Instructor and Consultant Spotlight: 

Donald A. Ferguson

	Don Ferguson, MBA, ASQ-CQE

Don's 30-plus years of management experience have included responsibilities for five manufacturing plants in the United States and Mexico.

He has served in a wide variety of capacities including Operations Vice President, Divisional Operations Manager, Facility Manager, and Corporate Quality Director. He holds a Master's degree in Business Administration, and is a Certified Quality Engineer.

Don's experiences in public speaking and teaching began in the 1970's, when he organized workshops for civic and business organizations in the Midwest, arranged seminars for non-profit groups, and directed live theater.

In addition to his corporate duties, Don serves as an instructor in the adult Bachelor's and Master's degree programs at Cardinal Stritch University and Concordia University, Wisconsin.  His courses include Principles of Management, International Management, Oral and Written Communications, Organizational Behavior, Psychology of Sales, Financial Management, and Quality Management.

Work synopsis:

• President: training/consulting firm offering custom business seminars and training media

• Operations Vice President: responsibilities included two manufacturing plants (one in Illinois, one in Mexico), global sources of supply, international customers, unionized facilities

• Corporate Quality Director

• Divisional Operations Manager (responsible for plants in three U.S. locations)

• Manufacturing Engineering Manager, Quality Manager, traveling Supplier Quality Representative, Quality Engineer, Foreman, Lab Technician, Group Leader, Inspector, Machine Operator

• Manager, Assistant Manager, Technician: numerous motion picture theaters in the early 1970's

Instruction / presentation:

• Began conducting business training courses in the early 1970's

• Arranged and presented seminars in 1980's for professional associations; provided after-dinner and "guest presentations" to civic groups and business organizations in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois

• Began business-school teaching in 1993

• Served as board member, director, performer in live theater group in 1970's

• Have instructed seminars at Rock Valley College, Rockford, Illinois

• Projects for corporate clients have included:

• Supervisory skills training seminars

• Sales skills seminars

• Communications and office efficiency workshops

• Computer software training

• Quality system and cost reduction consulting

• Capital equipment implementation consulting

• Executive speech and oral presentations workshops

• Better business writing workshops

• Train-the-trainer video production

• Workshops on offshore manufacturing alternatives

• Courses that Don has taught in  bachelor's and master's degree programs at the university have included: