The Association for Manufacturing Excellence Keynote Panel

A keynote panel: Embracing cultural disruption

Deondra R. Wardelle is a visionary leader, problem solver, organizer, motivational speaker and owner of On To the Next One Consulting, LLC. She also coaches individuals and organizations in achieving and sustaining transformative change. Her specialties include:

• Empowering and developing individuals and groups toward achieving their personal and professional goals through strategy and alignment workshops.
• Operationalizing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the workplace through continuous improvement methodologies to foster psychologically safe environments where workgroups and individuals thrive.

Wardelle has a diverse professional background. Her former roles include chief strategy officer at the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and director of performance excellence for a global leader in the paper/packaging industry. While working in the performance excellence space, she and her team led continuous improvement projects for more than 70 facilities in North America, Europe and Asia. Wardelle has also worked as a corporate trainer, project manager, human resources manager, banking manager and has held various operations management roles.

A graduate of Western Kentucky University, Wardelle possesses a bachelor's degree in corporate and organizational communications. She has also pursued leadership studies at the Louisville Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and earned her health coach certification from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. Her purpose is to help organizations, groups and individuals overcome obstacles and achieve their grandest visions and goals—one step at a time. Deondra’s current passion project is the #RootCauseRacism® movement, a global initiative to end systemic racism and advance social justice through the application of continuous improvement.