Pawley Lean Institute recognizes ongoing partnerships

The Pawley Lean Institute held a Recognition Dinner on Wednesday, September 10 in the Oakland Center on the campus of Oakland University to thank and recognize those organizations who have supported lean programming within the university.

“The majority of what we do is student centric in nature, so there are university organizations that provide internal support and organizations outside of Oakland University that partner with our programs to ensure success,” said Dennis Wade, director of the Pawley Lean Institute. “This event allows us to thank our partners for all they do to make our Lean Program a success.”

At Oakland University, the Pawley Lean Institute receives support from Undergraduate Admissions, the Augmented Reality Center, and the Career and Life Design Center, as well University Communications and Marketing.

“From the industry side of our community where we get support, things like funding, projects, mentoring for our students, etc. are critical elements for us to implement our vision of creating Student Lean Leaders,” said Dennis Pawley, founder of the Pawley Lean Institute.

Some of the partners recognized on Sept. 10 included: AT&T, Jamie Daniels Foundation, Bosch Community Fund, Lean Enterprise Institute, Cheyenne and Clark, Lean Learning Center, D&A Enterprises, Mark and Paula Doman Foundation, DTE, Matt Lovejoy, Fitzpatrick Mfg., McLaren Healthcare, Fleece and Thank You, Merit Network, Forgotten Harvest, Pontiac Lighthouse, Fox Lean Solutions, Rose Hill Center, Henry Ford Health, State Farm Insurance, Jabil, and University of Michigan-Sparrow.

The evening featured remarks from Denny Pawley on how Lean Learning gives students a differential advantage when seeking employment.

Sandra Orzol, a 2024 OU Industrial Systems and Engineering graduate, also spoke on how the Pawley Lean Institute provided training, Green Belt opportunities, specific lean project work with community service organizations, and a scholarship. Orzol was able to build her resume with her Lean learnings and has been hired by General Motors into their prestigious TRACK rotational program.

Wade also shared many of the accomplishments of the Pawley Lean Institute under his stewardship, including:

• $70,950 in Lean Scholarships

• 158 student internships, co-ops, and full-time position placements

• 28 Community Service Lean Projects and Internships

• $140,00 earned by OU students for Community Service Projects and Internships

• 805 students attending High School Workshops

• 249 Green Belts and 88 Third-Party Training sessions completed by OU students

• 210 Human Resource Development (HRD) students that have completed a Professional Development Module supporting Career Readiness.

The final highlight of the evening was Greg Kelser, who served as the featured speaker during the event.

“Greg’s background as a Michigan State graduate, NCAA Basketball All American, captain of the 1979 MSU National Championship Basketball Team, NBA player, and broadcaster for nearly 40 years, including his current role as a broadcaster/analyst for the Detroit Pistons, is unparalleled,” Wade said. “He has a unique insight and perspective as it pertains to leadership.”

Kelser spoke specifically about the impact that those in the room have on others.

“It will be remembered by those who you have made an impression on,” he said.

He also spoke about his parents, coaches (including former MSU Head Basketball Coach Gus Ganakas), NBA Hall of Famer Julius Erving (Dr. J) and used them as examples of leaders that affected him. He said he also wants to be remembered by those that he has affected, and noted that he can see the impact that Dennis Pawley and the partners in the room have had on OU students in the Pawley programs.

The event also collected 244 pounds of donated food, plus a delivery of a pallet of food from Forgotten Harvest for OU Food Pantry, which provides assistance to students.

“This was a wonderful evening, to see how the Pawley Lean Institute has been able to create partnerships within OU and this community for the enhancement of the student at OU is incredible,” Pawley said. “I really enjoyed the opportunity to use the dinner to say thank you.”