Steven Strickman, LSSMBB

Steven has 20+ years’ experience reducing companies’ expenses and improving their processes to significantly improve their bottom lines. His experience spans the areas of Expense Analysis and Management, Enterprise Risk Management, Strategic Sourcing, Project Management, and Process Improvement. He has strong analytical and solutions development skills and significant negotiations experience. Steve began his career as a Process Engineer and a Manufacturing Systems Engineer at AT&T Microelectronics (later Alcatel-Lucent), implemented Lean and SQC methods in the Optical Data Link assembly area, which reduced defects (40%), inventory levels (25%) and cycle times (50%). He also served as the Business Manager in the IT Infrastructure function at a Major International Commercial and Investment Bank, where he advised on technology investment and project decisions, and cost reduction activities. While there, Steve mapped the Desktop Computing value chain, which enabled the capture of 20%+ annual savings via outsourcing. Utilizing his engineering and Six Sigma expertise, Steve has helped companies improve their organizational designs and processes. He worked with Production Engineering staff to map and improve the processes related to Equipment Standardization, Life Cycle Management and Procurement for a global pharmaceuticals company. Steve also assisted with the design of a new organization to implement capital equipment standards and Global / Regional SRM for a global pharmaceutical company. Working for an Industrial Gases client, he designed a world-class procurement organization, capturing $14M in immediate cost savings. Steve has worked with Banks and Insurance companies managing IT projects and related expenses. He helped develop a new organizational function around Project Portfolio Management and Reporting Project Execution Triage and enhanced Project Financial Transparency for a major global insurance company. This new organizational capability, which bridged the interests of Operations and their dedicated Application Development groups, delivered roughly $300M in value through Process Improvement and Standardization. Steve collaborated on the development of a comprehensive Enterprise Risk Management program for a new entrant into the P&C Insurance space. This framework enabled the company to prioritize and manage risk and set up the future Chief Risk Officer for success. It was also critical to the company's successful achievement of financing. In the areas of cost modeling and Activity Based Costing, Steve worked with a Health Insurance company’s FP&A team to develop a Cost Driver-based expense guidance model and developed an easier and more accurate budget forecasting processes for its $1.2 Billion expense base. Assisting a Life Insurance company, Steve helped formulate an Activity Based Costing model to determine true product/channel profitability, incorporating these innovative tools into the company’s performance measurement system. Steve earned his Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania as well as an MBA from the Wharton School. Additionally, he is a Certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt and has received PMP certification.