Grand Rapids ASQ Section 1001 Celebrates 60th Birthday

At its ASQ Presents Event! ™ held September 12 the Grand Rapids Section of the American Society for Quality (ASQ) will commemorate 60 years of service to the Greater Grand Rapids community with a birthday celebration. This event will be held at the Bluff Conference and Banquet Center in Grand Rapids, MI.

This event will include a great line-up of keynote speakers, including Grand Rapids area business executives sharing how different aspects of quality have influenced their respective organizations over the years. One of the featured speakers will be, Paul Borawski, CEO of ASQ.

The complete line-up of featured speakers include:


Paul Borawski, CEO of ASQ.Paul in his words “I have enjoyed 27 years with ASQ; I was proud of the organization I joined and am proud of the organization ASQ has become. My tenure with ASQ has seen three distinct challenges and phases over the years: first was to manage growth; second was to bring new strategic dimensions to the organization; and third, since 2007, has been advancing ASQ’s vision to become a truly global organization. ASQ’s success in becoming a global organization is certain at this point.”  Paul will give us a view of the past and insights into the future of quality.

Mark Bissell, President of Bissell Homecare Inc. Grand Rapids. The Bissell family owns the 137 year old Bissell Homecare which sells more vacuums and floor cleaners than any other company in the world. Under Mark Bissell’s leadership the company has grown to 10 countries.  In May 2013 Mark was honored at the 23rd annual Junior Achievement West MI Business Hall of Fame for extraordinary contributions to West Michigan. He is also involved in many local organizations including Business Leaders for Michigan, YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids and the Heart of West Michigan United Way Campaign Cabinet.

Sharon Darby, Manager of the Environmental, Safety and Sustainability at Cascade Engineering, a leading multi-business manufacturer in the transportation, recycling, office furniture, and renewable energy industries, specializing in plastic injection molding with 1200 employees in five worldwide locations. She has been with the organization for twelve years.  Sharon plays an integral part of the organization’s Triple Bottom Line culture leading safety and environmental initiatives, Zero Waste Team, Diversity Coordinating Council, Charitable Contributions, and Sustainability Forum. Outside of Cascade Engineering, Sharon is the Mayor of Saranac. She has an MBA in Strategic Management and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Davenport. Other accomplishments include a Sustainability Certificate, Distinguished Toastmaster, Certified Manager, Senior Professional Human Resources Certification, and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – Operations & Maintenance Certification.

John Coyle is the Director of Global Quality for Amway in Ada, MI. John has worked in various Product Development and Quality positions at Amway for the past 9 years. He has more than 22 years of Quality systems related experience and worked in similar roles previously for Shell Petroleum, SAS Institute and Quaker Chemical. John is a native of the Pittsburgh, PA area where he earned his Bachelors of Science degree in Industrial Management and now considers the Midwest his home and is finishing his Master's of Science in Technology and Leadership at PurdueUniversity.

Jim Zawacki, Chairman of Grand Rapids Spring and Stamping. A Graduate of AquinasCollege. Jim and wife, Joan, have 6 plus grandchildren.  Jim worked as a Manufacturing Engineer at Bissell Inc. early in his career. He is deeply involved in making GRS &S the “Best” in their product field. The Goal is “Profits through Continuous Improvement and having fun during the process”. His theme is “Manufacturing is Vital to our Economy.”

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