AQS Management Systems Faculty

Mark Ames
Mark Ames has more than 25 years of experience in quality management and instruction. Mark offers his students a wealth of knowledge-he is the author of AQS Management System's RAB Accredited ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 Lead Auditor programs, and has consulted with more than 200 organizations that have successfully registered to these standards. A former faculty member at the University of St. Thomas, Ames is president and founder of AQS Management Systems.

Don Darrah, CQA,CQE, CQT
Don Darrah has more than 15 years of experience in quality management. He brings his students the insights and perspective gained working for a Tier 1 automotive supplier. He is an ANSI-RAB Certified Lead Auditor, a QS-9000 auditor, and a ASQ Certified Quality Auditor. Darrah has a strong background in CNC machining and audit instruction.

Don E. Hall, CQA, CQ Manager, CQIA
Don Hall has more than 10 years of experience in quality management and audit education and training. He brings a strong background in audit administration and auditing to his instruction as well as incorporates in the courses he teaches real life experiences from over 100 national and international ISO 9000 registration audits, and uses these experiences to emphasize the key points of the courses. He is an adjunct faculty member at Weber State University and Salt Lake Community College, the Executive Director of the Utah Quality Council, which administers the Utah Quality Award, the Past Chair and Education Chair for his local ASQ section as well as the Deputy Regional Director of ASQ Region Six.

Steve Howarth
Steve Howarth has been active in the quality field for over 15 years. As quality manager and consultant he has been instrumental in successful registration efforts to ISO 9001, AS9100, TS 16949, and QS9000. Steve is an RAB certified lead auditor (QMS-LA), and an IATF certified ISO/TS 16949:2002 auditor. He audits for multiple registrars, and has conducted hundreds of quality management system audits, both internal and external. Steve is an adjunct faculty member at Weber State University, teaching Fundamentals of Quality Engineering. In the local ASQ section, Steve serves as the Education and Certification Chair. He also holds a BS degree in Manufacturing Engineering Technology.

Dale Isaacs
Dale Isaacs has over 25 years experience in management systems and strategic project management. He earned a B.S. in Industrial Engineering in 1980 from Tennessee Technological University and has done post-graduate work at Vanderbilt University and the University of Michigan. Dale's expertise also includes the development, implementation and "hands-on" application of management systems. He was responsible for the 4th, 6th and 9th operations in the United States to become ISO 9000 certified in the late 1980's and early 1990's. Dale is a certified Management Systems Lead Auditor and conducts management system audits for acquisition due-diligence and to assess system compliance to established standards.

Clayton Jensen
Clayton Jensen has more than 30 years of experience in the quality field. He provides his students an experienced and varied perspective gained as an ISO 9000, QS-9000, and ISO 14000 Lead Assessor. He achieved CQII certification in 1993 and has specialized knowledge in the food industry. Jensen audits for a leading registrar, and is a registered professional mechanical engineer.

Kevin Lehner
Kevin Lehner has more than 20 years of experience in the field of environmental auditing. He is an active ISO 14000 consultant with diversified management and auditing experiences. He is an RAB Certified ISO 14000 Lead Auditor and audits for several registrars including many automotive assignments. Lehner is a guest lecturer at the University of Wisconsin.

Fred Nelson
Fred Nelson has more than 20 years of diversified experience in manufacturing and service industries. He brings to the classroom his experience and background as an ISO 9000 and MRP-II implementation project leader at several major manufacturers. Considered an innovative manager and instructor, he has extensive audit and consulting experience for a wide variety of successful ISO 9000 clients.

Dennis Putz, CQA
Dennis Putz has more than 25 years of experience in the field of quality and manufacturing management. He gives his students the perspective and insights he gained as a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award auditor and as an ISO 9000 Certified Lead Auditor. Putz is a voting member of the ISO 9000 Technical Committee 176, and a graduate of the GE Manufacturing Training Program.

Carolyn Richardson
Carolyn Richardson has more than 20 years experience in numerous diverse aspects of the quality field, including both internal/external auditing and training. She provides students valuable insights and perspective from her extensive background working with government facilities, manufacturing companies and laboratories. In addition to many years as an instructor, Carolyn is a certified RAB / IATCA QMS Senior Auditor and IATCA Verifying Auditor and conducts quality management system assessments for an international registrar.

Dr. Brent Smith
Dr. Brent Smith is the Environmental Manager for the U.S. Department of Energy's Strategic Petroleum Reserve. He has over 30 years of experience in environmental and quality management, auditing, and training. Dr. Smith has extensive experience in government and industry environmental and quality audits and currently works for an international registrar that specializes in the oil and gas industry. He is a RAB-certified EMS Lead Auditor, a Registered Environmental Manager, a Certified EH&S Manager, and a Certified Environmental Professional in Louisiana. Dr. Smith teaches Environmental Management as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of New Orleans. He is a member of the Board of Directors and Louisiana Environmental Management Award coordinator for the Louisiana Quality Foundation, a member of the Steering Committee for the Louisiana Environmental Leadership Program, an officer and member of the Board of Directors for the Louisiana Environmental Profession als Association, and a member of the American Society for Quality.

Mel Stauffer
Mel Stauffer has more than 15 years of experience in quality and environmental management. He brings to the classroom broad experience as an audit instructor, and is currently on the faculty of the University of South Carolina as director of their Quality Institute. He is a Certified Lead Auditor for ISO 9000, ISO 14000 and QS-9000, and is a lead assessor for several registrars.

Paul Strange
Paul Strange has more than 10 years of experience in environmental auditing and management. He provides his students an auditor's perspective, having performed Phase I and Phase II operational, EPA Title V permit application, and ISO 14000 registration audits for an international registrar. A former environmental specialist and lecturer at the Australian National University in Canberra, Strange has a rich environmental instructional background.

Ron Tarach
Ron specializes in aviation companies, such as FAR 145 Repair Stations, parts manufacturers, and distributors, but has assisted companies in various industries seeking ISO 9001 registration. Ron has successfully directed companies to ISO 9001, AS9000, and AS9100 registration using over 18 years of quality experience in aerospace, nuclear, power generation and various manufacturing industries. As a Quality Manager for a FAA Repair Station, Ron gained valuable experience working with the FAA, the civil aviation authorities of other countries, and various airlines and OEM's.

Scott Weyburn, CQA, CQ Manager
Scott has conducted more than 75 audits nationally and brings the real-world experiences of a RAB QMS Certified Lead Auditor to his instruction. With more than 20 years of experience, Scott provides his students with a registrar's perspective, and he sits on the Executive Advisory Board for an international registrar company. He is also the Membership Chair for his local ASQ section.