leadership, using the five-P approach outlined in her book: point, problem, path, punch it, and persevere. Bonney’s appearance was suggested by an ILC member who heard her speak at another conference.
Conference breakout sessions covered various topics, ranging from continuous improvement implementation to building engaged teams and leading through change. The conference not only educated but also inspired participants to drive innovation and improvement as well as foster collaboration within their organizations.
Reflecting on the event, an attendee remarked, “I think this was the best conference yet.”
For more information, contact Tracy Schuster at tschust@iastate.edu or 515-715-0164.