News Information

Chandler and Wright Appointed Examiners for 2012 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award
June 21, 2012

Matt Chandler and Suki Wright of Schneck Medical Center located in Seymour, Indiana, have been appointed by Dr. Patrick Gallagher, Director of the Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), to the 2012 Board of Examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Chandler is a National Examiner in his third year in the role. Wright is a Senior Examiner in her fifth year.

The Baldrige Award, created by public law in 1987, is the highest level of national recognition for performance excellence that a U.S. organization can receive.

As Examiners, Chandler and Wright are responsible for reviewing and evaluating applications submitted for the Award. The board is composed of approximately 500 leading experts selected from industry, professional and trade organizations, education and healthcare organizations, and nonprofits (including government).

Those selected meet the highest standards of qualification and peer recognition. All members of the board must take part in a preparation course based on the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence and the scoring and evaluation processes for the Baldrige Award.

The Baldrige Award may be given annually in each of six categories: manufacturing, service, small business, education, health care, and nonprofit. Awards have been presented to 90 organizations, including the 2011 recipients: Concordia Publishing, St. Louis, Mo. (nonprofit), Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Mich. (healthcare), Schneck Medical Center, Seymour, Ind. (healthcare), Southcentral Foundation, Anchorage, Alaska (healthcare). Information about the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program and the application process is available by calling (301) 975-2036, sending an e-mail to nqp@nist.gov, or going to the Baldrige Program's website at http://www.nist.gov/baldrige.

For media inquiries or interview requests about the Baldrige Program or the Award, reporters may contact Michael E. Newman, NIST Public Affairs Office, (301) 975-3025, michael.newman@nist.gov.