Freese and Nichols, a statewide leader of engineering, architecture and environmental services with offices in Richardson, was presented with the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award during a ceremony on Sunday, April 15, 2012 at the Marriott Wardman Park in Washington, D.C. The ceremony was presided over by U.S. Secretary of Commerce John Bryson and Dr. Patrick Gallagher, Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and Director of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
Robert Pence, president and CEO, and Cindy Milrany, CFO, accepted the award on behalf of Freese and Nichols, the only engineering and architecture firm to ever receive this recognition. The firm hosted a delegation which included dignitaries such as U.S. Representative Kay Granger, Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price, Jeff Fegan, CEO of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Robert O’Neill, executive director of the International City/County Management Association. Steven Stockton and Major General Michael J. Walsh of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and city managers from Irving, Texas, Tyler, Texas and Fort Worth, Texas were also included.
(From Left to Right) Dr. Patrick Gallagher, Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and Director of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); Cindy Milrany, Freese and Nichols CFO; Robert F. Pence, Freese and Nichols President and CEO; John Bryson, U.S. Secretary of Commerce.
“Freese and Nichols started its continuous improvement journey more than 15 years ago to improve our business, but what we discovered was so much more,” said Pence. “This process benefits our clients. Our improvements have strengthened our relationships, and allow us to deliver better service and value. Without a doubt, this process has been worth the years of hard work and effort.”
The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award is the highest national honor for performance excellence that any U.S. organization can receive. The award, which is administered through the NIST Baldrige Performance Excellence Program, is designed to enhance the competitiveness of U.S. businesses and help them compete in an ever-expanding, demanding global market. Applicants are evaluated in seven areas: leadership; strategic planning; customer focus; measurement; analysis and knowledge management; workforce focus; and process management and results.
Organizations which use the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence, such as Freese and Nichols, continue to report strong performance even in a tough economy.