World Conference on Quality and Improvement
Keynote Speakers
Monday, May 5
8:00 a.m. − 10:00 a.m.
Gregory S. Babe
President and Chief Executive Officer, Bayer MaterialScience LLC
As head of the NAFTA region for Bayer MaterialScience, Gregory S. Babe is responsible for their North American activities. Bayer MaterialScience is a member of the worldwide Bayer Group – an international healthcare, nutrition and innovative materials group based in Leverkusen, Germany.
Babe joined Bayer in 1980 in the polyurethanes group and has held several management positions of increasing responsibility – including manager of the Brunsbuettel, Germany, facility; director and general manager of Hennecke Machinery, then a unit of Bayer's Polymers Division in Pennsylvania; vice president of corporate quality and director of a national program to implement Bayer's enterprise resource planning system. He was named senior vice president of information services in 1999, and in 2001 that role expanded to include the NAFTA region. Babe was named president and CEO of BCBS in 2003 and he continued his role as chief information officer.
He serves on the boards of directors for Bayer MaterialScience LLC; Deerfield Urethane, Inc.; and Sheffield Plastics. In addition, he serves as the executive sponsor of the Bayer Diversity Advisory Council.
Babe is a member of the American Plastics Council (APC) Operating Board, serving as the finance chair. He is a member of the boards of directors for the United Way of Allegheny County, Duquesne University and the Pittsburgh Technology Council.
A native of West Virginia, Babe holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from West Virginia University.
Tuesday, May 6
8:00 a.m. − 9:00 a.m.
Rear Adm. T.K. “Ken” Mattingly (USN, Ret.)
Apollo 13 Astronaut, Former Shuttle Commander, and Accomplished Aerospace Industry Executive
One of the real-life heroes of Apollo 13, veteran Apollo and space shuttle astronaut Ken Mattingly shares the true story behind one of the most inspiring example of crisis management in recent memory. Portrayed in the hit film by Academy Award-nominee Gary Sinise, Mattingly is the command module pilot who was pulled from the flight at the last minute for medical reasons, only to spearhead the ground crew’s efforts to save his friends and fellow astronauts once their moon mission went horribly wrong.
Beginning his career as a naval officer and aviator, Mattingly was one of the select individuals chosen for the Apollo Space Program in 1966. He was responsible for the development of the lunar space suit and backpack, and served on the support crews for Apollo 8 (the first lunar orbit) and Apollo 11 (the first lunar landing). Designated as command module pilot (CMP) for Apollo 13, he was pulled from the flight for medical reasons, but later flew as CMP for Apollo 16, the next-to-last lunar mission.
In 1973, Mattingly became a key member of the fledgling Space Shuttle Program. He served as lead astronaut for the Shuttle Design Support Team and provided lead astronaut support in preparing for the first shuttle flight. He served as back-up commander for STS missions 2 and 3, and as commander for the last orbital test flight, STS 4. He led the development of national security missions to be flown on the shuttle and commanded the first classified shuttle mission, STS-51C.
Promoted to rear admiral in 1985, he pioneered the use of commercial contracting procedures for military space systems, overseeing a billion dollar budget spread over 200 contracts. In 1989, he retired from government service to focus on the commercialization of space. He led the highly successful Atlas program in providing commercial launch services for the private sector and planning for a fully reusable launch system. As president of the Rocket Development Company, he lead the development of low-cost commercial launch systems that maintained constellations of satellites and helped revolutionize global communications at the turn of the century.
International Panel
Tuesday, May 6
1:30 p.m. − 2:30 p.m.
21st Century Challenges Call: The Quality Movement to Action
Dr. Marius J.S. Buiting, president of the European Society for Quality in Healthcare; Shoji Shiba, visiting professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and professor emeritus, University of Tsukuba, Japan; and Margaret Wheatley, president emerita of The Berkana Institute
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The Quality movement, born in World War II, evolved from manufacturing roots to an era of business excellence and national quality awards across business and institutions through the 1990s. Still early in the 21st century, our challenges include global and localized economies; healthcare, education and political crises; and accelerated business, institutional and cultural transformation. Business leaders need to consider the effects of every strategy, of nearly every product and service decision, on a host of stakeholders, on the planet, on the very quality of life itself. For the global Quality Community─professionals, practitioners, and consumers─the power, opportunities and responsibility to positively effect change, to make a difference in the world, are real and in demand.
Wednesday, May 7
10:45 a.m. − Noon
Glenn Walters
Owner, GW Enterprises and Chair, ASQ Team and Workplace Excellence Forum
Glenn Walters is a proven champion for performance excellence who uses a combination of facts, stories, humor and magic to engage and stimulate his audiences. Walters has practiced, taught and consulted on quality, management and leadership issues for over 30 years. Much of his current work is centered on workplace engagement and productivity and how fun in the workplace is essential for sustained organizational performance excellence.
