Biography

Florence Gerber specializes in continuous quality and performance improvement. She taught as an adjunct professor at Concordia University and Warner Pacific University in Portland, Oregon. She has served in multiple leadership positions, including roles as Quality Improvement Director, Operations Director, Quality Management Administrator, Quality Advisor, and Senior Project Manager.

While attending Santa Clara University in the Silicon Valley to earn her BS in Commerce majoring in management with an emphasis in organizational analysis, she managed a clinic. Upon graduation, she worked for Kelly Services, a Fortune 500 company, overseeing business accounts such as Intel, 3COM, Fujitsu and  Lifescan, a Johnson and Jonhson company, to ensure contract and key performance indicator compliance. Finding her passion for systems thinking and operational improvement, she continued her education and in 2002 earned an MBA specializing in organizational effectiveness. She also acted as an Examiner for the Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award and Quality Advisor for various organizations. Her Black Belt Certification in Lean and Green Belt Certification in Six Sigma ascertains her work and credentials in quality by applying these methodologies. With 25+ years of operational experience in various industries including healthcare, government and education, she exerts passion in her profession to improve effective and efficient approaches.

As the founder and principal of Mariano and Associates, LLC she thrives to understand client needs for a lasting partnership and values ethical business practices for integrity. Her business applies evidence-based continuous quality and process improvement methodologies to improve and sustain daily operations. She is an Emotional Intelligence Practitioner through Six Seconds and also earned her Brain Profile Certification using advanced assessment tools to strengthen organizational communication, talent and strategic planning. 

She is a dedicated lifelong learner and continues her education in the areas of organizational behavior, leadership, interpersonal skills, diversity and improvement methodologies to better serve her clients. 

She lives her personal and professional life by following her quote, “Improvements start with me...act today.” Perseverance and dedication to improve is her life philosophy.