Leadership Team

Jane Norman

C. Jane Norman (President of Profound Knowledge Partners, Inc.) is an internationally recognized consultant on leadership and improvement who has been an executive at Caterpillar, Inc., ConAgra Inc., Conrad Company and OCHIN while focusing on integrating improvement into the business strategy while creating a learning organization.  With over 30 years of experience, she has consulted, coached executives, developed future leaders and improvement professionals in manufacturing, food, distribution, technology, software and health care in twelve countries.  

She is the co-owner of both Austin API, Inc. and Profound Knowledge Partners, Inc. collaborating to develop strategic intelligence for leadership, system thinking, personality intelligence, variation and improvement workshops and virtual learning environments which support clients and their leadership and improvement teams. She is the creator of the Accelerated Model for Improvement (Ami™) methods, developed from the API Model for Improvement.  Ami™ workshop & materials are used worldwide to define and complete improvement projects within 100 days. She is a Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) with a BA in Natural Science from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa and a MBA from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida.

Her hobbies are the study of US & World history, genealogy, performing music, and her grandchildren.

Jane Norman

TJ Gokcen

TJ developed software applications for numerous enterprises in the USA, Europe and Australia. A technology and history nerd and improvement professional at heart, he likes combining the three.

Known for his systems thinking, continuous and relentless improvement and can-do approach both to life and business, TJ speaks regularly at national and international conferences and has hosted several meetups in Sydney, Australia on Systems Thinking, Improvement and software development methods.

His hobbies include software development, swimming, reading, and history.

TJ Gokcen

Clifford L. Norman

Clifford L. Norman is a partner with Associates in Process Improvement (API). API develops methods and provides consulting, education and training to help organizations improve the value of their products and services. He is also an Improvement Advisor with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI).

With more than 30 years of experience in manufacturing and quality, Cliff began his career at Norris Industries and McDonnell Douglas Corporation. From 1979 – 1986, he facilitated the effort to implement quality improvement throughout Otis Engineering, a division of Halliburton. While at Otis, he served as a manager in manufacturing and held several positions in the quality organization. In 1986, Cliff joined Philip Crosby Associates, where he led the effort to introduce SPC and Statistical Thinking to their educational offering. In 1988, Cliff joined API and moved to Austin, Texas.

In 2010, Cliff began work with Texas Tech University and their Doctoral of Nursing Program (DNP). Both Cliff and his wife Jane were appointed as Adjunct Faculty with the DNP program at Texas Tech in 2014. Cliff also serves on the Strategic Board for the Future of Nursing in Texas since 2010.  In August, 2016 Cliff was appointed to the faculty of the Texas A&M Medical School.

His hobbies are the study of the American Civil War, stamp collecting, reading and travel (especially to Civil War battlefield sites).

Clifford L. Norman

Amber Gokcen

Amber Gokcen studied Psychology and Management at The University of Wollongong and has worked with some major enterprises including American Express and Visa International.

She focuses on improving psychological health and wellbeing in organisations and helps build a positive work environment with a systems approach.

Amber also creates interactive workshops to spark learning in psychology, psychological safety, engagement, mental and physical wellbeing and improvement, and is an avid speaker in international and national conferences.

Her hobbies include wellbeing, film/theatre, martial arts, music, dancing, travelling, reading and karaoke.

Amber Gokcen