About
Every Company Has A Story. This Is Ours.
Our Mission
“To offer effective and affordable Continuous Improvement Resources to all organizations. We believe people at all levels of any organization can and should benefit from Continuous Improvement.”
The mission of Kaizen Initiatives Inc. was born in 2016 when we activated the model of Continuous Improvement Resources. We found immediate success through developing quick buy-in and effective changes and many of our clients benefited immensely from our services. We also identified a gap in our methodology. The changes and systems we helped our clients develop weren’t standing the test of time. We would leave and the improvement would stall. The biggest challenge companies face with Continuous Improvement is sustaining it and we knew we needed to find a solution.
We are a company that focuses on adding long-term value to our customers, so we got to work developing a new product to solve the problem. We call it KaizenHub. KaizenHub is a tool that allows organizations to easily build, organize, systemize and sustain their own processes on a digital platform. Now all organizations of any size have the ability to easily implement changes and reap the long term benefits of sustained growth. And of course, it fits within our original mission, which we proudly stand behind.
About the Founder
Lenny was born and raised on a farm in Southern Alberta where he learned the importance of family, hard work, and true commitment.
In January, 2000, Lenny moved off of the family farm to finish his Automotive Repair Technician Red Seal. He remained in Calgary and went on to work for Concours Collision Centers in Calgary, Alberta for 16 years. Lenny’s experience as a long term employee and manager and in a strict lean environment taught him the true fundamentals of Lean, which is built on Culture and Values. From technician through to General Manager, Lenny gained strong Lean understanding, learning and practicing Lean from the Gemba, not just the classroom.
Lenny Houweling
President, Kaizen Head Coach
About the Staff
Ryan’s journey into the automotive industry began at a young age, spending time at a friend’s father’s repair facility.
This early exposure sparked a passion for vehicles, leading to his first job in high school at a “jobber” parts supplier. From there, Ryan transitioned to roles in dealership and collision repair parts departments.
His entry into the world of collision repair as a Parts Manager at a Lean production facility marked a pivotal moment. Quickly rising through the ranks, he took on estimating and management roles. Immersed in a culture driven by Lean principles, Ryan gained hands-on experience learning, implementing, and practicing Lean methodologies from the ground level, up to high-level leadership.
Driven by a passion for continuous improvement, Ryan now focuses on teaching others how to embrace Lean principles to reduce waste and optimize processes—not just in the automotive industry, but across all businesses and industries. He believes that Lean is a universal approach that can transform how organizations operate, creating sustainable growth and lasting value.
Today, Ryan is based on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, where he continues to inspire and guide others towards operational excellence through Lean.
Ryan Pederson
KaizenHub Head Coach
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