The best way
to get better, faster
"As responsible business people, we must make our
companies globally competitive or we will get blind-sided
by the rest of the world. The Forward Award is a great
incentive to help us get where we need to be so we can
continue to grow."
~ J. Michael Borden, CEO HUFCOR, Inc., 2001 Governor's
Forward Award of Excellence Recipient
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Wisconsin Forward Award: Recognizing the State of Excellence
The Wisconsin Forward Award program was created in 1997 to promote significant achievements in continuous improvement and performance excellence—business practices that ensure the economic vitality of Wisconsin organizations and the communities they serve.
Organizations participating in the WFA program are committed to the achievement of high standards of excellence. Whether they are just beginning their journey by using one of WFA’s self-assessment tools, or exemplify mature, productive quality management systems as outlined by the WFA Criteria, these organizations are distinguishing themselves as leaders in their field, enabling themselves to be as successful and innovative as possible--and keeping Wisconsin in a State of Excellence.
Regardless of the performance measure and size of organization, the research is clear—the long-term impact of effective performance management continuous learning programs can be linked with positive financial performance, customer satisfaction and improved employee involvement.
Mission of WFA
The mission of Wisconsin Forward Award, Inc. is to promote
and recognize the adoption of performance excellence
principles and practices by Wisconsin organizations through enhanced continuous learning and quality improvement.
| Primary Program Focus |
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Advance the competitive advantage of Wisconsin businesses and organizations |
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Provide a method for self-assessment for Wisconsin organizations to achieve continuous learning and world-class performance improvement |
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Promote recognition as a means of promoting the sharing of best practices in high-achieving Wisconsin organizations |
How WFA Began
Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy G. Thompson and the Council
for Workforce Investment created the Wisconsin Forward Award
Program with the issuance of the Governor's Executive Order
No. 385 in 1997. At that time, the Wisconsin Department of
Workforce Development was assigned temporary responsibility
for program management and development. In 1999, a new private
non-profit organization was created to assume responsibility
for the Wisconsin Forward Award program. Today, it is administered
by Wisconsin Forward Award, Inc. (WFA, Inc.), a non-stock,
not-for-profit corporation. WFA, Inc. is a charitable organization,
granted exemption under Federal IRS regulations, described
in section 501(c)(3). We are registered as a charitable organization
in Wisconsin through the Wisconsin Department of Regulation
and Licensing. WFA, Inc. is governed by a volunteer Board
of Directors that includes leaders in business, manufacturing,
education, health care, government, and other organizations
throughout Wisconsin.
To fulfill its mission to promote and recognize adoption
of high performance management principles and practices, WFA
focuses on three interrelated activities: education, assessment
and recognition. Education is advanced primarily through public
seminars, training, and conference offerings throughout the
year in various locations in Wisconsin. Organizational assessment,
including the Wisconsin Challenge, Baldrige Express and our
centerpiece annual award program is offered for all types
of Wisconsin organizations.
Wisconsin Forward Award is modeled upon the Malcolm Baldrige
National Quality Award. The centerpiece of the WFA program
is the annual application and evaluation of applicant organizations
using the WFA/Baldrige Criteria. In doing so, Wisconsin joins
over 43 other states which use these Criteria for recognition
and awards. Every WFA applicant is eligible to receive prestigious
public recognition for their efforts and achievements at our
annual recognition event, invitations to make presentations,
and requests to participate in forums designed to showcase
best practices.
Used by organizations across the nation and around the world,
the Baldrige Criteria provide consistent and rigorous standards,
a proven measurement system, and improvement benchmarks for
organizations serious about improving performance and competing
in the global economy. A growing number of Malcolm Baldrige
Award winners have first received recognition and feedback
through their states' quality award programs.
Board of Directors
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Sandra L. Anderson
President
St. Clare Hospital & Health Services
Diane K. Bergschneider
Director of Evaluation and Quality Improvement
APS Healthcare, Inc.
Board Officer at Large
J. Michael Borden
CEO
HUFCOR, Inc.
Nicholas L. Chiarkas
Wisconsin Public Defender
Sally Cutler
Executive Director
North Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board,
Inc.
Neil Fauerbach
Director of Business Development and Marketing
Smith & Gesteland, CPAs and Management Consultants
Board Officer: Vice Chair
Julie Furst-Bowe
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs
University of Wisconsin–Stout
Steven H. Hoisington
Vice President, Quality and Reliability
Electro-Motive Diesels
Ronald Hunt
Deputy Administrator
Division of Workforce Solutions
Board Officer at Large
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Joseph Kinsella
President
Pointe Precision, Inc.
Board Officer: Chair
Mike Klonsinski
Executive Director
Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Steven R. Laking
Senior Vice President & COO
MetaStar
Board Officer: Treasurer
Nick Leifeld
Vice President of Quality
Serigraph, Inc.
Bob Morris
President
Organizational Skills Associates
Lee Rasch, Ed.D.
President
Western Technical College
Brett Remington
Director of Corporate Development
Runzheimer International
Phil Skowbo
Kathleen S. Villars
Assistant Director of Corporate Projects
Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance
Mary R. Zimmerman
Patient Safety Officer
Meriter Health Services, Inc.
Board Officer: Secretary |
Organizations Affiliated with WFA
Many organizations, both large and small, have played an
important role with the WFA program since its inception. We
sincerely appreciate their support.
| AAA Wisconsin
Agnesian HealthCare, Inc.
Affinity Health System
Albany Analytical
All Saints Healthcare
Alto Dairy Cooperative
Alverno College
American Family Insurance
American Society for Quality
Ameriquest Mortgage
Appleton, Inc.
APS Healthcare, Inc.
Aurora Health Care
Auto Glass Specialists, Inc.
Baxter Healthcare Corporation
Bay Area Medical Center
Bay Towel
BETA Systems
Blackhawk Technical College
Bowling, Inc.
Broan NuTone LLC
Buchel & Associates
Butters-Fetting Company, Inc.
Campbell-West & Associates
Center of Excellence
Central Wisconsin Center
Centro, Inc.
CESA #5
Children's Hospital of Wisconsin
Chippewa Valley Technical College
City of Kenosha Fire Department
CNH Capital
Columbia St. Mary's
Community Action of Rock and Walworth Counties
Community Credit Union
Community Health Partnership
Community Memorial Hospital
Compuware Corporation
Concordia University
Crescent Printing Company
CUNA Mutual Group
The Dahlen Company
Data Specialists, Inc.
Datex-Ohmeda, Inc.
Dean Health System
Doral Dental USA
Eaton Electrical, Inc.
The Evolution Group
Federal Highway Administration
Fisher-Barton, Inc.
Fort McCoy
ForwardFocus
Fox Valley Technical College
Fox Valley Workforce Development Board
Gateway Technical College
Good Humor–Breyers Ice Cream
Good Shepherd Services, Ltd.
Green Quest, Ltd.
Greenfield School District
H. O. Bostrom Company, Inc.
Harley-Davidson, Inc.
Hallmark Building Supplies, Inc.
Hennepin County Medical Center
Heus Manufacturing Co., Inc.
The Higher Learning Commission, NCA
Holmen Middle School
Hudson Hospital
HUFCOR, Inc.
Humana, Inc.
Hydratight Sweeney Manufacturing
Inacom Information Systems
InPro Corporation
J. W. Speaker Corporation
John Deere Horicon Works
Johnson Controls, Inc.
Kenneth W. Monfort College of Business
Kestrel Management Services
KI–Manitowoc Plant
Kimberly-Clark Corporation
Kohler Company
Kondex Corporation
Lakeshore Technical College
Landmark Opportunities, Inc.
Leadership Vision Partners, Inc.
The Learning Interface
Little Rapids Corporation
Luther Midelfort
Madison Area Technical College
Mandley Consulting
MAQIN
Marshall Erdman & Associates
Mayo Clinic
Mercury Marine
Mercy Health System
Meriter Health Services
Metal Container Corporation
MetaStar, Inc.
Milprint, Inc.
Milsco Manufacturing Company
Milwaukee Area Technical College
Milwaukee County Contract Administration
Milwaukee County Emergency Medical Services
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Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District
Modine Manufacturing Company
Monona Grove School District
Moraine Park Technical College
Natural Resource Technology
Norse Dairy System
North Central Wisconsin Workforce Development
Board
Northcentral Technical College
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance, Inc.
Office of the Wisconsin State Public Defender
Organizational Skills Associates
Oshkosh Truck Corporation
Paradigm Consulting
Partners Health System
Penske Logistics
Phillips Plastics Corporation
Physicians Plus Insurance Corporation
Pierce Manufacturing
Pinnacle Profiles, Inc.
Plastic Ingenuity
Pointe Precision LLC
Polymer Technologies
Prins Consulting
Pro Health Care, Inc.
Promega Corporation
Psychiatric Services, S.C.
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company
Quality Alliance Business Consultants, LLC
Quality Consulting
Quality Education Associates (QEA)
Quantum Performance Group, Inc.
Racine County Workforce Development Center
R. & B. Wagner, Inc.
Rada Consulting
Rayovac Corporation
Rexnord Corporation
Richland Center Foundry Company
Rockwell Automation
Ron Bland Associates
Runzheimer International
School District of Holmen
Schubbe Resch Chiropractic & PT Clinic
Serigraph, Inc.
Sheffield Automation, LLC
Sigma Business Solutions
Simmons Company
Smith & Gesteland, LLP
Smurfit Stone Container Corporation
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board
Springs Window Fashions LP
SSM Healthcare of Wisconsin
St. Clare Hospital & Health Services
St. Clare Meadows Care Center
St. Marys Care Center
St. Marys Hospital Medical Center
St. Vincent Hospital
Stora Enso North America
Sub-Zero Freezer Company, Inc.
Sun Microsystems
Sunny Fresh Foods
Tailored Label Products
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
U.S. Department of Transportation
United Government Services
United Way of Dane County
University of Phoenix Online
University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics
University of Wisconsin Medical School
University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh
University of Wisconsin–Stout
University of Wisconsin–Waukesha
Upland Hills Health, Inc.
Upper Iowa University , Madison Center
VA Hospital
Veridian Homes
Verstegen & Associates
Viking Elementary School
Vision Fitness
Viterbo University
W-O-W Workforce Development Board, Inc.
The Wagner Companies
Warner Consulting, Inc.
Waukesha Cherry-Burrell
Waukesha Memorial Hospital
We Energies
Western Wisconsin Technical College
Wisconsin Army National Guard
Wisconsin Cheeseman, Inc.
Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Wisconsin Physicians Service
Wisconsin Technical College System Board
Workforce Connections, Inc.
Workplace Learning Services
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