Arlington, VA, March 14, 2003- Being awarded the BBB International Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics is "like wearing the World Heavyweight Boxing Belt, while holding the Super Bowl Trophy and drinking champagne from the Stanley Cup," according to Packer Thomas, a Youngstown, Ohio accounting firm and past recipient of the International Torch Award.
It's time once again for honest, upstanding businesses - of any size - to earn recognition for operating with integrity and abiding by high standards of conduct. The deadline for entry in this year's Better Business Bureaus' International Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics competition is Monday, April 21, 2003.
The competition rules, judging criteria, suggestions for completing an entry packet, formal entry form, and profiles of past winners are available online at the Torch Award Web site (http://www.bbb.org/torchaward/bbbtorch.asp), or by contacting the Council of Better Business Bureaus at 703.247.9312.
"We encourage any business that is proud of its marketplace record, and serves its customers, employees, vendors, and communities with excellence and integrity to enter our competition," said Ken Hunter, president and CEO of the Council of Better Business Bureaus.
Each year's winning businesses receive national publicity, a crystal trophy and the right to advertise the BBB Torch Award honor. The 2003 winners and finalists, to be selected by an independent panel of ethics experts, will be recognized at a special ceremony in San Diego, CA on September 29, 2003.
Businesses need not have an ethics officer or formal ethics program in order to compete, and even the smallest of businesses can earn recognition for their marketplace ethics. There are four categories that permit businesses to compete against similarly sized companies.
"Our judges are looking for sincerity, a company-wide commitment to always do the right thing, and illustrations of distinctive ways in which a business serves its customers, employees, vendors, industry and surrounding communities. We seek to honor those businesses that set the performance and quality standards for their industry; contribute to the well-being of their communities; and consider good employee relations key to achieving and maintaining customer satisfaction," Hunter said.
The award criteria include a demonstration of ethical practices in the marketplace; high standards of behavior toward customers, employees, suppliers, shareholders and communities; truthful and accurate advertising and sales practices; ethical reputation among industry peers and in communities in which they do business; long-term value of ethics policies to shareholders, customers and employees; and programs to assist employees in carrying out ethics policies.
The award is open to all for-profit businesses that serve retail and wholesale markets in the U.S., Canada or communities in Mexico that are within the service area of BBBs. Membership in the Better Business Bureau is not a qualification for entry in the competition. Businesses whose primary markets are government entities (local, state or federal) are not eligible; nor are not-for-profit organizations. There is a $50, non-refundable entry fee.
Serving on the panel of judges for the 2003 BBB International Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics are: Joan Koebernick, owner of Dakota-K Auto Repair & Tire Center in Arlington Heights, IL [winner of the 2000 National Torch Award]; Thomas McBride, director ethics and compliance, Niagara Mohawk, a National Grid Company in Syracuse, NY [winner of the 2002 International Torch Award]; Ronald Miller, formerly president of the BBB of Central Ohio, Inc., now a senior consultant with the Bureau's Foundation; Laura Nash, senior research fellow, Harvard Business School; and, John Yost, professor, Bradley University.