Collins Taps New Six Sigma Director

September 29, 2008

Efficiency program is fully funded through 2009

Erie County has a new Six Sigma Director. Erie County Executive Chris Collins and Deputy County Executive Al Hammonds have hired P. William Carey to head the Administration's signature reform and efficiency program. The search for a new Six Sigma Director began when Hammonds was promoted to Deputy County Executive in early August. Carey will now work in tandem with Hammonds as the program prepares to train more employees and identify new cost saving projects for 2009.

"As Albany continues to hand down unfunded mandates and costs increase, it is critical that Erie County become as efficient and effective at delivering services as possible," said County Executive Chris Collins. "Our Six Sigma program – an effort that is generating national attention – is helping to generate savings at every turn. Our employees have embraced Six Sigma and our newly trained Green Belt employees are working hard every day to effect positive change. Bill Carey's professional experience will help us take Erie County's program to the next level."

A Six Sigma Black Belt, Carey has a long and distinguished career in banking and finance. Carey came to Erie County from M&T Bank of Buffalo where he was the Senior Vice President of Lending Process & System Optimization. Prior to joining M&T in 2001, Carey worked for HSBC Bank. Carey earned an MBA in Finance/Management from Canisius College in Buffalo and has an undergraduate degree in Business Administration and Accounting from the State University of New York at Buffalo (UB). A Certified Public Accountant, Carey received his Six Sigma Black Belt training from the Center for Industrial Effectiveness at UB.

"This opportunity allows me to use my 30 years in the private sector to help County Executive Collins bring business principles to county government," said Carey. "The impact Six Sigma has already had in the Rath Building is clear and I know the potential moving forward is tremendous. The Collins' Administration is committed to making county government more efficient and improving the services we provide to county residents. Lean Six Sigma is helping us accomplish that."

The Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority recently voted to fully fund Erie County's Six Sigma program through 2009. This state grant funding supports the salary for the Six Sigma Director and additional training opportunities through Canisius College and UB.

UB has also been instrumental during the transition period between Hammonds and Carey. To the fill the void and help ensure the program's consistency, UB's Center for Industrial Effectiveness (TCIE) made its Senior Staff Facilitator and Lean Six Sigma mentor, Tom Miller, available to work one-on-one with Erie County employees.

"UB and TCIE have very generously donated their staff time free of charge, which has helped maintain our program's continuity," said Deputy County Executive Al Hammonds. "Tom's on-site, essentially full-time oversight of the County's program has been critical as our newly trained Green Belt employees finish their first Six Sigma projects in time for the release of the 2009 County Budget."

For more on Erie County's Six Sigma program, visit www.erie.gov/sixsigma.