Terra Vanzant-Stern, PhD, PMP, SPHR/GPHR, is a Six Sigma Master Black Belt and CEO of SSD Global Solutions, Inc. (Smart Simple Decision Making). She is an expert in Lean Six Sigma, process improvement, problem solving, and leadership with several published books, including Lean Six Sigma: International Standards and Global Guidelines and Leaner Six Sigma – Making Lean Six Sigma Easier and Adaptable to Current Workplaces. Her work also extends to Design Thinking and Employee Engagement, where she offers training and certification as an Employee Engagement Coach.
Dr. Stern is a USAF veteran and holds multiple professional certifications including PMP, SPHR, GPHR, and Quality Engineer. She has served on non-profit boards such as the Project Management Institute (PMI) and the Colorado Lean Network (CLN). Her industry experience includes executive coaching, facilitation, and leading Kaizen rapid improvement events for organizations like Tennessee Valley Authority and Southern California Edison.
She has contributed to academic program development at institutions like George Washington University and Metropolitan State University, where her Lean Six Sigma book is used as a course text. Formerly, she has held leadership roles including Chair of the ASQ Lean Enterprise Division and Strategy Chair of the Colorado Human Resource Association.
Terra Vanzant-Stern, PhD, PMP, SPHR/GPHR, is a Six Sigma Master Black Belt and CEO of SSD Global Solutions, Inc. (Smart Simple Decision Making). She is an expert in Lean Six Sigma, process improvement, problem solving, and leadership with several published books, including Lean Six Sigma: International Standards and Global Guidelines and Leaner Six Sigma – Making Lean Six Sigma Easier and Adaptable to Current Workplaces. Her work also extends...
Most Goal-Setting Books Overlook Finishing Sidetracked Dreams. While these books offer useful advice, they often focus on starting or simple accomplishments, not restarting after setbacks.
Restarting is unique—it brings emotional hurdles like shame, disappointment, fear of failing again, or memories tied to major life events. You might have...
What if learning Lean Manufacturing could actually be... LEANER?
Introducing Lean Manufacturing Periodic Table: Making Lean Manufacturing Leaner — a groundbreaking resource that does for Lean what the periodic table did for chemistry: organizes the complex, clarifies the confusing, and makes the entire system navigable for anyone willing to...
ENERGY in Motion: Applying Lean Six Sigma to the Nuclear Energy Industry Terra Vanzant Stern, PhD
The use of nuclear energy ensures smooth operations while guaranteeing that energy levels are supplied without any carbon emissions. This makes it one of the best energy sources in the world today. As nuclear energy advances, Lean Six Sigma tools can...
