The Delaware Alliance for Excellence--a partnership between the University of Delaware’s Division of Professional and Continuing Studies and the Delaware Quality Award Initiative--has announced the recipients of the 2006 awards.

Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner will present the awards on March 21 in conjunction with the Delaware Quality Conference.

"We are committed to excellence in the business, government and nonprofit sectors in Delaware," Minner said. "Using the Delaware Quality Award criteria for performance excellence can help all organizations make Delaware a better place to work and live."

The Delaware Quality Award was established in 1992 in honor of W. L. (Bill) Gore for the direction he gave his company, W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., in promoting excellence, innovation and a positive working environment. In 2005, in order to expand training and consulting services, the initiative was expanded to form the Delaware Alliance for Excellence as a University of Delaware program. Its mission is to educate and support continuous improvement initiatives throughout the region and to recognize the achievement of performance excellence.

Applying the federal government’s criteria for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the award program examines the essential elements of successfully run organizations, including leadership, strategic planning, customer and market focus, human resources focus, and process improvement.

Chimes Delaware, recipient of an Award of Merit, began operations in 1994 serving people with severe autism. Demand for services grew, and 12 years later we provide programs throughout the state for individuals with a broad range of severe and challenging behaviors. Services include residential, day habilitation, vocational training and employment services.

Chimes Delaware was notified about receipt of the Award of Merit on December 1, 2006. According to the Delaware Quality Award criteria, "the Award of Merit is the second level award and is given to organizations which demonstrate performance excellence in several, but not all of the seven categories. The recipients represent a role model for a Delaware quality organization in those several excellence categories".

Terry Allen Perl, Chimes CEO and president, said, "The Delaware Quality Award process is a great opportunity to assess our performance against validated criteria and obtain feedback. Receiving the Merit Award gives our dedicated workforce recognition for a job well-done. This is a real morale booster."

"We are honored to recognize all the award winners for their efforts," John Riabov, executive director of the Delaware Alliance for Excellence, said. "The commitment these organizations make to achieving performance excellence is extremely commendable in itself. This is a continuous improvement journey, based on validated management practices, which can result in long-term success for organizations."

Terry congratulates all Chimes Delaware staff and states that this is further evidence of the commitment and dedication of the workforce in providing services, supports and employment for Delaware citizens with disabilities and to quality.