WASHINGTON, March 20, 2025 -- The Baldrige Foundation announced today that after more than a decade of service as President and CEO, Al Faber will retire April 1, 2025. The Board of Directors has named Josh Racette, the Foundation's Vice President of National Programs and Development as the next President and CEO.
During his tenure, Faber led the Foundation's successful efforts to re-establish the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program in the Federal Budget and the President's Budget; create the Foundation's Institute for Performance Excellence; and amend Public Law 100-107 to make "Community" the 7th Category of the Baldrige Awards. These and other initiatives including the Foundation's individual leadership excellence awards which have grown to more than 30 granted each year, have transformed the Baldrige Foundation, and laid the groundwork to meet the challenges of the future.
"It has been the honor of my life to lead the Baldrige Foundation and to be part of a team that serves thousands of organizations across the nation and internationally. The extraordinary dedication, passion, and skill I have seen in all our stakeholders humbles me every single day," said Faber. "I could not be prouder of our accomplishments and how the entire organization stepped up to address the challenges of our time."
Faber has served the Baldrige community for more than 15 years as President and CEO of the Baldrige Foundation and The Partnership for Excellence (TPE), a state-based Baldrige program serving Ohio, Indiana, and West Virginia during his tenure. Prior to his Baldrige service, Al served for more than 33 years in the U.S. Army as an Instructor Pilot, Test Pilot, National Security Fellow at Harvard University, and commanded units at the company, battalion, and brigade levels. He retired in 2011 at the rank of Colonel.
"Al's leadership to re-establish Baldrige in the Federal Budget, guide the Foundation through the COVID-19 Pandemic and economic recovery, and Baldrige program re-design, has been instrumental to navigating these turbulent times while continuing to transform the Baldrige Foundation to address resiliently these challenges and strategically prepare for the future," said Kay Eggleston, the Foundation's Board Chair.
"Through a pre-determined process, the Foundation's Board of Directors unanimously approved Josh Racette as President and CEO upon Al's retirement," added Eggleston.
"As Vice President for National Programs and Development, Josh Racette has done an outstanding job as the architect of the Foundation's Institute, collaborating with our strategic partners to grow participation and programs across the Baldrige community and internationally. Josh has been integral to our progress and success, and I have complete confidence in his ability to assume the role of President and CEO of the Foundation," said Faber.
We look forward to seeing everyone at the 36th Quest for Excellence® conference in Baltimore, Maryland, from March 30 – April 2, 2025. For more information on the conference and to register, follow this link: https://www.nist.gov/baldrige/qe
For more information contact: Mark Wayda, 614-600-0432 or mwayda@baldrigefoundation.org
About The Foundation for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, Inc.
The Baldrige Foundation was created as the private partner to the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program in 1988. Its mission is to ensure the long-term financial viability of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program and to support organizational performance excellence throughout the United States and the world. The Baldrige Program, located at NIST within the U.S. Department of Commerce, is a separate entity and is solely responsible for managing and administering the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. For more information on the Baldrige Award process please visit: https://www.nist.gov/baldrige/baldrige-award.
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