TOCICO Board of Directors Election 2026
Help Shape the Future
TOCICO members are invited to participate in the 2026 Board of Directors election.
This year, three Board seats are open for election. Please review the candidate statements below and cast your vote for the individuals you believe will best support TOCICO’s mission, strengthen our global community, and help advance the Theory of Constraints.
Voting opens: August 12, 2026
Voting closes: September 1, 2026
Who may vote: Active TOCICO members
Number of candidates members may select: Three
Meet the Candidates
Dr Alan Barnard
Why would someone who helped found TOCICO, and who has already served as its Chairman and as a board member, want to serve again? It is a fair question, and one I asked myself carefully before accepting this nomination. My answer: I believe our community faces its most important inflection point since Dr. Goldratt passed away in 2011. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is both a real threat and a remarkable opportunity for all four of our member groups: practitioners implementing Theory of Constraints (TOC) inside their companies, those offering coaching and consulting services, those developing TOC-based software, and those researching and teaching TOC in academia. Whether AI makes TOC irrelevant or more essential than ever depends entirely on what we, as a community, choose to do next. Through serving on the board, I want to help solve the four obstacles that still prevent more people, more organizations, and more fields from benefiting from TOC. I call them the 4 I's. Ignorance: they did not know about TOC. Inertia: they knew, but did not apply it. Ineptitude: they applied it, but made compromises and did not get good results. And Illusion: they thought they knew better, and concluded that TOC does not apply to them or should not be improved or simplified. Dr. Goldratt warned us about the second in his Five Focusing Steps: do not allow inertia to cause a constraint. And his last message to us warned against the fourth: "Never say I know." I have devoted most of my working life to this body of knowledge. I was mentored by Dr. Goldratt for nearly two decades and entrusted with completing his unfinished manuscript. I presented at the first TOCICO conference in 2003, and as CEO of Goldratt Research Labs I now test daily where TOC creates real value in the age of AI, building AI-powered Digital Twins and decision-support tools for some of the world's largest organizations. Dr. Goldratt asked us not to stand in his shadow, but to stand on his shoulders. Serving on this board is one more way I hope to honor that request, and to help every member do the same. Thank you for your consideration.
Ian Gillott
Like many of you, my journey with the Theory of Constraints began as a search for better ways to solve difficult problems. What I discovered was much more than a set of tools. I found a way of thinking that challenges assumptions, focuses attention on what truly limits performance, and reminds us that meaningful improvement comes from concentrating our efforts where they matter most. The TOCICO plays a unique role in advancing this body of knowledge, fostering a global community of practitioners, and ensuring that the principles of the Theory of Constraints continue to evolve while remaining grounded in rigor and real-world application. Having spent the last year on the board as a special advisor, I am particularly interested in supporting and driving initiatives that expand awareness of the Theory of Constraints, increase member engagement, encourage the next generation of practitioners, and strengthen partnerships across industries and academic communities. I also believe in maintaining a strong focus on governance, transparency, and financial stewardship to ensure TOCICO remains a vibrant and sustainable organisation. Thank you for considering my nomination. I would be privileged to serve the membership and contribute my experience, time, and energy to advancing TOCICO's mission. I look forward to the opportunity to help shape the organisation's future while honouring the legacy that has made TOCICO an essential resource for the global Theory of Constraints community
Val King
We have successfully implemented Critical Chain in our environment, creating significant benefits for our business. I bring extensive executive and technology leadership experience, including more than six years as CIO of a healthcare system, six years as CIO of a regional bank, and more than 13 years as CEO of Whitehat Virtual Technologies. Through these roles, I have gained practical experience in organizational leadership, strategic planning, technology, governance, and applying Theory of Constraints principles to improve business performance.
Christoph Lenhartz
Having served several terms on the TOCICO board, including as chair, I would like to again take responsibility for advancing our organization and the TOC community. The world is changing rapidly—perhaps faster than ever. AI, political and economic volatility, demographics, and climate change affect our personal and professional lives every day. They also affect TOCICO: they challenge past approaches while making our systemic thinking and solutions more relevant than ever. I believe TOCICO can become the global voice for systemic management in an increasingly volatile, complex, and AI-enabled world. Achieving this will depend largely on how we address these challenges. As a board member, I would focus on three priorities: positioning TOC as the leading management framework for the AI era; developing the next generation of practitioners through partnerships and education; and strengthening evidence of TOC’s impact through research and measurable success stories. Together, these priorities will increase the value we deliver to members and expand the global influence of Theory of Constraints.
Dr Alan Barnard
Why would someone who helped found TOCICO, and who has already served as its Chairman and as a board member, want to serve again? It is a fair question, and one I asked myself carefully before accepting this nomination. My answer: I believe our community faces its most important inflection point since Dr. Goldratt passed away in 2011. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is both a real threat and a remarkable opportunity for all four of our member groups: practitioners implementing Theory of Constraints (TOC) inside their companies, those offering coaching and consulting services, those developing TOC-based software, and those researching and teaching TOC in academia. Whether AI makes TOC irrelevant or more essential than ever depends entirely on what we, as a community, choose to do next. Through serving on the board, I want to help solve the four obstacles that still prevent more people, more organizations, and more fields from benefiting from TOC. I call them the 4 I's. Ignorance: they did not know about TOC. Inertia: they knew, but did not apply it. Ineptitude: they applied it, but made compromises and did not get good results. And Illusion: they thought they knew better, and concluded that TOC does not apply to them or should not be improved or simplified. Dr. Goldratt warned us about the second in his Five Focusing Steps: do not allow inertia to cause a constraint. And his last message to us warned against the fourth: "Never say I know." I have devoted most of my working life to this body of knowledge. I was mentored by Dr. Goldratt for nearly two decades and entrusted with completing his unfinished manuscript. I presented at the first TOCICO conference in 2003, and as CEO of Goldratt Research Labs I now test daily where TOC creates real value in the age of AI, building AI-powered Digital Twins and decision-support tools for some of the world's largest organizations. Dr. Goldratt asked us not to stand in his shadow, but to stand on his shoulders. Serving on this board is one more way I hope to honor that request, and to help every member do the same. Thank you for your consideration.
Ian Gillot
Like many of you, my journey with the Theory of Constraints began as a search for better ways to solve difficult problems. What I discovered was much more than a set of tools. I found a way of thinking that challenges assumptions, focuses attention on what truly limits performance, and reminds us that meaningful improvement comes from concentrating our efforts where they matter most. The TOCICO plays a unique role in advancing this body of knowledge, fostering a global community of practitioners, and ensuring that the principles of the Theory of Constraints continue to evolve while remaining grounded in rigor and real-world application. Having spent the last year on the board as a special advisor, I am particularly interested in supporting and driving initiatives that expand awareness of the Theory of Constraints, increase member engagement, encourage the next generation of practitioners, and strengthen partnerships across industries and academic communities. I also believe in maintaining a strong focus on governance, transparency, and financial stewardship to ensure TOCICO remains a vibrant and sustainable organisation. Thank you for considering my nomination. I would be privileged to serve the membership and contribute my experience, time, and energy to advancing TOCICO's mission. I look forward to the opportunity to help shape the organisation's future while honouring the legacy that has made TOCICO an essential resource for the global Theory of Constraints community
Val King
We have successfully implemented Critical Chain in our environment, creating significant benefits for our business. I bring extensive executive and technology leadership experience, including more than six years as CIO of a healthcare system, six years as CIO of a regional bank, and more than 13 years as CEO of Whitehat Virtual Technologies. Through these roles, I have gained practical experience in organizational leadership, strategic planning, technology, governance, and applying Theory of Constraints principles to improve business performance.
Christoph Lenhartz
Having served several terms on the TOCICO board, including as chair, I would like to again take responsibility for advancing our organization and the TOC community. The world is changing rapidly—perhaps faster than ever. AI, political and economic volatility, demographics, and climate change affect our personal and professional lives every day. They also affect TOCICO: they challenge past approaches while making our systemic thinking and solutions more relevant than ever. I believe TOCICO can become the global voice for systemic management in an increasingly volatile, complex, and AI-enabled world. Achieving this will depend largely on how we address these challenges. As a board member, I would focus on three priorities: positioning TOC as the leading management framework for the AI era; developing the next generation of practitioners through partnerships and education; and strengthening evidence of TOC’s impact through research and measurable success stories. Together, these priorities will increase the value we deliver to members and expand the global influence of Theory of Constraints.
Cast Your Vote
Your participation helps determine the leadership that will guide TOCICO’s strategic direction and serve its members in the years ahead.
Please review each candidate’s statement before submitting your ballot.
Voting closes: September 1, 2026
Each eligible member may submit one ballot. Once submitted, votes cannot be changed.
Questions About the Election?
For questions regarding voting eligibility, the election process, or technical assistance, please contact Jennifer Eckman,
TOCICO General Manager: jennifer@tocico.org.