The North Carolina Awards for Excellence (NCAfE) announced today that Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA) will receive the 2024 NCAfE Level 3 Advanced Award.
Organizations recognized with this award exhibit a strong command of performance improvement principles and measurable progress toward higher performance levels.
CIHA began its continuous improvement journey in 2011 and achieved the North Carolina Performance Excellence Program’s Level 1 Award in 2014. CIHA has been using the Baldrige framework to improve its processes and progress toward achieving its goals and objectives through better organizational planning and learning while strengthening its strategy and communication and striving to become the Employer of Choice, Provider of Choice, and Investment of Choice.
“Reaching this milestone in our path to excellence is a testament to the professionalism and dedication of the CIHA staff and an illustration of our commitment to assuring the prosperity of the next seven generations of the EBCI. We are honored to continue this journey in collaboration with the NCAfE,” said CIHA CEO Casey Cooper.
CIHA is the primary health care system for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and other federally recognized American Indians/Alaskan Natives in Cherokee, NC. CIHA provides its members with state-of-the-art health care and other support services within a system of inpatient and outpatient resources consistent with the Cherokee people’s history, culture and values.
“Recognition of the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority Level 3 Advanced Award represents dedication and perseverance,” said NCAfE Director Kevin Grayson. “Their achievements in performance excellence inspire growth within their industries and communities. We are proud to support them on their journey.”
About the North Carolina Awards for Excellence (NCAfE)
NC State University Industry Expansion Solutions administers the North Carolina Awards for Excellence (NCAfE) program.
Based upon the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the North Carolina Award for Excellence (NCAfE) is the top state-level recognition presented to an organization that has demonstrated the highest level of performance excellence through its practices and achievements.
The management framework enables leaders at businesses, hospitals, factories, schools and government bodies to examine every layer of the organization and devise strategies to align people, plans, and processes, reach goals, improve results and become more competitive.
The framework consists of the Criteria for Performance Excellence and offers a recognized way to achieve the following benefits:
- Innovation
- World-class results
- Integrated processes that enhance effectiveness and efficiency
- Organizational learning
- Sustainable success
The 2025 NCAfE Award for Excellence dates are:
- Awards Program Intent to Apply Due:
- Friday, April 4, 2025
- Board of Examiners Applications Due:
- Friday, April 4, 2025 (Grace period ends Friday, April 18, 2025)
- Assessment Applications Due:
- Friday, August 1, 2025
Examiner Orientation (Virtual)
- Tuesday, May 6, 2025 (8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. CT)
- Tuesday, June 24 – Thursday, June 26, 2025
NC State University Mountain Horticultural Crops Research & Extension Center
455 Research Drive, Mills River, NC 28759
For more information and the North Carolina Awards for Excellence, visit ies.ncsu.edu/ncafe.
About NC State University Industry Expansion Solutions
NC State University Industry Expansion Solutions, established in 1955, is the extension and outreach team for the NC State University College of Engineering and administers the National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP) for North Carolina (NCMEP). IES supports all North Carolina businesses by providing connections, networking with industry experts, and helping to identify the resources and customized programs needed to increase productivity, efficiency, quality and profit.
