Steve Hirt founded the manufacturing consulting firm Optima Associates in 2003. Prior to that, he was president of a 60-person consulting, engineering and architectural design firm. Steve has a passion for helping organizations on their continuous improvement (lean) journey. He is skilled at helping leaders link their behaviors and actions with business results. He provides customers with a strategic approach of planning, leading, measuring, monitoring and controlling the change and standardization of critical processes. The focus is on a systems approach to improving business results.

Prior to founding Optima, Steve was President of a 60-person strategically based consulting, engineering and architectural design firm. His primary responsibility was the development and growth of the corporate/industrial sector. Steve has also held senior executive positions in finance and operations for global food manufacturing and consumer products companies. Steve's mission is to help organizations optimize change to create world-class performance.

Kevin Shaver has over 30 years of industry experience with small and large companies as an employee and a consultant. He founded his own consulting company due to his passion for helping companies realize the benefits of a continuous improvement program. He has assisted companies toward tremendous improvements in their bottom line and customer satisfaction through Lean Continuous Improvements. Kevin joined Optima to further his passion for guiding organizations to success, a passion that is shared by the members of the Optima firm.

Kevin has held positions of progressing responsibility in both the commercial and defense industry. He has led organizations as large as 800 individuals in the manufacturing industry. His extensive "hands on" experience and understanding of the cultural changes that accompany process conversions has created valuable insight for identifying, understanding, and solving the problems that confront today's executives.