College of Charleston President P. George Benson has been named the recipient of the 2011 Milliken Medal of Quality from the South Carolina Quality Forum.
The Milliken Medal of Quality is named in honor of the late Roger Milliken, former President and CEO of Spartanburg-based Milliken & Company. The prestigious award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated leadership, innovation, and outstanding achievement in the implementation of quality systems in their organizations and who have been an inspiration to other leaders and organizations in South Carolina.
“Roger Milliken was a giant in business and a pioneer in American manufacturing,” Benson said. “I am humbled to be associated with one of South Carolina’s most accomplished and revered business leaders.”
President Benson will receive the award on October 26 at the South Carolina Quality Forum’s annual conference in Columbia. The South Carolina Quality Forum, an affiliate of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, was formed in 1991 to recognize and encourage improvements in quality and productivity by organizations throughout the state.
The forum administers the South Carolina Governor’s Quality Award, which recognizes South Carolina organizations that are successful in developing and implementing a quality management system based on the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award process. Established by Congress in 1987 and named after former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Malcolm Baldrige, the Baldrige Award is the nation’s highest presidential honor for performance excellence through innovation, improvement, and visionary leadership.
President Benson has been involved with the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for over 14 years, serving terms as a national judge and as a member and chairman of the Board of Overseers. He currently serves as chair-elect of the Board of Directors of the Foundation for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.
