regional awards
Recognizing High-Performing Organizations with Awards for Excellence
Evaluation Process
At The Partnership for Excellence (TPE), we help organizations identify strengths and opportunities for improvement through comprehensive assessments using the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence. Organizations that participate undergo a rigorous evaluation by a team of examiners who assess leadership, strategy, customers, measurement, knowledge management, workforce, operations, and results, with full applications receiving over 1,000 hours of review, including a three-day site visit to verify and clarify key information.
An independent panel of judges reviews each organization's evaluation, approves the final feedback reports, and recommends the award to the TPE Board of Trustees.
Award Recognition Levels
Organizations entering this long-term quality journey are recognized with an Award at the following levels:
1. Advising Level – Spirit Award
2. Partnering Level – Pioneer Award
3. Examining Level (Full Applications) receive one of four awards:
- Platinum – Governor’s Award
- Gold – Achievement of Excellence
- Silver – Commitment to Excellence
- Bronze – Pledge to Excellence
Award Recipient Recognition
TPE award recipients are honored at our Annual Quest for Success Conference held in Columbus, Ohio. All of the high-performing organizations will be presented with their achievement awards at the awards banquet.
Other Ways to Get Involved
Organizational Assessments
Examiners
Board of Trustees
Quest for Success
Award Recipients - 2024
| Organization | Location | Award Level |
|---|---|---|
| Community Health Network | Indianapolis, Indiana | Gold - Achievement of Excellence |
| Lilly Patient Services | Indianapolis, Indiana | Bronze Award - Pledge to Excellence |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Fairfax, Virginia | Pioneer Award |
Individual Award Recipients - 2025
| Individual | President's Award |
|---|---|
| Debra McBride | Assistant Director of the Global Health Initiative at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, received the President's Award for Extraordinary Volunteerism, which is given to a person who has demonstrated extraordinary service to The Partnership for Excellence. |
| Dr. William Kose | Vice President of Special Projects at Blanchard Valley Health System in Findlay, Ohio, received the Frank J. Perez Leadership Award, which recognizes a member of the TPE community who exhibits extraordinary individual leadership in performance excellence and leadership behaviors and results consistent with the Baldrige Excellence Framework. |
