Cycles of Excellence
The Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence believes education, recognition of significant achievement, and the sharing of best practices and strategies will help organizations become more competitive on a national and international level.
Since its inception in 1993, TNCPE has provided assessments & feedback to over 1,000 organizations from myriad sectors – health care, service, education, manufacturing, government and non-profit. Using the framework of an awards program, TNCPE fulfills its mission by providing in-depth, low-cost assessments of regional organizations using the Baldrige Excellence Framework.
TNCPE trains regional professionals to provide these assessments as Examiners. Examiners then take the skills developed during training and the assessment process back to their own jobs, benefiting and improving their own organizations in the process.
Strong businesses, in turn, bring jobs and resources to not just the state of Tennessee but the entire region, supporting the people who call the Southeast home.
WE THRIVE ON
Continuous Improvement
Creating Value
Results-Driven Processes
Customer-Focused Excellence
Fiscal Sustainability
Fact-Based Management
Who We Are
A small, permanent team of executive and support staff handles day-to-day operations from our office in Nashville. In addition, TNCPE relies on the efforts of diverse and talented experts to realize our mission. These individuals contribute to TNCPE through their work on the TNCPE Board of Directors, the Board of Examiners and the Panel of Judges. Member organizations and individuals contribute through monetary or in-kind donations.
This is the TNCPE infrastructure, and each person involved plays an important role that helps sustain our organization.
There are many ways your talents can contribute as well. Learn how to get involved.
MEET THE EXPERTS
Heather Schoch
President & CEO
Kelley Molavi
Director of Programs
TNCPE Board of Directors
Chair, Dr. Herb Byrd, III
Vice Chair, Reynold Douglas
Secretary, Danielle Barnes
Treasurer, David Hart
Past Chair, Danette Scudder
Ex Officio, Heather Schoch
Lindsey Ackerman
Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation
Danielle Barnes
Managing Director
Ernst and Young
Scott Bidwell
Administrator
NHC South Central Region/Columbia
Dr. Herb Byrd, III
Vice President for Public Service
UT Institute for Public Service
Reynold Douglas
General Services Director
City of Germantown
Chris Gray
Owner
Griffin Mechanical, LLC
Kevin Grayson
Assistant Director of Technology Management
North Carolina State University
Jim Harlan
Professor and Interim Chair Dept. of Management and Marketing
ETSU
David Hart
CEO
TRICOR
Lacey Hayes
Caris Healthcare
Melissa Marty
Huntsville (AL) Utilities
Kim Mason
Executive Director, Pharmacy & Research
University of Tennessee Medical Center
Stacey Max
Director of Engineering
Marvin Windows and Doors of Tennessee
Kelley Molavi
Director of Programs
Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence
Dan Pratt
Vice President, Customer Delivery
Tennessee Valley Authority
Heather Schoch
President and CEO
Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence
Danette Scudder
Executive Vice President
Tennessee Valley Public Power Association
Amy Shreve
Executive Vice President
First Horizon Bank
Dr. Michael Ugwueke
President/CEO
Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare
Juan Williams
Commissioner
Tennessee Department of Human Resources
2022 Award Recipients
EXCELLENCE Award
Achievement Award
Area Resources for Community & Human Services
TRICOR
Metro Tennova Healthcare
Commitment Award
Trezevant Episcopal Home – Allen Morgan Health and Rehabilitation Center
Sofix, LLC
University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services
Jetright Aerospace Holdings, LLC
Past Excellence Winners
2019 NHC South Central Region, Pulaski
2018 Griffin Mechanical, LLC, Dickson
2017 *City of Germantown
2016 The University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville
2015 McClaskey Excellence Institute (formerly Pal’s Business Excellence Institute), Kingsport
2014 Maury Regional Medical Center, Columbia
2013 Mountain States Health Alliance, Johnson City
2012 *Bristol Tennessee Essential Services, Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority
2010 CIGNA Government Services, Nashville
2009 Maury Regional Medical Center, Columbia, Mountain States Health Alliance, Johnson City
2008 Caris Healthcare, Knoxville
2007 Wellmont Health System, Kingsport
2006 *Pal’s Sudden Service, Kingsport
2005 Mountain States Health Alliance, Johnson City
2003 Marie B. Williams, Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence Founding Director (1993-2004) Honorary Excellence Award
2002 John Deere Power Products, Greeneville; Tennessee Valley Authority Nuclear, Chattanooga
2001 *Pal’s Sudden Service, Kingsport
2000 Eaton Aeroquip-Gainesboro
1999 *Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation, Nashville, Global Excellence; Memphis Light, Gas and Water
1998 Baptist Health System of Knoxville; Fleetguard Inc., Nashville, Global Excellence
1997 Eaton Corporation of Shelbyville; Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge
1996 Bridgestone/Firestone Inc., Morrison
1995 Dr. Curt W. Reimann, Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Founding Director (1987-1995), Honorary Excellence Award
1994 *Bristol Tennessee Electric System; *Federal Express Corporation Memphis Hub Operations, Memphis; Nissan Motor Manufacturing Corporation, Smyrna
1993 *Eastman Chemical Company, Kingsport; Philips Consumer Electronics Company, Knoxville
*denotes recipients of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award
Ready to join this group of world-class organizations?
The Ned R. McWherter Leadership Award
The Ned R. McWherter Leadership Award annually recognizes an individual who exemplifies outstanding leadership in the pursuit of performance excellence and has furthered performance improvement beyond the boundaries of his or her organization.
Winners are committed to the core values of the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence and the Baldrige Excellence Framework. The award’s namesake is former Tennessee Governor Ned. R. McWherter. Governor McWherter was integral to the formation of TNCPE in 1993.
Nominations for the Ned R. McWherter Leadership Award are solicited from TNCPE Members. The award recipient is selected by the executive committee and confirmed by the full Board of Directors.
Image // Governor McWherter, official portrait
Past recipients
2022 Doran Johnson
2021 Rebecca Hunter
2020 David M. Jones
2019 John J. Dreyzehner, MD & Charles E. Shoopman, Jr.
2018 Donald C. Fisher, Ph.D.
2017 Jim Duensing
2016 Thom Crosby
2015 Lewis Lavine
2014 Dr. Joe Alexander
2013 Robert Otwell
2012 Dennis Vonderfecht
2011 David J. McClaskey
2010 Dr. R. Michael Browder
2009 Dr. Susan Williams
2008 Ed Scott
2007 Jan McNally
2006 Andy Czuchry
2005 Bob Bell
The Katie Rawls Champion of Excellence Award
The Katie Rawls Champion of Excellence Award was created to recognize one individual each year who Is dedicated to the principles of the Criteria for Performance Excellence, works tirelessly to further performance improvement within his or her organization, and is committed to the core values of the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence program.
Nominations are solicited from the members of TNCPE and the award recipient is selected by the executive committee of the Board of Directors. Current board members are not eligible for this award.
Past recipients
2022 Stephanie Brooks
2021 Peter Kapolas and Casey Norris
2020 Lynnsey Seagroves
2019 Joanna Rogers
2018 Elaine Boyd
2017 Leslie Blevins
2016 Michael Hubbard and Bruce Behringer
2015 Sendy Gregory
2014 Walt Matwijec
2013 Maria Wong
2012 Dr. David Fleming
2011 Renee Tew
2010 Heather Schoch
2009 Tamera Fields
