Lean Jax is dedicated to helping our members:
✅ Receive the necessary guidance, support, resources, and confidence to effectively leverage Lean thinking and practice throughout their organizations.
✅ Develop and sustain world-class cultures, anchored by the pillars of continuous improvement and respect for people.
✅ Learn from co-members through site visits, sharing of best practices, and collaboration.
✅ Provide workers at all levels with the ability to surface problems, innovate solutions, and actively contribute to their organization’s purpose and vision.
✅ Achieve compelling results in safety, quality, cost, delivery, and employee morale throughout their organizations.
✅ Gain a sustainable competitive advantage in the marketplace by consistently delighting current customers and continuously attracting new ones!
Establish the First Coast as the epicenter of Lean excellence in the United States by cultivating a community where boundless innovation, continuous improvement, and collaborative learning inspire greatness among organizations and individuals, alike, fueling growth and prosperity throughout the region!
Our Member Organizations
Our Individual Members
Our Partners
Executive Director
James Bussell
Since 2017, James Bussell has served as Executive Director of Lean Jax, where he leads with a hands-on approach to Lean transformation and a strong focus on building meaningful connections across industries. One of his first priorities with new members is facilitating introductions and collaboration opportunities that accelerate learning and spark innovation. With over 12 years of experience in Lean coaching, training, and implementation, James has supported organizations across a wide spectrum of sectors—including manufacturing, metal fabrication, MRO, new product development, retail, construction, law, government, law enforcement, financial services, tax resolution, printing, logistics, customer service, healthcare, higher education, sales, marketing, and the nonprofit world.
At the heart of James’s work is a deep belief in two things: continuous improvement as a discipline, and respect for people as a non-negotiable. Whether he’s guiding enterprise-wide implementation, coaching a frontline supervisor, or designing a training series, he brings a steady focus on building systems that elevate both performance and people. His ultimate goal: helping organizations deliver exceptional value to their customers—consistently, sustainably, and with purpose.
James facilitates value stream mapping and rapid improvement events, designs and delivers Lean training workshops and certification programs, and strengthens member engagement through collaboration and shared learning. He also coordinates site visits and webinars to promote cross-industry learning, and develops standard work materials that help teams sustain improvements and build daily discipline. Whether in the boardroom, on the shop floor, inside City Hall, out on a construction site, or connecting virtually, he is passionate about spreading Lean thinking and practice wherever he goes.
A graduate of Florida State University and a member of the Florida Bar, James is a devoted fan of the Florida State Seminoles, as well as the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Knicks, New York Mets, and New York Islanders. He’s also a film enthusiast—especially of 1940s and ’50s film noir.