Introduction:
I was once at a Vietnam Veterans reunion. There was plenty of drinking, venting of frustrations and anger, and even a few fights. I was sitting with a drunk biker. He leaned against me bumping shoulders to get my attention. He said… “Bruce, if you ain’t got stories, you ain’t lived”. Ah-h-h… the wisdom of a drunk biker… you got to love bikers!
Well, I have stories. And, I have the ability to write about them. I suspect I have more stories than most people so I will be telling some of them here on the Bucket List Dreams website where we retain Veteran’s stories for all time… for future generations. As founder of BLD, I think it is my obligation to add and share mine.
There is no rhyme or reason to my stories… no chronological order. I will write them as recollections return. My memory loss is getting worse, but I can still recall some things. My recollections may be faulty in some cases, but I will recount as accurately as I can and as I said, as memories are triggered, I will document them so do not presume any chronological significance anywhere in them. Also, do not presume 100% accuracy… as I said, my mind is suffering with old age but if I had to rate my accuracy, I would feel safe to say that I’m averaging 87.5%
As to my “Learning’s”… I must warn you… I have several flaws but the most irritating one for many people is that I will tell the truth about things… I never would have made a good politician. Many humans do not like the truth… they prefer to shape the world into what fits into their own perspectives, assumptions and beliefs. Unfortunately, for all of us, 80% of what we see, read, or hear today is filtered through the brain of a human with an agenda and thus is ‘tainted’. Therefore, we often form our perceptions and beliefs based upon lies and manipulations. This means that the truth will often fly in the face of what we ‘want’ to believe. I am old now and I have had a lifetime of learning what is true and validating it over time. I pay attention and I analyze but I do not allow others to manipulate me… at least I have not for many years… believe me, I have been manipulated in the past. Not anymore though… and not for quite a few years.
So, some of my ‘Stories’ and some of my ‘Learnings’ will divulge some inconvenient ‘truths’. If you don’t like them… don’t read them but rest assured, I am telling the truth based upon what I have experienced and learned.
I strongly urge you to read the story titled: “The US Won the Vietnam War… Twice”… this is one such example of which I speak. Also read the story about our Prisoners of War from Vietnam it goes hand in hand with ‘The US Won the Vietnam War… Twice’.
Of all my stories, these two are a couple of the most significant for me. They ARE the truth about the war… and they tell the ‘inconvenient truth’ that America has never been able to face. The history of the war in Vietnam has been purposely written to protect and cover for certain individuals and groups of people. Politicians, government, media, Hollywood, and academia have been involved in fostering a false narrative because many of the people who they wanted protected are members of these same institutions.
Many in the general public are also in need of protection… there are many who wear “We Stopped the War” as a badge of honor. They have gone through life believing they are the good and noble Americans… they believe that they are responsible for “bringing home the troops”… this is the furthest thing from the truth. These millions of people do not want to know that they have “blood on their hands” … a lot of blood! Read these two stories and you will understand how things you have been told and have come to believe are not likely to be ‘remotely’ aligned with the truth.
Also, everything you read is from me only. Just like with all the other Veterans stories on our website, it is theirs and they own it. Nothing I write is owned by Bucket List Dreams nor does it reflect upon this non-judgmental, non-political organization. If you have a problem with something I write, again, don’t read it… don’t complain to Bucket List Dreams.
Enough said… I hope you enjoy my stories and learnings and that the truths told in some of them are not too inconvenient for you but rather, I hope they are inspiring and informative.
Please excuse any typo’s… my writing skills has slid along with my brain.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING ‘BUCKET LIST DREAMS’!!!
Bruce Banning
The below may help you to understand ‘who’ I am…
BRUCE WILLIAM BANNING: RESUME
5000 Brooklyn Rd.
Jackson, Michigan 49201
Cell: 517-914-0752
Self-motivated, driven, and results-oriented leader with demonstrated success in development and growth of private, public, and volunteer organizations. Expertise in strategic planning, team-based project management, and process design and implementation. Understanding of systems dynamics and strong analytical skills. Broad knowledge of organizational psychology that results in creative solutions and action plans to achieve organizational objectives. Highly regarded for team leadership, motivating others, and mentoring change.
Selected Career Highlights
ENJOYED LEADING CUTTING-EDGE ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSFORMATION:
- Business Process Management (BPM): The Successful Integration of Process, Technology, and Management Practice
- Lean Manufacturing Techniques and Tools
- Employee Engagement and Empowerment
- Team Based Work Systems
- Innovation and Benchmarking
- Creative, Systemic Problem Solving Solutions: A recent project resulted in a $1.2M savings in just six months
- Change Management
- Product Development Systems: Design and implementation
- Corporate Certifications: ISO 9001 / ISO14001 / IATF-16949
- Award Winning Environmental Systems
Core Strengths
- Teaching and Training
- Coaching and Counseling
- Project Management
- Change Agent
- Relationship Management
- Team Facilitation
- Organization and Efficiency
- Serve and Motivate
- Creative Solutions
- Leadership
- Management
- Quality and Manufacturing
Professional Summary
BCH Consulting (2016–Present)
Consultant: Consulting on the implementation of Quality Management Systems, Lean Manufacturing Systems and the securing of ISO Certifications (9001/14001) and IATF16949.
MMI-engineered solutions (2010–2016)
Director of Quality and Lean Manufacturing (Retired)
- Business / manufacturing processes, design and implementation
- Plant lay-out and implementation of Lean Manufacturing tools / metrics
- Organizational Development and cultural alignment – people, process and corrective action
- Cost reduction – strategies for improving efficiency
- Continuous Improvement – facilitate a ‘Learning Organization’ (coach, counsel, train)
- Document, records, policies and procedures – development, implementation, control
- Lead certifications (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, TS 16949) - Lead Auditor and train Internal Auditors
- Quality Management System – implementation and continual improvement
- Management System Representative
- Environmental Management System Representative
- Supplier Quality Management - supplier development and corrective action
- Regulatory agency compliance
Cadence Innovation, Troy, Michigan (2005–2009)
Process Improvement Manager
- Design and/or improve all company business processes and systems
- Design and implement Business Process Management (BPM)
- Facilitate cost reductions across the company
- Support Lean Manufacturing implementation through training, coaching, and facilitation of events (Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping)
- Implement Lean plant lay-out and Lean techniques (Visual Factory, 5S)
- Design and lead “Value Enhancement”; a workshop approach to: (1) identify cost reduction and improvement opportunities, (2) generate innovative ideas for the marketplace
- Design and implement IDEA (Invent, Design, Enhance, Advance); a process to engage all employees in idea generation and manage idea development through presentation to the customer
- Develop creative “systemic” solutions to plant performance challenges
Visteon Automotive Systems, Dearborn, Michigan (1992–2004)
- Product Development System Change Management (2001–2004): Lead global organizational change related to implementation of a new Product Development System
- Chassis Systems Product Development System Change Management (1999–2001): Lead division-level organizational change related to implementation of a new Product Development System
- Chassis Systems Launch Analyst (1998–1999): Assessment of global launch performance for improvement opportunities
- Process Leadership Specialist (1997–1998): Lead, coach, and mentor process improvement groups and facilitate organizational structure changes to sustain change long-term (Average related savings: $500,000.00)
- Human Resources: Employee Resource Coordinator (1994–1997): Led creation of a plant training department (Nine UAW Trainers); wrote training grants totaling $1.3M; co-led plant-wide Team Based Work System; co-led Lean manufacturing implementation; wrote and led Production Supervisor training program; implemented Communication System and Employee Recognition System
- Production Supervisor (1992–1994): First to implement Team Based Work Systems
Additional Professional Experience
- Therapist, Caknipe-Kovach Associates, P.C., MI (1991–1994)
- General Manager, Can-Am Protection Services, MI (1988–1991)
- Instructor, Jackson Community, Sienna Heights, and Washtenaw Community Colleges, MI (1991–1994)
- Senior Probation Agent, 1st District Court (MI) (1979–1988)
Education
- Masters – Criminology/Criminal Justice, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI (1986)
- Bachelor of Science – Criminology/Criminal Justice, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI (1978)
- Associates of Science – Police Operations, Monroe County Community College, Monroe, MI (1976)
Professional Development
- Numerous Certifications: Continuous Improvement Work Group Facilitator / Respect and Recognition Training Facilitator / Diversity Training Facilitator / Master Trainer / Trainer–Facilitator / Critical Response Team Leader / Veterans Readjustment Counselor / Crisis Intervention Leader–Trainer / Vocational Expert / Social Worker / Substance Abuse Counselor / Program Manager / Lead Auditor
- Approximately 70 Continuous Improvement Training Sessions Completed: Program Management / Organizational Development / Coaching and Counseling / Problem Solving / Leadership and Supervision / Conflict Resolution / Lean Manufacturing / Human Resources / Diversity
Additional Accomplishments / Awards
- Governor’s Minuteman Award for Citizenship
- Recognized by the City of Wayne, MI for Negotiating a Hostage Situation
- Certificate of Appreciation – Michigan Legislature
- Certificate for Outstanding Service to Veterans – US Department of Labor
- Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Award for Service to Veterans – Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Certificate for Serving as Chairman – Monroe County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Committee
- Certificate for Serving as President – Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 142
- Customer Driven Quality Award – Ford Motor Company
- Reserve Police Officer of the Year – City of Monroe
- Several Certificates of Appreciation – City of Monroe
- Certificate for Serving as Chairman – Michigan Department of Corrections, Monroe County Criminal Justice Committee
- Certificate for Serving as Regional Director – Michigan Association of Probation Services
- Several Citations for Service in Vietnam – US Navy
