Lean Healthcare Program Faculty
The faculty of the Lean Healthcare Certificate Program are proven facilitators and trainers, with years of experience in the real-life application of Lean principles as applied to clinical, nonclinical, business processes, and support systems. Program faculty have experience in the application of Lean at the clinical or single hospital level as well as large systems and healthcare related organizations.
Charles Hagood, MBA
Charles Hagood, president and founder of Healthcare Performance Partners (HPP), has overseen the introduction and implementation of Lean Healthcare systems in numerous healthcare organizations including some of the largest non-profit hospitals, national systems, small critical access hospitals, clinics, physician practices, and large for-profit systems. Charles is a frequent speaker on the subject of process improvement. Charles is also the founder of Lean Healthcare Exchange, the top ranked Web site by Google, serving as the site for "all things Lean, Quality, and Efficiency in Healthcare." HPP is one of the few organizations that have successfully translated Lean manufacturing and the Toyota Production System (TPS) to the healthcare industry. Charles was also a founding principal and former CEO of The Access Group, LLC (TAG), a 50 person engineering and manufacturing firm headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Charles has worked with Fortune 100 companies throughout the world in their Lean transformation and process improvement initiatives.
Charles received his MBA from Belmont University's Massey School of Business.
Richard Tucker, MS 
Richard Tucker is the Vice President of Lean Consulting with HPP and has served as a coach, facilitator, and project manager for healthcare clients in the training and implementation of Lean Healthcare tools and methodologies. Prior to joining HPP, Richard has more than 16 years of business and industry experience in operational and leadership positions. With his work in healthcare, Richard has led teams in the utilization of Lean Healthcare tools to eliminate waste, giving back precious time to the front line caregivers to focus on their patients. Richard has attended formal training courses in Lean Manufacturing, Leadership Development, and Shainin Statistical Problem Solving in Japan, where he spent a great deal of time learning Lean and Quality Methodologies.
Richard’s educational background includes Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, Tennessee.
Dwayne Keller, MBA, MS
Dwayne Keller is the executive vice president of operations and process improvement for Medical Reimbursements of America. He has more than 25 years of leadership experience in the implementation of Lean Healthcare in various hospital systems and healthcare settings, and Lean Manufacturing in major manufacturing corporations throughout the United States. Dwayne leads implementation of Lean in MRA’s revenue cycle operations. Prior to MRA, as chief operating officer of HPP, he coached hospital executives through how to lead their organizations to a Lean culture, resulting in significantly improved outcomes. Mr. Keller also held the positions of plant manager and director of operations over multiple facilities, and executive Lean coach in multiple business units with Alcoa as well as experience with Michelin Tire Corporation.
Dwayne received an MBA from Clemson University and holds both a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bucknell University.
David Munch, M.D.
Dr. David Munch is the Senior Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer for HPP, serving as the lead of all clinical and Lean Healthcare engagements. Dave previously served at Exempla Lutheran Medical Center as their chief clinical and quality officer. He led their Lean production applications for more than five years, resulting in substantial improvements in both clinical and non-clinical processes. Dr. Munch has been a frequent speaker on the subject of leadership effectiveness and Lean transformation for a number of healthcare organizations including Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), The University of Rochester Medical Center, Yale-New Haven Health System, Tulane University Medical Center, Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative, Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement (ICSI), and the Voluntary Hospital Association (VHA). Dr. Munch has served on the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's High Reliability Advisory Group, has an extensive background in hospital operations, health plan governance, physician organization governance and clinical practice in Internal Medicine.
Dave received his M.D. from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.
Marshall Leslie, MBA
Marshall serves as HPP's vice president of business operations. He has overseen numerous Lean Healthcare client engagements throughout the U.S. Marshall also oversees all project management, resource management, and internal improvement at HPP. Marshall has led cross-functional Lean and Six Sigma teams in North America and Europe with a track record of delivering process improvements and bottom line results. In addition, he brings a strong Lean background coupled with experience in Kaizen facilitation, Lean Enterprise implementation and Six Sigma application. Marshall worked side by side with former Toyota Japanese Senseis in identifying, developing solutions, and overseeing implementation of waste reducing systems and much improved processes throughout value streams. Marshall is a former multiple year "top-ten percent" performer at General Electric. He has experience in various supply chain capacities including quality engineering and global sourcing for both GE and Procter & Gamble.
He holds a Bachelor's in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Georgia Tech and received his MBA from Vanderbilt University.
Rick Morrow, MBA.jpg.aspx?width=150&height=210)
Rick Morrow is a director with HPP and facilitates the Lean Healthcare Certificate Program for Supply Chain Professionals. Rick has 25 years of leadership experience in healthcare, aviation, automotive, supply chain and technology. Prior to HPP, Rick held the position of business excellence director with The Joint Commission and led the Center for Transforming Healthcare. In this position he was the deployment leader for the Joint Commission’s Lean Six Sigma initiative, which leads teams in developing solutions across America and launching globally. Prior to the Joint Commission, Rick held senior level continuous improvement positions with United Airlines, Motorola, SKF and Eaton. As vice president at SKF, a firm known as a leader in reliability, efforts were credited with achieving zero defect processes which he then rolled out internationally. He is an international speaker on Lean and Six Sigma at conferences including NPSF, ASC and ASQ. Rick is a contributing editor on safety publications.
Rick's education includes a MBA from the University of Illinois’ Executive Program. He is a certified Master Black Belt through Motorola.
Ronnie Daughtry, MS
Ronnie Daughtry serves as a drector with HPP and facilitates the Lean Healthcare Certificate Program for Supply Chain Professionals. He has more than 20 years of professional leadership and management experience deploying Lean and Six Sigma principles and concepts. Ronnie has added value to multiple HPP transformation and Lean Design engagements. Before joining HPP, Ronnie was vice president of supply chain consulting for TranSystems Company. Ronnie has also served as director of operations for The ACCESS Group (TAG), the former parent company of HPP. He also spent 17 years with the Robert Bosch Corporation, LLC holding various leadership and managerial roles in Lean, continuous improvement, supplier quality engineering, manufacturing operations, and human resources.
Ronnie has a Master's in Management and Organizational Development, and a Bachelor's in Management and Human Relations from Trevecca Nazarene University.
Robert Watson, MS
Bob Watson is a senior manager with HPP and facilitates the Lean Healthcare Certificate Program for Supply Chain Professionals. Bob provides consulting services in a variety of areas within healthcare. Bob has successfully conducted Kaizen events throughout the Emergency Department, registration, floor units and operating rooms to significantly reduce ED LOS, reduce registration errors, and reduce floor admit time significantly. He has designed and implemented Electronic Patient White Boards providing visibility to the floor units and administration resulting in better managed patient length of stay. Bob’s prior experience includes the Juran Institute, Inc. where Bob served as vice president. Bob is a DMAIC Six Sigma Master Black Belt (ASQ and Juran certified) and CPIM (Production and Inventory Manager).
He received a BS and MS degree in Industrial Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Steve Taninecz, MS
Steve Taninecz serves as a director with HPP, leading transformation engagements with clients. He has nearly 40 years of experience in healthcare and manufacturing organizations. Prior to HPP, Steve's experience in the healthcare field includes work for MetroWest Medical Center as a senior Kaizen specialist, counseling and coaching culture change to the hospital system’s leadership for successful implementation of Lean. He also was an educator/trainer/coach for the Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative (PRHI) teaching lean principles to hospitals, long term care facilities and primary care practices through structured training as well as onsite coaching and workshops. Steve spent ten years dedicated to teaching, mentoring and implementing Lean manufacturing principles and best practices throughout North America for General Motors. This assignment included a two year assignment partnering with Toyota focused on the Toyota Production System. Steve is a member of the American Society for Quality (ASQ) and is a Certified Quality Manager (CQM), Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) Certified Quality Technician (CQT).
Steve holds a Bachelor's Degree from Youngstown State University in Industrial Management and a Master's Degree in Organization Leadership from Geneva College.