Lindel Fields receives 2021 Baldrige Foundation Award for Leadership Excellence

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Jan. 12, 2021

As the only Oklahoman recipient, Fields is among former members of Congress and the president of the U.S. Chamber in receiving this year’s prestigious recognition.

Al Faber, president and CEO of the Foundation for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, Inc., announced today that Tri County Tech’s CEO and Superintendent, Lindel Fields, is a 2021 recipient of the Baldrige Foundation’s Leadership Award. Lindel is the only Oklahoman and the only trade school nationwide to be receiving this prestigious award that recognizes leaders who are mentoring leaders in successfully driving the efficiency and responsiveness of an organization.

“I am proud of Lindel Fields for being named a recipient of the prestigious Foundation Award for Leadership Excellence. Lindel is a very close personal friend and advisor to me and has distinguished himself as one of the premier educational leaders in Oklahoma. He is a visionary and is also extremely caring and employee-oriented. Lindel truly practices what he preaches, and I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this impressive award.”

Sean Kouplan, Oklahoma secretary of Commerce and Workforce Development

In 2009, Fields generated Vision 2020, a fearless and bold initiative which intended to establish Tri County as a premier educational institution and one of the only schools to decline federal funding in the United States. In 2018 he led Tri County Tech as one of five recipients to win the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and the only trade school to date in the nation to be awarded. The Baldrige Award is a Presidential-level honor, recognizing exemplary practices among American organizations and businesses, including an unceasing drive for radical innovation, thoughtful leadership, and organizational improvement.

“It is an honor to be recognized by the Malcolm Baldrige Quality Foundation for this prestigious leadership award for having a lasting impact on the quality of education in America. My passion is to promote educational excellence through life-changing learning experiences. The Baldrige framework has allowed us to create an environment where thousands of students have been able to realize their hopes and dreams because of the education they have received from passionate, loyal, and caring educators.”

Lindel Fields, Superintendent & CEO, Tri County Tech

“Among many candidates nationwide, the Oklahoma State Chamber is proud that our board member, Lindel Fields, was selected for the prestigious Leadership Excellence Award by the Baldridge Foundation,” said Chad Warmington, president of the Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce. “With this award, he appears in an elite group of U.S. Chamber leaders, former members of Congress, industry CEOs, and more. Lindel’s drive for excellence was most recently seen in his vision and execution of the Skills to Rebuild program that helped more than 500 Oklahomans reskill for new, and often higher-earning, careers during the economic downturn. His leadership is matched by his ability to mentor others in making their organizations more efficient and impactful, and we are honored to have him as a member of the State Chamber.”

Mike Moore, President and Chief Operating Officer of Ascension St. John Jane Phillips Hospital and Tri County Tech Board Member, stated, “Lindel has been fearless in his pursuit of excellence without being reckless. He has been systematic with the direction and vision for Tri County and continuously inspires his staff with bold intentions. Congratulations on receiving this well-deserved award.”

“We are extremely excited to have the opportunity to recognize Lindel Fields for this prestigious award, which highlights his contributions and achievements in education. Lindel has shared Tri County Tech’s performance excellence story and best practices with hundreds of organizations across the U.S., and his leadership will have a meaningful and lasting impact on the quality of education in America.”

Al Faber, President & CEO of the Foundation for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, Inc.

About The Foundation for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, Inc.

The Baldrige Foundation is the private-sector partner of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program (BPEP) in the National Institute of Standards and Technology within the Department of Commerce. Its mission is to ensure the long-term financial viability of BPEP and to support organizational performance excellence. To learn more about the Foundation, please contact Josh Racette at (202) 559-9195 or jracette@baldrigefoundation.org. The Baldrige Foundation is recognized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Your contributions are tax-deductible. Click here to learn more about BPEP.

For the full Baldrige Foundation Press Release, visit here.