Robert (Bob) Fangmeyer, deputy director of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program (BPEP) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), has been selected to be the program’s new director. He will be only the third director to lead the BPEP since its establishment by Congress in 1987. Fangmeyer has served as acting director since his predecessor, Harry Hertz, retired in June, 2013.
Fangmeyer started with the BPEP in 1997, holding multiple positions that increased in scope and responsibility over time: staff member, supervisory business specialist, team leader, senior staff-program analyst, deputy director and acting director. He has played a leading role in the development of the Baldrige Criteria, the creation of the program’s executive fellows program, and in Baldrige international activities. Fangmeyer has helped lead the Baldrige Program’s efforts to transform its business model, business plan and organizational relationships as the program has transitioned over the past year to be fully funded by the private sector. He also has represented the program as a speaker at national and international events, and is the primary liaison to the network of Baldrige-based state and local award programs.