Meet Our Six Sigma Team

The best way to learn about an opportunity is through those who live it everyday. The following are testimonials from a selection of our Six Sigma community to illustrate the variety of backgrounds across our team and the diversity of our project work.

• Janelle

  Six Sigma Black Belt

  What did you do prior to joining Six Sigma at Maple Leaf?

  After graduating from university, I spent three years in Maple Leaf’s Management Trainee (MT) Program where I rotated through three different functional areas: Information Technology, Logistics, and Sales & Finance. After completing the MT program, I secured a managerial role on the risk management team with Maple Leaf Agri-Farms and then joined Six Sigma.

  Why did you decide to join Six Sigma at Maple Leaf?

  I have always been intrigued by Six Sigma, and I am passionate about continuous improvement and learning. Prior to taking on the Black Belt role, I participated in many Six Sigma projects and also led two Green Belt projects, which I thoroughly enjoyed. When the Black Belt role became available, I jumped at the opportunity.

  What do you enjoy about working with Six Sigma at Maple Leaf?

  There are so many great things about being a Six Sigma Black Belt – not the least of which is the opportunity to work with many great people and learn about different parts of the company. I have access to many experienced coaches in addition to the network of Black Belts across the company.

  What are some interesting projects or initiatives that you have led?

  I led a Transition Project focused on the integration of two feed mills into Maple Leaf. Previously those mills were part of the Maple Leaf Animal Nutrition business, which was sold in 2007. I am currently leading a software selection and implementation project that will have huge impact for the hog production side of the business.

• Alex

  Six Sigma Lead

  What did you do prior to joining Six Sigma at Maple Leaf?

  I was a Six Sigma Black Belt at another company.

  Why did you decide to join Six Sigma at Maple Leaf?

  I was referred to Maple Leaf by a former colleague. He was impressed by the level of training, support and expertise in the Six Sigma team at Maple Leaf. The investment that Maple Leaf makes in their employees, from both a leadership and Six Sigma training perspective, was very attractive to me - and so I joined!

  What do you enjoy about working with Six Sigma at Maple Leaf?

  It's a very unique experience. As change agents, we get the opportunity to work on a vast array of projects from marketing, sales, strategy and acquisitions to the most traditional manufacturing and operational problems. The responsibility and trust the senior executives place in Six Sigma professionals at Maple Leaf is something I cannot imagine having with any other company.

  What are some interesting projects or initiatives that you have led?

  Most recently I helped lead the integration of six U.K. acquisitions into the Maple Leaf Bakery U.K. business using Six Sigma tools and principles. A truly great experience! Additionally, I have worked on a Six Sigma market research project to help understand the attitudes and behaviors of consumers toward our Olivieri fresh pasta and sauce business. This research helped the business gain a tremendous amount of factual data around our consumers and helped guide the creative content of their television and print advertising campaign.

• Gail

  Senior Black Belt and Coach

  What did you do prior to joining Six Sigma at Maple Leaf?

  I have been working at Maple Leaf since 1999. My initial role was as plant Chemist and my first task was to establish the Quality Assurance department. Over a three-year period, I progressed to Quality Assurance Manager and then joined Six Sigma.

  Why did you decide to join Six Sigma at Maple Leaf?

  I was on maternity leave when the opportunity presented itself. Six Sigma was new in my division. I wanted to be part of something new that was going to have an impact at all levels and permit me to stay in my current location. Looking back, the decision to go into Six Sigma was the best career decision I've ever made.

  What do you enjoy about working with Six Sigma at Maple Leaf?

  I truly love my job - everyday presents something new. There is little regularity to my job. I never work on the same thing twice. I enjoy seeing others use the Six Sigma tools and methodology to solve a problem and knowing I played a role in getting them there.

  What are some interesting projects or initiatives that you have led?

  The most interesting project I have worked on so far is recruiting for our pork processing facility in Brandon, Manitoba. I led three related initiatives that shared the goal of meeting the plant's expanded staff requirements. The first program focused on recruiting employees, both locally and internationally through partnerships with the United Nations and numerous countries. The second program was to work with the local community to prepare for changes associated with the arrival of more than 1,000 foreign workers and their families over a four-year period. This included housing, education, health care, language, childcare, and public transportation. The third program was to collaborate with all levels of government to ensure alignment, support and access to funding for our recruitment efforts.

• Martin

  Six Sigma Lead

  What did you do prior to joining Six Sigma at Maple Leaf?

  Prior to joining the bakery division in 2004, I worked in the telecommunications field for 10 years. Among other things, I was responsible for deploying mobile telephone systems to customers in North and South America. I also helped customers design and deploy speech recognition systems.

  Why did you decide to join Six Sigma at Maple Leaf?

  I joined Six Sigma because it allowed me to gain an overall understanding of how the company works. The diversity of projects, the constant learning and variety of people were drivers for me. Six Sigma is an excellent place to supercharge your learning curve and become a key contributor to the success of a large company.

  What do you enjoy about working with Six Sigma at Maple Leaf?

  I enjoy the people I work with. The work ethic of this company and its Values are key factors for me. Six Sigma allows me to continuously learn. The variety of projects is key to satisfying my need for new experiences. More importantly, I'm supported by a strong network of Coaches, Champions, and Black Belts who really help me develop and ultimately succeed at what I do.

  What are some interesting projects or initiatives that you have led?

  Within our Bakery Products Group, I'm currently leading the integration of a Quebec-based manufacturer and distributor of sweets goods and pastries which was recently acquired by the company. I've also led due diligence projects for a couple of recent acquisitions. I was also involved in leading a national project which looked at upgrading the technology used for our daily distribution of bread products to our customers. This project allowed me to complete a full cycle of software and hardware selection while employing Six Sigma methodology as a change management tool.

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