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STEPHEN (STEVE) R. SCHMIDT (March 30, 1948)

In a 2015 interview with former Air Force pilot, turned entrepreneur, leadership consultant and university professor, statistician Dr. Stephen Schmidt Ph.D AKA (nickname) “Bull” is a man of many hats and titles who re-invents himself every 5-10 years. In a gentle way, he "bulls" his way through life-- not letting anything or anyone prevent him from setting "Radical Goals" and achieving them. He is a former Air Force Lieutenant Colonel who distinguished himself as a pilot and instructor pilot in T-37s and B-52s.

As indicted above Schmidt earned a PhD in Applied Statistics, is an accomplished University Professor, and the author of four books used at utilized as texts in prestigious universities. As an entrepreneur, Schmidt created a unique consulting firm  that rapidly became worldwide success in the field of business excellence. Following his passions, Schmidt became a professional rancher and cowboy for his subsequent project. He designed and developed a unique concept which is know known as The Enchanted Springs Ranch. It is a world famous western movie set, and tourist attraction highly recognized and recommended by the History Channel and by Oprah Winfrey.

His passionate involvement in the daily operations of the ranch led Schmidt to became an award winning movie producer, writer, and actor. While enjoying the Cowboy life, Schmidt expanded his knowledge base to include coaching and provided life coaching with Tony Robbins on an Oprah Network reality show which featured a entrepreneur from MSNBC’s “Your Business.” Schmidt accomplished all of the above accomplishments in 40 years, illustrating that some nicknames “Bull” do fit the person.

EARLY LIFE

Steve grew up in a very modest German home in Fredericksburg, Texas. His great-great grandfathers came to Texas in the mid-1800s to begin a new start in a new land. Most of his Texas ancestors were rock cutters, cotton pickers, share croppers or ranchers. He grew up in Fredericksburg with a strong work ethic and had his first summer job with a road construction crew at age 9. Every remaining summer through high school was spent working as a fruit picker, manual bowling pin-setter, cedar chopper or county road construction worker. His additional evening and weekend job was a snow cone business he started with his dad, uncle and cousin. They built their own trailer and would go to evening and weekend sports events to sell snow cones, sodas and candy. It was these years that created a hard work ethic and a strong desire to own a real business one day. These early years were also busy with scouting where he became and Eagle Scout. Steve also excelled at school where he was in the top 10% of his class academically and a basketball and football star. No surprise he was elected class president during his senior year. His outstanding performance in the classroom and on the football field got him an appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1966 where he played football for 2 years. Steve then saw the need to concentrate on academics and in 1970 he graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics.

AIR FORCE PILOT

After graduation from the Air Force Academy, as a 2nd Lieutenant, he went to pilot training at Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. He graduated from training and was assigned as an instructor pilot in the T-37 jet trainer at Williams Air Force Base, Chandler, Arizona from 1972-1974. He then went to B-52D bomber training at Caswell Air Force Base (1975) and was assigned as a B-52D aircraft commander at March Air Force Base, Riverside, California (1975-1978). In 1977, he and his crew were selected as the best B-52D crew in the US Air Force and he was rewarded with instructor pilot status.

UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR AND AUTHOR

Because of his excellent record as a pilot and instructor pilot, Steve was selected for an Air Force sponsored Master’s Degree program at the University of Texas at Austin (1978-1980) and a follow on assignment as an associate professor at the Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado. After only two years of teaching mathematics at the Academy, Steve was selected for a PhD program at the University of Northern Colorado, Greely, Colorado in 1982. He graduated with a PhD in Applied Statistics in a record 2 years and was awarded the Graduate Dean’s Citation of Excellence in 1984.

Steve returned to the Academy’s Mathematics Department as a Tenured Professor and served there until retirement in 1990. During his tenure at the Academy, Steve was selected by the Air Force as a lead quality consultant to the Pentagon and the Department of Defense. In this role he consulted, coached and trained for numerous Department of Defense and Department of Commerce organizations. It was also during this time that Steve co-wrote his first two books. “Understanding Industrial Designed Experiments” and “Total Quality: A Text of Strategic Quality, Leadership and Planning.” His first book and accompanying training course was favorably review by Mikel Harry of Motorola University, Dr. Douglas Montgomery professor at Arizona State and Dr. W. Edwards Deming (world renowned quality expert). This led to Steve’s selection to be an adjunct faculty member for Motorola University, the University of Texas at Austin McComb’s School of Business and their Continuing Education Department. He also gave courses and special lectures at numerous other universities such as University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Arizona State University, Defense Systems Management College and many more.

Steve then co-wrote two more texts “Basic Statists: Tools for Continuous Improvement” and Knowledge Based Management.” The number of prestigious universities who have used his books is impressive and includes:  M.I.T. (US), M.I.T. (Mexico), Penn State, California Polytheclinical Institute, Berkley, University of Texas at Austin, Oklahoma State University, Colorado School of Mines, U.S. Air Force Academy, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, University of Denver, George Washington University and numerous others.

His books were positively reviewed by the professors who used them and international publications such as The American Statistician, The Journal of Quality Technology Technometrics, The American Society of Quality Control (ASQC), and Quality Press. And finally two of his books, “Knowledge Based Management” and “Basic Statistics: Tools for Continuous Improvement” were translated by Sony Corporation into Japanese and distributed to all of Sony’s divisions and suppliers. Three of his first four books are still in print today. The longest surviving book, “Understanding Industrial Designed Experiments” first published in 1988 is still in print and is for sale on Amazon.com for over $81.00 (new).

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS EXCELLENCE CONSULTANT

Overlapping with Steve’s university teaching and writing of books is his development of an International Consultant business. Initially called Steve Schmidt and Associates his consulting business evolved and became world famous as Air Academy Associates. His Organizational Excellence experience led to an appointment on the original team of experts to create and roll out Motorola’s Six Sigma plus train the world’s first Six Sigma Black Belts starting in September 1992. Getting to this successful level was not easy and took many hard and sacrificial years of work.

Key Events led to Steve’s successful consulting and training career:

1.	Selection as one of the DoD’s quality experts.

2.	The writing of “Understanding Industrial Designed Experiments and very positive reviews from international journals, university professors, Motorola University and Dr. W. Edward Deming.

3.	Motorola’s selection of Steve to be on the original Six Sigma development and training team where he trained all of the first Six Sigma Black Belts around the world.

4.	Steve’s public speaking all across the U.S. for BBN Software Products Corporation where he addressed over 30,000 highly educated engineers, scientists, physicists in the power of statistical methods for industry.

5.	His major role in Six Sigma education and deployment at General Electric for Jack Welch and Jeff Immelt.

6.	The raving reviews for his short course presentation for the International Fall Technical Conference of the American Society for Quality Control.

7.	The wide use of his textbooks at major universities and businesses worldwide.

8.	His debates and discussions with highly acclaimed U.S. and International Quality experts such as George Box, Stuart Hunter, Shin Taguchi (son and spokesman for his father Dr. Genichi Taguchi).

9.	His presentation to Under-Secretary’s of Defense and Commerce plus key quality experts in these departments.

10.	The encouragement from his wife, Vicki, his faith and his willingness to push himself in what appeared to be a never ending journey of hard work and sacrifice which he learned in his early years from his parents, grandparents, and many mentors.

As international consultants, Schmidt and his partners had a major impact on business excellence around the world. Air Academy Associates and Steve’ texts have endured for over 25 years and still live on.

RANCHER AND COWBOY

After 15 years of continuous travel, writing, speaking and teaching Schmidt sold his business and tried to retire in San Antonio, Texas. Unable to live a quiet and uneventful life, Steve quickly got back in the saddle (literally) as he and his wife, (Vicki) bought several cattle and horse ranches. Ever since Steve was a child he was influenced by this mother who had been raised on a ranch and rode a horse to school for 8 years. Somehow his early dreams of ranching and being a cowboy never went away. So with the money he gained from the sale of his consulting business, Steve and Vicki bought 7 different ranches in the hill country of Texas. They worked these cattle ranches and broke and trained their own horses for several years before selling all but one, Enchanted Springs Ranch, and trying another attempt at retirement. This one lasted only one weekend when Schmidt become bored with fishing and felt the urge to do something new.

MOVIE SET AND TOURIST ATTRACTION DEVELOPER A true lover of old Texas history, western movies and cowboys, Steve’s Enchanted Springs Ranch had two rusty tin barns that he transformed into facades. Steve and his great friend Domingo built the facades according to photographs Steve had of 1860’s Texas buildings. Once they had them painted they added a barbecue pit and planned a big Old West Style party. Over 100 friends and family came and were amazed at the buildings and excited about the western band, barbecue, stage coach rides, ride-able Texas longhorn and trick roper. Wheels began to turn in Steve’s head and the next thing you know he built one of the largest western movie sets in the World that is opened to the public. Using a very creative out-of-the-box mindset, the old west town was designed to morph back and forth for many different events such as private parties, public school field trips, chuck wagon dinners, weddings and a world renowned tourist attraction with a wild exotic animal park. Today this 86 acre pristine Texas Hill Country Ranch has hosted over a half of million visitors from over 130 different countries. The ranch consists of a cow town, Mexican village, Indian campsite, homestead house and wild animal park. Schmidt has become a well-known expert on Texas cowboy history and his positive uplifting stories of the cowboy. With a world class entertainer (Pistol Packin Paula) and a friendly hard working staff it is no surprise the ranch is highly recommended by the History Channel and was selected by Oprah to be one of the best family attractions in the U.S.

The ranch has also hosted commercials, concerts and music videos for George Strait, Toby Keith, Asleep at the Wheel, Seether, Johnny Rodriquez, Bad Company and Clay Walker. Other well-known visitors include the Spurs, WWE wrestlers, former Dallas Cowboys (Jay Novachek and Drew Pearson) Roy Clark and Mel Tillis. Movies have included well-known actors and actresses from Lonesome Dove, Top Gun, Gun Smoke, Terminator, Fire Fly, Friday Night Lights, E.T. Gangs of New York plus many others.

In order to fully understand the movie business Schmidt and his partner Anthony Henslee solicited the funds to write, cast, produce, direct and act in their own film, Palo Pinto Gold. It starred Roy Clark and Mel Tillis as story tellers plus Kinky Friedman as the Governor of Texas. Although the budget was only $200,000, the film won 8 awards including 3 for best director (Anthony) and the “Best Feature Film” at the Houston Film Festival where it beat 4 other films with budgets greater than $1 million and one great that $5 million. Most importantly the film was sold and eventually made money.

But, Steve is most proud of the work he is doing for the former Texas Ranger Foundation. They are building a Heritage Center in Fredericksburg, Texas (Steve’s hometown) and they have asked him to write and be filmed giving stories for young kids teaching them to have the heart of a Texas Ranger. According to Steve, the Rangers have a secret weapon that led them from 1823 until today as a world admired law enforcement agency. That secret weapon is “Behind the Badge” the title of his first of many stories to come. “Behind the Badge” obviously refers to the heart which the Foundation describes as one based on Dedication, Determination, Courage, Integrity and Respect. Steve is hopeful the Texas Rangers Heritage Center will have a major impact for our country’s youth. In his continued search to find new ways to teach and entertain kids, Steve also plays Cowboy Santa every year at the biggest Christmas event in South Texas called Cowboy Christmas at Enchanted Springs Ranch.

Steve is especially proud of the intense work he did with famous life coach, Tony Robbins. Tony sent Steve a family of 7 (a couple who was on the verge of divorce and bankruptcy and had five boys 10 years old down to 2 years old). The family was placed in a real survival 1800s environment and through the work of Tony and Steve they learned to work together as a team. The reality show aired in part on Larry King Live and NBC plus it aired in full on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). The end result is that in 2013 (4 years after the reality show, the couple are happily married and the boys are going well.

For Steve’s work in helping to bring the family together Tony gave him much credit on Larry King Live, NBC, and OWN. In addition, Tony wrote Steve a great letter of recommendation so he could re-invent himself one more time as consultant, trainer and author for the pursuit of personal excellence.

PERSONAL EXCELLENCE CONSULTANT

Working closely with is wife Vicki, Steve is now writing his fifth college level book entitled “Radical Excellence” with co-authors Dr. Jim Antenen (Dean and Executive Director of Wayland Baptist University, San Antonio, Texas) and Linda Cross (MA in Theological Ethics, Leadership Expert for Baptist General Convention of Texas and professional writer for Gold Label Publishing). This book will be available sometime during 2014 and the publisher is still being negotiated. What makes the book unique is the emphasis in Sequential Radical Positive Change to transform individuals and all types of organizations (including non-profits) into success stories for the pursuit of excellence. The material in this new book is the cornerstone for the educational team building training and coaching that is a major part of Steve’s new company, World Class Quest. His current training has already shown to be highly effective in all types of businesses and organizations including hospitals, city departments, small businesses, chambers of commerce and churches. For more information go the www.worldclassquest.com. When asked what he wanted to be remembered for he said, “I am just a simple Texas Cowboy who loved his Creator, family and friends and saw life as a cow – so I milked it dry!” As for now Steve says this will be his last career. Anyone want to take bets?

PUBLICATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, TESTIMONIALS PUBLICATIONS:

•	Predicting College Dropouts by Combining Automated Interaction Detection and Discriminant Analysis by Stephen R. Schmidt

US Air Force Academy Technical Report, USAFATR-86-5, 1987n

•	Review for John Wiley and Sons Inc. on Design and Analysis of Experimets, 3ed

by Douglas C. Montgomery, 1989

•	Design of Experiments by Stephen R. Schmidt and R.G. Launsby

Quality Digest, March 1991

•	Basic Statistics: Tools for Continuous Improvement by Mark J. Kiemele, Stephen R Schmidt and Ronald J. Berdine

•	Air Academy Press, Jan 1992 Distributed by: American Statistical Association, American Society of Quality Control (ASQC), and Quality Press

Reviewed by: Quality Digest, Nov. 1993

•	Selecting The Experiment Response the Customer Can Dance To by Susan Blake, R.G. Launsby, and Stephen R. Schmidt

Quality Digest, Feb 1992

•	Understanding Industrial Designed Experiments 4ed by Stephen R Schmidt and Robert G. Launsby

Air Academy Press, Oct 1994 Distributed by: American Statistical Association, American Society of Quality Control (ASQC), Quality Press, and Society of Plastics Engineers

•	Knowledge Based Management: Unleashing the Power of Quality Improvement by Stephen R. Schmidt, Mark J. Kiemele and Ronald J. Berdine Air Academy Press, Mar 1996

•	Design of Experiments (chapter) by Stephen R. Schmidt and Kenneth E. Case for The Technology Management Handbook,

CRC Press and IEEE Press, 1998

PRESENTATIONS:

•	Total Quality Management DoD and Industry TQM Conference 1989

•	Designing Experiment to Evaluate Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) Simulation Model USAF Space Division 1989

•	Understanding Industrial Designed Experiments Department of Defense and National Institute of Standards Workshop on Quality Technology 1989

•	Design of Experiments in R & M 2000 Variability Reduction Process Implementation Boeing Statistical Methods Symposium 1989

•	Design of Experiments a written tutorial and tape series by Technicomp 1989

•	Engineers’ Statistical Literacy is Key to U.S. Competitiveness Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) Conference 1989 Co-Speaker with Craig Barrett, CEO, Intel

•	Statistical Methods for Increasing Quality and Reliability Briefed Under Secretary of Defense 1989

•	Optimizing Computer Simulation Models National Aeronautical and Space Agency 1989

•	Optimizing Lunar Concrete Space ’90 Conference for American Society of Civil Engineers 1990

•	Blending the Best of the Best Experimental Design Techniques American Society of Quality Control Fall Technical Conference 1991 •	Texas Instrument Experimental Design Application Users Conference – Guest Speaker and panel expert along with Shin Taguchi (son and spokesman for Dr. Genichi Taguchi)

•	Lean Six Sigma through Personal Excellence 27th Society of Quality Assurance (SQA) Annual Conference 2011

TESTIMONIALS:

''"I enjoyed a remarkable day of filming at Enchanted Springs Ranch. Amidst a historically accurate 1800’s setting, ranch owner Steve Schmidt brings an incredible spirit and talent to the experience of visitors. Steve’s history as an early pioneer in Six Sigma and other breakthrough initiatives used in businesses and organizations worldwide earned him a well regarded reputation as a highly respected change agent. I watched Steve do a phenomenal job coaching people through a wide variety of challenges and future ranch visitors should look forward to the experience." Anthony Robbins Author and Peak Performance Coach''

"Dear Dr. Schmidt, You were extremely kind to think of me, and to send me a copy of your book. It will help me. I thank you."

W. Edwards Deming, PhD Consultant in Statistical Studies

"Dr. Steve Schmidt has been a cornerstone instructor of the Six Sigma Technical Institute, a 5-day course at Motorola University...He has very ably assisted Motorola University Six Sigma Quality Center in producing technical leaders."

Betty Crofton Six Sigma Quality Center Motorola University

''“I am writing to thank you for the material on experimental design. Our student's liked Schmidt & Launsby's text very much. I plan to use it again next year." Gordon Kaufman Sloan School of Management Massachusetts Institute of Technology''

''“I met Steve Schmidt when he was used as a consultant and teacher for GE’s Six Sigma quality improvement initiative. Steve is a great teacher, able to convey ideas in an easy-to-understand manner. He used straight-forward methods and tools aimed at radically improving organizational performance and achieving world-class goals. Key elements included understanding the present status, setting goals for the future, and then using an easy-to-follow methodology for achieving the goals. His focus was on how to achieve the goals, including leadership skills and management of the personal and cultural changes needed.''

''I was also impressed by how these methods and tools could be applied to a wide range of functions – services, transactions of all kinds, human resources, etc. – beyond manufacturing, where it was first used. With this wide applicability, Steve’s methods can transform an entire organization.” Norman Kuchar Six Sigma Quality Leader (retired) General Electric Global Research''

"On behalf of the entire Statistics Division and the Fall Technical Conference sponsors, I want to thank you for your outstanding presentation...The course evaluations were exceptionally positive...Yours was one of the best FTC short courses ever, and will hard to top in the future."

Conrad A. Fung Chair, Statistics Division American Society for Quality Control Center for Quality and Production Improvement

''"Your message was on-target and motivating without being shallow or commercial. Our members appreciate a message that is science-based, and I don't believe they expected the message to be extrapolated into something they could use on a personal level. You accomplished our goal...send the attendees home with something to think about that will improve their professional lives. The personal ‘twist’ was a bonus!" Melissa Eitzen Society of Quality Assurance''

"Steve excelled in his teaching abilities and as such was awarded the position of Tenured Associate Professor, achieved by only the top 13% of our faculty. He always had a great rapport with his students plus his courses were frequently audited by other instructors desiring to learn special topics from Steve.

''He became well known across the country and was frequently asked to deliver talks ...to many organizations to include the following: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Defense Systems Management College, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, National Institute of Standards, Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, National Aeronautical and Space Agency, Boeing, Rockwell, and Texas Instruments. The complete list is far too long to provide here.''

''Steve is such an accomplished teacher that I even chose him to mentor my daughter. With Dr. Schmidt's assistance, my daughter has excelled in her statistical abilities and is successfully employed today by a major statistical software company. Dr. Schmidt also served as my Deputy Department Head and Director of Research where his efforts positively impacted the Department of Defense, Department of Commerce, the State Department, and the United Nations for an estimated $100 million worth of return on investment."''

Daniel W. Litwhiler, Col, WSAF Professor and Head Department of Mathematical Science USAF Academy, Colorado

"Thank you for Basic Statistics: Tools for Continuous Improvement. The book is excellent. George Washington University will be adopting the text for its 1994 series of courses in Statistical Process Control."

Robert Reid Robert Reid Associates, Inc. Quality Management Consultants

"Thanks again for the stimulating training. We all enjoyed it very much and some of us have already tried to implement some aspects of the training in their work."

Halil Gultekin Abbott Laboratories, R&D Germany

"Your course was, without qualification, the best industrial course I have taken in my 27 years in industry. It was informative, enjoyable, well-paced, and most important of all; relevant and useful...You managed to pack a great deal of interesting and useful material in a short course while maintaining high levels of class interest and understanding."

Burt Masnick Hazeltine Corporation Greenlawn, New York

"We at Atmel would like to extend to you our gratitude...Your presentation was well received by all. Your thoughts and ideas on addressing the cost of poor quality was refreshing and presented us with several ideas from which we feel we can improve on...we look forward to calling on you for help with these activities in the near future."

Ecton Espenlaub Atmel Corporation

"I was very impressed with your knowledge, preparedness, and the energy you brought to each and every one of us. I have since recommended the course to several people in my department. The Quality philosophy you bring to the classroom is one that makes sense for Abbott Diagnostics Division."

David Sean Sweeney Statistical Analysis and Software Design Abbott Laboratories

"The team and I appreciated your frank and direct approach to looking at change. You used scenarios from our team's experiences and needs to drive the training points. Your formulas for driving change and embracing the pain of change are spot on. Emphasizing the need to have a goal of radical change in mind is very important for our team as we build the future."

Dave Hollan Director, AOC Enterprise Services Operations Microsoft

“I recently had an opportunity to experience the lessons that World Class Quest offers and believe that the approach implemented in this program will be of maximum benefit for our students. In the context that the information is presented, students and adults are more likely to accept changing themselves at the personal level through the process encompassed in the World Class Quest Model.” Carlos Guerrero Boerne ISD – Boerne, TX

''“I have evaluated Dr. Schmidt’s course, World Class Quest, and I believe every teacher and counselor should attend this course. This is a fresh and unique way to learn and teach change management, problem solving, teamwork and personal growth. Dr. Schmidt has in depth experience in Lean Six Sigma and the Tony Robbins’ approach to character development. In addition, his commitment to presenting these subjects in an easy to understand way  make this one of the most powerful set of tools for helping all us of achieve World Class in our professional and personal lives. I highly recommend this course to anyone who aspires to ‘play to win’ in all aspects of their life.”''

Dennis W. Friedrich Small School coordinator Wall ISD – Wall, TX

''“As an elementary school teacher, I am always looking for a better way to help kids understand themselves and experience personal growth. I believe growth in character is vital to growth in other areas of learning. I have reviewed World Class Quest and find it a refreshing new approach to help me understand and improve myself and then pass it on to my students. I think Dr Schmidt has put together a very powerful course and I highly recommend it.”''

Pamela Prudhomme ''3rd Grade Teacher San Felipe-Del Rio CISD – Del Rio, TX''

''“I have worked very closely with Steve Schmidt of Enchanted Springs Ranch over the past five months on Radical Positive Change for the Greater Boerne Chamber of Commerce and expanding the change throughout the city of Boerne. I believe this change is crucial to the improvement of the quality of life, not only in Boerne, but cities across the United States.”''

Terri L. Politi President Greater Boerne Chamber of Commerce Boerne, TX