Advancing Performance Excellence in Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia & Illinois
About us
Our Commitment & History
What We Do
The Partnership for Excellence (TPE) is a Baldrige-based program serving Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, and Illinois, helping organizations achieve performance excellence through assessments, leadership development, best practices, and state-level recognition.
Funding
TPE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded through corporate sponsorships, individual contributions, and membership fees, with all donations tax-deductible and no government funding.
How We Do It
TPE educates organizations in performance excellence management. Using the Baldrige Excellence Framework, we provide expert evaluations, actionable feedback, and learning opportunities to drive continuous improvement.
Our History
Established in 1998 as the Ohio Award for Excellence, our organization evolved into the Ohio Partnership for Excellence before becoming The Partnership for Excellence in 2011, expanding to serve Indiana and West Virginia.
about the baldrige excellence framework
A Proven Path to Excellence and Sustainable Success
The Baldrige Excellence Framework is designed to enhance the competitiveness of U.S. organizations by promoting performance excellence through an integrated approach to performance management. Aligned with this mission, TPE helps organizations assess, improve, and align key processes using the seven performance excellence categories, driving sustainability, effectiveness, and continuous improvement.
How the Baldrige Criteria Drives Continuous Improvement
Our Staff
Our Board of Trustees
The Partnership for Excellence is governed by a Board of Trustees, with members serving staggered three-year terms. The Board is responsible for formally approving award recommendations, recognizing high-performing organizations for their commitment to excellence.
Board Member | Term Ends | Position/Organization |
---|---|---|
Kurt Schoch - Chair | 2027 | Independent Consultant Performance Improvement Consulting LLC Zionsville, IN |
Pamela Jensen - Vice Chair | 2026 | Principal Proven Results, LLC Fort Myers, FL/ Port Clinton, OH |
Michael Everett - Secretary | 2025 | Organizational Excellence Officer Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Oak Brook, IL |
Sara Kuczek - Treasurer | 2026 | VP & General Manager Reuter-Stokes, a Baker Hughes Business Twinsburg, OH |
Robert Barnett | 2025 | Executive Vice President (retired) Motorola Chicago, IL |
Greg Braylock, Jr. | 2025 | Vice President Strategic Integration ProMedica Toledo, OH |
Matthew Browning | 2025 | Senior Vice President - Member Solutions & Engagement Indiana Hospital Association Indianapolis, IN |
Tammy Dye | 2027 | Chief Strategy Officer & Principal Jordan Johnson, Inc. Seymour, IN |
MarJean Kennedy | 2027 | Vice President of Marketing, Development & Strategic Initiatives WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center Parkersburg, WV |
Dr. William Kose | 2026 | Vice President - Special Projects Blanchard Valley Health System Findlay, OH |
Richard Kramer | 2027 | President & COO City Uniforms & Linen Findlay, OH |
Jon Malone | 2027 | Chief Executive Officer Northwestern Illinois Association Sycamore, IL |
Kirby Overton | 2027 | Dean, College of Business University of Findlay Findlay, OH |
Lori Persohn | 2026 | Associate VP Patient Services Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center Jasper, IN |
Chris Rawlings | 2027 | Chief Executive Officer HospiceCare West Virginia Charleston, WV |
Shane Sommers | 2025 | Chief Operating Officer Hendricks Regional Health Danville, IN |
Laura Viaches | 2025 | President & Founder Endeavor Pharma Solutions, LLC Indianapolis, IN |
Andrew Weber | 2027 | VP/Administrator Vandalia Health CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital Charleston, WV |
Paul Worstell | 2027 | Principal Lead Learn Coach LLC Plain City, OH |