Branch-Smith Publishing's sister division to receive nation's highest organizational performance award

President George W. Bush and Commerce Secretary Don Evans have announced Branch-Smith Printing as one of only three winners of the 2002 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

Branch-Smith Printing and Branch-Smith Publishing operate under common ownership and from the same facility in Fort Worth, Texas. Branch-Smith Publishing produces four magazines for the horticulture trade: NMPro (Nursery Management & Production), GMPro (Greenhouse Management & Production), GCP&S (Garden Center Products & Supplies), and Gerden Center Merchandising & Management, as well as three weekly e-mail newsletters and the Green Beam (www.greenbeam.com).

"We are very excited for our sister company," said Branch-Smith Publishing President Mike Branch, "but also for our own readers and advertisers. We often hear from our customers that our magazines' reproduction of advertisements and plant varieties is the standard by which other periodicals are measured. To receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award simply acknowledges what we and our customers have known and experienced all along -- our printer is a world-class operation."

Branch-Smith's history dates to 1910. Company founder Aaron Smith, who was born with no arms, learned to write and type with his toes, began his professional life by earning an attorney's certificate, and worked as a newspaper editor before moving into printing and publishing. Today the family business continues under Smith's great-grandchildren Mike Branch, Branch-Smith Printing President David Branch, and Beverly Branch.

Named after the 26th secretary of Commerce, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award is the nation's premier award for performance excellence and quality achievement. It is given to U.S. organizations that have exemplary achievements in seven areas: leadership, strategic planning, customer and market focus, information and analysis, human resource focus, process management, and results. The award is not given for specific products or services. Since 1988, 49 organizations have recieved the Baldrige Award.

For additional information about the scope of the award, visit www.quality.nist.gov
For additional information about Branch-Smith Printing, visit www.branchsmithprinting.com
For additional information about Branch-Smith Publishing, visit www.greenbeam.com