28 businesses, organizations win Governor’s Quality Awards

Gov. Mike Beebe presided over his last Governor’s Quality Awards banquet bestowing 28 different Arkansas companies with awards for performance and organizational excellence.

The event, held at the Little Rock Marriott Hotel in downtown Little Rock on Monday evening, celebrated its 20th anniversary.

The three most prestigious awards were given to Baldor Electric Company of Fort Smith, Conway Regional Health System, and J.V. Manufacturing, Inc. of Springdale. All three companies received the Governor’s Award for Performance Excellence.

The Achievement Level Award was presented to: DD&F Consulting Group, Little Rock; Mainstream Technologies, Little Rock; National Guard Professional Education Center, North Little Rock; North Arkansas College, Harrison; Saline Memorial Hospital, Benton, and St. Elizabeth’s Place, Jonesboro.

Organizations receiving the Commitment Level Award were: Northwest Arkansas Community College, Bentonville; M. O. Ramay Junior High School, Fayetteville, and Spring Creek Health and Rehab Center, Cabot.

Organizations receiving the Challenge Level Award were: Alcoa Pines Health and Rehabilitation, Benton; Beaver Water District, Lowell; Belle Meade, Paragould; Boston Mountain Rural Health Center, Inc., Marshall; Conway Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center; Gosnell Therapy and Living, Blytheville; The Green House Cottages of Southern Hills, Rison; Katherine’s Place at Wedington, Fayetteville; Mountain Meadows Health and Rehabilitation, Batesville; ProCare Therapy Services, Sherwood; Professional Nursing Solutions, LLC Corporate Office, Alexandria, Louisiana; Southern Administrative Services Corporate Office, Alexandria, Louisiana; Southern Trace Rehabilitation and Care Center, Bryant; Southridge Village Retirement Center, Heber Springs; Village Springs Health and Rehabilitation, Hot Springs, and Westwood Health and Rehab, Inc., Springdale.

To qualify for the awards, companies must undergo a rigorous series of internal and external reviews from trained evaluators. Through the process, which is based on the national Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, recipients receive an in-depth evaluation of their management systems and a written feedback report citing strengths and areas for improvement.

The goal of the Governor’s Quality Award Program is to encourage Arkansas organizations to engage in continuous quality improvement, which leads to performance excellence, and to provide significant recognition to those organizations.

The Governor’s Quality Award program partners with the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce. Talk Business & Politics Editor-in-Chief Roby Brock emceed the ceremony.