U.S. Senate Productivity and Quality Award
for Virginia, Maryland and DC
Our Mission
The mission of Virginia SPQA is to promote continual improvement strategies and to provide training, mentoring, and recognition to organizations in pursuit of performance excellence.
SPQA is charged with administering the U.S. Senate Productivity and Quality Award recognizing the highest caliber of performance excellence.
Our Work
Virginia SPQA fulfills its mission through the Award program and other lower-tier and mentoring programs. We provide Award applicants a comprehensive, low-cost organizational performance evaluation and an extensive feedback report. We train individuals to become experts at assessing and evaluating an entire organization based on the Baldrige Performance Excellence Framework and Criteria, and we conduct Baldrige-based workshops. See our Pathways to Excellence link in Services for our tiered approach to winning the award.
Our Story
Since 1982, Virginia SPQA has served organizations of all sizes from all sectors, and honored over 80 organizations with the prestigious Medallion Award in recognition of their achievement of performance excellence. We have trained hundreds of Examiners in the Baldrige criteria and methodologies to serve our Awards program and to support their own organization’s journey to performance excellence.
Just beginning, well on the way, or close to the destination, wherever you are on the journey to performance excellence SPQA can customize training to move your organization along the path.
Featured Content
2024 Award
Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association The Achievement in Performance Excellence Award is one of the highest honors bestowed by the SPQA program, recognizing organizations that demonstrate exemplary leadership, a strong commitment to continuous improvement, and a focus on delivering outstanding results. In the 2024, Pathways to Excellence Award Cycle, VHHA is recognized due to its…
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SPQA Chair Letter
Board Chair Message The Baldrige Framework focuses on organizational improvement and excellence. Recently, the format of the award program itself changed. More than the process for submitting applications, the focus shifts to sustainable performance, organization resilience, and results. These concepts moved to the forefront of the award program process. It is easy to understand the…
Read More2023 Awards
Eastern State Hospital (ESH) & Educational Employee’s Supplementary Retirement System of Fairfax County (ERFC) Thank you to our 2023 award honorees, Eastern State Hospital (ESH) and the Educational Employee’s Supplementary Retirement System of Fairfax County (ERFC). Their dedication to relentless advancement has set a benchmark in delivering superior service to customers, stakeholders, and employees alike….
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2024 February Spotlight
Kim Humphrey At SPQA, our support in helping organizations on their journey to excellence leverages the talents and experiences of our volunteer workforce. Each workforce member has a unique story to tell. In this article we have interviewed Kim Humphrey to get her story. Why did you choose to become a Board Member for SPQA? …
Read MoreSPQA Chair Letter
Board Chair Message 1/16/2024 Since 1983, the US Senate Productivity and Quality Award (SPQA) has been recognizing organizations for outstanding performance. The Medallion of Excellence was awarded in 1983 to Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, VA and to Philip Morris USA, Richmond, VA. The enduring testimony is that organizations want to improve using a disciplined approach….
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Baldrige for Beginners
Join us for an exciting two-day Baldrige for Beginners training session on December 12-13, 2024, hosted by SPQA. It’s an opportunity you won’t want to miss! Register here. In this Introductory course, SPQA offers an opportunity for individuals and organizations to learn the foundations of the Baldrige Excellence Framework using the Baldrige Excellence Builder to…
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Become an Examiner
Apply to work alongside dedicated others from a variety of sectors and positions to help improve the economic engine of the region one organization at a time. Apply to become a member of the 2025 Board of Examiners and immerse yourself in this proven methodology. More details are available in the downloadable SPQA Examiner Guide…
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2025 Application Process
SPQA uses the Baldrige Performance Excellence Framework as the basis for its award application, evaluation, scoring, and feedback methods. To apply, contact us at programs.services@spqa-va.org. We will build a custom quote for your services. Service agreements in place: Saturday, October 19, 2024 The 2025 SPQA Award Guide provides details on how to complete your application….
Read More2023 August Spotlight
George Yacus At SPQA, our support in helping organizations on their journey to excellence leverages the talents and experiences of our volunteer workforce. Each workforce member has a unique story to tell. In this article we have interviewed George Yacus to get his story. Why did you choose to become a Board Member for SPQA? Our doctoral…
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