BBB Cincinnati Past Torch Awards winners

Janice Howard, Owner

Emma's All in One Occasions (Soul Food) is a Westwood restaurant and catering company serving Southern-style food to Cincinnatians since 2005. They value uplifting their customers and staff through transparency and respect, seeking out feedback for continuous improvement. They uplift the region with donations to underserved communities and veterans and as a vendor for events like The Black Family Reunion and Westwood Second Saturdays. Their motto is, “If it's not cooked from the soul, it will not be sold.”

Brent Degenhardt, President and CEO

City Wide Facility Solutions of Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky provides customized janitorial and maintenance service management for commercial facilities, from floor to roof and interior to curb. Founded in 2003, the Northern Kentucky-based service location prides itself on partnering with clients as trusted advisors and empowering employees to work at their highest potential. Their culture encourages giving back to the community through paid volunteer days, donation matches, local event sponsorships, and more; in 2022, they were proud to financially support more than 20 nonprofits.

Brady Jolly, CEO

Jolly Plumbing Drains Heating & Air lives up to its name by providing honest, friendly, and prompt service for plumbing and HVAC needs throughout Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati. Since 1979, they have fostered a culture of character working toward their mission: “To do the right thing, without compromise.” Their “Unclogs for Dogs” program donates a portion of revenue from every drain clog appointment to local animal shelters in need and their annual Trucks and Treats event allows local families to explore the trades.

H. David Wallace, CEO

Heritage Bank was founded in 1990 to make a locally owned, locally managed community bank accessible to consumers and businesses in Greater Cincinnati and the Miami Valley. Specializing in small business banking, they provide seasoned bankers and exceptional service to local small- to mid-sized privately owned companies. Heritage Bank uplifts surrounding areas by sponsoring nearly $150,000 in programs for business accelerators/incubators, associations, and chambers, plus prioritizing funding to local nonprofits and scholarship programs.

Jonathan Adee, Executive Director

Keep Cincinnati Beautiful is a nonprofit founded in 1978 that connects people, passion, and place through programs aimed at increasing environmental stewardship. Active in all 52 Cincinnati neighborhoods, they work with community volunteers to pick up litter and clean illegal dumpsites, landscape and plant flowers, remove graffiti, and transform boarded-up buildings and neglected blank walls with murals and facades. Through 603 clean up events and 13,198 volunteer hours so far this year, they’ve collected 274,409 pounds of litter and debris.

Johnmark Oudersluys, Executive Director

CityLink Center is a faith-based nonprofit helping Cincinnatians create individualized plans to break free from poverty since 2006. At their West End campus, clients can access core services promoting education, employment, and financial education, plus supporting services like childcare, healthcare, and transportation assistance. CityLink Center partners with local social service agencies to provide career- and asset-building opportunities at no cost to their hundreds of clients each year. They aim to close the gap of understanding and empathy between Cincinnati’s different socioeconomic and racial groups through an immersion experience and three-part learning series.

H. A. Musser, President/CEO

Santa Maria Community Services is an independent nonprofit organization originally founded in 1897. Place-based in Cincinnati’s Price Hill community, their mission is to be a catalyst and advocate for Greater Price Hill families to attain their educational, financial, and health goals. Their bilingual staff provides more than 2500 individuals with educational tools and resources to build strong families, promote healthy residents, and foster neighborhood revitalization. Their welcoming Price Hill Family Centers provide the coaching, support, and flexibility to help families achieve their identified goals toward stabilization and self-sufficiency.

Teri Shirk, President/CEO

Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired (CABVI) is a nonprofit providing comprehensive services for people of all ages who are blind or visually impaired in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region. Founded in 1911, they help 4000+ people adapt to vision loss annually, offering vision and audio information services and employment opportunities. With programs ranging from early childhood and youth services to personalized talking print services, CABVI’s mission is to empower people who are blind or visually impaired with opportunities to seek independence.