What is an LMA Advocate?
On the 10th anniversary of LMA Consulting Group Inc., we wanted to recognize those people who have been instrumental to our growth and success. We started with 10 people to celebrate the 10 years, and we add one each year. Profit through People was our original service line and brand because success is not an “I” equation, and it lives on with these awards!
LMA Advocates are cornerstone to our success. Although I’ve learned plenty along the way, one thing I did “right” from the start was “collect” good people. These are some of the “best of the best” we’ve worked with through the years. These people have gone over and beyond for LMA, and I am eternally thankful and thrilled to them!
2020 LMA Advocate
Shannon Reininger and I have worked together for 10 years with clients as well as with non-profit Board collaborations. We worked together at two separate clients, and she is so well-respected for her hard work, innovative capabilities (always finding new solutions to complex issues) and the value she brings to the bottom line that a third client brought me on board solely based on her recommendation that LMA was the group to work with to achieve SIOP results. Shannon turned around planning/ production control, materials management, procurement and logistics functions at multiple clients, but she never stops. She is one of the few clients I’ve met who can manage effectively in turnaround situations as well as profitable growth scenarios. We have also spent quite a bit of time together working on non-profit objectives related to ASCM/ APICS. Shannon makes a positive, lasting imprint on her work places, colleagues and association members.
LMA Advocates Prior Years
Andrea Belz: Andrea and I were accountability partners for several years during a crucial period of my business growth and transition. I’d send her a case study, bio or article, and she’d slash it in half while improving it! Andrea is also the person who introduced me to ProVisors (a group of trusted advisors to executives and business owners).
Mike Brown: Mike is the reason I was able to start my consulting practice. He gave me the opportunity to be the VP of Product Supply for PaperPak and fought off Board members and the like who might have preferred a grey-haired man from Harvard running their operations; instead, he stayed true to his focus on values and results. He has also been very supportive of my business and has involved me in interesting business deals.
Susan Brunasso: Susan has been one of the most supportive and customer service oriented people I know. I met her early on through the Claremont Chamber of Commerce, and I quickly discovered that she knows everyone – whatever random need I have, she will rapidly shoot off 2-3 referrals. Additionally she has been cornerstone to bringing me from text to visuals with photos and videos with extreme patience (starting off with 18,000 takes for 1 video…..)
Jim Cenname: Jim is a consummate professional, friend, and repeated client who has been pivotal to my practice’s growth and success. He is truly a pleasure to work with and is committed to achieving results with an eye towards the value of people. He has also been instrumental in providing introductions, keeping in touch, giving feedback on my business and marketing ideas etc.
Kelly Ford and I have worked together with 3 separate aerospace organizations and at least double or triple that in terms of projects. We have achieved significant results together (improved customer service levels to support business growth, expanded capacity and efficiencies, and right-sized inventory levels to maximize the use of cash and capital), and, most importantly, she orchestrated it so that we achieved these results while valuing and engaging people. Thus, I find Kelly a pleasure – it is not often I find a client that is interested in continual improvement, is willing to try new ideas and stick with them as the inevitable obstacles arise that must be overcome and is so well-respected by her team that everyone pulls together to “make it happen” and has fun during the process.
Kash Gokli – Kash and I have partnered together over the last few years to create and host the Harvey Mudd Executive Roundtables. We have achieved success but not slowed down when it comes to our objective of creating a community of top notch CEOs and senior leaders where we get together to learn, discuss and debate timely topics for business success. Kash has also been a great supporter of APICS Inland Empire and of LMA Consulting Group.
Vicki Jeter: Vicki has been a trusted colleague and friend and has been instrumental to my business growth. When I look back at the origins of my business growth (and top sources), Vicki is tied for #1! She is also the catalyst for my Systems Pragmatist service line as she has the best business acumen tied with systems applications and design experience I’ve ever run across.
Ellen Kane: Ellen and I met relatively early on through my APICS connections, and she has become a colleague, friend, ACA alliance partner and my 3rd top source/ catalyst of business growth with both referrals and collaboration (especially as it relates to my ERP selection services). She has got to be one of the most helpful and giving people I know which is why I always say that she is one of the only people who is “impossible to say no to”.
Valerie Ladd: Valerie and I met when I joined the APICS Inland Empire Board of Directors in the very early stages of my consulting practice. Valerie epitomizes customer service and extends that to all of her relationships. Thus, early on, Valerie made introductions for me, was always there to lend an ear or provide advice / ideas, and was instrumental in getting me known in the Inland Empire. And I could not forget to mention that she has kept our APICS chapter intact with finances and is an unrelenting volunteer – just invaluable!
K Means: K is not only a top-notch person and repeat client but she also shares knowledge readily – What a fantastic profession where you can provide value AND learn as you go (if you have someone like K in your corner)! K is also a fabulous combination of one of the best number-crunchers I know (her spreadsheets are truly amazing) and one of the most creative as well. She helped me put together my first graphic. Seems like a minor thing but a catalyst to my success!
Jolene Myers: Jolene was my first long-term client, and I am most appreciative of her unrelenting confidence and support. We worked together at PaperPak previously, and she tracked me down early in my consulting practice to discuss working together (what could be better?!). Jolene has been extremely supportive, enjoyable to work with and when I look back at the origins of my business growth (and top sources), she is tied for #1!
Ron Penland and I have known each other for over 10 years, and we have collaborated for the mutual benefit of manufacturers, distributors and significant service organizations. We got to know each other well in ProVisors (where I lead the Ontario group) and Renaissance Executive Forums (where Ron leads the Inland Empire group). Not only has Ron been instrumental in introducing me to several key clients but he also provides significant value with his leadership. His numbers speak volumes. For example, his member CEOs sell their companies for significantly higher multiples than peer companies/ executives. I appreciate the expertise and advocacy Ron has contributed over the years.
Parizad Sethna and I collaborate on the APICS-IE Board of Directors, and she has been instrumental in our success and raising the bar in terms of the value we provide members. She stands out from the crowd with her creativity, innovation and determination in taking on new areas of responsibility, which I have found particularly valuable with both APICS and LMA Consulting. Because Parizad is a quick study and has a continuous improvement approach to all that she does including communications, she has become one of the only people I entrust in communicating on my behalf which I DEEPLY appreciate.
C.C. Vest: C.C. and I met early on in my LMA tenure via NAWBO. We kept in touch throughout the years, and later collaborated on selecting the optimal ERP system to support her company’s goals. C.C. and Dan were a true pleasure to work with (couldn’t ask for better!), and C.C. has been exceptionally supportive of me and my business at every turn – introducing me to people, suggesting events to attend, providing recommendations and referrals – and the list goes on….