The Better Business Bureau of Western PA is proud to announce its 2024 Torch Awards for Ethics recipients. The following businesses were selected by an independent panel of academic judges to receive this year's prestigious award:
Lifetime Floors: 1-10 employees category
Energy Swing Windows, Doors and Total Basement Finishing: 11-49 employees category
Plexsum Staffing Solutions: 50-99 employees category
Two companies were also selected to receive finalist distinction:
Legacy Remodeling: 11-49 employees category
Keystone Basement Systems: 50-99 employees category
“We are honored to recognize our 2024 Torch Award recipients for their outstanding commitment to doing business the right way and adhering to the Better Business Bureau’s ethical standards,” says Warren King, President of the Better Business Bureau of Western PA. “Honesty and integrity are fundamental components of a successful business in today’s marketplace and these local companies are shining examples of businesses that foster trust within their communities and genuinely value their relationships with customers and employees.”
The annual Torch Awards for Ethics program is open to all for-profit businesses (BBB accredited and non-accredited) that are physically located in the 28 county service area of Western Pennsylvania and meet the guidelines. Companies are evaluated against four criteria, which includes commitment to ethical practices regarding character, culture, customers and community.
About the 2024 winners:
Lifetime Floors: 1-10 employees category
Lifetime Floors was founded as a company in 2018 and is a trusted flooring contractor in Rebersburg, PA, providing exceptional service to its customers throughout Central Pennsylvania. Lifetime Floors provides ultimate flooring coverage for garages, patios, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, basements, warehouses and retail spaces. What is most important to Lifetime Floors is that their customers are completely satisfied with the company’s work.
“The best part of being in business is to know that you have made someone happy and that they refer you to their friends,” says Shem Esh, Owner of Lifetime Floors. “It’s great to be recognized by the Better Business Bureau because customer satisfaction is our #1 priority."
Energy Swing Windows, Doors and Total Basement Finishing: 11-49 employees category
Founded in 1999 with the guiding principle of "Doing the Right Things Right," Energy Swing Windows, Doors and Total Basement Finishing is a leading home improvement company serving the Pittsburgh area in Western Pennsylvania. As the company celebrates its latest, and unprecedented fifth BBB Torch Award, everyone at Energy Swing remains dedicated to the company’s founding principles.
“While it is great to be recognized with a prestigious award such as this, what is most important to the Energy Swing team is that we have been doing the right things for 25 years that has enabled us to be recognized,” says Steve Rennekamp, President of Energy Swing Windows, Doors and Total Basement Finishing.
Plexsum Staffing Solutions: 50-99 employees category
Founded in 2013, Plexsum Staffing Solutions, Inc. is a premier healthcare staffing provider committed to delivering reliable and responsive staffing solutions across the United States. With a leadership team bringing over 200 years of collective experience in healthcare, staffing, and leadership, Plexsum specializes in recruiting top-tier clinical professionals across all levels and specialties. Licensed to operate in over 13 states, Plexsum serves both commercial and government clients, bridging talent gaps in healthcare systems nationwide.
“At the core of every decision we make, every partnership we build and every challenge we face, we remain guided by the principle that integrity is not just a standard—it’s the foundation of lasting success,” says Eric Tallyen, Vice President of Strategic Accounts. “In business, doing what's right isn’t always the easy path, but it is the path that leads to true growth, trust and sustainability. This recognition belongs to everyone in our organization who lives by these values every day. Together, we are proving that ethical business practices not only benefit communities, but also drive long-term success for all."
About the judges of the 2024 BBB Torch Awards for Ethics:
Faith Bjalobok PhD holds a masters degree in Criminology and a masters 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).
Min Geiger, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Management at Duquesne University. She received her PhD in Management from West Virginia University. Her research explores implicit biases that may disadvantage employees from marginalized groups and how the use of algorithms can perpetuate these biases in organizations. Min’s research has been published in Journal of International Business Studies, Nature Machine Intelligence, and Group & Organization Management. Her dissertation work was recognized by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology.
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, Academy of Management Perspectives, and Business and Society journal.
Eligible winners of the Better Business Bureau of Western PA’s Torch Awards for Ethics are now able to 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.