Our Trainers and Consultants

Today, with trainers and consultants in 33 states and 14 countries, SAM is the leading North American company in performance improvement programs. We help our clients successfully compete in the global marketplace.

Here are a few of our qualified instructors:

STANLEY A. MARASH, Ph.D., P.E., Chairman Emeritus of STAT-A-MATRIX, consults and lectures throughout the world to heads of state and corporations on regulatory and conformance processes, Six Sigma, and reinventing government. Ph.D., management; M.B.A., baccalaureate, applied statistics; CQE; CRE; Chairman Emeritus and Founder of Quality New Jersey; former Baldrige Examiner; Founder and past Chairman of the World Quality Council; Fellow, ASQ; recipient Ellis R. Ott Award.

ERNANI PIRES, President of STAT-A-MATRIX, has more than 35years of experience in corporate-wide TQM, including manufacturing and service environments, and extensive experience in quality assurance, quality control, testing and inspection, auditing, and supplier performance. He assists organizations in improving corporate performance using tools and techniques of Six Sigma.

RANDY CANFIELD, Master Black Belt, specializes in the design and implementation of management systems using cross-functional teams, change management, supplier quality improvement, customer interface, program management, strategic planning, auditing, and reliability engineering. His expertise includes executive management reporting; customer surveys and employee feedback; hoshin planning, kanban, and balanced scorecard; SPC; ISO 9000; and customer-driven technical problem solving and supplier quality support.

ROBERT J. EATINGER, P.E., Management Consultant, has extensive DoD management and engineering experience assuring the quality and reliability of scientific computing systems and Navy Tactical Training Range Instrumentation. He was the quality technical agent for the Navy's Strategic Systems Programs, supporting Polaris, Poseidon, and Trident. M.S., systems management; B.S. electrical engineering; Certified Lead Auditor; Member, ASQ.

DIANE FAGLON, Management Consultant, is a specialist in quality management systems, process management, customer satisfaction and Balanced Scorecard, with 38 years experience in the telecommunications and technologies sectors. Her background includes active participation in the development of the TL 9000 telecommunications standard and extensive experience in Baldrige and EFQM systems, ISO 9001 initiatives, and LEAN initiatives. She led the design and implementation of various types of Baldrige and European Quality Award assessment options both in the US and Europe. In addition, Diane served as the past Chairperson of the New Jersey Governor’s Award for Performance Excellence from 1995 through 2001, and Senior Examiner on both Baldrige and New Jersey management system evaluation teams.

HANK FAHRLANDER, P.E., Management Consultant, specializes in ISO 9000 quality systems, TQM, and SPC. Over 35 years of experience in quality management, including engineering and senior management positions involving manufacturing operations, product and process improvement, and vendor certification. B.S.E.E.; Registered Lead Auditor; VDA Lead Auditor; CQE; CRE; Senior Member, ASQ.

WILLIAM J. FEUSS, Ph.D., has nearly 30 years of experience in market research, statistics, operations research, and quality management, with a focus in customer value analysis. He developed a worldwide sampling plan for surveying business customers and a two-stage sampling theory for business survey research. Using QFD, he translated customer needs into direct measures of quality, and implemented Customer Value Analysis (CVA), guiding the development of CVA-based econometric models.

MICHAEL F. FLYNN, Executive Director, Consulting Services, Master Black Belt, has successfully applied modern techniques to continuous improvement of business processes. Over 20 years of experience in metals, foods, packaging, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Expertise in course design and delivery, Six Sigma, TQM, ISO 9000, SPC, experimental design, system documentation, and reliability. M.S., B.A., mathematics; CQE.

JAMES J. GERARD, P.E., Management Consultant, develops, implements, and instructs in supplier performance efforts, negotiation, conflict resolution, management of contracts, and on-site audits. Over 30 years in the telecommunications industry in quality assurance using principles of TQM, Baldrige criteria, and other quality awards. M.B.A., B.E.E., A.A.S.; Certified Lead Auditor.

PETER GREY, Ph.D., Management Consultant, Master Black Belt and Lean Enterprise Practitioner, specializes in ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 management systems, Lean Enterprise, and Six Sigma. He has more than 25 years of experience in research, problem solving, Six Sigma, Lean Enterprise, and leadership of implementation teams in planning, training, and auditing for ISO 9000 registration, Lean Enterprise, and Six Sigma. Member, ASTM, ASQ.

ERIK HAGER, Management Consultant, has more than 17 years of experience in process improvement, managing quality, safety, cost, and productivity programs. His expertise in Lean and operations management comes from working with the Toyota Production System and zero loss quality systems. He has led Lean implementation programs and acted as a facilitator for hoshin and strategic planning.

JAMES HARDY, Management Consultant, has more than 20 years of experience as a trainer and auditor in many different industries, including aerospace, chemicals, plastic injection-molding, metal fabrication, and others. He specializes in training and coaching relative to business process improvement and ISO 9001/AS9100 management system design, implementation, and audit. Registered QMS Auditor; Certified AS9100 Aerospace Experienced Auditor; CQE; Senior Member, ASQ.

MICHAEL H. HELD, Management Consultant, specializes in lead/internal auditing and quality systems documentation training, and on-site ISO 9000 consulting, auditing, and training. Over 25 years of experience in manufacturing, quality, and executive management. M.S., management engineering, B.S.E.E.; Registered Lead Auditor; Senior Member, ASQ.

HYMAN KATZ, Ph.D., Management Consultant, has spent more than 30 years working with senior management in quality management system development and conformance (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 13485, ISO 13408, etc.), regulatory negotiations, project management, internal and external audits, technical writing, product development, Sarbanes-Oxley 404 process mapping, and FDA submittals. He specializes in direction and support of quality assurance activities and regulatory requirements for medical device and biopharmaceutical organizations.

I. ROBERT MARASH, Executive Vice President, International and Certification Services, has over 35 years of experience in auditing and implementing quality management systems for ISO 9000, ISO 14000, and FDA's GMPs. Responsible for SAM's worldwide educational services. CQA; Certified Lead Auditor; VDA Lead Auditor; Fellow, ASQ; Member.

S. FREDRIK MULLER, Management Consultant, has experience leading the standardization efforts of major automotive suppliers. Over 25 years of experience conducting quality system assessments, and forming and leading cross-functional teams to ISO 9000 certification and the Malcolm Baldrige Award. M.B.A., organizational development; B.S., mechanical engineering; CQE; Registered Lead Auditor.

DAVID PATRISHKOFF, Management Consultant, with expertise in Lean Six Sigma, process improvement, quality management systems, and kaizen events, has been implementing company culture transformations, performance improvements, and change management in automotive, healthcare, manufacturing, and transportation organizations for more than 25 years. He is a specialist in reducing design and new product costs, and production and engineering problems in manufacturing and service industries.

DARREN REEVES, Management Consultant, has 15 years of industry experience in coaching and training in quality and regulatory assurance for medical device and pharmaceutical companies. He has provided sterilization and process validation and engineering expertise in large and small FDA-regulated organizations. His specialty areas include document control systems, corrective and preventive action (CAPA) programs, FDA QSIT regulatory conformance for devices, validation programs, third-party assessments, HACCP analysis, and sterilization services. He has an MBA and a B.S. in biology.

CARL RICHARDS, has more than 20 years of experience in developing, managing, and implementing computer system quality assurance and compliance projects worldwide. He has developed master validation plans and quality policy standards for FDA-regulated companies and has performed compliance evaluations of existing computer system environments and documentation against applicable regulatory and internal standards and FDA guidelines.

BEN ROOTworked with Toyota Motor Manufacturing for more than 15 years. He was among the first employees in the U.S. to be certified to train standardized work and kaizen by Toyota Manufacturing Japan. He has conducted kaizen and problem solving events throughout automobile manufacturing, including stamping, body weld, assembly, the paint shop, and in administrative areas. He has led the implementation of Lean manufacturing in nonautomobile plants in Norway, East Germany, West Germany, and the U.S.

AMITA SHERWOOD , Management Consultant, has used Six Sigma and Lean process improvement approaches to improve quality and service in information technology, financial services, and government organizations. She has experience leading and participating in cross-functional process improvement efforts, leading Six Sigma and Lean program deployments, and training and coaching project teams. She also has experience with facilitation and team skills, and organizational change management. Amita earned her B.S. in Management Science and Information Systems from the Pennsylvania State University.

BARBARA STREIBEL, Senior Consultant, is an experienced manager, consultant, and coach who has worked with people at all levels on Six Sigma improvement and design, process management, team development and facilitation, decision making, problem solving, and project management. She has played a major role in the development of many products including the Plain and Simple series of learning guides, The Team Handbook, Second and Third Editions, The Team Memory JoggerTM, The Design for Six Sigma Memory JoggerTM, and The Manager's Guide to Effective Meetings. Dr. Streibel taught for more than 15 years at the University of Wisconsin and Pennsylvania State University. She received her M.A. and Ph. D. degrees in speech communication from Pennsylvania State University.

JAMES SZELC, Management Consultant, has more than 30 years of federal government regulatory experience. As a former FDA investigator, he has conducted inspections and investigations of medical device manufacturers in the United States and internationally, including medical devices ranging from Class l, GMP Exempt to Class ll and Class lll devices requiring PreMarket Approval (PMA) or 510(k) submission, and has conducted audits of textile, orthopedic, and other electromechanical device manufacturers.

CHARLES M. VALENTINE, Management Consultant, has extensive experience in the medical device industry including development and manufacturing engineering, quality engineering, and quality assurance. His background includes test design engineering, supplier quality, ISO 9000 quality system design and implementation, quality field evaluation, and product design, development, and evaluation. M.S.E.E.; M.B.A.; B.S.E.E.; Registered Lead Auditor.