Creating Value

Praise for CREATING VALUE

“John Rizzo is a masterful practitioner of a management strategy that is by now well known but frequently misunderstood. Over many years, I have observed firsthand the careful and deliberate implementation of lean principles by Rizzo and the dozens of managers that he has trained. The results have been extraordinary. In Creating Value, Rizzo offers an experience-based blueprint for sustainable business transformation based on his proven track record. What sets this book apart is Rizzo’s focus on respecting people while improving processes—illustrating that operational excellence and human development are inseparable. Every leader wanting to build an organization capable of driving value through continuous improvement should make this their essential guide.”
—JOHN B. FITZGIBBONS, Chairperson, Basin Holdings

“Finally, a business book that recognizes the untapped wisdom on the front lines! Creating Value brilliantly illustrates how being present, observing real work, and truly listening transforms both operations and culture. Rizzo’s approach has created billions in value across industries by honoring a simple truth: the people closest to the work know it best. Required reading for leaders ready to unleash the full potential of their organizations.”
—ART BYRNE, author of The Lean Turnaround and former CEO of Wiremold Company

“In a business landscape dominated mainly by short-term thinking, Creating Value stands apart in helping build organizations that benefit employees, customers, and owners alike. Rizzo’s book isn’t about quick fixes or management fads. Instead, it’s about fundamental shifts in how we view work itself. These ideas work. I have seen many of the best companies throughout New York State use these ideas successfully. The book’s documented case studies and practical guidance make this a definitive playbook for leaders seeking performance and purpose. I couldn’t recommend it more highly.”
—RANDY WOLKEN, President and CEO, MACNY – The Manufacturers Association & The Manufacturers Alliance of New York State

“The business system in Creating Value is the closest thing to magic I have ever seen in business. And John Rizzo is about the closest person to a LEAN magician, or Sensei, I have ever met. It still amazes me that with all the emphasis economists put on productivity they harp on expensive Capex, AI, etc. with scarcely a mention of the system that propelled Toyota from a pile of rubble in 1945 to the world’s most successful car company a century or so later. With the ‘Creating Value’ system your company can be transformed into a wealth creating juggernaut.”
—JOHN W. CHILDS, CEO and Founder of J.W. Childs Associates

“As an M&A professional, the biggest challenge in my work isn’t finding the right business or closing the deal—it’s what comes next: integrating cultures, operations, and processes across multiple, often disparate, entities. This is the most critical phase in the M&A lifecycle, and yet it is frequently overlooked. John Rizzo’s Creating Value provides the operational roadmap that’s missing from so many post-acquisition playbooks. Through well-documented case studies and practical, experience-backed guidance, Rizzo delivers a definitive resource for leaders focused on both performance and cultural alignment. Whether you’re a CEO, investor, or plant manager, I recommend it wholeheartedly.”
—TOM KILLIAN, JR., Managing Director, Talus Holdings