GRQC is your trusted partner on the path to sustained excellence.
GRQC helps area organizations achieve sustained performance excellence by helping their leaders and teams learn and adopt best practices in improvement processes and organizational culture. We offer a broad range of easy-to-access services to meet the needs of all organizations, regardless of size, sector or experience with continuous improvement.
Apply Now for the 2026 Performance Excellence Awards!
The Greater Rochester Quality Council (GRQC), an affiliate of the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to announce the 2026 Performance Excellence Awards.
The GRQC Performance Excellence Award Program supports organizations across all sectors of the economy gain valuable insights into strategic areas of their operations, connect with like-minded leaders in high-performing organizations, and earn formal recognition for achieving excellence through continuous improvement methodologies.
Applications will be accepted through May 31, 2026.
Join us for upcoming events!
Wed, Apr 29Learn from the two-time winner of GRQC's Gold Performance Excellence Award
Register for Quality For Leaders Spring Session
Delivered in partnership with Monroe Community College, this acclaimed program is intended for decision makers and leaders, and the content is in response to direct feedback we heard from leaders across the community: This workshop will enable leaders to embed quality thinking throughout their organization – no matter the starting point. Walk away with strategies to build a culture of continuous improvement, navigate change and drive process improvement results, even with limited resources.
The new Quality for Leaders program will help prepare leaders to address ever-changing challenges and take the next steps toward sustained performance excellence. The Spring session begins on Tuesday, May 5. Click the button below for more information or scan the QR code to register on the MCC website.
Learn About Partner Programs and Events
Upcoming PEN Programs
We are pleased to invite you to these programs presented by Performance Excellence Network (PEN).
A Call for Civil Discourse in Complex Times - March 19
Civil discourse lies at the heart of our democratic republic. Our system was not designed for uniform agreement, but for principled disagreement—expressed with respect, dignity, and a shared commitment to the common good. Today’s environment is challenging that principle, and it’s having impact on our organizations, our communities, and our ability to lead.
The Performance Excellence Network — in partnership with the Wisconsin Center for Performance Excellence and the Iowa Quality Center and in collaboration with the Greater Rochester Quality Council — is pleased to host an online webinar discussion on Thursday, March 19: “A Call for Civil Discourse in Complex Times.” The non-partisan discussion will feature Rusty Cunningham and Lee Rasch, both leaders at LeaderEthics, a nonprofit/nonpartisan organization committed to promoting ethical leadership among elected officials.
This session will explore the essential elements of civil discourse, examine its role as a cornerstone of a healthy democracy, and identify practical steps we can take to strengthen and promote civil discourse in today’s complex and polarized political environment. They will share information about the LeaderEthics initiative — A Call for Civil Discourse — and will explore how leaders of today’s organizations can navigate these times to create an enviornment where their teams can succeed despite the divide.
Click here for more information and registration.
The Principles of Excellence: Baldrige 101 — Apr 7 & 14 ONLINE Workshop
Today, organizations continue to experience challenges like never before: staffing shortages, inflationary pressure & economic uncertainty, managing a virtual/hybrid workforce, navigating supply chain issues, and managing through accelerating change are but a few of the many challenges facing today’s leaders. But – with the complexity of organizations – where does one start? How do you know on which areas to focus? And how to do you sustain the improvement over time?
The Performance Excellence Network — in partnership with the Wisconsin Center for Performance Excellence and the Iowa Quality Center — is pleased to announce a powerful workshop: The Principles of Performance Excellence: Baldrige 101. The workshop will be hosted April 7 & 14 (two half-days from 8AM-12PM CT) online and will be facilitated by Michael Garner of Momentum, a Minnesota-based consulting firm.
PEN is graciously extending member pricing for this workshop to members and friends of GRQC. When you register, select the PEN Member pricing for this 50% discount.
Click here for more information.
New Course Offerings at MCC
The Economic & Workforce Development Center of Monroe Community College offers easy-to-access programs for people with a wide variety of learning needs, schedules and budgets. Here are some of their offerings.
New sessions of the LSS Green Belt and Black Belt start in March. Here are links to full descriptions of both courses:
To ensure quality, cost control and on time project delivery, Project Management skills are essential not only for those leading key projects but also for project team members. MCC’s Corporate College is offering the following Project Management courses in February 2026:
Fundamentals of Project Management
Project Management Body Knowledge Best Practices
Click here for a listing of all of the Professional Development courses.
The Finger Lakes Workforce Development Center is designed to focus on rapid training, retraining and upskilling of technical middle-skilled workers in demand by local employers. Through innovative partnerships and technical programming, the FWD Center is a catalyst in developing our region’s economy. Employers and individuals, click here for more information.
New Courses from RIT|Certified
Yellow, Green and Black Belt certification via an academic (for-credit) pathway are available every semester. Use the following links for information about these programs:
We are launching four courses that would enable someone to gain entry into the semiconductor industry (three begin in March, one in May). Through four integrated courses, learners will explore the principles of semiconductor technology and its impact on society, gain hands-on knowledge of integrated circuit design, dive into thin film processes and vacuum systems, and master CMOS processing fundamentals. Participants will learn how to analyze, design, and troubleshoot fabrication processes while building a strong foundation in the physics and chemistry that drive semiconductor manufacturing.
Integrated Circuits Technology
Complementary Metal-Oxide Processing
Networking Technologies equips people with core networking skills and knowledge aligned with the CompTIA Network+ certification. Participants will learn how to install, configure, and troubleshoot networks across various environments, as well as how to support essential operations and apply security best practices.
Click here to visit the RIT|Certified website and search for courses.
GRQC Partner Events
View presentations and videos from recent
GRQC programs
Organizational Change Management: From Theory to Practice
All organizations are navigating unprecedented shifts—technological transformation, evolving expectations, demographic pressures, and the need for agile, innovative leadership. This virtual panel brings together two distinguished leaders from RIT’s Saunders College of Business to explore how institutions can successfully design, implement, and sustain organizational change. Through a management and leadership lens, the discussion examines real-world change initiatives implemented at Saunders College of Business, and the strategies leaders can use to build resilient, future-ready organizations. The session offers theoretical and practical insights for professionals committed to continuous improvement and organizational excellence.
Click below to view the presenter slides from this event.
Click below to view the Zoom recording of this event.
The Western NY Tech Hub: How You Can Engage
The NY SMART I-Corridor, a regional tech hub spanning Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Ithaca, is building America’s semiconductor future in Upstate New York by aligning workforce development, supply chain activation, and innovation to drive regional impact. Speakers from across the corridor share updates on progress, early outcomes, and opportunities for engagement.
The presenters
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Innovation / Leadership / Governance Office, Shannon Ealy, Vice President of Innovation, OneROC
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Commercialization and Collaboration Center (C3), Yoanna Ferrara, Director for Technology Innovation, Syracuse University
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Supply Chain Activation Network (SCAN), Jennifer Flagg, Director, University at Buffalo Center for Supply Chain Analytics
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Semiconductor Talent and Employer Partnership Upstate New York (STEP UP), Jim Gertner, Project Manager, Monroe Community College Economic & Workforce Development Center
Click below to view the presenter slides from this event.
Click below to view the Zoom recording for this event.
GRQC Resource Center
GRQC is your resource for tools and templates, case studies, local consulting resources, and links to industry-leading websites to aid you in your pursuit of performance excellence and quality improvement. Click on the links below to access information.
Download favorite tools of GRQC Board members
Dowload presentations from recent GRQC events.
Visit these websites for useful tools and templates.
Check back often to access new material that you can use!
Tools You Can Use - Free From GRQC!
GRQC has assembled a searchable library of tools developed by our members, partners and friends, and is offering them free to website users. Find tried and tested tools, templates and information about a wide variety of quality processes: control charts, FMEA, Lean, Pugh matrix, and many others. You can search the library by keyword or by sector (business, healthcare, education, etc.). When you find what you need, simply click on the tool name to download it to your PC.
Click the button below to go to the webpage Homegrown Tools in the GRQC Knowledge Center, and take advantage of the expertise of our members and friends.
Find Resources You Can Use On The Job
Be a Part of GRQC's Mission - Volunteer!
Would you like to partner with GRQC to advance performance excellence in the community without making a long-term commitment? We have just the thing for you – volunteering to help one of our committees! GRQC has eight committees that help us achieve our strategic objectives. These committees are staffed by GRQC Board members and volunteers. We invite you to visit our new Volunteer Opportunity website page and reach out to any of the committee contacts to lean more or to express your interest. Volunteer opportunities are open to GRQC members and non-members alike. We’d love to have you join us!
Become a GRQC Member
GRQC benefits its members through a wide variety of program activities and membership services, including:
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Participation in GRQC Workshops and Programs.
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Participation in GRQC’s community projects.
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Interaction with leaders and innovators regarding best practices in quality.
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Contributing to making the Greater Rochester area a community of excellence.
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Opportunities for networking with other organizations on the journey to excellence.
Our Champion and Advocate Level Members
