BBB Western PA: 2023 Torch Awards for Ethics recipients honored for ethical business practices

Better Business Bureau of Western PA is pleased to announce its 2023 Torch Awards for Ethics recipients. An independent panel of academic judges selected the following businesses to receive this year's prestigious award:

• Signs N’ At: 1-10 employees category
• The Big Fish Contracting Company: 11-49 employees category
• Jefferson Memorial Cemetery, Funeral Home, Crematory & Arboretum: 50-99 employees category
• C. Harper Auto Group: 500+ employees category
  

One company was also selected to receive finalist distinction:

• At Home Senior Services: 11-49 employees category

“These five local companies are being honored by the Better Business Bureau, our staff and board of directors for their commitment to ethical business practices and for going above and beyond to build trust with their employees, customers and communities,” says Warren King, President of the Better Business Bureau of Western PA. “We celebrate our 2023 Torch Award recipients as role models within their industries and as Accredited Businesses who truly embody BBB’s mission of advancing marketplace trust.”

The annual Torch Awards for Ethics program is open to all for-profit businesses (BBB accredited and non-accredited) physically located in the 28-county service area of Western Pennsylvania and meet the guidelines. Companies are evaluated against four criteria, which include a commitment to ethical practices regarding character, culture, customers, and community.

About the 2023 Winners: 

Signs N’ At: 1-10 employees category

• Signs N’ At is a locally owned, family-operated, certified small business that provides signage and other printed graphics. From yard signs to illuminated business signs, Signs N’ At provides banners, posters, stickers, business cards, postcards, brochures, and menus to their neighbors in and around their Edgewood Towne Centre showroom. In addition, Signs N’ At has installed channel letters, cut dimensional letters, illuminated sign cabinets, and window graphics throughout western Pennsylvania.
  
  
• “It’s nice to be acknowledged for doing things the right way. Our family has put in a tremendous amount of time, money, and energy to ensure this business is something that we all can be proud of,” says Nathan Ward, General Manager of Signs N’ At. “We joined the Better Business Bureau because their values align with ours, and so it is an incredible honor to be recognized through the Torch Awards for Ethics program.”

The Big Fish Contracting Company: 11-49 employees category

• Founded in 2015, The Big Fish Contracting Company has emerged as a leader in exterior remodeling. Their mission is simple: to provide high-quality customer service and expert-level trade services, ensuring every home they work on stands out for its quality. Their expertise covers a wide range of services, making homes beautiful and functional. They specialize in roofing, solar, siding, gutters, insulation, and maintenance.
  
  
• “We are extremely honored to be the winner of the 2023 Torch Awards for Ethics,” says Rob Tokay, President of The Big Fish Contracting Company.  “In an industry where trust can be lacking, we choose to live by our core values one being 'Do The Right Thing.'  Having that cultural foundation will always serve us well long-term.”   

Jefferson Memorial Cemetery, Funeral Home, Crematory & Arboretum: 50-99 employees category

• Jefferson Memorial Cemetery, Funeral Home, Crematory & Arboretum was founded in 1929 and is still owned and operated by the Neel family. What began as a humble cemetery on a former parcel of farmland has now expanded to include 180 developed acres, a funeral home, and a state-of-the-art crematory used exclusively for the families that they serve.
  
  
• "I am truly honored to accept this prestigious award for ethics on behalf of our dedicated team. This honor serves as a reminder that ethical leadership is not just a choice, but a responsibility we embrace every day," says Harry C. Neel, President & CEO of Jefferson Memorial Cemetery, Funeral Home, Crematory & Arboretum. "It is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our entire team, who exemplify the principles of honesty, transparency and responsibility, and inspires us to continue setting a benchmark for ethical leadership in the business world – particularly the death care industry. We are grateful for this acknowledgment from the BBB and remain resolute in our commitment to the families we serve, and our community, with ethics as our guiding compass."

Harper Auto Group: 500+ employees category

• C. Harper Auto Group has grown throughout the past 40 years, increasing the number of brands to include Chevy, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Ford, Kia, and Honda. In 2017, the new C Harper Truck Center opened to become the regional leader in commercial truck sales and service. And the expansion continues with their two new Connellsville locations, Buick GMC and Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram, a Chevy in New Alexandria, and new building.
  
  
• "We are deeply honored to be recognized as a winner of the 2023 Torch Awards for Ethics. This prestigious accolade reaffirms our unwavering commitment to the highest standards of integrity, transparency and ethical business practices," says Casey Harper, Owner of C. Harper Auto Group. "It serves as a testament to the dedication of our team and the values that drive C. Harper Auto Group forward. Winning this award is not just a recognition of past achievements, but a pledge to continue leading with integrity, inspiring trust and setting a gold standard for ethical excellence in our industry and beyond."

About the Judges of the 2023 BBB Torch Awards for Ethics: 

• Faith Bjalobok, PhD, holds a master's degree in Criminology and a master's degree and PhD in philosophy. Her area of interest is applied ethics. She is an assistant professor of Philosophy at Duquesne University. Faith is also a Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics and is the founder of the Fluffyjean Fund for Felines and the Founder and President of the Washington County Animal Abuse Relief Fund (WAARF).
  
  
• Akwasi Opoku-Dakwa, PhD, MBA, is an Associate Professor of Management specializing in business ethics at Duquesne University’s School of Business Administration. He has a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from Brown University, an MBA from the International Institute for Management Development (IMD, Switzerland), and a PhD in Organization Management from Rutgers University. His research has appeared in publications including the Oxford Handbook of Corporate Social Responsibility, the Journal of Organizational Behavior, the Journal of Business Ethics, the Academy of Management Perspectives, and the Business and Society journal.
  
  
• Jim Weber, PhD, MBA, is a Professor of Business Ethics and Management, the Rev. Martin Hehir, C.S.Sp. Endowed Chair in Scholarly Excellence, Managing Director of the Viragh Institute for Ethics in Business at Duquesne University, and Managing Editor of Business and Society Review. Jim is involved in developing ethics training seminars for business and community organizations and forums for discussing critical ethical issues in business. He has been published in numerous academic journals and co-authored the 17th edition of Business and Society: Stakeholders, Ethics, Public Policy, published by McGraw-Hill/Irwin, Inc.

Eligible winners of the Better Business Bureau of Western PA’s Torch Awards for Ethics can now apply for the BBB International Torch Awards for Ethics. Entrants for this award must be designated winners of their local BBB Torch Awards program. Visit BBB.org for additional information on the Torch Awards for Ethics.