Better Business Bureau and the BBB Foundation today honored Omaha’s 2010 BBB Integrity Award Winners at BBB’s annual awards luncheon at the Embassy Suites Omaha – La Vista Conference Center. This “Ethics Olympics” event was attended by over 750 people. The keynote speaker, Holly Petraeus, director of BBB Military Line and wife of Army General David Petraeus, commander of U.S. and NATO Forces in Afghanistan was introduced by the Integrity Awards Speaker Sponsor Gail DeBoer, president of SAC Federal Credit Union.
The six local Winners of these prestigious awards were announced by videos produced by the event’s Media Sponsor KETV. They are Monarch Siding and Windows, Inc., Stiles Services, Total Construction Services, Inc., Early Out Services, Inc. and Certified Transmission. In addition, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Nebraska was selected in the charity category. These organizations range in size from less than 5 employees to over 100 employees and have received this award for upholding the highest standards of business ethics.
Jim Hegarty, chief executive officer of BBB serving Nebraska, South Dakota and southwest Iowa stated, “In today’s challenging economic climate, honesty and integrity are more important than ever. He added, “This year’s award recipients, selected by independent panels of judges, represent what is best about business in metro Omaha. These organizations have solid business practices, based on a commitment to serve their customers with the highest standard of ethics. They have built successful companies because of the trust that has been established, and the BBB Integrity Awards recognize their leadership in the community.”
BBB Communications Director Margo Riekes added, “The Integrity Award’s judges felt that the overall quality of this year’s applicants was very strong. Therefore, other Integrity Award candidates who demonstrated, through the application process, that they placed a high priority on honesty and integrity in the work place were recognized with Silver Awards of Distinction and Bronze Awards of Merit. They also serve as ambassadors for quality customer service, and the BBB is proud to make these special designations.”
The Award of Distinction recipients include: B Street Collision Center, Merchants Credit Adjusters, H & H Chevrolet, Nebraska Furniture Mart and the Food Bank for the Heartland. The organizations that received an Award of Merit are: The Filter Shop, Millard Sprinkler, Inc. and Ronald McDonald House Charities in Omaha.
In addition, the first BBB Student Service Excellence Awards were granted to five outstanding high school students. This new annual program, funded by the BBB Foundation, was created to promote and recognize character, school, and community service. For these awards, all high schools in the metro Omaha area were invited to identify 10th graders that were selected as Rotary Honor Roll students when they were in the 8th grade, and who exemplify the values of the Better Business Bureau and Rotary – personal integrity, ethical behavior, leadership and academic achievement. “These awards seek to keep ethics alive in the minds of Rotary Honor Roll Students during their high school years,” said Presenter Gary Bren, president elect, Downtown Rotary.
All applications were submitted to an independent panel of judges that selected the 2010 Winners who were asked to designate a charity they wished to honor-a reflection of their integrity and commitment to service. This year five students were presented with an award. In addition, a check for $200 from the BBB Foundation will be sent to each student’s designated charity in their name.
The Winners of the BBB Student Service Excellence Awards are: Grace Bartels, Brownell-Talbot and Ralph Hauke, Creighton Prep who chose Siena Francis House; Courtney Collins, Benson High School and Jake Wiepen, Skutt Catholic High School selected the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; and Reagan Huber, Burke High School picked the Open Door Mission.
