Erwin Utilities Authority wins TNCPE Excellence Award

Erwin Utilities Authority was formally presented the 2025 Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence Level 4 Excellence Award on Wednesday, Feb. 25, during the TNCPE Excellence Conference and Awards Celebration in Franklin, Tennessee, marking the highest level of recognition awarded by the organization. The award recognizes organizations that demonstrate superior performance through well-integrated processes, strong leadership and sustained results, evaluated using the nationally recognized Baldrige Excellence Framework. Erwin Utilities is among a select group of organizations statewide to earn the Excellence Award, which reflects years of continuous improvement and organizational development. View a list of current and previous award winners here: https://tncpe.org/about/. "When an organization commits to improvement at every level, the benefits extend well beyond the organization itself," said Heather Schoch, president and CEO of the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence. "Erwin Utilities has created a culture where high performance is the norm, and we are proud to recognize that commitment." The utility's CEO, Lee H. Brown, said the award reflects the dedication of employees at every level of the organization. "This recognition belongs to our entire team," Brown said. "Our employees show up every day focused on doing the right thing for our customers and our community. The TNCPE Excellence Award affirms the work they do represents the best in Tennessee and reinforces our commitment to continuous improvement and responsible service." This award confirms that Erwin Utilities' mission, vision, and SERVICE values (Safety, Efficiency, Reliability, Vision, Integrity, Collaboration, Excellence) are embedded in daily work, leadership decisions and community service. This award reflects not only Erwin Utilities' operational strength, but also its commitment to improving the quality of life for the people of Erwin and Unicoi County today, tomorrow, and for many years to come. Erwin Utilities Authority Excellence Award Video can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il5xQvcrqyA. About TNCPEEstablished in 1993 as a public-private partnership, the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence strengthens economic development and organizational health by helping companies and organizations grow more competitive in today's global marketplace through affordable, in-depth assessments. A nonprofit, TNCPE is grounded in the Baldrige Excellence Framework – a holistic framework used across industries to improve performance and achieve sustainable results. More than 2,000 organizations have participated in and benefited from the TNCPE award program. For more information about the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence, contact TNCPE at contact@tncpe.org or visit www.tncpe.org.