The Mana College

Research scientist and political economist specializing in care economy measurement, population health, policy analytics, and process improvement. Experienced in building public-facing data products, leading grant-supported research, translating complex metrics into useful tools, and working across universities, public-sector clients, and interdisciplinary teams. I bring a mix of rigorous quantitative training, practical consulting instincts, and a genuine curiosity about how systems can be made fairer, clearer, and less wasteful

With 30 years of leadership and consulting experience in education, business, and community development, I specialize in designing and implementing innovative programs and transformational learning. My work spans from early childhood to adult education, vocational training, agribusiness, and leadership, with a research focus on equity, impact, and agency for learners and academia.

Bill Eureka is a Master Black Belt and Executive Coach at GoLeanSixSigma.com with over 40 years of continuous improvement experience in a wide range of businesses including manufacturing, servicing, healthcare, sales and executive leadership. He has helped over 400 organizations improve quality and profitability by leveraging the right improvement methodologies to help them achieve their business goals.

Karlo Tanjuakio is a purpose-driven, self-made entrepreneur who’s been honored in the Inc. 500, Financial Times 500 Americas, & Hawaii's Fastest 50 five years in a row. Karlo empowers everyone to create more efficient, ethical companies and communities around the world through companies he created who serve clients like Apple, Amazon, Charles Schwab, CVS, and Government.

Born in the Philippines and raised as a first-generation immigrant in the U.S., he learned the values of humility, honesty, hard work from his father, a U.S. military combat veteran, and his mother, an industrial engineer.

Karlo founded GLSS, an enterprise learning platform that specializes in efficiency training which has helped Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, small businesses and over 3,000 universities streamline operations and drive efficiency.

He also created Kure, an AI-powered efficiency platform that makes efficiency accessible to everyone—regardless of background or experience.

Internationally recognized by Inc. 500 and Forbes, his companies are revolutionizing how businesses and individuals achieve peak performance.

But Karlo’s mission goes beyond business. He is giving back by equipping high school students with the highly demanded skills. His work with high schools ensures that the next generation of ethical, efficient leaders has the tools to succeed—and the inspiration to help others do the same.

Through his companies and philanthropy, Karlo leads by example, proving that success isn’t just about rising—it’s about lifting others up along the way.

Tommy Rhoads is the Founder and CEO of RTI Enterprises and a Principal at Strategy Elevation Alliance, where he designs and deploys the operating systems organizations use to execute transformation. His experience spans every level of the enterprise, from washing dishes and running operations to leading functional teams, scaling businesses inside major corporations, and advising CEOs through change. That practitioner range now informs an integrated methodology that runs strategy, process, performance, accountability, change activation, and AI execution as a single system. Much of that work has been carried inside tribal organizations, governments, and operations, where the same disciplines apply with equal rigor. As Adjunct Instructor in Lean Six Sigma at The Mana College, his teaching is built on practice, not theory. The aim is to equip students to use these disciplines inside the work itself, on their own teams, and in the organizations they will lead.

Research scientist and political economist specializing in care economy measurement, population health, policy analytics, and process improvement. Experienced in building public-facing data products, leading grant-supported research, translating complex metrics into useful tools, and working across universities, public-sector clients, and interdisciplinary teams. I bring a mix of rigorous quantitative training, practical consulting instincts, and a genuine curiosity about how systems can be made fairer, clearer, and less wasteful

With 30 years of leadership and consulting experience in education, business, and community development, I specialize in designing and implementing innovative programs and transformational learning. My work spans from early childhood to adult education, vocational training, agribusiness, and leadership, with a research focus on equity, impact, and agency for learners and academia.

Steve Kula is a Certified Master Black Belt and Senior Business Leader with a 30+ year record of implementing Lean transformations and driving improved quality and higher profitability in a wide variety of manufacturing, engineering, supply chain and administrative processes.  Steve brings unique experience not only as a Black Belt and Certified Master Black Belt executing continuous improvement projects, but also as a Senior Leader driving world class improvements within his own organizations and inspiring his teams with his passion for Lean Six Sigma.

Profile Summary · Kent is a recognized thought leader in the field of Operational Excellence and optimization of governmental organizations, inspiring others with his deep knowledge and experience.

· Named inventor on numerous U.S. patents and patents across Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Countries. · Kent has led comprehensive process and system optimization engagements in governmental organizations worldwide for over 25+ years. · Kent's professional and educational journey is underscored by a multitude of degrees and certifications, including BS, MBA, a Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, ASQ Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), ASQ (CMQ/OE) Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence, a PMI Certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Scrum Master (CSM), ACMP Certified Change Management Professional (CCMP), Prosci Certified, and a FEMA Certified Continuity of Operations practitioner. These certifications are a testament to his unwavering commitment to professional excellence.

Relevant project experience · Led assessing and identifying opportunities to improve statewide purchasing at the Illinois Department of Central Management Services. · Kent has led governmental assessment and optimization projects within the last several years in the following organizations: Illinois State Board of Education, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Illinois State Police, Illinois Department of Public Health, Texas Comptroller, Illinois Department of Emergency Management, Illinois Department of Central Management Services, Cook County Medical Examiner, Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Illinois Tollway Highway Authority.

Sepehr H. Gashti is a Process Optimization Consultant at Illuminative Strategies who helps organizations improve operations, solve process problems, and build clearer ways of working.

He brings a practical and collaborative approach that combines structured analysis, strong communication, and thoughtful facilitation to help teams identify issues, align around priorities, and make steady improvements. His background includes public-sector transformation, workshop and training design, manufacturing and quality experience, and community-based learning partnerships, including Lean Yellow Belt instruction for Sangamon CEO students through a partnership involving UIS Innovate Springfield.

His work increasingly focuses on helping organizations strengthen process maturity, improve readiness, and make better technology and AI decisions so investments in software and innovation lead to stronger long-term value.

Sepehr holds a Master of Science in Quality Engineering & Management and certifications including PMP, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Change Management Specialist, IV&V Foundational Associate, and FEMA Continuity Excellence Series.

Vish Chatterji is an executive coach, author, and practitioner of Indian Vedic wisdom traditions with more than 25 years of experience integrating leadership development, self-awareness, and personal transformation. A graduate of Northwestern University (B.S. Mechanical Engineering) and the University of Michigan (MBA), he is a certified executive coach through UC Berkeley, where he also serves as a faculty coach. He has coached leaders across Fortune 500 companies, entrepreneurial ventures, and nonprofit organizations.

Drawing on more than two decades of study in yoga, meditation, Vedic philosophy, and Vedic astrology—including extensive training in traditional Himalayan ashrams—Vish bridges modern leadership with ancient wisdom. He is the bestselling author of Astrology Decoded; The Secret Science of India’s Sages and The Business Casual Yogi; Take Charge of Your Body, Mind & Career. Through his teaching, coaching, and writing, he helps students cultivate greater clarity, purpose, resilience, and alignment in both their professional and personal lives.

I retired as a CEO of Native American Tribal Operations of twenty years in 2024, having held this role in three separate major Tribes with thousands of team members. I also had three years as a CFO. My early career was in the accounting and consulting firm Andersen where I became a Chartered Accountant (current member since 1983) my final role was as COO Asia Pacific Consulting. During this time, I was involved in the hiring and training of many graduates. Post retirement I started Strategy Elevation Alliance to focus on strategy execution and leadership development and to give back to my community and businesses through life's long learnings. I am also involved in a commodities brokering business. Due to my interest in leadership development, I became a Certified Master in the Leadership Challenge (TLC)based on the forty years of research by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner in 2026. I have worked with the TLC in training and coaching for about ten years with positive return on investment in the organizations I led. I continue to be guided by Leadership Philosophy of three (3) L's (Listen, Look and Learn) as this defines how I lead and how I lead will define my Legacy.

Wesley T. Abernatha, MBA, is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and enterprise transformation leader with more than 20 years of experience in operations, process improvement, and organizational leadership across Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and international consulting engagements. A formally trained instructor since his U.S. Army service, he has designed and delivered Six Sigma Green Belt certification programs, Lean methodology workshops, and executive-level courses in strategic planning and organizational change for professionals at all levels. His industry background includes leading large-scale transformation initiatives at organizations such as Boeing, Express Scripts, and Illinois state agencies, where he has driven measurable gains in audit compliance, financial performance, and operational efficiency. In the classroom, Wesley focuses on bridging academic theory with real-world practice through case studies, simulations, and applied projects in areas such as Lean Six Sigma, operations management, leadership, and change management, helping students build the practical problem-solving skills required to lead continuous improvement in their own organizations.