Meet the Speaker: Maggie Burdette, Manager, Continuous Improvement & Change Management, Orlando Utilities Commission

Meet Maggie Burdette from Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC). Learn how this US Navy “Veteran of Influence,” Six Sigma Black Belt, and grandmother of four wants to help change the culture and mindset of employees.

Meet Maggie in person at the 5th Process Excellence for Utilities Conference, March 4th and 5th, 2020, in St. Pete Beach, FL. She’ll talk about OUC’s Continuous Improvement Center of Excellence, and why after they had to pause (for a year) the Center of Excellence, it has now gained buy-in; and demand is growing.

Q: Name, title, Company

A: Maggie Burdette, Manager, Continuous Improvement & Change Management, Orlando Utilities Commission

Q: Family, hometown, where you live

A: I am married to an amazing man, Dan, I have two children and four grandchildren. I live in Orlando, FL, but grew up in a small town west of St. Louis, MO, called Villa Ridge.

Q: Process Excellence experience

A: I have three years of Utility Process Improvement, as well as over 20 years of experience in Continuous/Process Improvement in the US Navy and Health Insurance.

Q: What do you like to do when you’re not working? Hobbies?

A: Hobbies include boating, motorcycles and being a Grandma : )

Q: Notable achievements

A: I was able to achieve my Six Sigma Black Belt and MBA all at the same time; not for the faint of heart. I was recognized by “Jacksonville Business Journal” as a “Veteran of Influence,” because of the work I do to support Veterans.

Q: Where do you see Process Excellence in utilities in two years?

A: Process Excellence for utilities in the future will be a critical enabler of driving Green/Renewable Energy.

Q: What is your biggest challenge?

A: The utility industry has a very strong culture, therefore one challenge is changing that culture to drive new and innovative improvement opportunities.

Q: What did you do prior to working in your current role?

A: Prior to leading Continuous Improvement, I was an aircraft structure mechanic in the US Navy.

Q: Who are a couple of your role models (and why?)

A: My mother and a previous boss. My mom taught me how important relationships are in your life, and that everyone should be treated with equal respect. No person is better than another, and we should always help others when needed. My previous boss taught me the kind of leader I wanted to become, and how to develop relationships built on trust and respect.

Q: What is one of your biggest goals?

A: My biggest goal is to drive Change Management into the foundation of all Strategic Initiative projects; I want to help change the culture and mindset of employees.

Q: What’s the biggest misconception you run into in your role (or what people seem to think about Process Excellence)?

A: The biggest misconception is that when people hear Six Sigma or Process Improvement, it automatically means the project will take a very long time to complete.

Find out more about our Process Excellence for Utilities conference in St. Pete Beach, FL here!