2026 Baldrige Excellence Framework Overview and Update
Join the Baldrige Foundation for an overview of the 2026 Baldrige Excellence Framework® relative to the business, nonprofit, and government edition and the key adjustments made from the previous edition.
Denise Shields, Chair of the Baldrige Framework National Technical Committee, and Josh Racette, President and CEO of the Baldrige Foundation, will explain the thinking behind the updated Framework, highlight its most important changes, and discuss what those changes mean for organizations using Baldrige to improve performance.
The webinar will address the revised Framework structure, the new maturity pathways, updates to the evaluation approach, the integration of results throughout the Framework, and the expanded focus on organizational intelligence and the responsible use of artificial intelligence. Participants will also learn how the 2026 edition makes Baldrige more accessible and practical for organizations at different stages of development while preserving its proven systems perspective and commitment to performance excellence.
This webinar is designed for organizational leaders, Baldrige practitioners, examiners, consultants, educators, and anyone interested in using the 2026 Framework to strengthen organizational performance, resilience, and long-term competitiveness.
SPEAKERS:
Josh Racette
President & CEO | Baldrige Foundation
Josh Racette is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Baldrige Foundation, the private-sector partner supporting the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Institute of Standards and Technology in advancing the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and stewarding the Baldrige Excellence Framework, America’s standard for organizational performance excellence. He leads the Foundation’s strategy to expand adoption of the Framework across sectors, helping organizations align leadership, strategy, and operations to drive measurable results and long-term sustainability.
Racette led the creation of the Institute for Performance Excellence and the National Assessment Center, designed as a national infrastructure for self-assessing performance, aligning strategy and culture, and enabling disciplined execution at scale. He serves as Co-Chair of the President’s Council for Performance Excellence, as an officer of the Baldrige Framework National Technical Committee, as an advisor to the Board of the Federal Foresight Advocacy Alliance, and member of the board of directors of the Baldrige Foundation. Racette works with leaders across industry, government, and academia to strengthen organizational performance, community outcomes, and national competitiveness.
Denise Shields
Chair, Baldrige Framework Technical Committee | Baldrige Foundation
Denise Shields, Founder and Principal of Shields Resource Group, is a nationally respected leader in organizational performance excellence. With deep expertise in the Baldrige Performance Excellence Framework and broad operational experience across service, health care, manufacturing, education, government, and private-sector organizations, Denise helps leaders translate excellence principles into practical strategies that deliver measurable, sustainable results.
Her national leadership reflects the confidence the performance excellence community places in her insight and judgment. Denise has served as a Master Examiner, was appointed 2026 Chair of the Baldrige National Framework Committee, and chairs the California Council for Excellence. Her Leadership Excellence Award further recognizes her influence and commitment to helping organizations improve.
Through Shields Resource Group, Denise and her highly credentialed team of Master Level Examiners and Lean Six Sigma experts guide organizations seeking meaningful transformation. Their track record includes numerous clients earning national Baldrige recognition, demonstrating a consistent ability to help organizations reach higher levels of performance. For leaders serious about world-class results, Shields Resource Group offers more than consulting support—it provides a strategic partnership focused on excellence.