Mike Nichols is a Part-Time Lecturer in the department of Mathematics at Guilford College in Greensboro, NC where he teaches Elementary Statistics. He is also the principal consultant for Nichols Quality Associates. Mike has over 40 years of leadership, process improvement, quantitative analysis, and performance engineering experience across multiple industries. Mike recently retired from Lincoln Financial Group in May of 2023 as AVP within the Enterprise Continuous Improvement organization of Lincoln Financial Group where he led Continuous Improvement consulting teams focused on improving operational efficiencies and enhancing the customer experience. Mike also implemented a new vision to Lincoln’s Continuous Improvement Academy, which provides training on Lean Six Sigma, Continuous Improvement and Risk Management related topics.

Mike’s areas of expertise include leading the design, development, and implementation of corporate deployments of Lean, Six Sigma and Process Management for all levels, executive leadership through practitioner. He has hands-on experience with the efficient use of state-based Baldrige assessment programs. Additionally, he has led continuous improvement, re-engineering, and Lean Six Sigma projects at multiple corporations across numerous business units. He has worked with organizations such as Federal Express, American Express, Bank of America, Pfizer, Cisco Systems, Hess Oil, The Federal Reserve Bank of New York, AFLAC, Wells Fargo, the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, BCBS Alabama and Experian Financial as well as Lincoln Financial Group.

Mike’s long-time interest in quality has led him to assume numerous leadership roles in the American Society for Quality (ASQ), culminating in service as President of the Society for the 2007-08 year and Chairman of the Board in 2008-09. He has co-authored two successful books, Six Sigma for Financial Services, How Leading Companies are Driving Results with Lean, Six Sigma, and Process Management, and What is Six Sigma Process Management? and published numerous articles. Mike also holds the following ASQ certifications: Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Six Sigma Black Belt, Quality Engineer, Manager of Quality/Organizational Effectiveness, and Quality Auditor. He received his original MBB certification while at American Express as Director of Six Sigma Design. He holds a BBA in Finance and an MSE in Industrial Systems Engineering, both from the University of Memphis. In addition to being recognized as a Fellow of ASQ he was also honored with the status of Fellow of the Israel Society for Quality. In 2021 the ASQ Board of Directors elected Mike to receive their Distinguished Service Medal – the highest medal awarded for lifetime contributions to ASQ and the quality movement.