Meet the Keynotes: COE Summit 2023

February 6, 2023

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COE Summit 2023

Amid the continuing disruption in today’s business world, operational agility and continuous improvement have never been more important. The ability to adapt during periods of change is an increasing sought-after skill across industries and organizations.

This year, the Center for Operational Excellence Summit will focus on reimagining the possibilities of operational excellence to change, adapt, and excel during times of disruption and uncertainty.

With 4 dynamic keynotes, 15 breakout sessions, small-group workshops, and exclusive tour experiences, the 2023 COE Summit is a high-value opportunity to connect with industry leaders and top researchers in pursuit of the latest best practices in leadership and problem-solving.

The 2023 COE Summit will be held in-person April 11-13 at Ohio State’s Fawcett Center. This year’s Summit will feature the following keynotes you won’t want to miss:

S. Max Brown, Managing Partner & Leadership Coach at the Institute for Enterprise Excellence

S. Max Brown is a leading speaker, leadership coach, author, and podcast host. As a managing partner at the Institute for Enterprise Excellence, Max works with dozens of global organizations on topics including continuous improvement, system design, and sustainable results. His book, “Leadership Vertigo: Why Even the Best Leaders Go Off Course and How They Can Get Back On Track,” explores the gap how leaders want to be perceived and how others experience their leadership in addition to strategies for bridging this gap.

At the 2023 COE Summit, Max will be speaking on continuous improvement as a way of being, not just doing. You can start learning from Max now by listening to his podcast, Purpose & Principles.

Cindy Maher & Jamie Guite, Leading Edge Coaching & Development’s Dynamic Duo

Cindy Maher and Jamie Guite are no strangers to COE—they’ve led some of the center’s most highly-rated webinars on topics like managing change, recognizing burnout, and having courageous conversations in the workplace. Cindy is a co-founding partner and the President of Leading Edge Coaching & Development with more than 25 years of experience in leadership education, executive team development, and performance management strategies. Jamie is Director of Diversity Development at Leading Edge, a role that allows her to combine decades of experience in teaching, theatre, and professional development programming.

Cindy and Jamie’s COE Summit keynote will focus on how to intentionally develop an engaging workplace. In addition, they’ll be leading a workshop on adaptability and change. COE members can get a taste of Cindy and Jamie’s remarkable blend of humor, research, and leadership best practices by viewing their past webinars on COE’s digital content archive.

George Limbert, President of Red Roof Inn

Recently recognized as one of Ohio’s Most-Admired CEOs, George Limbert guides an organization that serves millions of guests each year as the President of Red Roof Inn. His career with Red Roof began with a role as the company’s in-house counsel in 2013. Since his appointment as President in 2021, he has driven long-term strategic planning, improved operational performance, and increased the company’s value for stakeholders and guests. He also serves on the TourismOhio Advisory Board.

A Fisher College of Business graduate, George Limbert’s COE Summit keynote will draw from his leadership as the President of an award-winning company in the lodging industry. You can read more about George’s hands-on leadership in this article.

Billy Ray Taylor, Founder & CEO of LinkedXL

Billy Taylor is a leading expert in operations and leadership. Formerly the director of manufacturing at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Billy now applies more than 30 years of experience in all phases of operations and management to leading LinkedXL, a business operating systems architecting firm. A certified Six Sigma Black Belt business leader, Billy has shared his insights on culture and leadership with universities, international conferences, global publications, and the U.S. military. His book, “The Winning Link: A Proven Process to Define, Align, and Execute Strategy at Every Level,” offers strategies for cultivating a culture of ownership at every level, from top management to front-line employees.

At the 2023 COE Summit, Billy Taylor will share leadership insights on creating a corporate culture-driven approach to success. To learn more, you can check out an impactful excerpt from his new book here.