Pittsburgh, PA – November 22, 2010 – The Better Business Bureau today announced the winners of the 2010 Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics. The businesses selected to receive this year's prestigious award are: Beverly Services, Bethel Park PA; and Equity Lending Group, Inc., Zelienople PA.
There were two companies who received runner-up distinctions: D-Bug Inc., Latrobe, PA and SoundWise Hearing Aid Technologies, McKeesport, PA.
The BBB, founded with a mission to see that all share in the opportunity of a fair and equitable marketplace, established this annual awards program to gain public recognition for local businesses that maintain a solid commitment to conducting their business practices in an ethical fashion.
"These companies were selected by an academic independent panel for their exceptional conduct in the marketplace," said Warren King, president Better Business Bureau. "Each winning company clearly demonstrates superior character on a daily basis and consistently exceeds marketplace standards for ethics in its relationships with customers, employees, suppliers, industry peers and the communities in which it does business.”
About the Winners:
Beverly Services
Beverly Services (also known as Beverly Heating and Cooling, Inc.) is a commercial and residential heating, air conditioning, plumbing, and electrical contractor originally established in 1942 as Beverly Electric Sales and Service.
In 2001 Beverly Heating and Cooling started to market under the name Beverly Services and full service plumbing, electrical, and duct cleaning were added to the business offerings. The company tagline also added “Because we care… we’re always there!”
“Beverly Services is honored and proudly accepts the Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics from the Better Business Bureau. At Beverly Services we are committed to honesty, integrity, ethics, and fairness in all relationships and in all decisions. This award epitomizes our thoughts and actions,” states Tom Kennell, President of Beverly Services.
Equity Lending Group, Inc.
Equity Lending Group, Inc. was established in 1995 by Jim Clarke as a full service mortgage company originating both residential and commercial mortgages in Pennsylvania and Florida.
The mantra of ELG has always been “Professionalism; Full Disclosure and No Surprises at Closing.” Jim Clarke believes very simply that, “if you take care of the customer, the customer will take care of you.”
“This award means so much to us, especially in light of the beating the mortgage industry has taken over the last few years. It is great to be recognized by our customers and others professionals we work with,” states Jim Clarke. “We are proud to be true mortgage professionals.”
About the Runner-ups:
D-Bug Inc.
D-Bug Inc. began in 1939 as a pest control service known as Extermital Termite Service. In 1976, Hugh N. Morrison Jr. changed the business name to D-Bug Inc. to carry on the family business.
In 1983 basement waterproofing was added to D-Bug’s profile and today their services include retaining walls, cement finishing, glass block windows, camera sewer lines, and mold and mildew control just to name a few.
“It is an honor and a privilege for D-Bug Inc. to be selected as first runner-up of the 2010 Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics. Our company takes pride in ethical business practices; therefore, receiving this award reinforces our commitment to provide outstanding service and professionalism to our customers,” states Hugh Morrison, Owner of D-Bug Inc.
SoundWise Hearing Aid Technologies
SoundWise Hearing Aid Technologies was established in 2000, although the owner, C. William “Bill” Cook has been fitting patients with hearing aids for twenty years.
SoundWise is a small company, but has a big concern for the hearing health of their patients.
SoundWise is a family oriented company and reaches out to the community by supporting and contributing to several foundations throughout the world who supply free hearing aids to children and adults who cannot afford them.
“To be chosen for the BBB Runner-Up Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics, gives us an outward symbol of what we stand for: A company whose dedicated professionals really care about the patients we serve and, as we strive daily to improve people's lives through the gift of hearing, we never let ourselves lose sight of the high standard of integrity and ethical practices this company was built on,” states Bill Cook.
About the BBB Torch Awards for Marketplace Ethics:
The panel of judges for the 2010 BBB Torch Awards was:
- Dr. Faith Bjalobok received her BA in Philosophy from Chatham College, a MA in Criminology from IUP, and a MA and Ph.D. in Philosophy from Duquesne. She is Fellow of Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics. She is an adjunct professor at Duquesne and West Virginia University. She is also a facilitator for the Waynesburg University MBA program. She is a board member of the Energy Conservation Council, and an Outreach Program Director Hog Heaven Rescue Farm. She is also the founder of Fluffyjean Fund for Felines.
- Dr. Virginia Gerde is an Associate Professor at Duquesne University who teaches business ethics, strategy and sustainability, and information ethics at the undergraduate and graduate level. As the new Director of the Beard Center for Leadership in Ethics, she supports ethics in the business school curriculum and programs promoting integrity and ethics for the business community. She received her Ph.D. from Virginia Tech in Management and has published research in Business & Society, Business Strategy and the Environment, and Journal of Business Ethics. Her research examines environmental issues, corporate performance, and organization theory.
- Dr. James Weber is currently a Professor of Business Ethics and Management, and Chair of the Management Department. Jim also is the Senior Fellow and founding Director of the Beard Center for Leadership in Ethics at Duquesne University. He received his Ph. D. in Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh and M.B.A. from Saint Louis University. With the Beard Center, he is involved in developing ethics training seminars for business and community organizations and forums for discussions of critical ethical issues in business. His research interests include the assessment of values, moral reasoning and ethical behavior on both the individual and organizational levels. He has published numerous manuscripts in various management and business ethics journals and is the co-author of 13th edition of Business and Society: Stakeholders, Ethics, Public Policy, published by Irwin/McGraw-Hill, Inc.
The BBB Torch Award program is open to all for-profit companies (accredited and non-accredited businesses) who are located in the 28 county service area of Western Pennsylvania. Companies were evaluated against criteria that included commitment to and demonstration of ethical practices in the marketplace; high standards of behavior toward customers, employees, suppliers, shareholders and the communities in which they do business; long-term value of ethics policies to shareholders, customers and employees; and training and communications programs to assist employees in carrying out established ethics policies.
For more information on the 2010 BBB Torch Awards, visit the BBB website.
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About the BBB System
BBB is an unbiased organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Businesses that earn BBB accreditation contractually agree and adhere to the organization’s high standards of ethical business behavior. BBB provides objective advice, free business BBB Reliability ReportsTM and charity BBB Wise Giving ReportsTM, and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. To further promote trust, BBB also offers complaint and dispute resolution support for consumers and businesses when there is difference in viewpoints. The first BBB was founded in 1912. Today, 128 BBBs serve communities across the U.S. and Canada, evaluating and monitoring more than 4 million local and national businesses and charities. Please visit www.bbb.org for more information about the BBB System.