[Phoenix, AZ] — The Alliance for Performance Excellence, a national network dedicated to advancing organizational excellence through the Baldrige Framework, is pleased to announce a series of important leadership transitions that will strengthen and support its mission on both regional and national levels.
Laura Kinney Named Executive Director of Performance Excellence Northwest
The Alliance is thrilled to welcome Laura Kinney as the new Executive Director of Performance Excellence Northwest (PENW). Laura’s journey with the Baldrige Framework began in 2002 when she served as an examiner for the Washington State Quality Award (now PENW). That pivotal experience redirected the course of her career—first in healthcare as an Organizational Excellence Consultant at MultiCare Health System, and later as Vice President of Strategy and Excellence at Yakima Valley Memorial Family of Services.
A Pacific Northwest native, Laura’s professional journey has spanned the nation. After relocating to Massachusetts, Laura led the revival of Partners in Performance Excellence (Partners PEX)—serving the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions—and currently serves as Board Chair. She also serves on the Alliance board as Marketing Chair and brings two decades of experience as a Master and Alumni Examiner for the national Baldrige Program.
Laura’s return to PENW is both personal and professional. “This feels like coming home,” she shared. “I’m committed to helping evolve Baldrige on both coasts and will look for opportunities to share best practices and build synergies between PENW and Partners PEX.”
Kinney succeeds Theron Post, who served as Executive Director of PENW for over a decade and helped build a strong foundation of excellence across the region. The Alliance extends its sincere appreciation to Theron for his leadership and ongoing support during the transition.
Margot Hoffman and Heather Schoch Elected to Lead the Alliance Board
The Alliance is also pleased to announce the election of two highly respected leaders to guide the Alliance Board through the end of 2025:
- Margot Hoffman, President and CEO of The Partnership for Excellence (TPE), has been named Chair of the Alliance Board.
- Heather Schoch, President and CEO of the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence (TNCPE), has been elected as Vice Chair.
Together, Margot and Heather bring decades of experience in leadership, performance improvement, and nonprofit management. At TPE, Margot has led a regional program serving Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, West Virginia, and Western PA, supporting organizations in their pursuit of excellence. At TNCPE, Heather has championed quality initiatives across Tennessee’s healthcare, education, nonprofit, and business sectors.
“As we continue building the future of the Alliance, I am honored to serve alongside such a passionate and capable group of leaders,” said Margot Hoffman. “The work of our network is more vital than ever.”
“I’m deeply committed to the Baldrige mission,” added Heather Schoch. “It’s a privilege to support this community of Baldrige programs and help guide the Alliance through its next phase of growth and innovation.”
Their elections follow the recent transition of Brian Lassiter, former Board Chair, into his new role as the Alliance’s first President and CEO. The expedited nominating process was led by Liz Menzer, Governance Chair.
A Moment of Momentum
These changes reflect a period of renewal and momentum for the Alliance. With Brian Lassiter recently appointed as the Alliance’s first President & CEO, the organization is poised to enhance its national impact while continuing to support the essential work of regional programs like PENW and Partners PEX.
The Alliance for Performance Excellence remains committed to helping organizations across all sectors achieve higher levels of performance through the Baldrige Framework and its community of dedicated leaders, volunteers, and programs nationwide.