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Contacts: Adam Day 619-994-4855 • Steve Penhall 619-445-8037
San Diego, CA ( April 11, 2006 ) - The California Council for Excellence has awarded Sycuan Resort and Casino (Sycuan) the 2006 California Challenge Award. Any organization that receives the prestigious Challenge Award must meet or exceed an extensive set of criteria that measures the quality of the organization's business processes and practices. The honor recognizes Sycuan's dedication to organizational improvement and leadership within its business operations.
“To be the first Indian gaming organization to be recognized with this award is an incredible honor for Sycuan,” said Tribal Chairman Daniel Tucker. “As a gaming and entertainment facility, we are always striving to improve our business processes so that we can continue to provide excellent services for our guests and satisfying careers for our employees.”
The California Challenge is a self-assessment program designed to highlight a company's efforts to measure, maintain and strive for success. The 12th Annual Conference and Awards Gala was held at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine , CA on April 7. Organizations from throughout the State of California were in attendance as well as a delegation from Japan.
Sycuan submitted an extensive application, which included an organizational profile and detailed answers about how their organization utilizes the California Challenge standards to meet performance excellence. The California Council for Excellence reviewed the application to assess the utilization of the criteria in Sycuan's daily activities and business strategies.
“The criteria comprising the Challenge Award is the back bone of our day-to-day operations at Sycuan,” said Steve Penhall, General Manager of the Casino. “Our success in meeting these standards is measured not only by the award, but by the high level of satisfaction our guests and employees experience everyday in our facilities.” According to Penhall, the California Challenge Award is a significant milestone for Sycuan because it represents the first time ever that a tribal enterprise has been recognized for business excellence by an award of this nature.
The California Challenge Award is the first tier in a series of awards making up the California Awards for Performance Excellence (CAPE). CAPE is an annual awards program designed to recognize California organizations for their continuous improvement efforts using the Malcolm Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence. In July, Sycuan will submit its application for California 's top award, the Eureka Award for Performance Excellence. Successful applicants are notified in early 2007.
Following the California award review process, Sycuan will then compete for the nationally recognized Malcolm Baldrige Award that honors U.S. companies for their achievements in quality and business performance. The Malcolm Baldrige Award is comprised of seven categories including; leadership, strategic planning, customer and market focus, information and analysis, process management, and business results. The Malcolm Baldrige Award competition raises awareness about the importance of quality and performance excellence as a competitive edge in the business environment.
The Sycuan Tribal Government operates one of the region's premier Indian gaming and resort facilities, the Sycuan Resort and Casino. The Sycuan Tribe demonstrates its strong commitment to the San Diego region through its support of civic and charitable organizations. The Tribe through the Sycuan Tribal Development Corporation (STDC) also seeks to reinvest back into the San Diego community with a progressive business development effort. The Tribe also owns and operates Sycuan Ringside Promotions, the country's first tribally owned boxing promotion company and Sycuan Funds, a publicly traded and professionally managed mutual fund. Combined, these enterprises now employ nearly 4,000 San Diegans.
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