Jeffrey H. Bracken of Bracken and Associates, located in Dallas, Texas, has been appointed by Dr. Patrick Gallagher, Director of the Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), to the 2011 Board of Examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. The Award, created by public law in 1987, is the highest level of national recognition for performance excellence that a U.S. organization can receive. 

As an Examiner, Bracken is responsible for reviewing and evaluating applications submitted for the Award. The Board is composed of approximately 500 leading experts selected from industry, professional and trade organizations, education and health care organizations, and nonprofits (including government). This is Bracken's ninth year as an Examiner.

Those selected meet the highest standards of qualification and peer recognition. All members of the board must take part in a preparation course based on the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence and the scoring and evaluation processes for the Baldrige Award.

The Baldrige Award may be given annually in each of six categories: Manufacturing, Service, Small Business, Education, Health Care, and Nonprofit. Awards have been presented to 80 organizations, including the 2010 recipients: MEDRAD, Warrendale. Pa. (manufacturing); Nestle Purina PetCare Co., St. Louis, Mo. (manufacturing); Freese and Nichols, Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, (small business); K&N Management, Austin, Texas (small business); Studer Group, Gulf Breeze, Fla., (small business); Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital, Downers Grove, Ill., (health care); and Montgomery County Public Schools, Rockville, Md., (education).

Information about the Baldrige National Quality Program and the application process is available from the Baldrige National Quality Program, at 301-975-2036 or nqp@nist.gov, or from the Baldrige Program’s web site at http://www.nist.gov/baldrige.

The Award Program is managed by NIST in close cooperation with the private sector. The American Society for Quality (ASQ) in Milwaukee, WI, administers the program. For further information about Jeffrey H. Bracken contact 972-484-9887, or jeffb@brackenandassociates.com. For media inquiries or interview requests about the Baldrige Program or Award, reporters may contact Michael E. Newman, NIST Public Affairs Office, 301-975-3025, michael.newman@nist.gov.