Keynote Speakers This year's keynote speakers will set the tone for the conference each day, challenging attendees to excel in their efforts to reach operational exellence. Luncheon speakers will share real-world experiences of proven success in implementing and sustaining lean and quality improvement intitiatives. Wednesday, Oct. 1 - 8:40 a.m. - 9:40 a.m. Dave Guerra CEO of Corpus Optima Dave Guerra is the originator and leading exponent on the groundbreaking new theory of Superperformance. Guerra regularly addresses and consults with executives from some of the world's leading companies and conducts workshops and operations transformation campaigns based on this knowledge for a wide range of organizations. Over several decades, Guerra has consulted extensively in the areas of servant leadership, performance optimization and the transformation of corporate culture. He is a prolific author. His works include the bestselling business book Superperformance: New Profound Knowledge for Corporate Leaders, as well as Moving the Needle: Conversations with a Superperforming CEO. He is also responsible for numerous related white papers and professional articles and is currently at work on several additional books on the subject. Wednesday, Oct. 1 - Noon - 1:30 p.m. George Vardoulakis Vice President, Tactical Systems for F/A-18 Programs Northrop Grumman Corp. George Vardoulakis is vice president of tactical systems for F/A-18 programs with Northrop Grumman Corp.'s integrated systems western region based in El Segundo, California. He manages all aspects of Northrop Grumman's share of the F/A-18 program as well as support for the legacy F-5 / T-38 programs. Vardoulakis has held numerous positions of increasing responsibility including flight line and delivery manager for the B-2 program, manager of B-2 low observable technologies implementation, director of lean for air combat systems' military programs and director of operations and quality for Northrop Grumman's unmanned systems market segment. Thursday, Oct. 2 - Noon - 1:30 p.m. James H. Becker Senior Vice President, Employer and Brokers Operations UnitedHealthcare For more than 20 years, James Becker has been helping organizations get bottom-line results. With exceptional leadership expertise in operations, marketing and change management, he was named senior vice president for employer and broker operations by UnitedHealthcare (UHC) in 2005. Becker is responsibile for the full scope of services UHC's employer and broker customers require. He is charged with building customer loyalty through high levels of service satisfaction delivered in a fast, accurate and cost-effective way.This includes business installation for all customer segments, external partner relations with health plans and brokers, billing and eligibility, special customer or partner support, issue resolution, employer and broker call services, accounts receivable management, technology delivery management and all other aspects of UHC's relationship with employer and broker customers.