Kaizen’s Core Team
Andrew Kaiser
Founding Partner and Managing Director
Andrew Kaiser has more than 15 years of experience supporting public and private sector officials with strategic management, organizational transformation, and institutional strengthening initiatives. Andrew founded The Kaizen Company in 2004, with the
vision of creating unprecedented opportunities for people to improve their lives, organizations, and societies.
Before founding Kaizen, Andrew worked for Chemonics International, a prominent international development consulting firm, and played a role in numerous international development assistance programs. Prior to development, he worked in international marketing and consulting in the United States, Latin America, Europe, and Asia.
Andrew holds an MBA, as well as a BA in government and international relations, from the University of South Carolina, and is a board member of the International Development Effectiveness Alliance (IDEA). Andrew is a Certified Performance Technologist (CPT) through the International Society for Performance Improvement. He speaks English, German, Spanish, and Portuguese.
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Martin Mayerchak
Partner and Business Development Director
Martin Mayerchak has more than ten years of experience working with public, private and non-profit sector organizations on administrative and management systems improvements. As Business Development Director, Martin leads various new business development and technical proposal writing efforts. Martin also serves as the Chief Financial Officer for the firm.
Prior to joining Kaizen, Martin worked for Chemonics International, a large international development consulting firm, serving in business development, program management and program design roles. Key projects included economic growth and financial sector reform efforts, largely in the Middle East Region. Martin has also worked for NGOs in Egypt and Morocco on a variety of organizational development initiatives.
Martin received his MA in Middle East studies and international finance from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and his BA in international relations from Brown University. He speaks English, Arabic and French.
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Amy Watve
Partner and Strategic Initiatives Director
Amy Watve has more than nine years of experience in strategic planning and analysis, financial processes, service and process improvement, and other related management and organizational development issues for private, non-profit and public sector clients. As the Strategic Initiatives Director, Ms. Watve coordinates and facilitates the implementation of corporate strategy initiatives at The Kaizen Company.
Prior to joining Kaizen, Amy was a consultant with McKinsey & Company. Amy possesses broad experience in the Middle East, having lived and worked in Iraq, Egypt, the Gulf, Jordan and the West Bank. She currently serves as a long-term Organizational Development Advisor in the West Bank, leading implementation of Kaizen’s Organizational Self-Assessment and Transformation Program (OSTP).
Amy received her MA from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in international relations and strategic studies and her BA in Middle Eastern studies from Emory University. Amy is a Certified Performance Technologist (CPT) through the International Society for Performance Improvement. She speaks English, Arabic, Spanish and French.
Dr. Kevin Wheeler
Middle East Director
Dr. Kevin Wheeler is an organizational development and management consulting professional with international experience in project management, business process re-engineering, financial management, client relations, systems and database administration, knowledge management and translation. As Middle East Director, Kevin manages Kaizen’s new and ongoing engagements in the region, and spearheads Kaizen’s business development in the energy sector.
Prior to joining The Kaizen Company, Kevin consulted for the Boston Consulting Group where he focused on oil sector market risk analysis and operational efficiency improvement. Kevin first started working in the Middle East in 2007 as a political analyst with a USAID-funded project in Jordan. Subsequently, he worked across the region concentrating on strategic and operational issues in the energy sector.
Kevin holds a BS in geology from Brown University, a PhD in petrology from Columbia University, and has studied Arabic at the University of Damascus in Syria. Kevin is a Certified Performance Technologist (CPT) through the International Society for Performance Improvement.
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Lisa Letke
Operations Director
Lisa has more than eight years of experience managing development assistance projects. At The Kaizen Company Lisa leads various business development initiatives and oversees corporate operations.
Prior to joining Kaizen, Lisa worked for AECOM International Development managing projects, IQCs and numerous business development efforts. Lisa has professional experience in Latin America, Africa, Asia, Europe and the US starting up, implementing and managing projects of different sizes, funded by various donors, including USAID, the World Bank, the IDB and the US Department of State.
Lisa holds an MA in Latin American studies from Georgetown University and a BA in English and Spanish from Wake Forest University. Lisa speaks English and Spanish.
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Andrew Duffy
Program Manager
Andrew Duffy is an organizational development and management consulting professional specializing in strategy, management, web development, capacity building, and organizational change. Since joining Kaizen in 2009, Andrew has directed Kaizen’s strategic efforts to leverage advanced technologies to transform the nature and impact of donor-assisted international development. Previously Andrew served in the role of Chief Operating Officer for NCI Ventures and as Executive Director for Education for Conflict Resolution.
Andrew holds an MA in international politics and security studies from the University of Bradford and a BS in history from Manchester College. He is a member of the International Society for Performance Improvement and the Society for International Development.
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