Reaching the Peak
A Journey for Continuous Improvement

The inaugural CPEx Executive Education Forum
was held on October 10, 2002, with Master of Ceremonies
John Temple (Publisher, Rocky Mountain News) and
Barbara Davis (President, CPEx) presiding over the event.
More than 170 attendees representing more than 70 Colorado organizations participated in the Forum.

The environment of learning and sharing provided tools for organizations striving to reach the peak and continue their improvement journeys to performance excellence. Attendees
from large and small organizations, in the government, education, health care, and private sectors – from as far as Grand Junction,
Fort Collins, Carbondale, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo – showed
the event’s diverse and broad reach.

In recognition of their commitment to CPEx principles, award applicant IBM Global Services received the Foothills Award
at the luncheon. In its application for the award, IBM Global Services described its approaches to achieving performance excellence.
A CPEx Examiner team evaluated their application and provided
a Feedback Report.

Also of note at the luncheon, Kelly Manning, Director
of Colorado’s Small Business Development Center program
(in the State Office of Economic Development), represented
Governor Bill Owens and shared an Honorary Proclamation
naming October 2002 “Colorado Performance Excellence Month”
and recognizing CPEx’s objective to advance and recognize
the efforts of Colorado organizations committed to quality and performance excellence.

Keynote Speaker Don Evans, President of OMI, the Englewood-based Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recipient, described the relevance of the CPEx and Baldrige Criteria and its benefits to today’s organizations. He focused on how the criteria create a framework for organizational responsibility, ethics, competitive advantage, customer satisfaction, and results.

Forum sessions enabled sharing of front-line experiences and ideas from progressive organizations such as Baldrige Award recipients Los Alamos National Bank and OMI. In addition, Poudre Valley Health System, Douglas County School District, Xcel Energy,
and Sprint shared approaches, best practices, and results in strategic planning, CPEx Criteria implementation, self-assessment, health care, and education. Roundtable discussions gave every forum attendee a chance to discuss practical experiences in
the CPEx/Baldrige Criteria categories of Leadership, Strategic
Planning, Customer/Market Focus, Information and Analysis,
Human Resource Focus, and Process Management.