It is always a pleasure to share opportunities from our AME partners, and this week I’m especially delighted to pass along something close to my heart. Many of you know that I’ve been a volunteer examiner with the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program and the SPQA (Senate Productivity & Quality Award) for VA, MD and D.C. state program for decades. The work, the people and the mission have always reminded me so much of what we value here at AME- sharing, learning and growing in the pursuit of operational excellence.
Our two communities have always shared the same goal. AME brings together passionate practitioners who believe in continuous improvement as a way of life. Baldrige provides a systems-based framework that helps organizations bring those improvement efforts together into a cohesive, enterprise-wide approach. When you put the two side by side, the synergy is unmistakable.
For those who may be newer to Baldrige, think of it as a systems-level continuous improvement model; one that helps organizations align strategy, customers, workforce, operations and results so that improvement is happening with purpose and long-term impact.
Baldrige resonates so strongly with our AME values and community because it emphasizes:
- Systems thinking
- Customer-driven excellence
- Strategic alignment that ensures CI efforts support what matters most
- Workforce engagement as the heart of daily improvement
- Data-driven learning that builds agility and resilience
- Results orientation that focuses on sustained performance, not short-term wins
That’s why I’m incredibly proud of the growing relationship between AME and the Baldrige Foundation. There is so much potential in this partnership, and I’m thrilled to share the first of many opportunities ahead.
Today, on behalf of the Baldrige Foundation and AME, I’m happy to extend a special invitation to our members to attend the Quest for Excellence® Conference, the nation’s premier gathering focused on organizational performance, operational excellence and leadership. This event brings together senior leaders from manufacturing, healthcare, education, government and nonprofit organizations to share real systems, real results and real lessons learned.
As an AME member, you’re eligible for an exclusive $100 registration discount using discount code AME-EXCELLENCE at Quest Conference 2026.
I truly hope you’ll join us. It’s a wonderful chance to learn from peers, connect with leaders, and bring back practical insights that can strengthen your organization and your continuous improvement journey. And who knows, you might just see a familiar face on stage!
As always, please stay safe and keep looking for one another.
