Try advanced filter.
Say you name the full list range "rngAll".
On a separate sheet create a 2 row range with the first row containing the heading for the ranking (as in the main range) and under it put the "excellent" rank. Name this range, say, "rngCriteria"
So rngAll is like this perhaps...
name rank
bob good
james poor
jenny excellent
keith good
pol excellent
slim poor
and rngCriteria is like this...
name rank
excellent
Next name the top left corner of the output range "rngOut".
Then use Data | Advanced filter. Set Action to "Copy to another location". Type rngAll in "List range" and rngCriteria in (you guessed it) "Criteria range" and "Copy to" rngOut. The star employees should appear in the output range...
name rank
jenny excellent
pol excellent