Chain Reaction Podcast

In this episode, host Brooke Boron sits down with Ferris State University, College of Business alumnus Koen Zaiser, now an industrial engineer, he once participated in a Business Innovation and Lean Center experiential project with Yoplait.

Koen shares insights into his day-to-day role as an industrial engineer at Magna, and the path he took to get there. He also reflects how that hands-on project with Yoplait helped shape his career and approach to process improvement.

Tune in to hear a conversation about career growth, personal lessons, and the value of process improvement across industries.

In this episode, we sit down with Jacquart Fabric Products Chairman, Bob Jacquart. With decades of experience in business development, entrepreneurship, leadership, and brand-building, Bob offers valuable insight into what it takes to grow and sustain a successful company.

He also shares a variety of stories, including how the Ferris Stormy Kromer hat came to be, illustrating the importance of strong partnerships, resilience, and thoughtful decision-making. Tune in to be inspired by a small-town entrepreneur!

In this episode, we sit down with Ferris alumnus Christian Carpenter. Christian received his B.S. in Business Administration with a Leadership and Project Management minor from the College of Business. He is currently working as a project manager for Premier Restoration Services.  

Christian shares insights into his day-to-day role as a project manager and the path he took to get there. He also reflects how the experiential project that he completed as a student, with Gilson Graphics, helped shape his career and approach to process improvement.

Tune in to hear about career growth, personal lessons, and the value of process improvement across industries.

 In this episode, we sit down with FSU alumnus and current Gilson Graphics team member, Zach Miller.  He walks us through the end-to-end journey of the request-to-printing process and his role in supporting its success.  

He also shares how his interest for printing first began and what initially drew him to the field. Building on that foundation, he explains how his education at Ferris State University—particularly in printing and process improvement courses—helped him successfully transition from the classroom to the professional world. 

Tune in to hear valuable insights on career transition, operational workflows, and the power of continuous improvement in a fast-paced print production environment. 

Join us as Lonnie Lusby shares his remarkable journey—from working as a microwave radio repair technician in the U.S. Army to advancing through key roles at Lucent Technologies and AT&T, and ultimately becoming a Level 4 Network Cable Infrastructure Designer at Boeing. In this episode, he reflects on the valuable lessons learned, the insights gained throughout his career, and how he navigates challenges in today’s fast-paced, ever-evolving work environment. Tune in for an inspiring story of growth, adaptability, and professional resilience.

This episode introduces the students behind the Spring 2025 Podcast team. They tell us their backgrounds, their career interests, and why they chose to be a part of the podcast team!

In this episode, join Alexis Stump, Bennett Halle, and Braeden Childress as we sit down with Cliff Suttorp to dive into his firsthand experiences with Lean Six Sigma. Through engaging conversations and insightful discussions, learn about the practical applications of Lean Six Sigma in real-world situations, the challenges he faced, and the valuable lessons he gained throughout his journey. Gain valuable insights and inspiration from his experiences that can help you in your own Lean Six Sigma endeavors. Tune in now to discover the power of process improvement and continuous learning!

Beth Crowley, President and CEO of Crowley Group, shares her substantial history with Lean and provides tips for young professionals entering the workforce.

Chelsea shares her journey from being in a corporate role to being the plant manager of one the most successful furniture companies globally. She explains how her everyday life and personality helped her make the jump, and why lean comes easy to her.  

Emir Avdic is the COO of Sebright Products.  Emir was born in Bosnia and holds a B.S. in business administration, International Business from Grand Valley State University and an MBA from Western Michigan University. He has helped oversee many companies both here in America and overseas. He also serves on board for the Michigan Lean Consortium.