Speaking of Quality

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Like many professionals, my introduction to ASQ began with a very practical goal: certification. At the time, I was focused on strengthening my technical foundation and building credibility in the field of quality. 

I have had numerous bosses over my 40+ year career. A few were great, most were good, and several were terrible. Coinciding with my career has been the opportunity to serve as a member leader (aka volunteer) for ASQ, something I have done continuously since 1992. 

We all have likes and dislikes. When I was young, I liked to wear sneakers and play; what kid didn’t? Sunday mornings were the worst; not only did attending church cut into playtime, but I had to dress up and wear shoes.

Was there a spark that ignited your professional journey? Maybe it was a person, an experience, a moment that set or changed the direction of your career. 

At ASQ’s 2025 World Conference on Quality and Improvement (WCQI) I had the opportunity to speak from the ‘big stage’ about community.

When I was a college senior, I devoted much of my free time to searching for a job. Up until that point, I had believed that one goes to school, earns a degree, and then simply gets a job. 

November is World Quality Month, a time to celebrate and raise awareness about the vital role quality plays in our lives — from the products and services we rely on to the broader impact on our communities and the world.

ASQ has a broad publishing program that includes Quality Progress magazine, Lean & Six Sigma Review, and four technical journals: Journal of Quality Technology, Quality Engineering, Quality Management Journal, and Technometrics. The Quality Press catalog has over 200 books available in print and ebook formats, with annual sales exceeding 30,000 books.

Sometimes you choose a career path, but it often chooses you. I did not start out my career in quality, but it was always a part of every job I held.