Six Reasons to Join TPE’s 2026 Quest for Success Conference

Learn, connect, and recharge September 14–15 in Westerville, Ohio

TPE’s Quest for Success Conference is just around the corner. On September 14–15, 2026, leaders and performance excellence professionals will gather at the Quest Conference Center in Westerville, Ohio, for two days of practical learning, fresh inspiration, and meaningful connection.

Whether you are advancing your organization’s improvement journey or looking for ideas you can put into practice right away, this conference offers plenty of reasons to step away from your daily routine and join us.

1. Learn from Baldrige Award recipients

Hear proven best practices from Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recipients. Plenary speaker David Shaw, President and CEO of Nor-Lea Hospital District, will share the organization’s journey to performance excellence and explore how it developed a world-class workforce in a rural setting. Cindy Milrany, retired CFO and Chief Strategy Officer of Freese and Nichols, will discuss the organization’s keys to success, resilience, and strategy.

2. Go deeper in a pre-conference workshop

Choose from two engaging workshops designed to build practical skills and personal capacity. Edwin Boon, CEO of The Lean Six Sigma Company USA, will facilitate “Coffee Game,” a Lean Six Sigma simulation focused on improving customer experience and reducing cost. Carol Shields, founder of Fruition Through LLC, will lead “Reset. Recharge. Rise.,” a personal excellence framework for sustainable success.

3. Bring home practical improvement ideas

Breakout sessions led by Baldrige recipients, TPE award recipients, and quality professionals will offer new practices, proven processes, and useful techniques. Expect actionable ideas you can adapt to strengthen performance in your own organization.

4. Be inspired by emerging improvement leaders

Members of the Leader2Leader Collaborative cohort will present their final process improvement projects in fast-paced Pecha Kucha presentations before graduating at the awards banquet. Their work offers an energizing look at how focused teams turn ideas into measurable progress.

5. Celebrate excellence

Join us at the awards banquet as we recognize individuals and organizations committed to excellence, progress, and persistence. Brian Lassiter, CEO of The Alliance for Performance Excellence, will also share why America needs Baldrige and why performance excellence matters now.

6. Build relationships that last

Connect with peers, industry leaders, and potential collaborators who share a passion for organizational improvement. Exchange ideas, compare practices, and begin conversations that can continue long after the conference ends.

Make time for your own quest for success

Take a break from the daily routine and spend two days learning, recharging, and meeting people who are equally committed to better results. You will leave with practical ideas, renewed energy, and new connections to support the next stage of your performance excellence journey.

Ready to join us? Learn more and register for the 2026 Quest for Success Conference.

Margot L. Hoffman, Ph.D.

President & CEO

The Partnership for Excellence

Six Reasons to Join TPE’s 2026 Quest for Success Conference