Celebrating leadership built on Trust

The BBB Trust Award recognizes exceptional leaders whose dedication to ethical practices and meaningful community impact demonstrates the power of doing business with integrity.

Honesty

Integrity

Transparency

Community Impact

Our past Trust Award recipients

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2025 Trust Award Winner

Cathy Cooper, Executive Director, Meijer LPGA Classic

Cathy Cooper, Executive Director of the Meijer LPGA Classic, received the 2025 BBB of Michigan Trust Award for her decades of community leadership, philanthropy, and integrity.

A former Meijer executive and BBB board member, she continues to champion local communities through Simply Give.

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2024 Trust Award Winner

Bill Coderre, President & CEO of Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes

Bill Coderre, President and CEO of Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes, received the 2024 BBB Trust Award for expanding access to financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship education.

His commitment to youth empowerment extends to community education initiatives.

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2023 Trust Award Winner

Chris Andrus, co-owner and co-founder of Mitten Brewing Company

Chris Andrus, co-founder of Mitten Brewing Company and founder of The Mitten Foundation, received the 2023 BBB Trust Award for his commitment to community giving and responsible entrepreneurship.

An author and speaker, he champions the power of small businesses to create positive change.

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2022 Trust Award Winner

Karen Smoots, President of KMS Designs Inc.

Karen Smoots, President of KMS Designs Inc., received the 2022 BBB Trust Award for innovation and community service.

Her company developed the Michigan-made Green Glove Dryer, while her nonprofit, Glove Me Please, provides gloves and mittens to elementary school children in need.

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2021 Trust Award Winner

Leslie King-Friday, Founder and President of Sacred Beginnings

Leslie King-Friday, founder of Sacred Beginnings, received the 2021 BBB Trust Award for advocating for survivors of human trafficking.

Drawing on her lived experience, she established Michigan’s first survivor-led peer mentoring program and helps educate professionals supporting survivors.

2020 Trust Award Winner

Janay Brower, Founder of Public Thread

Janay Brower, founder of Public Thread, received the 2020 BBB Trust Award for advancing sustainability, fair employment, and social justice.

Through her community-based upcycling company, she transforms surplus textiles into useful products while creating living-wage jobs.

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2019 Trust Award Winner

Daniel Williams, President and CEO of the West Michigan Center for Arts + Technology

Daniel Williams, President and CEO of the West Michigan Center for Arts + Technology, received the 2019 BBB Trust Award for advancing equity in education and workforce development.

An educator and community leader, he champions access to opportunity through innovation and collaboration.

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2018 Trust Award Winner

Diana Sieger, President of the Grand Rapids Community Foundation

Diana Sieger, longtime President of the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, became the inaugural BBB Trust Award recipient in 2018.

Recognized for her integrity and transformative community leadership, she helped expand the foundation’s resources and strengthen its impact across West Michigan.