Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence

What Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence does

Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence (TNCPE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1993 and headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. It operates Tennessee's state-level Baldrige Assessment and Award Program under affiliation with the national Baldrige Performance Excellence Program administered by NIST. TNCPE delivers a four-tiered organizational performance assessment and recognition pathway (Interest, Commitment, Achievement, and Excellence Awards) backed by structured examiner reviews and multi-day site visits. The organization has trained 4,469 examiners in the Baldrige Framework and assessed 1,539 organizations, contributing a cumulative $37.58 million in professional services across its history.

The core service portfolio includes the Assessment and Award Program, customizable training and facilitation workshops (Baldrige for Beginners, Strategic Planning, Process Mapping, Action Planning, Lean Six Sigma), the Board of Examiners professional development program, the annual Excellence Conference, and the Ned R. McWherter Leadership Award. Technology stack is non-software: the assessment engine is the Baldrige Excellence Framework, with structured application intake, examiner review, and site visits as the delivery workflow. There is no proprietary software product, no mobile app, and no API surface in the source data.

The business model is multi-stream. Revenue is generated through (1) corporate memberships priced $500-$25,000 annually and structured as tax-deductible donations, (2) assessment and application fees ranging $2,810-$7,950 depending on level and member status, (3) annual Excellence Conference registrations ($135-$975 per attendee) plus tiered sponsor packages, and (4) Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and Black Belt certification training delivered in partnership with The Lean Six Sigma Company, alongside customized training and facilitation workshops. Customer segments are diverse and horizontal, spanning utilities, healthcare, banking/financial services, manufacturing, and government. Geographic reach covers Tennessee plus, via partnerships, organizations in North Carolina, Kentucky, and South Carolina. Leadership is Heather Schoch as President and CEO.

Name

Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence

Legal name

Tennessee Quality Award

Website

https://tncpe.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence (TNCPE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1993 that operates Tennessee's state-level Baldrige Assessment and Award Program. It serves organizations across Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina, and North Carolina through four-tiered performance assessments, training, and annual conferences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performance Excellence Consulting and Assessment

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Institutional Effectiveness & Continuous Improvement Reviews (EDADAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Audit, Inspection & Quality Compliance (Internal Auditing, CAPA) (EDABAKAN), Accreditation Standards, Benchmarking & Framework Organizations (EDADACAJ), Accreditation Coordination, Recognition & Meta-Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAH)

Keywords

• Performance excellence assessments
• Baldrige framework training
• Organizational improvement services
• Quality award programs
• Lean Six Sigma certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Corporate memberships ranging from $500 to $25000 offering benefits such as webinars, free and discounted workshops, and conference registrations. Membership is tax deductible as TNCPE is a 501c3 nonprofit organization.
2. Assessment and Application Fees: Fees for organizational assessments at four levels (Interest through Excellence) based on organization size. Includes Intent to Apply fees, Application/Workshop fees, and Site Visit fees. Members receive approximately 20% discount on total costs.
3. Conference Revenue: Annual Excellence Conference with registration packages ranging from $135 for celebration only to $825 for full member registration, plus sponsorship opportunities at various levels.
4. Training Services: Lean Six Sigma courses offered in partnership with The Lean Six Sigma Company, including Green Belt and Black Belt training. Also includes customized training, coaching, and facilitation workshops.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

TNCPE delivers low-cost, in-depth organizational performance assessments and training based on the Baldrige Excellence Framework through a four-tiered recognition system (Interest, Commitment, Achievement, Excellence). The center provides examiner-led site visits, feedback reports, customized training and facilitation workshops, Lean Six Sigma certification, Board of Examiners training, and an annual Excellence Conference for businesses, government, healthcare, utilities, and nonprofit organizations.

Product overview

The Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence (TNCPE) offers a comprehensive portfolio of organizational performance excellence services centered on the Baldrige Excellence Framework. The core offering is the four-tiered Assessment and Award Program (Levels 1-4: Interest, Commitment, Achievement, Excellence) that provides low-cost, in-depth organizational assessments with examiner feedback and site visits. Complementing assessments, TNCPE provides Training and Facilitation services including Baldrige for Beginners workshops, Leadership Orientation, Strategy Concepts, and Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt/Black Belt) in partnership with The Lean Six Sigma Company. The Board of Examiners program offers professional development training in Baldrige assessment methodologies. Additional offerings include the annual Excellence Conference (SURPASS), the Ned R. McWherter Leadership Award, and a Corporate Membership program with tiered benefits. TNCPE also partners with state programs in North Carolina, Kentucky, and South Carolina for cross-state recognition.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TNCPE Assessment and Award Program A four-tiered organizational performance assessment and recognition program based on the Baldrige Excellence Framework, serving Tennessee and Southeast businesses, government, healthcare, utilities, education, and nonprofit organizations.
• Level 1 Assessment (Interest Award) Introductory level assessment that includes an Organizational Profile Workshop and Level 1 Bridge Workshop, assigns a Baldrige coach for guidance, and accepts applications year-round.
• Level 2 Assessment (Commitment Award) 15-page criteria response covering Basic-level questions with a one-day site visit by examiners for organizations advancing beyond the Interest level.
• Level 3 Assessment (Achievement Award) 35-page criteria response covering Overall-level questions with a two-day site visit; requires applicants to provide at least one TNCPE examiner for subsequent cycles.
• Level 4 Assessment (Excellence Award) 50-page criteria response covering Multiple-level questions with a three-day site visit; highest recognition requiring provision of 2+ TNCPE examiners and participation in the annual Conference and Best Practice tour.
• Training and Facilitation Workshops Customizable workshops including Baldrige for Beginners, Leadership Orientation, Strategy Concepts, Process Mapping, Action Planning, Plan-Do-Check-Act, Scoreboards and Dashboards, Key Metrics, Leadership Systems, and VUCA training.
• Lean Six Sigma Training (Green Belt & Black Belt) Professional certification training offered in partnership with The Lean Six Sigma Company, covering Green Belt and Black Belt courses for process optimization and continuous improvement.
• Board of Examiners Program Three-day examiner training program providing professional development in conducting independent analysis, team building, consensus, interview skills, and report writing using the Baldrige Excellence Framework.
• Excellence Conference Annual conference bringing together performance excellence professionals for workshops, breakout sessions, keynotes, and awards celebration.
• Corporate Membership Program Corporate membership program with benefits including webinars, free and discounted workshops, and conference registrations; memberships range from $500 to $25,000 and are tax-deductible donations to this 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
• Ned R. McWherter Leadership Award Annual award recognizing an individual who exemplifies outstanding leadership in the pursuit of performance excellence and works to further performance improvement beyond the boundaries of their organization.
• Partnership Performance Assessment An assessment bridge for organizations looking to begin, bridge, or continuously improve their performance excellence journey outside of the standard Assessment cycles.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,469 Examiners Trained in the Baldrige Framework
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kentucky Center for Performance Excellence (KYCPE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 August 2026Southeast partnership allowing organizations and individuals from Kentucky to participate in all TNCPE programs and services. Kentucky organizations submit applications through TNCPE and receive joint recognition by TN and Kentucky.
• South Carolina Quality Forum (SCQF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 August 2026Southeast partnership enabling South Carolina organizations and Baldrige enthusiasts to participate in TNCPE programs. Organizations receive joint recognition from TN and SC upon successful assessment.
• North Carolina Awards for Excellence (NCAfE)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 August 2026Over 10-year collaboration with North Carolina Awards for Excellence. This partnership preceded the new KY and SC partnerships.
• The Lean Six Sigma CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 July 2026TNCPE partners with The Lean Six Sigma Company to offer Green Belt and Black Belt training courses to professionals in Tennessee and the Southeast. The partnership provides high-quality instruction grounded in real-world application, with clear connections between Lean Six Sigma principles and organizational performance.
• Huntsville UtilitiesminorOthersKeynote Sponsor for the 2026 Excellence Conference.
• TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority)minorOthersKeynote Sponsor for the 2026 Excellence Conference.
• TricorminorOthersAward Celebration Sponsor for the 2026 Excellence Conference.
• First HorizonminorOthersConference Day Sponsor for the 2026 Excellence Conference.
• UT-IPSminorOthersBreakfast/Lunch Sponsor for the 2026 Excellence Conference.
• Bristol Tennessee Essential ServicesminorOthersBreakfast/Lunch Sponsor for the 2026 Excellence Conference.
• Listerhill Credit UnionminorOthersSnack Break Sponsor for the 2026 Excellence Conference.
• Erwin UtilitiesminorOthersSnack Break Sponsor for the 2026 Excellence Conference.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Florida Sterling Council: Florida's state-level Baldrige-based performance excellence program offering assessments, examiner training, and an annual conference. Directly comparable to TNCPE in mission, structure, and revenue model, differing only by geography.
• Missouri Quality Award: State Baldrige-based awards program in Missouri providing organizational assessments, examiner training, and recognition events — structurally the same operating model as TNCPE.
• California Awards for Performance Excellence (CAPE): California's Baldrige-based performance excellence program offering tiered assessments, examiner training, and recognition. Closely mirrors TNCPE's four-level awards structure and nonprofit delivery model.
• Alliance for Performance Excellence: Umbrella network of state Baldrige-based award programs. TNCPE is effectively a member of this alliance; the Alliance is the closest meta-level peer coordinating the same program model across states.
• Kentucky Center for Performance Excellence (KYCPE): Kentucky's Baldrige-based state program and an active TNCPE partner. Direct structural peer with overlapping examiner pools and joint applicant recognition.
• South Carolina Quality Forum (SCQF): South Carolina's Baldrige-based state quality program and a new TNCPE partner. Mirrors TNCPE's operating model for a neighboring state.
• North Carolina Awards for Excellence (NCAfE): North Carolina's state Baldrige program with a 10+ year collaboration history with TNCPE. Direct peer offering the same four-tier assessment structure and recognition model.

Broad incumbents

• American Society for Quality (ASQ): Large, established quality professional society offering Baldrige-aligned training, certifications (CQE, CSSBB), and conferences. A broader incumbent whose Lean Six Sigma and quality training overlap with TNCPE's professional development lines.
• NIST Baldrige Performance Excellence Program: The federal Baldrige program that sets the framework and runs the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. TNCPE is a downstream state-level affiliate; NIST is the upstream source of the framework TNCPE sells services around.

Others

• The Lean Six Sigma Company: Strategic training partner of TNCPE delivering Green Belt and Black Belt certification. Functions as both a co-marketing partner and an adjacent service provider in the same continuous-improvement training market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tncpe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tennessee-center-for-performance-excellence
• Facebookfacebook.com/tncpe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence