BBB Chattanooga: 2024 Torch Award for Ethics Recipients

Attached below is part of Resource 1 Tier 3 Data Security's Torch Award's application.

At Resource 1 Tier 3 Data Security, ethical leadership and strong character are not just buzzwords, they are the cornerstone for its organizational culture, setting the tone for the entire organization to always act with integrity, empathy and transparency in every aspect of its operation.

Resource 1 Tier 3 Data Security offers secure and sustainable Information Technology Asset Disposition (ITAD) solutions, safely disposing of digital records and IT assets that are no longer in use to ensure data protection, brand reputation and zerolandfill recycling. The sensitive nature of the organization’s work further underscores the need for operating with honesty as owner, CEO and executive director Chuck McDonald leads by example to cast more light than shadow within the company.

Attached below is part of East Tennessee Auto Outlet Torch Award's application.

Here at East Tennessee Auto Outlet, our name means a lot and we try to be as transparent regarding the sale of vehicles as we can be.  If we know of any issues, we make that known to the customer.  If a customer has some issues right after purchasing, we do our best to assist them in getting the repairs needed. 

We want our customers to have the best buying experience possible when they purchase a vehicle from us, and repeat customers are what we strive for.  As the owner, I have even split the cost of repairs or paid for them entirety if that's what it took to make the customer happy with their purchase.

Attached below is part of Gennett Forestry Consulting LLC Torch Award's application.

The profession as a Consulting Forester, I work with private and public, federal landowners. I do not look for the clients they come to me by references or I am found on professional listings. I work with them on their schedules if possible and meet with them in person or some are only by phone. Contracts are always used before work is started after the project is explained and then decided upon.

This also allows me to find out more about the owners and what would work for them to be engaged in their land management financial, ethical as well as to their abilities to maintain/complete the management activities. Ultimately, I want them to use correct silvicultural methods and to get the best results without making it hard to do so as not to lose interest in the long-term management. This profession has been my passion since I was 13 years of age and it is still very viable.

Attached below is part of One Price Framing  Torch Award's application.

In my business we are very transparent with our customers. At the front desk, we have a big display that outlines how all of our pricing works. As for our name, we just have one price. Many other frame store have

separate glass, mat, stretching, etc costs which is often confusing for our customers. We factor all that into one price so it is easier for the customer to understand. Also we do all the pricing in front of the customers from the measuring to showing them our price sheets to adding it all up so there is never a question of where a charge came from.

An instance where honesty was a differentiator was when a customer came from out of town to frame a very expensive picture that they wanted to display in their home gallery. I suggested to them museum glass because there is no reflection and blocks 99% of UV Rays. It is always a good choice for very expensive pictures that will be exposed to a lot of light. They had gotten quotes from other places but no one had mentioned museum glass so they thought it was unnecessary and just a way to charge more. They went to someone else. 

Attached below is part of LearningRx  Torch Award's application.

Chattanooga Brain Train LLC is a-sole proprietorship that is owned and operated by Michelle Hecker Davis, Board

Certified Cognitive Specialist. With a background in Business and Accounting from Lee University in Cleveland, TN, Michelle began developing her cognitive training skills in 2012 when she became the first Certified Cognitive Skills Trainer for LearningRx in Chattanooga. Since then, she has received the maximum amount of training available to Cognitive

Specialists and is a leader in the consistently growing industry of cognitive skills training. In July of 2023, Michelle was named the LearningRx Franchisee of the Year at the Annual LearningRx National Convention.

Most recently, Michelle was asked to contribute to the revised edition of the book The Purpose Directed Business by Dr. Ken Gibson, founder of LearningRx, and his daughter Kim Hanson, CEO of LearningRx. Her contribution centers around the shining areas of her business: exceeding client expectations and the WOW factor.

Attached below is part of Clean Heating & Air and Clean Crawlspace Torch Award's application.

To intentionally communicate my company vision and uphold our values, I have meetings with my leadership team every Monday and Thursday morning at 7:30am.  We reflect on the past week, discuss the week ahead as well as our overall company goals, whether for the week, month, quarter, etc., and we make a plan of attack.  My leadership team knows this is the time to bring to me any concerns or decisions that might require more of my focused attention than just a typical phone call or message.  They are also clear that they are safe to bring me feedback, opinions, and observations, and they are empowered to make decisions that err on the side of progress without repercussions provided they are moving in the direction of and under the guidance of our core values and ethical business practices.  Even if a leader makes a decision I might not have made, as long as they can show me that they were considering our core values and can back them up from an ethical standpoint, I support their decision and seek to learn from their perspective.  Our culture is not one of punishment or caged rules, but rather of creativity and freedom to explore ideas in an otherwise stale industry.  This also allows for proper ethical checks and balances.  My leadership team is free to check me when I stray, and they check one another as well, meaning that we are always looking to do things the right way for the sake of our community as our job is to serve others.

Attached below is part of Midian Roofing Inc. Torch Award's application.

Midian Roofing is a strong Christian based organization. Our culture starts with our President and Owner, TK Hamilton. Under his email signature he has:

 "Don't judge a man by his mistake, but by what he does with those mistakes".

Our Mission statement is simple but powerful:

Take care of the Client at all cost, Make sure Employees know their value and Have Fun!

We have instilled in each employee that our Midian brand stands for Quality workmanship but more importantly it stands for honesty, integrity and Customer Satisfaction!

In each sales presentation folder given to customers, the First item in the folder is a letter from TK guaranteeing the customers complete satisfaction and including his contact information.

To ensure total transparency, we provide a link to the customer of all pictures of the job as it progresses. So before , during and after completion, a customer knows for certain, we did what we promised in our agreement.

We have a policy that although we get thousands of calls, each one must be answered by a live person within 3 rings. We do not want folks waiting for us. We know that when you have a leak, in perhaps your most expensive possession, your house, you are anxious to get help.

Attached below is part of Yogi’s Primo Promo Torch Award's application.

As the proud owner of Yogi’s Primo Promo, I've always believed that leading with high character and integrity is not just a choice but a lifestyle. To me, leadership means creating an environment where my team feels encouraged to share new ideas, take initiatives, and understand that both successes and failures are essential steps in our collective growth. I make it a priority to celebrate our wins together and constructively discuss any setbacks, emphasizing that every experience is an opportunity for personal and professional improvement. This approach has fostered a culture of trust and transparency within our team, encouraging everyone to strive for excellence while staying true to themselves and our values.

Attached below is part of P&C Construction, Inc. Torch Award's application.

As a leader, my job is to serve those who are on my team.  I provide them with purpose, direction and motivation to do what they need to do in order to be successful.  

In my daily life, it is my purpose to serve as a role model for everyone I impact.  Whether it is at church, home or the office, I am the same person.  You will never hear me intentionally say something untrue.  I expect both me and my team to treat people with respect and speak to people with appropriate language in a professional manner.

When I started P&C over 30 years ago, I wanted to be part of a different kind of construction company.  I have succeeded beyond my imagination due to surrounding myself with great people and enabling them to do great things as a team.  We bring a team focus to everything we do and reinforce the ideas of a team of teams by bringing everyone together annually, getting together in small groups to have lunch together and participating in community events together.  

Attached below is part of Double D Piping Torch Award's application.

We provide specialized training on fire safety regulations, equipment, and emergency protocols.  We ensure that our employees effectively communicate potential risks to our customers and offer solutions to mitigate them. Whenever a customer needs service, our employees communicate everything that needs to be done prior to performing service so they are aware of any potential monetary commitments. There have been multiple instances in which a contractor for a new construction job has tarnished their relationship with the property owner, resulting in removal from the contract. However, due to our reputation and dependability, we were chosen to join the new assigned contractor to complete the project. In addition, we are awarded a residency with specific contractors to be the sole subcontractor for a chain of related projects.

Attached below is part of Lawson Electric Company Torch Award's application.

As president of Lawson Electric Company, Inc., I make it a point to visit all the office staff weekly to get their input, to understand their needs, and to get feedback on any issues that the company may be having. I want to be available and approachable to the employees. This allows for clear communications and open dialogue. I also want to set the example for the employees by being at work on time, being willing to listen to their concerns, and to follow up on those concerns. The goal is that they would treat our customers, vendors, and each other with the same respect. 

In regard to ethics, my motto is to “do the right thing”. We want to treat the customers, vendors, and each other as others want to be treated. In most cases, we trust our employees to make the right decisions and “do the right thing”. When issues arise that have no clear answer or leave the employee in some type of quandary, we trust that they will bring the issue to management and that we can develop a solution together.

Lawson Electric also brings in guest speakers to address ethics in the workplace. In the past, we have also brought in lawyers to discuss the proper treatment of others in the workplace and proper communications, whether that be in person or via telephone or e-mail. These classes have been received well by our employees and we intend to continue this practice moving forward.

Attached below is part of Cleveland Utilities Authority Torch Award's application.

At Cleveland Utilities Authority, we foster an atmosphere of respect, courtesy, honesty, and excellence. Our mission is to provide our customers with excellent and reliable electric, water, wastewater, and supporting services through innovative business practices, a process of continual improvement, and a demonstrated commitment to our community and Core Principles. In 2023, CUA adopted a Code of Conduct which was placed into our Handbook and a separate more extensive Code of Conduct Policy was also added. Our Code of Conduct values demonstrate we will be: respectful, courteous, honest/trustworthy, competent, and purposeful.

The success of our business is dependent on the trust and confidence we earn from our employees, customers, and the community we serve. We gain credibility by adhering to our commitments, displaying honesty and integrity, and reaching company goals solely through honorable conduct. Management has the added responsibility of demonstrating, through their actions, the importance of this Code. In any business, ethical behavior does not simply happen; it is the product of clear and direct communication of behavioral expectations, modeled from the top, and demonstrated by example. 

Attached below is part of United Way of the Ocoee Region Torch Award's application.

Creating a culture of trust within the organization is essential for fostering employee engagement, innovation, and long-term success. Our organization has worked hard to create a compelling mission and vision statement that are clearly communicated and woven through our everyday work. Employees are actively involved in discussion about our vision and mission, and our guiding principles were developed together with our team. By opening this process up and allowing our team to help contribute and shape these statements, they feel a sense of ownership and alignment with the organization’s goals. We have a UNITE (Unite Nurture Improve Team Engagement) Culture Committee that works to intentionally build positive culture within our organization. We believe that “Living United” begins with us, and we strive to live out our mission in all that we do. Our staff is in the top 15 of all workplace campaigns when it comes to our own giving to the mission and vision of our organization. 

Attached below is part of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga Torch Award's application.

First and foremost, we strive to ensure that RMHC has clear and comprehensive ethical guidelines in place. These guidelines outline expected behaviors, values, and standards for all employees to follow.

We hold monthly All Staff Meetings which include training, education, ethics and compliance. This helps employees understand the importance of ethical behavior and equips them with the knowledge to make ethical decisions in various situations.  We reach out to external resources and partner with organizations and experts to help the team stay informed regarding best practices. 

The Leadership sets the tone for the RMHC.  The President’s Council demonstrates ethical behavior and prioritizes integrity in their actions. This allows the remaining employees to see that ethical behavior is valued and practiced by leadership, and thereby are more likely to follow suit.  

RMH is an environment where employees feel comfortable speaking up about ethical concerns without fear of retaliation. We encourage open dialogue and provide multiple channels for reporting unethical behavior.  We maintain an open-door policy with all of our C-Suite.