Edgerton Award Examiner Certification

Examiner candidates are asked to independently review a test case and score select assigned sections.  The examiner candidate’s scores will be reviewed against a benchmark to assess the level of knowledge skills and abilities related to the Criteria for Excellence.  Those interested in being certified as an examiner should contact Rex Woods.

Who Should Apply? Baldrige Examiner Selection

The Nebraska Performance Excellence Center depends on a volunteer board of experts who can evaluate organizations that apply for the Edgerton Award – the Nebraska State version of the National Baldrige Award - and are willing to represent the program. In selecting Edgerton examiners, we are careful to include professionals from a broad range of industries, sectors, organizations, and work experiences.

In addition, to fulfill one of the Edgerton Program’s basic aims—to expand the U.S. base of knowledgeable, trained examiners—we always reserve a portion of the board for new examiners. Because of these factors, and because we receive a large number of applications, we may not be able to select some highly qualified applicants in a given year. If you are not selected, please consider applying again the following year.

We select Edgerton examiners based on their personal qualifications. Examiners are not considered representatives of their employers or other organizations.

We’ll consider the following factors in reviewing your application.

Expertise in the Baldrige Criteria Categories

We’ll look carefully at your experience in the seven Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence categories. Your work experience may demonstrate expertise in several of these categories. For example, you may understand Workforce Focus (Category 5) because of relevant supervisory experience. Significant experience in production leadership may have given you an understanding of Operations Focus (Category 6), and marketing experience may mean that you understand Customer Focus (Category 3).

In-Depth Experience in Several Sectors or a High-Need Area

We’ll also consider whether you have in-depth experience in several industry or service sectors, or in health care, education, or nonprofit settings. (See the North American Industrial Classification System [NAICS].Because we observe strict conflict-of-interest rules in assigning examiners to review applications, we may give preference to candidates with in-depth knowledge of more than one industry.

In addition, we’ll look at your expertise in certain areas of high need:

• healthcare
• food manufacturing
• construction
• the computer software/hardware industries

We’re also looking for senior leaders; physicians; dentists; community college, college, and university faculty and administrators; and K-12 principals, administrators, and superintendents. Your expertise may be demonstrated through formal studies and/or accomplishments, which may include relevant job experience, papers or articles written, research conducted, and degrees or certificates earned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

We’ll also consider your knowledge, skills, and abilities in the following areas:

• leadership
• strategic planning
• customer service, human resource, and/or process management
• statistical methods and evaluation of financial results
• analysis (particularly relating to organizational evaluation)   
• interpersonal communication (since such skills will enable you to be an effective team member  

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

In the application, we’ll ask you to electronically sign a statement indicating that you understand the Baldrige Program’s requirements for Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest.