The BlueWater Team

Ron Miller is the founder and a Managing Partner of BlueWater Partners. He has more than 50 years of experience as an advisor, senior manager and shareholder of middle-market companies in a variety of industries.

Prior to founding BlueWater Partners in 2001, Mr. Miller was the President, CEO and shareholder of several privately held manufacturing and distribution companies with revenues under $100 million. He is currently a member of the Turnaround Management Association and board member of two privately held companies. Ron was formerly Vice Chairman of the Children’s Advocacy Center and Child & Family Resource Council, Chairman of the Children’s Law Center and of Champions for Children. He has also served as a board member of Michigan’s Children and the American Cancer Society.

Mark Young has over 20 years of experience in manufacturing, supply chain and management consulting for several of the world’s Fortune 500 companies. He combines an energetic and personable style with strategic thinking, strong program management and facilitation skills to effectively lead companies through their lean transformation.

Mr. Young has developed training curriculum and facilitated workshops in a variety of strategic lean operational topics to build client resources’ facilitation and subject matter skills. He is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt from the Six Sigma Academy and earned his Lean Certification from Johnson Controls. Mark is also the Founder and Managing Director of LeanResources, LLC headquartered in Holland, MI.

Steve Hughes is a Director with more than 10 years of experience in public accounting and consulting with advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel and ERP software. He focuses on the financial aspects of consulting and investment banking engagements.

Prior to joining BlueWater Partners in 2015, Mr. Hughes held various positions at Connelly GPM, Crowe Horwath LLP, Great Lakes Marine Group, and Modar. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Finance from Grand Valley State University. Mr. Hughes is a Certified Turnaround Professional.

Sarah Wilson is an Associate with over 20 years of experience in accounting and financial analysis, including modeling, inventory valuation, and preparing and auditing financial statements. She focuses on the financial and strategic aspects of consulting and investment banking engagements.

Prior to joining BlueWater Partners in 2020, Ms. Wilson held various positions at Alvarez & Marsal, Hilco Appraisal Services, ArcelorMittal, and Ernst & Young. She earned a B.A. in Accounting from Michigan State University.

Lisa Royce is an Associate with over 20 years of experience in business strategy, management and marketing. She focuses on communicating how BlueWater Partners is uniquely positioned to help clients create, manage and realize business value.

Prior to joining BlueWater Partners in 2020, Ms. Royce held positions at Suzann Foerster Leadership Coaching, J. Walter Thompson and Ogilvy & Mather. She earned a B.S. in Advertising and an M.A. in Mass Communication from the University of Florida.

John Stewart has over 25 years of industry experience specializing in supply chain process re-engineering and project management, where he has delivered double-digit improvement to clients across their Supply Chain Management (SCM) processes.

Mr. Stewart’s broad SCM experience includes inventory planning, supply chain network design, cost and service analysis, order fulfillment, logistics planning and execution, distribution center design, trade compliance assessment and implementation of an outsourced dedicated fleet program. He earned a Master’s Degree in International Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management and a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from the University of Illinois.

Tom Hughes has over 40 years of industry and consulting experience leading performance improvement initiatives. His openness, experience and quick wit build lasting relationships while effectively leading clients in the identification, scoping and delivery of high-value projects leveraging Lean Six Sigma and the breakthrough strategy.

Mr. Hughes served in the US Army Reserves as an Infantry Company First Sergeant, earned an Engineering Degree from General Motors Institute and an MBA from Central Michigan University. Tom is a certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt from Sigma Breakthrough Technologies Inc. (SBTI).