In this episode of OPTICS in Action, Ryan Weiss sits down with Joshua Tarbutton, Founder and CEO of Bravo Team, to explore how design engineering, people, and processes come together to drive breakthrough innovation. Based in North Carolina, Bravo Team blends mechanical, electrical, and software engineering to solve complex problems for mid-sized and enterprise-level companies.

Joshua shares how his team of 50+ engineers and fabricators collaborates across disciplines at the "velocity of the work," what it takes to scale a business from $1M to $10M, and why empowering people through process is the key to sustainable growth. They also discuss how leadership philosophies, EOS, and workflow consulting can shape the future of engineering teams.

Whether you're scaling a tech-forward team or streamlining operations, this episode delivers insights on leading with empathy while building for speed.

Bravo Team’s Cross-Disciplinary Model

Joshua explains how a team of mechanical, software, and electrical engineers collaborate to bring high-impact solutions to life—fast.

Process That Empowers People

From frustration-reduction to growth acceleration, process isn't red tape—it's liberation, when done right.

Leadership & Culture in Scaling Companies

The episode dives into EOS, T-shaped talent, and how good people (and humility) protect leaders from blind spots.

Why Workflow Consulting Matters

Joshua and Ryan explore how tailored consulting can remove roadblocks and prepare companies for the next level of performance.

In this episode, we sit down with Sheila Montney — a 35-year State Farm veteran, Shingo Academy inductee, and city council member in Bloomington, IL — to explore how lean principles and the Shingo Model are reshaping local government operations. Sheila shares her journey from corporate continuous improvement leader to a trailblazer in the public sector, addressing a longstanding gap in tailored lean training and cultural transformation strategies for municipalities.

From developing custom e-learning modules to launching regional cohorts and championing public-private partnerships, Sheila provides deep insight into how respect for people, measurable outcomes, and sustainable cultural change are becoming cornerstones of more effective, resilient government services.

Key Highlights:

1. How the Shingo Model’s culture-first approach aligns with the needs of public service

2. Success stories from initiatives like the Cook County Forest Preserves

3. Innovative strategies to build capability in smaller municipalities through regional cohorts

and e-learning

4. The importance of linking improvements to ROI and requiring knowledge transfer in

consulting engagements

Whether you’re a public servant, CI practitioner, or just curious about how lean thinking can make government work better — this episode is for you.

In this episode of Optics in Action, Ryan Weiss talks with Peg Pennington, President of MoreSteam, about the powerful intersection of people, process, and technology. From real-world insights on operational excellence to the role of AI in future problem-solving, Peg shares how organizations can build critical thinkers and create lasting improvement.