TONI BENNER, MS, is an integrated practitioner drawing on her experience in automotive engineering, Lean systems improvement and human development in her partnership with individuals and organizations to support enhanced engagement, learning, teaming, coaching, leadership and productivity across supply chains.

She has over 20 years of experience in facilitation, training, team development, strategy deployment and continuous improvement in manufacturing, product development and supply chain within the non-profit, automotive, and healthcare industries, as well as the US Military. Toni designs and delivers custom professional development programs and teaches Lean Healthcare through the University of Michigan. Her 2023 course offerings will focus on Organization Design and Leadership and Strategic Growth.

As a scholar practitioner in the Doctorate of Organizational Development and Change program at Bowling Green State University, her research focuses on participatory design approaches and their impact on engagement, inclusivity, change and innovation. Through the Fowler Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit, she serves as Director of Creativity and Partnership in the Just Conversations program, aimed at actualizing social justice within public service industries to enhance wellbeing and ignite growth within individuals, organizations and communities.

Toni holds a BS in Electrical Engineering and an MS in Engineering Management with a focus on Lean Enterprise Systems and an Executive Supply Chain Management Certification. In addition, she holds an MS in Positive Organization Development & Change, and certifications in Executive Coaching and Appreciative Inquiry with Case Western Reserve Weatherhead School of Business. Toni is pursuing her Doctoral in Organization Development and Change through Bowling Green State University.

ELIZABETH AIKMAN, RN, MBA comes from a diverse healthcare background beginning at the bedside as an oncology nurse, transitioning through hospital leadership and into quality management.

As a coach and consultant, she has worked with teams throughout the New York City healthcare system in improving organizational performance through emotionally intelligent leadership, team development and engagement. She has delivered recent presentations at the ILA Women & Leadership Conference and the Lean Healthcare Academic Conference at Stanford, entitled “Becoming Mindful of Mindfulness as a Pathway to Leadership Potential” and “Lean in Diversity of Thought”, respectively. Both bodies of work will inform her future research and the design and delivery of professional development courses through the University of Michigan in 2023.

Her passion for learning, people and human potential led her to embark in graduate studies of Positive Organization Development and Change at Case Western Reserve University, where she has been privileged to study under David Copperrider in deepening her appreciation for whole system change, principles of social constructionism, and organizations as living systems.

Her experience as a lifelong athlete and marathon runner has given her incredible perspective on courage, self-discipline, reflection and growth – lessons that ripple through her actions and her words. She believes we can all achieve great things if we find the soft edge of our comfort zone and try, just a little.  Through running as her life philosophy, she has dreamed of creating a social enterprise aimed at mobilizing wisdom, talent and dreams through meaningful connection for social good.

Elizabeth holds a BS in Exercise Physiology from the University of Miami, a BS in Nursing from New York University and an MBA in Strategic Healthcare Management from Hofstra University and an MS in Positive Organization Development & Change from Case Western Reserve University.  She is currently pursuing a PhD in Organizational Change from Hult Ashridge at Hult International business school.