City of Pharr Awarded Progress Level Recognition for Performance Excellence

Texas Border Business

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Pharr, Texas – The City of Pharr is proud to announce that it has been awarded “Progress Level Recognition” by the Quality Texas Foundation, furthering the city’s pursuit of organizational and managerial excellence and moving the city one step closer toward its quest to achieve the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. The Quality Texas Foundation recognizes the best organizations regarding best business practices following the National Malcolm Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence, and the City of Pharr was recognized for demonstrating a strong dedication to quality and high performance. Pharr was one of two cities from five states to be recognized by the Foundation for its commitment to performance excellence. The City will be recognized and awarded for its excellence at the Texas Quality Foundation Annual Quest For Excellence Conference (Read the Quality Texas Foundation’s press release announcing the recognition below).

“Our city leaders, administration, and employees operate at the highest standard, and we are constantly striving toward excellence, and this recognition by Quality Texas Foundation demonstrates that the City of Pharr is well on its way toward achieving the highest level of performance as an organization,” said Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D.

In 2019, Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D. announced that the City of Pharr would be taking steps toward becoming a “smart” city – defined as a city that uses information and communication technologies to increase operational efficiency, share information with the public and improve both the quality of government services and citizen welfare. The City would also be trimming excess, streamlining operations, and working toward optimal performance at minimal cost. Pharr began taking the steps necessary to aspire to achieve the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award – an award established by the U.S. Congress in 1987 to raise awareness of quality management and recognize U.S. companies and organizations, including governmental entities such as cities, that have implemented successful quality management systems. The award is the nation’s highest presidential honor for performance excellence.

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ln 2019, the City of Pharr was recognized at the “Commitment Level” at the 26th Annual Texas Quest for Excellence Conference. That year, key staff members attended Pre-Examiner and Internal Coach/Examiner training provided by Texas Quality Foundation, to empower staff to become better at their job and allow them to provide valuable input to leadership as to the world-class Baldrige Criteria framework. This year, Assistant City Manager Anali Alanis was appointed to the Board of Directors for the Quality Texas Foundation. 

Upon announcing the recognition, Dr. Mac McGuire, CEO of the Quality Texas Foundation stated, “Congratulations to the City of Pharr for being recognized as a Progress Level Recipient of the Governor of Texas’ Quality Award and Recognitions. The City has distinguished itself by following the very best business practices and is a bright light in the valley and throughout Texas. Only one other city government was recognized this year in the program which spans Texas, Puerto Rico, Missouri, Kansas, and Louisiana. The City of Pharr continues to be the gold standard for government efficiency and effectiveness.”

Pharr Mayor Pro-Tem Roberto “Bobby” Carrillo stated, “Pharr has been striving toward excellence and this is another indicator that we are moving in the right direction.” Commissioner Dr. Ramiro Caballero concurred, noting, “It’s challenging to meet all the criteria set forth by the Foundation to determine that the City is indeed hitting all the marks, and our talented and dedicated team that is leading this project has been doing a tremendous job, as demonstrated by this award.” Commissioner Daniel Chavez stated, “We are proud of this recognition and will continue following the Foundation’s recommendations and working toward the goal of achieving the highly-coveted Malcolm Baldrige Award.”

Pharr City Manager Ed Wylie stated, “The citizens of Pharr should be proud of their city and the men and women that represent them. The quest to strategically improve the city’s effectiveness and efficiency is an ongoing and ever-changing process. Creating a culture of high productivity and performance, quality systematic management and leadership, and an employee mindset that revolves around the quality of work and building and maintaining strong, long-lasting relationships with its citizens is the ultimate goal.  Together we will build the Pharr of tomorrow. We Are Team Pharr!”

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According to the Quality Texas Foundation’s website:

The Quality Texas Foundation helps businesses, hospitals, schools, government agencies, and non-profits improve performance. We educate, train, assess, provide feedback and recognize organizations committed to a journey of excellence. Quality Texas encourages the use of the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence and other methods that drive efficiency and effectiveness. Our work saves jobs, improves communities, and creates a stronger state and nation, and ultimately a better world for mankind.

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