FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Feb. 14, 1999

Contacts: Michael Newman
(301) 975-3025

Jan Kosko
(301) 975-2767

MA 2000-02

Media Advisory
President Clinton to Present Baldrige Quality Awards on Feb. 25

President Clinton is expected to present the 1999 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation's premier award for performance excellence and quality achievement, to four U.S. companies: STMicroelectronics, Inc. - Region Americas (Carrollton, Texas); BI (Minneapolis, Minn.); The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. (Atlanta, Ga); and Sunny Fresh Foods (Monticello, Minn.).

The ceremony is being held Feb. 25, 2000, at 1:30 p.m. at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, 2660 Woodley Road, N.W., Washington, D.C. (Woodley Park/Zoo stop on the Metro).

• Interviews - Reporters can schedule interviews with company executives and others in 15-minute blocks from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. A list of interviewees from the four 1999 Baldrige Award recipients is available at www.nist.gov/public_affairs/releases/interviews.htm. Contact Michael Newman (see above) for information and to schedule interviews by noon, Thursday Feb. 24. Reporters who wish to do interviews but cannot make an appointment during the designated time should contact Newman for special arrangements.

• Ceremony - The doors to the ceremony will open at 12 noon and close at 1:15 p.m.

Reporters must check in at the "News Media" table, located near the Marriott Ballroom, to be escorted to interviews and into the ceremony. Credentials (news media badge with photo or a photo ID with a business card) must be presented to enter the ceremony.

Transponder numbers for satellite downlink of the ceremony will be available on Feb. 24 and will be posted on the World Wide Web at www.nist.gov/ceremony, or call (301) 975-2762. Background information on the four companies as well as the Baldrige Award is available at www.quality.nist.gov.