DAYTON — Better Business Bureau serving Dayton and the Miami Valley hosted its Torch Awards For Ethics dinner (formerly the Eclipse Integrity Awards) Tuesday evening. About 400 people joined the organization at the David H. Ponitz Sinclair Center to honor five organizations with the prestigious Torch Awards For Ethics, five Students of Integrity Award winners, as well as its Legacy Award, Community Honor and Dave Donaldson Award of Distinction-3D Award recipients. It also presented its fourth class of Spark Award winners.
BBB’s Torch Awards For Ethics, sponsored by WesBanco Bank, Inc., Back To Business I.T., WDTN-TV, Dayton Daily News and iHeart Radio, are about ethics, honesty and integrity. They honor organizations whose leaders demonstrate a high level of personal character; ensure that the organization’s practices meet the highest standards of ethics; and consequently, generate trust with customers and the community. The Torch Award embodies BBB’s mission of advancing business trust.
The Legacy Award is dedicated to the legacy of great Miami Valley business pioneers, such as John Patterson, Wilbur and Orville Wright, Charles Kettering and Colonel Edward Deeds. It was through their ingenuity, leadership, generosity and mentorship to others that the Miami Valley has stood the test of time and recreated itself again and again. This award honors businesses, which have inspired, mentored and provided valuable support, education and guidance to staff, businesses and community leaders that have went on to make their successes in the Miami Valley.
BBB’s Community Honor sponsored by Randd Associates Printing and Promotions Inc. recognizes organizations that make significant contributions to enrich the lives of others. It spotlights the honoree’s efforts to realize not only their own missions, but their role in making the Miami Valley a thriving community, taking care of its citizens – individuals and organizations.
The Spark Awards recognize entrepreneurial organizations whose leaders demonstrate a higher level of character, generating a culture that is authentic about its mission and connect with community.
BBB’s Center for Business and Consumer Ethics Inc. (CBCE) recognizes the winners of the 2022 AES Ohio Students of Integrity. These five high school seniors demonstrated high moral character and outstanding ethics. All high schools in the BBB’s service area received invitations to nominate two outstanding students from their senior classes. Each of the winners is recognized as a BBB Student of Integrity and will receive a $1,000 scholarship to a college of his/her choice.
Torch Awards For Ethics Winners
Bella Sorella Pizza Co., the winner in the 1-10 employee category, is a mobile food business serving premium, quality simple food with the freshest ingredients, which are many times harvested from its own garden and farm.
The winner in the 11-50 employee category, NextGen Federal Systems, a national company with a local presence, provides innovative software and systems engineering solutions and services for Department of Defense and intelligence community customers. The company operates with integrity, thriving on customer collaboration and transparency.
The winner in the 51+ employee category, Voss Chevrolet, a family-owned business, is the largest auto dealership network in the Dayton/Miami Valley area and is recognized as a leader and innovator in the industry. ‘Built on Trust, Driven by Integrity’ is the foundation of every policy and procedure created and followed at Voss Chevrolet.
Miami Valley Meals, the winner in the nonprofit 1-10 employees category and formerly known as Set the Banquet Table, was founded with the intent of supporting local hunger-related charities. The team has identified and implemented best practices for fighting food insecurity and cultivated lasting connections between itself and the human services network. It’s the only organization in the Dayton area that provides chef-prepared meals in bulk to local nonprofits using recovered food.
The mission of the winner in the nonprofit 11+ employee category, The Foodbank Inc., is to eliminate hunger and its root causes. The culture is focused on being able to adapt, continuously improve, “lead with yes,” be a leader in the community and nationally, believe in employees’ abilities to lead and lead with “grace in the gray space” for clients.
Students of Integrity Winners
Lily Bradley from Alter High School has already used her passion for entrepreneurship to begin a nonprofit baking company, which donates its proceeds to Mission of Mary.
One of the guiding principles for Morgan Kipker from Jackson Center High School is compassion for others. This inspired her to help create several different programs at her school to help students who may have otherwise found themselves on the fringes. She also volunteers at a local nursing home. Her second guiding principle is integrity. She believes acting with integrity and following through on commitments are of upmost importance. “Integrity is a full-time job, not just a behavior to impress others or gain recognition.” After graduation, Morgan plans to become a family and consumer sciences teacher, helping future families better help themselves.
Caitlyn McCready from Brookville High School resonates strongly with the concept of justice – a concept she has seen applied in equal and unequal measures through her life. However, she has overcome obstacles and is now a student ranked first in her class, a passionate volunteer and a school leader.
Carson Taylor from Sidney High School understands the role of a leader and the responsibilities that come along with it. He’s been a sports team captain, STEM camp leadership intern, youth sports referee, trainer at the restaurant at which he works, mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters; and generally, a school leader in all aspects. He realizes being true to oneself is key to being an effective leader. “The quality of person you are is determined by how well you live up to the values that are most important to you.” Carson plans to pursue a business finance major and continue as a leader on and off campus.
Emma Winkleman from Northwestern High School has been a section leader in symphonic band, drum major in the marching band, stage manager for the spring musical and co-founded the school’s first Gay-Straight Student Alliance.
Community Honor Recipients
The Community Honor Award, sponsored by Randd Associates Printing and Promotions, was presented to the Greater Miami Valley myVeteran Community. The organization brings together local Veteran service providers, resources, advocates, and other stakeholders to improve outcomes for Veterans, service members and their families. It drives a shared understanding among stakeholders of the complex challenges veterans and transitioning service members face and leverages its collective strengths to improve the Veteran experience.
Legacy Award Recipient
Think Patented is a marketing execution company that delivers its clients’ messages to their intended audiences through technology, printing, signage, promotional items, mailing and fulfillment solutions. Its team believes success is determined not only by revenue, but by the satisfaction and loyalty of employees, customers and vendors, and is only possible because of its commitment to ethics, innovation and community involvement. The company provides internship and apprenticeship programs to area youth, giving them real-world experience and helping them prepare for a career in the industry. The team also volunteers to provide mock interviews, portfolio reviews and externships for students at the Modern College of Design.
Spark Awards
Agape Media specializes in video and photo production. By using light and sound, stillness and motion, filming and editing, heart and soul, Agape Media uncovers the best versions of stories to be told. The founder strives for integrity and trust in its workplace that reflects the success of its clients.
Pink Moon Goods specializes in crafting a selection of home goods that combine skill, intelligence and virtue for ethical living. The founder’s goal is supporting both the local economy and global market by bringing the best products to customers. Its priority is to source goods that promote sustainable practices with natural materials, promoting its commitment to reduce the carbon footprint.
Noticing a demand for homemade baby food, Taste T Love Baby Food – a company that offers convenient, nutritious and affordable options for customers – got its start. It creates homemade food options for first time eaters, toddlers and a growing population of all other ages and genres of people.
Tumble LLC, a minority-owned, on-demand laundry and dry-cleaning start-up in the Miami Valley, was inspired by the owners after a personal struggle with laundry and dry-cleaning while living on a college campus. The team believes empathy, dedication, passion and hard work are key factors in building relationships and making a positive impact in the community.
John North, president/CEO of BBB serving Dayton and the Miami Valley, says, “The Torch Awards For Ethics dinner celebrated the great works of area businesses, nonprofits and students. The honorees inspire others to stretch themselves and be the best for themselves, their employees, vendors, customers and community. We applaud their efforts and salute them for the ethics and integrity they demonstrate day in and day out.”
