2014 Virginia Forum for Excellence
"As our 2014 US Senate Medallion recipient, Arlington Public Schools knows the importance of introducing 21st century leadership techniques in a modern organizations cannot be underestimated," said Dr. Jan Garfield, the Virginia SPQA Board Chair.
Richmond, Virginia (PRWEB) August 18, 2014
Arlington County Public Schools (ACPS) has been named a Medallion recipient by a Panel of Judges for the U.S. Senate Productivity and Quality Award Program for Virginia and District of Columbia (Virginia SPQA). Serving a population of 213,000 in Northern Virginia, with a budget in excess of $500 million, ACPS operates 37 pre-K through 12 schools and programs for the benefit of Arlington residents. The Medallion Award is the highest of five award levels for performance excellence offered by Virginia SPQA.
In addition, Mary Washington Healthcare in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital in Richmond, Virginia, and Brinton Woods Health and Rehabilitation Center in Washington, DC are recognized for Achievement in Performance Excellence. The American Society for Landscape Architects is recognized for their Commitment to Performance Excellence.
Award applicants undergo a rigorous examination by an independent Board of Examiners in seven areas defined by the nation’s Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence. The process includes approximately 1,000 hours of review and an on-site visit by a team of Virginia SPQA examiners. Award recipients are selected by an independent panel of judges based on the criteria established for each level.
Maintained by the US Department of Commerce, thousands of organizations worldwide use the Baldrige Criteria to guide their operations, improve performance, and achieve sustainable results. 2014 Awards are presented during the 32nd annual Virginia Forum for Excellence on September 15-16, 2014 in Richmond, VA. Additional information is available at Virginia SPQA.
The Virginia Forum for Excellence is the state’s and DC’s premier event for performance improvement professionals when related to the Baldrige Criteria’s impact on quality, risk, and continuous process improvement. The 2014 theme is “21st Century Leadership: A Core Competency for Success.” September 15 showcases pre-forum workshops critical to understanding the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence and other topics.
September 16 includes 12 workshops devoted to the theme, plus keynote addresses from John Timmerman, Gallup’s Senior Strategist in Customer Experience and Innovation and immediate past President of the American Society for Quality, along with Lauren Sartoris, past President of the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association. Awards are planned to be presented by the Honorable Maurice Jones, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade.
"It's exciting to recognize Arlington County Public Schools as this year's Medallion recipient at what looks to be a terrific 2014 Virginia Forum for Excellence program theme and lineup. The importance of introducing 21st century leadership techniques in a modern day organization cannot be underestimated," said Dr. Jan Garfield, the Virginia SPQA Board Chair.
Information on previous Virginia Forums for Excellence, including workshop presentations and photo albums, can be found by visiting Virginia SPQA Publications and its Facebook page. Visit, 2014 Virginia Forum for Excellence to learn more about this year's program.
Virginia SPQA, founded in 1983, is one of 38 state non-profit, volunteer organizations which administer state-based quality award programs using the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence.
