Three TVPPA Members Recognized by the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence

Two TVPPA member systems and one system CEO were honored during the annual Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence Awards Ceremony held on February 25 at the organization’s 33rd annual Excellence Conference in Franklin, Tenn.

Wes Kelley, President & CEO of Huntsville Utilities, received the 2026 Ned R. McWherter Leadership Award. The Ned R. McWherter Leadership Award recognizes an individual who exemplifies outstanding leadership in the pursuit of performance excellence and has worked to further performance improvement beyond the boundaries of his or her organization.

Erwin Utilities Authority in Erwin, Tenn., and Winchester Utility System in Winchester, Tenn., were also recognized during the February awards ceremony.

Erwin Utilities Authority received the TNCPE Award of Excellence, recognizing top-tier organizational performance and management practices. The multi-service municipal utility has long used the Baldrige Excellence Framework to guide continuous improvement and strengthen customer service, operational performance, and organizational accountability.

Winchester Utility System received the TNCPE Commitment Award, which recognizes organizations building a strong foundation for performance excellence through structured process development and implementation. Winchester began its TNCPE journey in 2023 and previously earned the program’s Level 1 Interest Award in 2024. The Commitment Award reflects the organization’s focus on strengthening accountability, customer service, operational excellence, communication, and a culture of continuous improvement across the utility.

You can learn more about Erwin Utilities Authority’s path to recognition and its impact on the organization’s recovery from Hurricane Helene by accessing a video created for the awards ceremony.