FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 8, 1997

CONTACT: Michael Orenstein (202) 606-1800 mworenst@opm.gov

Washington, D.C. -- The 10th Annual National Conference on Federal Quality convenes at 8:30 a.m., Wednesday, July 9 and is highlighted with the presentation of the Presidential Award for Quality on Thursday, July 10 at 3:15 p.m.

Fort Benning, Georgia, is the recipient of the Presidential Award for Quality, the highest award for quality achievement in federal government. In addition, eight federal organizations will be recognized with Quality Achievement Awards.

The conference will be held at the Sheraton Washington Hotel, 2660 Woodley Road, NW, Washington, D.C.

Downloading of the July 10 Presidential Quality Award Ceremony is possible via satellite broadcast at the following coordinates:

C Band: GE1, 103 Degrees West Longitude, Downlink Frequency at 4040 Horizontal, Transponder 17

or

KU Band: Galaxy K-7, 91 Degrees West Longitude, Downlink Frequency 12020 Vertical, Transponder 16

Listed below are a few of the highlights of this years National Conference on Quality:

8:30 a.m.--Opening remarks, Jim King, Director, U.S. Office of Personnel Management

8:45 a.m.--Keynote speaker, Hyrum Smith, Chairman and CEO, Franklin Quest Corporation

11:45 a.m.--Keynote speaker, Franklin Raines, Director, U.S. Office of Management and Budget

8:00 a.m.--Keynote speaker, Benjamin Zander, Founding Music Director and Conductor, Boston Philharmonic Orchestra

11:45 a.m.--Keynote speaker, Terry Ivany, President and CEO, VIA Rail Canada, Inc.

3:15 p.m.--Awards Ceremony (Presidential Award for Quality to Fort Benning, Georgia, and eight winners of the Quality Achievement Award)

Friday, July 11

8:30 a.m.--Keynote speaker, James Belasco, Professor of Management, San Diego State University

11:45 a.m.--Keynote speaker, Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Professor of Management, Harvard University

Workshops throughout the three-day conference will include agency success stories and related challenges in strategic planning, re-engineering, privatization, customer service, investing in technology, labor-management partnership and other areas.

Walk-up registration for the conference begins at 6 p.m., Tuesday, July 8. Walk-up registration continues at 7 a.m. each day of the conference.

Members of the media are invited to cover the keynote speeches, awards ceremony and workshops. Prior to July 9, media should RSVP to OPMs Mike Orenstein at 202-606-1800; beginning July 9, media should contact Mike Orenstein at the conference media desk at 202-745-2141 or 202-745-2142.

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