LINCOLN, NEB. (April 4, 2007)—When Jenne Rodriguez took the helm of the Edgerton Quality Award program for the Nebraska Department of Economic Development in 2003, she saw how it transformed people. Examiners willingly volunteered countless hours and business owners and employees fully committed to improving performance company-wide. People became passionate about the process of achieving excellence, Rodriguez said. Soon, she found herself among them.

Every year, she asked for more work from her quality examiners and they never let her down, volunteering many hours to assess the organizational effectiveness of Edgerton Award applicants. Inspired by those same examiners, Rodriguez decided in 2006 to apply to become an examiner for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Program.

Rodriguez received her invitation to join the prestigious 2007 Board of Examiners in late March. She will be attending a four-day Examiner Preparation course that focuses on understanding the Award Program Criteria, evaluation process, and Examiner responsibilities. Before the training, she will complete a pre-work assignment that takes approximately 40-60 hours to complete.

Baldrige Examiners build on their expertise in one or more Criteria categories, including Leadership, Strategic Planning, Customer and Market Focus, Measurement, Analysis, and Knowledge Management, Human Resource Focus, Process Management, and Business Results.

The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, created by an Act of Congress in 1987, is the highest level of national recognition for performance excellence that a U.S. organization can receive. The Baldrige National Quality Program depends on a volunteer Board of Examiners made up of approximately 500 U.S. business, health care, education and nonprofit experts from industry, professional and trade organizations; government agencies; nonprofit groups; and retired citizens. There are five Award eligibility categories: manufacturing, service, small business, health care, and education. In 2005 legislation passed approving a nonprofit category and these organizations will become eligible when funding is approved for the category.

To learn more about becoming a Baldrige Examiner, go to: http://www.quality.nist.gov/Examiner_Booklet.htm

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Jenne Rodriguez at 402-471-3745, or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Individuals who are hearing and/or speech impaired and have a TDD, may contact the department through the Statewide Relay System by calling one of the following numbers:
711, (800) 833- 7352 (TDD), or (800) 833-0920 (voice).
The relay operator should be asked to call DED at (800) 426-6505, or (402) 471-3111.