About this Presentation
A firsthand account of the trials, triumphs, and lessons learned from improving an Unemployment Insurance program to meet citizen needs during the COVID19 pandemic.
What Will You Learn
To help you get the most value from this session, we’ve highlighted a few key points. These takeaways capture the main ideas and practical insights from the presentation, making it easier for you to review, reflect, and apply what you’ve learned.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to an unprecedented surge in demand for unemployment insurance, necessitating rapid adaptation and innovation.
The Texas Workforce Commission used the Theory of Constraints as a primary tool to handle this surge, focusing on solutions targeted at areas of greatest impact.
The Commission also had to deal with a massive increase in fraud attempts, developing new detection and prevention mechanisms that prevented an estimated $8.7 billion in fraud payments.
Instructor(s)
Jonathan Coneby
Jonathan Coneby is the Manager of Business Transformation/Rapid Process Improvement at the Texas Workforce Commission. He is an internal consultant to all 13 of the agency's divisions, representing a variety of programs and service delivery models. In his position, Jonathan manages cross functional project teams to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of program operations. He serves as a member of the executive team and advises leadership on enterprise strategy and process improvement. He also serves as a lead trainer and mentor for the agency's Rapid Process Improvement practitioner curriculum, empowering agency staff to improve their operations. Jonathan is a graduate of the University of Texas and holds an undergraduate degree in Economics. He also holds professional certifications in internal auditing (Certified Internal Auditor) as well as the Theory of Constraints (TOC Jonah).
Ms Alka Wadhwa
Alka Wadhwa is an experienced consultant and process improvement expert with over 24 years of expertise in the Theory of Constraints (TOC), Lean Six Sigma, and organizational performance optimization. She has successfully led projects in healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing, driving significant improvements such as a 67% boost in hospital operations and a 140% increase in outpatient visits.
Previously, Alka Wadhwa spent 17+ years at GE Global Research Center, where she led initiatives to enhance various GE businesses through advanced technologies, process redesign, and system optimization. Founder of Better Solutions Consulting, LLC, she specializes in using TOC, Six Sigma, and data analytics to streamline operations and build high-performance teams.
Her work has earned her multiple accolades, including the Empire State Award of Excellence in healthcare.
Dr Gary Wadhwa
Dr. Gary Wadhwa is a Board Certified Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon with extensive experience in the field. He completed his Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery training at Montefiore Hospital, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY, and has served as an Attending at prestigious institutions like St. Peters Hospitals, Ellis Hospital, and Beth Israel Hospital in NY. With a career spanning over two decades, he was the former CEO and President of a group specialty practice in NY from 1994 to 2015. Dr. Wadhwa holds an MBA from UT at Knoxville, TN, and has undergone additional training in System Dynamics at MIT, Health System Management at Harvard Business School, and Entrepreneurship and healthcare innovations at Columbia Business School. Committed to expanding access to Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery care, he is currently engaged in a meaningful project to provide healthcare services to underserved populations in inner city and rural areas through non-profit Community Health Centers.