Keynote Speakers

Dr. Beth Cudney is President of Cudney Consulting Group, LLC, and a Professor of Data Analytics in the Simon School of Business at Maryville University. She received her B.S. in Industrial Engineering from North Carolina State University, her master’s in mechanical engineering and MBA from the University of Hartford, and her doctorate in Engineering Management from the University of Missouri–Rolla. She received the 2025 ASQ Grant Medal. Dr. Cudney received the 2024 Book of the Year award from the International Lean Six Sigma Institute and the 2023 Masing Book Prize from the International Academy for Quality (IAQ) for her book on Lean Sustainability. She received the 2022 ASQ Crosby Medal and the 2021 Bernard R. Sarchet Award from ASEE EMD for lifetime achievement in engineering management education. She received the 2021 Masing Book Prize from IAQ for her book on Lean Six Sigma. In 2018, Dr. Cudney received the ASQ Crosby Medal for her book on Design for Six Sigma. She also received the 2017 Yoshio Kondo Academic Research Prize from IAQ for sustained performance in exceptional published works. She is an ASQ Fellow, IISE Fellow, and ASEM Fellow. In 2010, Dr. Cudney was inducted into IAQ. She received the 2008 ASQ Feigenbaum Medal and the 2006 SME Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineering Award. She has published 17 books and over 140 journal papers. Dr. Cudney is a certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt. She holds eight ASQ certifications, including ASQ Certified Quality Engineer, Manager of Quality/Operational Excellence, and Six Sigma Black Belt, amongst others.

Dr. Duan Yonggang is Executive Vice President of China Association for Quality (CAQ), Companion of International Academy for Quality (IAQ), and the current Chairperson of Asian Network for Quality (ANQ). He has long focused on quality management and brand development, contributing to progress in quality improvement and brand building in China while fostering international exchange and collaboration. Under his leadership, CAQ delivers professional services that enable enterprises to improve quality performance and build stronger brands, empowering Chinese companies to achieve breakthroughs, sharpen their competitiveness, and enhance resilience for long-term growth.