Brock, Taylor to Give Keynote at Alabama Quality Award Conference at UA

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The 2009 Alabama Quality Award Conference and Ceremony features two prominent keynote speakers, Pam Brock and Bill Taylor, to encourage organizations in Alabama to continue to strive for performance excellence. The conference, held in The University of Alabama’s Bryant Conference Center, begins today and continues through Dec. 4. 

The 2009 Alabama Quality Award recipients will be recognized at the Alabama Quality Award Annual Conference and Award Ceremony during a banquet on the evening of Dec. 3.

Pam Brock joined Poudre Valley Health System in September 2003 as vice president, marketing and strategic planning. She has nearly 20 years experience in health care marketing and planning, and she has worked in hospital and physician practice settings, as well as consulting in the ambulatory care setting.

Her strengths include strategic planning, strategic marketing and public relations, imaging/branding, market analysis, health care retail services, and relationship marketing. Brock will speak at noon Thursday, Dec. 3 and again at 8:30 a.m Friday, Dec. 4.

Bill Taylor accepted his new role as president of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama July 1. EDPA is a private, statewide organization that works to attract and retain business and industry while addressing other critical issues affecting economic development. Prior to joining EDPA, Taylor was president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz U.S. International.

He was a key figure in the start-up of the new plant, led production for five years and became president of the company in 1999. Taylor was instrumental in the establishment of the Mercedes Production System, which is now a global standard for all Mercedes-Benz plants in achieving the highest level of quality and efficiency. Taylor will speak during the banquet Thursday, Dec. 3 beginning at 6:30, and he will present the awards to the 2009 recipients.

The Alabama Quality Award is administered by the Alabama Productivity Center, an Alabama Technology Network center and a nonprofit outreach component of The University of Alabama. The center’s mission is to find ways to use University research and educational resources to enhance the competitiveness of Alabama business and industry.