About Quality Solutions & Innovations
Quality Solutions & Innovations is a disabled veteran-owned consulting firm founded on one principle: real, sustainable improvement through quality expertise, hands-on solutions, transformative innovations, and an unwavering focus on people.
With over 50 years of combined Lean Six Sigma experience at the Master Black Belt level, our team has trained thousands, certified hundreds, and generated hundreds of millions in documented savings and efficiency gains across healthcare, federal agencies, and private enterprise.
Our Vision
A world where every organization we touch operates at the highest level of excellence — where continuous improvement is not a program, but a way of life.
Core Values
Honesty | Integrity | Continuous Learning | Data-Driven Decisions | Client Empowerment | Compassion | Efficiency
What Sets Quality Solutions & Innovations Apart
- Elite credentials with a personal touch — the expertise of the world’s top-tier agencies, delivered by consultants who roll up their sleeves and work beside you
- Predominantly on-site delivery — because understanding your culture, challenges, and people can only truly be achieved by being present
- Full-spectrum Lean Six Sigma that never sacrifices the human element
- Proven success in the most complex, highly regulated environments
Leadership Team
Daren Cortez – Owner & Principal Consultant, LSS MBB
Daren Cortez is a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt and disabled veteran with over 25 years of leadership in large-scale transformation across healthcare, federal agencies, and private industry. A former U.S. Army Infantry Sergeant turned executive change agent, he has trained and certified thousands of Lean Six Sigma practitioners, delivered more than $100 million in documented cost savings and efficiency gains, and served as a trusted senior advisor to national healthcare networks.
Founder of Quality Solutions & Innovations, Daren holds a Master Black Belt certification from Circle 6, a B.B.A. in Management Leadership from UTSA, a Project Management certificate from George Washington University, and is currently pursuing dual graduate degrees in Business Administration. Blending military discipline with a passion for strategic planning, performance improvement, and high-reliability organizations, Daren continues to empower organizations and veteran-owned businesses through proven process excellence.
Denise Brady Elliott – Senior Consultant, LSS MBB, FACHE
Denise Brady Elliott is a board-certified healthcare executive (FACHE) and Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt with an exceptional track record in quality, patient safety, and large-scale process improvement. Holding a B.S. in Psychology and M.A. in Neuroscience from Baylor University, she previously served as Chief Quality Officer for a major healthcare network, where she led enterprise-wide programs in Quality Management, High Reliability Organization (HRO) principles, Systems Redesign & Improvement, and Lean Six Sigma deployment. Denise has personally trained over 5,000 professionals, taught more than 150 Lean Six Sigma courses, and driven initiatives that generated over $100 million in savings while strengthening compliance, risk management, and accreditation outcomes. Renowned for aligning strategic vision with sustainable cultural change, Denise brings deep expertise in redesigning workflows, fostering transparency and trust, and delivering measurable improvements in both clinical and operational performance.
Kari Renee Bogusch, Senior Consultant, LSS MBB
Kari Renee Bogusch is a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt with over 20 years of experience in healthcare operations, administration, and process improvement, where she transforms complex challenges into sustainable gains in efficiency, quality, and cost savings. Blending a clinical science foundation with expertise in Lean Six Sigma, change management, data analysis, and project leadership, Kari has delivered multimillion-dollar results—including over $20 million in enterprise-wide cost savings, $5 million in resource reallocation through belt coaching and certification, and major improvements in patient flow, supply chain, laboratory turnaround times, telehealth expansion, and technology acquisitions such as TrueBeam and CyberKnife systems. She has led more than 15 Kaizen events, served as Change Management lead for Clinical Contact Center implementations, and redesigned core workflows to cut A1C turnaround times nearly in half while enhancing care access and compliance.
Kari holds a Master of Healthcare Administration and B.S. in Medical Technology from Texas Woman’s University, a Graduate Certificate in Applied Statistics from Texas A&M University, and certifications in Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Project Management, Prosci Change Management, and ASCP. Recognized with awards for outstanding instruction, innovation, and service excellence, she brings a collaborative, hands-on style that bridges executive strategy with frontline execution to build lasting cultures of continuous improvement.
We don’t just consult. We transform — together.
Ready to bring lasting transformation to your organization?
Contact us today for a complimentary consultation