Excellence in Missouri Foundation is now the Midwest Excellence Institute. The Midwest Excellence Institute (MEI) administers the Missouri and Kansas Quality Awards. MEI also provides Baldrige-driven coaching services designed to help businesses achieve performance excellence. MEI can take your business to new heights through customized services, organizational assessment and workshops, and guide you to achieving a state or national-level Quality Award and/or National Baldrige Award. History: The Midwest Excellence Institute was established in 1992 to administer the Missouri Quality Award program and to promote quality principles in organizations from all industry sectors. It is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational organization funded entirely by memberships and income-generating activities. The Foundation is led by a Board of Directors consisting of key business, education, government, and health care leaders. In 2012, the Institute assumed responsibility for administration of the Kansas Quality Award, a program which honors Kansas organizations that attain the highest level of quality and performance excellence. To date, the Institute has distributed over 50,000 copies of the Baldrige Excellence Framework and has trained and certified over 2,000 examiners. In addition to award related activities, the Institute has educated countless individuals and organizations through consulting, workshops, and conferences.