Gov. Christine Gregoire presents Washington State Quality Awards

For Immediate Release: July 6, 2005

OLYMPIA �July 6, 2005 � Gov. Christine Gregoire today presented the 2005 Washington State Quality Awards at a ceremony in Olympia.

The 2005 recipients are Dri-EAZ Products, Swedish Medical Center, The City of Kent Public Works Operation, The University of Washington Medical Center, Richland School District, and Lynden School District.

Washington State Quality Award (WSQA) is a non-profit organization, authorized by the Washington State Legislature, to promote the success of Washington public and private sector organizations through the application of the Malcolm Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence. The award levels, from the highest to the lowest, are Excellence Level, Leadership Level, Achievement Level and Certificate of Commitment.

Dri-EAZ Products, Inc., located in Burlington, was recognized at the Leadership Level. This 150-employee organization designs, manufactures and sells a full line of restorative and building drying products. Its products are used primarily to dry structures that have been saturated during a flood. This growing organization in Skagit Valley emphasizes its values of integrity, teamwork, leadership and quality throughout its business. It has an empowering and innovative environment that has lead to its success.

Swedish Medical Center was also recognized at the Leadership Level. This not-for-profit health- care system provides a select network of specialty services to residents of King and Snohomish counties. Swedish has demonstrated a focus on continual improvement through its use of a �Plan, Do, Study, Act� methodology and by the many ways it seeks out industry best practices.

The City of Kent Public Works Operation was recognized at the Achievement Level. This organization uses a performance-based work plan budgeting process that provides the basis for its fact-based management of street maintenance, safe water supply, utilities, and maintenance and replacement of city-owned vehicles for Kent.

The University of Washington Medical Center was recognized at the Achievement Level. UW Medical Center is the only academic medical center in the region. It offers world-class specialty and primary care services. The organization ensures that all employees have the knowledge, skills and competence they need to perform their roles and support the mission and values by giving priority to education, learning and development.

Richland School District and Lynden School District were recognized with the Certificate of Commitment. Richland serves more than 9,900 students in grades K-12. Richland aligns all key and support processes with its main goal of student achievement. Each school develops and maintains a school improvement planning process for continuous improvement.

Lynden School District, with a staff of 370 employees, educates 2,731 students in K-12 and in a community transitional program for special education students 18-21 years old. The district demonstrates best practice in measuring the efficiency and cost containment of its operations.

WSQA has been recognizing high-performing organizations for 11 years. In 2001, multiple levels of the award were established to recognize progress along a performance improvement path. In addition to the award, WSQA offers training and independent progress assessments.

# # #