Nomination for Judges
QTF currently has two openings for the Panel Of Judges at the current time due to resignations and tenure expirations.
If you are interested in being considered as a member of the Panel Of Judges, please fill out the Panel of Judges Nomination Form.
Judges should have been a Team Leader at a minimum and have extensive knowledge of how Quality Texas operates regarding the applicant process. It would be helpful if the nominees had served as a process coach but that is not required.
Submit all questions and nominations to Dr. Paul Machen, Lead Judge a PMachen@alamo.edu
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Dr. Mac McGuire
Current Panel of Judges
Dr. Paul Machen – Lead Judge
Dr. Paul Machen is currently employed at St. Philip’s College, in San Antonio, Texas, as the Dean of Student Success. His Baldrige experiences include QTF Board of Examiners as examiner, back up team lead, scorebook editor, team lead, process coach, training faculty and judge. Dr. Machen earned his Ph.D. at Kansas State University.
He has over 29 years of faculty and curriculum development experience, having taught at both graduate and undergraduate levels. Dr. Machen is a retired Air Force veteran and has performed in top leadership positions as a Chief Master Sergeant.
Kristi Boyett – Judge
Kristi Boyett is a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt and an excellence consultant for Oncor Electric Delivery, headquartered in Dallas. She works with team members and senior executives to improve processes and reach performance excellence.
Since 2011, she has been involved with the Quality Texas Foundation in the roles of examiner, senior examiner, team leader, process coach, and trainer. She was appointed as the first junior QTF board member in 2016 and in June 2018, she was presented with the Quality Texas Star Award, recognition for “loyal and dedicated support to the Quality Texas Foundation.”
Kristi has a decade of experience in organizational development, is a Government Division member leader of ASQ and a Distinguished Toastmaster. She holds a master degree in human resource development from The University of Texas at Tyler, a bachelor degree in journalism from The University of North Texas and an associate’s degree in applied sciences.
Lauri Crockett – Judge
Lauri Crockett is a finance professional with over 25 years of experience working with corporate and non-profit teams to innovate, improve, and achieve superior results. Lauri’s involvement with the Quality Texas Foundation began in 2001 and includes the roles of examiner, team leader, process coach, and judge. She is pleased to return in her second appointment to the Panel of Judges. Lauri is an alumna of Oklahoma City University.
Tom Field – Judge
Tom has served as Associate Vice Chancellor for Organizational Improvement at KU Medical Center (KUMC) since September 2012. In this role, he leads KUMC’s strategic planning process, performance improvement initiatives, strategic facilitation, and workforce professional development programs. Prior to this role, he was KUMC’s Associate Vice Chancellor for Compliance, administering regulatory oversight of the human and animal research protection programs; environment, health and safety programs; equal opportunity; and research integrity. He has also worked in association management and the telecommunications industry. Tom has served as a Baldrige examiner since 2012. He holds master degrees in higher education administration and health services administration from The University of Kansas (KU) and bachelor degrees in Journalism and Slavic Languages and Literature from KU.
Santos Marino – Judge
Santos Marino has worked for the City of Austin for 10yrs as the Building Manager for City Hall. He directs and is responsible for maintenance, security, and custodial personnel accountable for performing all services at City Hall. He provides customer service to the Citizens of Austin, The Mayor, City Council, and City Manager. He has conducted several LSS projects for the City of Austin to improve efficiencies and reduce costs to tax-paying citizens. He continually supports and assists The City of Austin’s Performance Excellence journey in deploying a sound management system toward more maturity in building and implementing effective, systematic approaches that lead to positive results and trends essential to the city’s long-term success.
Mr. Mariono has served in several roles over a 10yr span with QTF and Baldridge Performance Excellence Program as an Examiner, Senior Examiner, Feedback Writer, Team Lead, and Process Coach. He is a Certified Lean Six Sigma Greenbelt, Senior Baldridge Examiner, CIC from the University of Texas, El Paso, and completed his business and energy management studies through North Carolina State University.
He is devoted to assisting organizations in their continuous improvement efforts, helping them to build sustainability in their operations, and providing them with beneficial feedback utilizing the Malcolm Baldridge Framework for Performance Excellence.
Nicci Markos – Judge
Nicci Markos has worked in healthcare administration for over twenty years as a Chief Nursing Officer, Director of Clinical Informatics, Privacy Officer and currently as Chief Nursing Informatics Officer for a large corporation. Her journey with QTF began as an Examiner, Team Leader and Process Coach. As a Registered Nurse, Nicci worked at Blinn College as a Nursing Instructor and has served patients working on Medical and Surgical units, Women’s Services, Orthopedics, Neurology and Long Term Care. Today, she actively serves nurses as a leader in Clinical Informatics where she oversees technology and the impact it has on all patient care providers. She is a member of HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society) and ANIA (American Nursing Informatics Association) and holds an Associate Degree in Nursing, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Management.
Keith Simpson – Judge
Keith Simpson is the Chief Strategist for Austin – Travis County Emergency Medical Services. Keith has been in the EMS industry for over 18 years and has been employed by the City of Austin for 23 years. Keith has been involved with developing strategic partnerships and participation efforts with the newly formed Dell Medical School in Austin in the areas of Population Health. Keith has served QTF since 2007 as an examiner, team leader, process coach, scorebook editor and faculty in examiner training. Keith is a certified Improvement Coach from the Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI).
Dr. Cynthia St. John – Judge
Dr. Cynthia St. John is a management professor and associate director for the healthcare administration program at the University Texas at Arlington, in addition to being a practicing leadership consultant and owner of Chiefology. She works with students as well as senior executives to improve individual leadership and organizational results. She previously served as the Chief Learning Officer for Texas Health Resources and led the 14-hospital system to become the largest recipient of the Texas Award for Performance Excellence.
For over fifteen years, Dr. St. John has served on the Board of Examiners for state and national Baldrige programs. Her involvement with the Quality Texas Foundation has included the roles of examiner, senior examiner, team leader, process coach, training faculty, judge, and as a member of both the board of overseers and board of directors. Cynthia has also received the prestigious honor of being named a Quality Texas Foundation Fellow.