Systems Thinking, Stewardship, and a Commitment to Continuous Improvement
At the Wisconsin Center for Performance Excellence, our examiners are at the heart of the Wisconsin Forward Award process. They bring diverse professional backgrounds, deep curiosity, and a shared commitment to helping organizations improve and thrive. One of those dedicated examiners is Joshua Kohnke, a Wisconsin Center for Performance Excellence examiner whose career reflects both technical expertise and a strong stewardship mindset.
Joshua serves as a Facilities Engineer at the University of Wisconsin–Stout, where he leads and supports construction project planning, development, and oversight. In his role, he integrates Building Information Modeling (BIM) with architectural, structural, and as-built data to strengthen lifecycle planning, asset performance, capital planning, and sustainability across campus facilities. His work ensures that decisions made today support long-term value in higher education environments.
With more than 25 years of progressive experience spanning skilled trades, facilities and construction management, and design technology implementation, Joshua brings a rare end-to-end perspective to continuous improvement. This breadth of experience allows him to intentionally embed improvement at every stage of work—from field execution to strategic planning—bridging the gap between frontline teams, designers, and executive leadership.
Raised on a small Wisconsin farm, Joshua credits his early life with shaping his strong work ethic, ingenuity, and sense of stewardship. Those values continue to guide his professional and community involvement today, grounding systems-level decision-making in real-world operational realities.
Outside of work, Joshua is a proud father of two and an avid motorcycle traveler, enjoying the outdoors while exploring the country. His commitment to service extends into the community, where he serves on the City of Menomonie Historical Preservation Committee, helping protect local heritage through thoughtful, context-sensitive development. He also volunteers as Properties Co-Chair at Camp Nawakwa, a 76-acre youth camp in Cornell, Wisconsin, applying his facilities expertise to support maintenance planning, capital improvements, and safe, sustainable experiences for young people.
Why Joshua Serves as a WSPE Examiner
“I believe continuous improvement is a human condition,” Joshua shares. “It’s a discipline I’ve applied throughout my career, which naturally led to my involvement with WCPE.”
Joshua values how the WCPE and Baldrige framework help organizations clearly identify, evaluate, and refine their processes. He sees the Wisconsin Forward Award process as a powerful opportunity for organizations to step back, assess their strategic direction, and receive honest, actionable feedback on where change will have the greatest impact.
Serving as an examiner has strengthened Joshua’s ability to analyze opportunities at a systems level—moving beyond surface-level issues to unlock deeper improvement potential. In higher education, where technological advancement and societal change continually reshape student needs, he views performance excellence as essential to staying aligned with mission, student success, and professional development.
Interested in Becoming a Wisconsin Forward Award Examiner?
Learn more about the Wisconsin Forward Award process and how to get involved as an examiner.
