Founded in 2003, the Jacksonville Lean Consortium (Lean Jax) is a dynamic, member-driven, non-profit organization dedicated to helping Northeast Florida organizations effectively implement and sustain Lean Thinking as their overall improvement strategy and system.
Our members seek operational excellence by creating world-class, continuous improvement cultures—work environments focused on delivering exceptional customer value—anchored by Lean champions at all levels—proactive problem-solvers who seek to drive improvement every day.
Lean Jax possesses the knowledge, resources, and proven track record to not only help our members achieve their performance goals, but to consistently exceed them!
Lean Jax is dedicated to helping our members:
Effectively leverage Lean Thinking throughout their organizations.
Foster cultures of continuous improvement and respect for people.
Apply Lean fundamentals training to key areas and achieve impactful results.
Learn from co-members through collaboration and sharing of best practices.
Positively impact productivity, profitability, and culture throughout their organizations.
Provide workers at all levels with the ability to surface problems, brainstorm solutions, and deliver results.
Gain a sustainable competitive advantage in the marketplace by consistently delighting current customers and continuously attracting new ones.
Our Member Organizations
Our Partners
Our Team
Executive Director
James Bussell
Since 2018, James has served as Lean Jax’s executive director. He has extensive experience providing lean transformation coaching and hands-on support for companies in a myriad of industries, including: manufacturing, MRO, new product development, retail, construction, law, government, financial services, logistics, customer service, healthcare, higher education, and and not-for-profit.
As executive director, James’s duties include: coaching and assisting our members with the development of their of their lean transformation/acceleration strategies and lean management systems; organizing and leading value stream mapping and rapid improvement events; building the curriculum and serving as the instructor for our lean workshops and lean certification training series; coordinating member collaboration and learning opportunities; and promoting lean thinking everywhere he goes.
His areas of expertise include: enterprise-wide lean transformations and management systems; strategy deployment and organizational alignment; leadership coaching; process observation and waste elimination; continuous flow and pull methods; lean certification training; employee suggestion programs; standard work and visual management systems; A3 problem solving and root cause analysis; and value stream mapping and rapid improvement events.
James is a Florida State University graduate, member of the Florida Bar, and an avid fan of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Director of Membership
Michelle Reaves
With over 7 years of experience in both public and nonprofit administration, Michelle serves as the Director of Membership and is a dedicated professional with a Bachelor's of Science in Public Administration. Michelle holds certifications in Lean Facilitation, Change Management, and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt that provide her with a comprehensive understanding to bring to Lean Jax.
She has been recognized for her strong leadership skills, which have enabled successful implementation of transformative change initiatives while at the Clay County Sheriff's Office, including Continuous Improvement and Quality Customer Service. Her commitment to membership engagement combined with her passion for process improvement make Michelle a valuable addition to Lean Jax.
Michelle, a native of NE Florida, has been happily married to Brian for over 15 years and together they have three children. In her leisure time, Michelle likes to sing locally and perform with the Florida Worship Choir throughout the state of Florida.