Michael A. Kirsch
Director of Research
Mr. Kirsch has almost 30 years of consulting and industrial experience. His
consulting experience includes positions within Chem Systems and Phillip
Townsend Associates, for whom he headed the Boston office until its relocation
to Detroit. He has held R&D, market research and strategic planning
positions within American Hoechst, Borg-Warner and General Electric. He has
managed or contributed to a number of proprietary and multi-client studies, many
of which were international in scope. His marketing research skills include
technology and market opportunity assessment, image and customer satisfaction
measurement, commercial development and economic analysis. He is also skilled in
the area of strategic planning.
Mr. Kirsch holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from New Jersey Institute of
Technology and an MBA from the University of Massachusetts.
Michael J. Minot, Ph.D.
Director of Process & Product Development
Dr. Minot has extensive technical and general management consulting
experience, including over 20 years of progressively higher management
experience spanning Fortune 500 and venture financed start-up companies.
Prior to entering the consulting field, Dr. Minot served in senior executive
capacities with two technology based start-ups. Previously he spent 15
years with Corning Glass Works in a variety of senior positions in
Manufacturing, Engineering and Research & Development including the scale-up
of fiber optics manufacturing.
Dr. Minot lectures on Product Development, Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing,
Problem Solving and Best Business Practices.
Dr. Minot received a Ph.D. in Chemistry and Material Science from Johns
Hopkins University.
Patrick J. McDevitt
Senior Engineer
Mr. McDevitt has over 30 years Industrial Engineering experience in industries
including Plastics, Electronics, Paper, and high speed, automated assembly.
Before entering the consulting arena, he was, a senior industrial engineer with
Fort Howard Corporation and prior to that, with International Telephone and
Telegraph (ITT).
His expertise is in time and method study. He has invaluable shop floor
experience and has a history of introducing new, cost reducing methods to the
workplace.
Mr. McDevitt holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology from
Northeastern University.
Shelby Mudarri
Director of Financial Services
Mr. Mudarri has held executive positions in both the
private and public sectors. He
served as Deputy Associate Commissioner of the Medicaid Division of the
Department of Public Welfare where he was responsible for controlling Medicaid
expenditures within the authorized budget ceiling. As Commissioner of the
Massachusetts Rate Setting Commission he was responsible for establishing
health-care charges and rates and directing agency policy. He is a member of the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Massachusetts Society
of Public Accountants where he has been active.
Shelby is a graduate of Bentley College and Harvard
University.
He served on the Faculty of University of Texas
Medical Branch, Wayne State University and Northeastern
University Graduate School of Business. In addition, he has published several
articles concerning on cost accounting systems.
Leslie Wood
Founder
Mr. Wood has spent 30 years in a wide variety of manufacturing operations. Prior
to founding Les Wood Associates, he was the Corporate Manager of Industrial
Engineering for Sweetheart Cup Corporation, a billion dollar manufacturer of
disposable plastic and paper products. He has held similar positions in other
industries including high tech semiconductors, electronics, plastics processing,
bicycle manufacturing. His expertise is in planning and managing manufacturing
operations. Both as a consultant and in his previous positions, he has held
direct responsibility for developing, planning and starting up new manufacturing
facilities and distribution centers.
Mr. Wood lectures on Operations Management, Product Development, Six Sigma
and Lean Manufacturing.
Mr. Wood has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Trent Polytechnic in
Nottingham, England. He earned his degree while serving a machine shop
apprenticeship with Plessey Telecommunications, a training that provided him
with a strong, practical background to supplement his academic studies.
