[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 163 (Saturday, December 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2579]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO DON CHALMERS

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                             HON. TOM UDALL

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 16, 2005

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I would like to rise today in 
recognition of Mr. Don Chalmers, an outstanding citizen in my district. 
In acknowledgment of the successful management of his business, Don 
Chalmers Ford in Rio Rancho, N.M., Mr Chalmers recently received the 
Zia Award, Quality New Mexico's highest performance excellence honor.
  The New Mexico Quality Awards program is modeled after the Malcolm 
Baldrige National Quality Awards, a program initiated in 1987 when 
President Ronald Reagan signed the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality 
Improvement Act of 1987. Every year businesses that apply for New 
Mexico Quality Awards participate in training, education, and 
assessment programs. Throughout the year, performance levels are 
checked and commitment to quality business is assessed. Participants 
are then considered for three levels of recognition. The most 
outstanding of these is the Zia Award for performance excellence.
  By participating in New Mexico Quality training and analysis 
programs, Mr. Chalmers dealership has become a benchmark for excellence 
in New Mexico. Mr. Chalmers demonstrated a commitment to improving his 
already very successful business by surpassing the needs and 
expectations of his employees and the residents of our New Mexico 
communities. Because of these accomplishments, Don Chalmers Ford 
received the most prestigious of performance awards, the Zia Award.
  Beyond his business success, Mr. Chalmers has been an active and 
outstanding citizen of New Mexico over the last 10 years. Mr. Chalmers 
has participated in a number of community projects such as the Equal 
Access to Justice Campaign, the New Mexico Balloon Fiesta, and Women on 
the Move.
  It is with pride an appreciation that I congratulate this outstanding 
citizen on his contributions to our great State and on receiving the 
one and only Zia Award granted by Quality New Mexico in 2005.

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