How do you launch a journey toward performance excellence? TNCPE can help you and your organization improve systems and increase results. Whether you need a performance tune-up or are looking for some first steps toward quality and continuous improvement, we can help your organization find a path. Whatever your motivation, there are several ways to start your journey to performance excellence with TNCPE as your partner.
While the core of TNCPE’s assessment program remains the application and awards process, we are committed to meeting you where you are. We offer several opportunities to engage your team with the Criteria and level up your performance excellence journey. Whether you’re in between applications, just starting out, or need a little tune-up after an especially hard year, we can help!
The Baldrige for Beginners workshop is a one-day introduction to the seven categories of the Baldrige Excellence Framework™. The workshop includes class discussions and activities designed to help participants use the basic level questions in each category to assess their own organization or area. Each participant will receive a copy of the Baldrige Excellence Framework™.
It is not uncommon to struggle to gain meaningful results on those irritating problems. This 4-hour workshop is based on the popular A3 Lean tool and is designed to teach participants a step-based approach to problem solving that will focus the team on strong collaboration, active communication and working the action items to achieve results. Work together with your TNCPE facilitator to tackle an organizational problem or significant OFI!
The best strategic planning processes begin with an understanding of your strategic advantages and challenges. In this 4-hour course, a TNCPE facilitator will guide you through a SWOT analysis and help your organization identify its most significant strategic opportunities. Use this workshop to kick off your strategic planning cycle or to fill in the gaps in your Organizational Profile!
No matter where your organization is on its journey to performance excellence, this hands-on workshop will propel you forward. In this full-day course, you will come away with a deeper understanding of your organization and the Baldrige framework, as well as a project plan for writing and editing your application. You will even complete some application requirements during interactive exercises throughout the day. Whether this is your first or fifth TNCPE application, this workshop will get you moving along the path to success!
The 60-90 minute Leadership Orientation is designed to introduce an organization’s senior leaders to the Baldrige Excellence Framework™ and how it can be used to help them define and achieve excellence for their organization.
The need to improve organizational efficiency and productivity has never been greater. Today’s challenges require organizations to streamline operations, finding ways to eliminate waste, simplify processes, and quickly improve results. TNCPE is excited to partner with The Lean Six Sigma Company (TLSSC) to bring powerful online and in-person Lean Six Sigma training to our members in a convenient, virtual, efficient, and cost-effective way. Explore all of the Six Sigma training opportunities on our partner website: Lean Six Sigma Training | The Lean Six Sigma Company
TNCPE has partnered with LBL Strategies and George Washington University to offer access to this intensive, hands-on Continuing Professional Education program designed for professionals who are looking to build their skills sets in the management of strategy formulation, implementation, and evaluation. Mastering Strategy is available in a Live Online or Self-Paced format.
Contact us about our facilitation services
The Partnership Performance Assessment (PPA) allows members of your workforce to collaborate with trained TNCPE examiners to assess the organization and identify opportunities for improvement.
The best part? No written application is required! This dynamic process is ideal for mature organizations that are looking for a Baldrige “tune-up” or need help breaking through to the next award level. Although minimal preparation is required, the results are immediately actionable.
Your assessment includes individualized facilitation with a Master Examiner
The shortened timeline of requires minimal preparation.
The on-site visit will engage and energize your team.
We provide a tailored assessment with your goals in mind.
Working together, the assessment also fosters team development, collaboration, & buy-in.
Developed internally, the assessment feedback offers detailed information on your strengths and OFIs.
The feedback report is built for long-term sustainability – full of insight you can come back to again and again.
TNCPE Membership offers discounts on our trainings & assessments, the TNCPE Excellence Conference & more!
You might say the TNCPE Board of Examiners is the engine that drives our organization. This group of quality-driven professionals collaborates to assess the businesses and organizations that apply to the TNCPE Award Program each year. They’re also tasked with developing the valuable feedback reports that applicant organizations use to streamline their processes, empower their workforces, and achieve the results they want.
Join the TNCPE Board of Examiners to expand your knowledge base, enhance your personal effectiveness, connect with like-minded professionals, sharpen your competitive edge, and empower yourself to use the Criteria for Performance Excellence in your own organization.
All examiners take part in annual training to learn how to assess the companies that apply to the TNCPE award program. They learn how to use the Baldrige Excellence Framework (which includes the Criteria for Performance Excellence), analyze and evaluate applicant organizations, conduct the examination process, and prepare value-added feedback.
Training in the internationally acclaimed Baldrige Excellence Framework
Networking and benchmarking opportunities
Hands-on experience that will add tremendous value to your own organization
Exposure to proven best practices in leadership, strategic planning, and more
A complimentary ticket to the annual Excellence Celebration Dinner
2.7 continuing education credits through Tennessee Technological University
Hour-for-hour NASBA CPE credits for examiner training sessions
Being an examiner with TNCPE is one of the best things I’ve done – for my career, for my personal life. It definitely opens up your mind to continuous improvement. I learned so much. There’s so many resources with TNCPE. It’s not just being an examiner for that one time, it is everything else that is involved..
– Leslie Blevins, Bristol Tennessee Essential Services –
Having been an examiner for the last two years, it’s a journey in itself. I’m still learning. I’m still getting ‘A-ha!’ moments… But I think it’s such a professional growth opportunity that I can’t imagine anyone not wanting to do it.
– Buffy Key, Cookeville Regional Medical Center –
Category | Points | Level 4 50 pgs. | Level 3 35 pgs. | Level 2 15 pgs. |
1 | Leadership | 120 | 7 | 4.2 | |
2 | Strategic Planning | 85 | 4 | 2.9 | 1.3 |
3 | Customer Focus | 85 | 5 | 2.9 | 1.3 |
4 | Measurement, Analysis, Knowledge Management | 90 | 4 | 3.2 | 1.3 |
5 | Workforce Focus | 85 | 4 | 2.9 | 1.3 |
6 | Operations Focus | 85 | 6 | 2.9 | 1.3 |
7 | Results | 450 | 20 | 16 | 6.7 |
Totals | 1,000 | 50 | 35 | 15 |
The Criteria response must be submitted with the Organizational Profile, Application Form, and Application Fee.
Glossaries, title pages, organizational charts, and tables of contents are not counted in the page limit. All remaining pages should be consecutively numbered from start to finish. Electronic materials must be saved in one PDF file and emailed to contact@tncpe.org by the deadline on the Application Form. Please do not send a PDF of a scanned document.
Assessment Level | Number of Employees | Site Visit/Workshop Fee* - Member | Site Visit/Workshop Fee* - Non-Member |
Excellence Award (Level 4) | Less than 100 | $2,160 | $2,700 |
100-500 | $3,120 | $3,900 | |
501-1,500 | $5,040 | $6,300 | |
More Than 1,500 | $6,000 | $7,500 | |
Achievement Award (Level 3) | Less than 100 | $1,920 | $2,400 |
100-500 | $2,640 | $3,300 | |
501-1,500 | $4,080 | $5,100 | |
More Than 1,500 | $5,280 | $6,600 | |
Commitment Award (Level 2) | Less than 100 | $1,680 | $2,100 |
100-500 | $2,400 | $3,000 | |
501-1,500 | $3,840 | $4,800 | |
More Than 1,500 | $5,040 | $6,300 | |
Interest Award (Level 1) | Less than 100 | $680 | $850 |
100-500 | $920 | $1,150 | |
501-1,500 | $1,400 | $1,750 | |
More Than 1,500 | $1,880 | $2,350 |
*Applicants outside of Tennessee must pay an additional $1,000 travel fee. Applicants will be invoiced for the Site Visit Fee following completion of the site visit.
Number of Employees (Full-Time Equivalent) | Workshop Fee (L1) / Application Fee (L2,3,4) Member | Workshop Fee (L1) / Application Fee (L2,3,4) Non-Member |
Less than 100 | $920/$1,600 | $1,150/$2,000 |
100-500 | $1,640/$3,040 | $2,050/$3,800 |
501-1,500 | $2,600/$4,960 | $3,250/$6,200 |
More Than 1,500 | $3,800/$7,360 | $4,750/$9,200 |
*This application fee table applies to Levels 2, 3, & 4.
Assessment Level | Number of Employees | Intent to Apply / Administration Fee | Application/Workshop Fee - Member / Non-Member | Site Visit/Workshop Fee* - Member / Non-Member | Total with 20% Member Discount | Total at Regular Rate |
Excellence Award (Level 4) | Less than 100 | $250 | $1,600/ $2,000 | $2,160/ $2,700 | $3,610 | $4,450 |
100-500 | $250 | $3,040/ $3,800 | $3,120/ $3,900 | $6,010 | $7,450 | |
501-1,500 | $250 | $4,960/ $6,200 | $5,040/ $6,300 | $9,850 | $12,250 | |
More Than 1,500 | $250 | $7,360/ $9,200 | $6,000/ $7,500 | $13,210 | $16,450 | |
Achievement Award (Level 3) | Less than 100 | $250 | $1,600/ $2,000 | $1,920 / $2,400 | $3,320 | $4,150 |
100-500 | $250 | $3,040/ $2,000 | $2,640/ $3,300 | $5,480 | $6,850 | |
501-1,500 | $250 | $4,960/ $6,200 | $4,080/ $5,100 | $8,840 | $11,050 | |
More Than 1,500 | $250 | $7,360/ $9,200 | $5,280/ $6,600 | $12,440 | $15,550 | |
Commitment Award (Level 2) | Less than 100 | $250 | $1,600/ $2,000 | $1,680/ $2,100 | $3,130 | $3,850 |
100-500 | $250 | $3,040/ $3,800 | $2,400/ $3,000 | $5,290 | $6,550 | |
501-1,500 | $250 | $4,960/ $6,200 | $3,840/ $4,800 | $8,650 | $10,750 | |
More Than 1,500 | $250 | $7,360/ $9,200 | $5,040/ $6,300 | $12,250 | $15,250 | |
Interest Award (Level 1) | Less than 100 | $250 | $920/ $1,150 | $680/ $850 | $1,850 | $2,250 |
100-500 | $250 | $1,640/ $2,050 | $920/ $1,150 | $2,810 | $3,450 | |
501-1,500 | $250 | $2,600/ $3,250 | $1,400/ $1,750 | $4,250 | $5,250 | |
More Than 1,500 | $250 | $3,800/ $4,750 | $1,880/ $2,350 | $5,930 | $7,350 |
Workforce size is based on the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) employees working for the applicant. FTEs are defined as those who regularly work 37.5 or more hours a week and are entitled to benefits such as paid vacation, sick leave, and insurance coverage. Each instance of job sharing, where multiple individuals fulfill the responsibilities of a single position that require 37.5 or more hours per week, is counted as one FTE.
Requirement | Commitment Award (Level 2) | Achievement Award (Level 3) | Excellence Award (Level 4) |
Intent to Apply/Eligibility Form | REQUIRED FOR ALL Submit by May 31 Intent to Apply due with $250 non-refundable fee | ||
Organization Profile | REQUIRED FOR ALL 5-page maximum The Organizational Profile is submitted along with the Application Form, Application Fee, and Criteria Response. (see below) | ||
Application Form & Fee | REQUIRED FOR ALL Submit by July 15 Applicants must use the Application Form via tncpe.org. | ||
CEO Signature | REQUIRED FOR ALL | ||
Criteria Response | 1. Organizational Profile 2. Basic Item Questions 15-page maximum One electronic copy saved in PDF format | 1. Organizational Profile 2. Overall Item Questions 35-page maximum One electronic copy saved in PDF format | 1. Organizational Profile 2. Multiple Item Requirements 50-page maximum One electronic copy saved in PDF format |
Site Visit* | One day, plus half-day workshop** | Two days | Three days |
Recognition Eligibility | Commitment or Interest | Achievement, Commitment, or Interest | Excellence, Achievement, Commitment, or Interest |
Applicant Responsibilities | Provide at least one TNCPE examiner***
| Provide 2 or more TNCPE examiners† (a balanced combination of new and experienced)
Participation in annual Conference |
* Applicants must pay a site visit fee to cover site visit costs. See table below for details.
** After receiving their Feedback Report, Level 2 applicants host a half-day workshop that will help them understand and prioritize the examiners’ feedback.
*** Examiners are provided for the next application cycle.