Lead Smarter.
Solve Faster.
Boost Your Bottom Line.
Stop firefighting and start fixing what matters. Build unstoppable problem-solving cultures that drive performance, eliminate waste, and sustain long-term profits.
30+ Years Experience
$100M+ Problems Solved
Top 2% Viewed TEDx
Recurring Problems Are Silent Profit Killers
Recurring problems cost more than downtime. They drain profit, burn out your best people, and trap leaders in endless firefighting instead of moving the plant forward. If fixes don’t hold under production pressure, you don’t have a solution—you have a delay.
The One Priority
Make recurring problems stop.
Define the problem precisely, isolate the dominant cause, prove the fix, and make backsliding hard. Until repeat issues disappear, nothing else matters.
I Don't Do Band-Aids.
I Build Bulletproof Solutions.
I built systems that turned repeat issues into permanent wins across automotive, medical, and consumer products.
- ▸ 30 years in manufacturing quality and operations (Bosch, ZF, Arvin-Sango, Aisin)
- ▸ Started ZF Gray Court as employee #25; led quality for half of a 1M sq-ft plant
- ▸ Built Advanced Problem Solving group; solved ~$100M in quality/production issues
- ▸Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt; Shainin Red X Journeyman, Certified Member of the Maxwell Leadership Team, Distinguished Toastmaster
- ▸ Top 2% most-viewed TEDx talk on problem solving
Michael’s TEDxGreenville talk, “Teaching Kids Better Problem Solving,” challenges the way we prepare the next generation for an unpredictable future. Instead of memorizing answers, kids need to learn detective skills, teamwork, and leadership — the same strengths that drive success in the real world. His message clearly resonated: the talk has climbed into the top 2% percentage of most-viewed TEDx talks.
How I Help Manufacturers Win
From conference stages to plant floors, I equip leaders and teams to stop firefighting and start fixing what matters.
Speaking –
Inspire & Spark Change
High-energy, story-driven keynotes that make problem solving stick. I turn abstract concepts into practical “aha” moments leaders remember—and act on.
Outcomes:
- Align leaders and teams around the One Priority so recurring problems stop.
- Shift from firefighting to problem finding—clarify the real problem fast and pick the right target.
- Turn data into decisions with a practical storytelling framework that earns buy‑in.
- Spark measurable momentum with simple tools people can use the next shift
Best for: Conferences, leadership summits, all-hands kickoffs
Training –
Build Problem-Solving Teams
Hands-on workshops for leaders and teams who need to stop patching and start solving. People leave with simple tools, clear frameworks, and the confidence to deliver measurable results back at work.
Outcomes:
- Focus on the vital 20% of tools that solve 80% of problems—aligned to the One Priority: make recurring problems stop.
- Stop guessing: tighten the problem statement, isolate what matters, and confirm the fix with data in real conditions.
- Turn analysis into persuasive stories that earn buy‑in and speed decisions across functions.
- Unlock team potential by developing the 16 Strengths, leading to faster solutions and sustained improvements.
Best for: Plant teams, quality/ME/ops leaders, cross-functional squads
Coaching –
Develop Leaders Who Deliver
One-on-one and small‑group coaching that aligns leaders to the One Priority: make recurring problems stop. We develop the 16 Strengths, sharpen decision quality with storytelling, and coach through your real situations with cadence and accountability.
Outcomes:
- Identifying and personalizing the One Priority for your role, team, and plant.
- Build the 16 Strengths at the leader level—mindsets and habits that create self-sufficient, high‑trust teams.
- Craft and deliver clear, persuasive stories that earn buy‑in up, down, and across—so decisions move faster with less friction.
- Coach through live issues: refine the problem statement, pressure‑test options, pick simple, durable actions, and hold the cadence until results stick.
Best for: Executive teams, high‑potential managers, cross‑functional squads, and technical leaders
See How Manufacturing Professionals Are Applying What They Learned
“I now approach problems using statistical methods instead of gut feel.” S.P.
“I left with practical tools for problem solving and using tangible data to make decisions.” O.J.
“I’ll think through my stories differently and focus on becoming a better communicator.” E.V.
“I plan to use the information daily to maintain my skills and keep problem solving top of mind.” W.F.
“Knowing how to tell the difference between good and bad data will help us make better process decisions.” K.M
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713 E. Greenville St. Suite D #242
Anderson, SC 29621
+1 (864) 437-4664
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