Wisconsin Forward Award Examiner
Are you Looking for an Unparalleled Professional Development Experience?
Become an Examiner for the 2026 Wisconsin Forward Award Program!
Apply TodayServing on the Board of Examiners is one of Wisconsin's best professional development opportunities. You'll benefit personally and professionally from:
- Deep-dive training on the internationally acclaimed Baldrige Excellence Framework (including Wisconsin Forward Award Criteria)
- Networking opportunities with quality driven professionals at all levels, across business sectors
- Practical experience assessing organizational processes and providing actionable feedback
- Exposure to best practices in strategic planning, leadership, and knowledge management
- A unique opportunity to help Wisconsin organizations improve their performance.
Training & Support
All examiners receive comprehensive training before their assignments and ongoing peer support throughout the evaluation process. Training consists of:
- Two in-person training days, supplemented by virtual assignments.
- June 18–19, 2026 – Stevens Point –OR– July 21–22, 2026 – Madison
Training Fees:
Applications are due April 15, 2026. Selected candidates will be notified within two weeks of the deadline and asked to confirm their participation promptly. Once accepted, examiners will receive an invoice for applicable training fees.
| Year | Member Fee | General Fee |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | $495 | $900 |
| Second Year | $375 | $700 |
| Third Year | $125 | $250 |
Examiner Role & Process
Examiners are at the heart of the Wisconsin Forward Award Program. You'll work with a trained team to evaluate applications and develop clear, actionable feedback for organizations across the state.
Along the way, you'll deepen your understanding of performance excellence, learn from other examiners, and make connections with professionals from a wide range of industries and sectors.
- What Examiners Do: Review and score applications, participate in team consensus, support site visits (as assigned), and help prepare the final feedback report.
- Timeline Overview: May–November (training through final feedback). The busiest period is August–October.
Key Examiner Dates for 2026
Applications Open
March 15, 2026
Application Deadline
April 15, 2026
New Examiner Orientation
May 11, 2026 (virtual) — Coaching calls TBD
Training Sessions
June 18–19, 2026 – Stevens Point OR July 21–22, 2026 – Madison
Teams Formed
Week of August 3, 2026
Site Visit Window
September–October 2026
Time Commitment Breakdown
New Examiner Orientation and coaching (required for new examiners)
1 day
Prework
6+ hours prior to Examiner training
All Examiner Training
2 days (in person)
Independent Review
40–60 hours (August–September)
Consensus Meeting
1 day
Site Visit
2–3 days (varies by team, application level and applicant size)
Post–Site Visit Team Meeting
1 day
Final Reporting
Submit final feedback report after site visit
Examiners are expected to participate in scheduled meetings, attend assigned site visits, and complete deliverables by the deadlines set by the team leader.
All examiners complete a comprehensive 2-day, in-person training. First-year examiners also attend a 1-day virtual orientation and receive 1:1 coaching. Required prework is completed in advance of training, and additional virtual components may be added as needed.
Click here for the Wisconsin Forward Award Program Examiner Overview (2026).
Apply Today!
Applications are due April 15, 2026. Contact WisQuality to learn more about becoming a Wisconsin Forward Award examiner.
Apply Today