I always find the annual Baldrige Quest for Excellence Conference to be more than a mere gathering of people to discuss topics of common interest. It is an energy-rich experience. The 25th anniversary event was all that and more because of the combination of celebratory gala, Baldrige Award ceremony, and Quest for Excellence Conference.

Each year I use this April column to share some of my insights from the conference presentations. Since this is my last Quest for Excellence Conference as director of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program, I’ve decided to share two groups of insights. The first set is derived from the presentations given by our four 2012 Baldrige Award recipients; the second set is insights learned during the 20 years that I have been attending the conferences.

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