Jennifer Prinz of Donor Alliance located in Denver, Colo., has been appointed by Dr. Patrick Gallagher, Director of the Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), to the 2012 Board of Examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. The Award, created by public law in 1987, is the highest level of national recognition for performance excellence that a U.S. organization can receive.

As an Examiner, Prinz is responsible for reviewing and evaluating applications submitted for the Award. The board is composed of approximately 500 leading experts selected from industry, professional and trade organizations, education and health care organizations, and nonprofits (including government).

Those selected meet the highest standards of qualification and peer recognition. All members of the board must take part in a preparation course based on the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence and the scoring and evaluation processes for the Baldrige Award.

The Baldrige Award may be given annually in each of six categories: manufacturing, service, small business, education, health care, and nonprofit. Awards have been presented to 90 organizations, including the 2011 recipients: Concordia Publishing, St. Louis, Mo. (nonprofit), Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Mich. (healthcare), Schneck Medical Center, Seymour, Ind. (healthcare), Southcentral Foundation, Anchorage, Alaska (healthcare). Information about the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program and the application process is available by calling (301) 975-2036, sending an e-mail to nqp@nist.gov, or going to the Baldrige Program’s website at http://www.nist.gov/baldrige.

The Award Program is managed by NIST in close cooperation with the private sector. ASQ in Milwaukee, Wisc., administers the program. For further information about Jennifer Prinz, contact Erin Dolin at (303) 204-4819. For media inquiries or interview requests about the Baldrige Program or the Award, reporters may contact Michael E. Newman, NIST Public Affairs Office, (301) 975-3025, michael.newman@nist.gov.

About Donor Alliance

Donor Alliance is the federally-designated, non-profit organ procurement organization and an American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) accredited tissue bank serving Colorado and most of Wyoming. As a recognized leader in facilitating the donation and recovery of transplantable organs and tissues, Donor Alliance’s mission is to save lives through organ and tissue donation and transplantation. To achieve this mission, Donor Alliance employs an effective family approach and recovery programs in more than 100 hospitals. Donor Alliance also inspires the public to register as organ and tissue donors through community partnerships, public outreach and education campaigns throughout its donation service area. For more information visit the Donor Alliance website, or the Donate Life Colorado or Donate Life Wyoming Facebook pages.