James Snyder

About James Snyder

I believe work should work for people, not the other way around.As a Lean leader with a background in engineering, I focus on making work more meaningful, less stressful, and more sustainable for the people who do it. Whether it\'s through cross-functional collaboration, employee-driven problem-solving, or process design, my goal is always the same: to improve how work feels and functions, not just how it looks on paper.The proudest moment of my career wasn’t tied to a cost savings at all. It was when a foundry employee (who had never been especially warm toward me) thanked me because the process changes we had made meant he wasn\'t as sore on the weekend, and he was able to play baseball with his son for the first time in months. That moment redefined success for me. It\'s not about efficiency, it’s about impact. When we focus on making work easier for the people that do it, productivity and profitability will naturally follow.Today, I lead process improvement at Horizon Farm Credit, where I get to combine Lean thinking, employee engagement, and data-informed coaching to build a culture of continuous improvement. I\'m not looking for a new role, but I always enjoy connecting with others who care about making work better, and I’m open to mentoring those just starting on this path.

Experience

1. Director of Process Improvement

   Horizon Farm Credit

   Jan 2024 — Present · Mt. Joy, PA, US

   Lead enterprise-wide process improvement initiatives that align operations with strategic business goals, driving measurable results in customer experience, employee experience, and process efficiency- Partner with executive leadership to identify high-leverage opportunities and implement solutions that build long-term operational capability- Developed and launched a company-wide Lean Foundations certification program, equipping emerging leaders to drive change and reinforcing a culture of continuous improvement- Built performance dashboards to track and communicate ROI of improvement efforts, enabling data-informed decision-making across departments and leadership levels- Delivered hands-on training in process improvement philosophy and problem framing to senior leadership, including the Board of Directors and combined AgFirst CEOs, strengthening alignment and strategic clarity at the highest levels.

Education

• The Ohio State University

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Materials Science and Engineering

  2011 — 2015

• Quantic School of Business and Technology

  Master of Business Administration - MBA