BBB Foundation Announces New Partnership with Concordia University Wisconsin

On Friday, April 25, 2014 at the Concordia University Wisconsin School of Business graduation and awards ceremony, the Better Business Bureau Serving Wisconsin (BBB) announced the reintroduction of the popular Torch Awards for Ethics program and its new event partnership with Concordia University School of Business Administration.
The BBB Foundation will honor Wisconsin businesses and charities in an annual award ceremony event, The Torch Awards, which will be hosted by Concordia University Wisconsin and take place in Spring, 2015.

Started by the Wisconsin BBB in 2003, the Torch Awards for Ethics was created to honor ethical Wisconsin companies and charities whose leaders demonstrate a high level of personal character and ensure that the organization’s practices meet the highest standards of ethics.

“For many years the School of Business Administration has been hosting a business ethics award. Moving forward, to be able to partner with the Better Business Bureau and the Torch Awards, to further the cause of business ethics is something that relates directly to our mission”, says the Reverend Dr. Patrick T. Ferry, President of Concordia University Wisconsin. “This extends our mission and exposes others to it that would not otherwise even know about our university.”

Torch Award winners consistently display qualities which embody integrity, trust, fair and honest business behavior, and transparency. The Torch Award itself provides recognition to companies and charities throughout the state who exemplify the ethical qualities embraced and elevated by the BBB.

“The Better Business Bureau is a century-old organization that has always promoted business ethics, integrity, and has upheld standards for fair and honest business behavior through its longstanding mission. Highlighting these companies and charities fits the BBB mission of advancing marketplace trust”, says Randall Hoth, BBB Serving Wisconsin CEO and President. “We are excited that this innovative program brings together the BBB and Concordia University Wisconsin, encouraging a partnership between ethical businesses, charities, and engaging students in the development of ethical business practices.”

“Could there be two better partners for the Torch Awards? One, the paradigm of best business practices, and the other a practitioner and devotee of the Golden Rule”, says Dr. David Borst, Dean - School of Business Administration. “This partnership promises to elevate the awareness of business ethics in our community, taking it to new heights and respect.”

Businesses and charities alike strive for Award recognition because it not only highlights and applauds them for their meritorious practices, but sets them apart as examples for others in the marketplace.

Former winners of the prestigious Torch Awards for Ethics include Rockwell Automation, The Boldt Company, Briggs & Stratton, Sargento Foods, Bergstrom Automotive, Festival Foods, Badger Meter, J.P. Cullen & Sons, Johnson Controls, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Wisconsin, Children’s Hospital, Make a Wish-Wisconsin, and Feeding America of Southeastern Wisconsin.

Competition will begin with a workshop to be held Wednesday, April 30, 2014 in the community room of the BBB Wisconsin office, located at 10019 W. Greenfield Ave., Milwaukee from 11:30 am – 1 pm. The workshop will explain the award benefits from judges and past winners and focus on the first criteria qualifications. It will also describe the online application process. The deadline for the competition is Monday, February 9, 2015.

Companies and charities of all sizes may apply for the Torch Award for Ethics. Instructional clinics and workshops will be offered throughout the state.

The Torch Award is open to all for-profit businesses and non-profit charities physically located in Wisconsin. Those entering the 2015 Torch Award competition will be judged in one of four categories based on the number of employees. Non-profit charities will be judged against other non-profits similarly sized. The judging is done by a prestigious group of business leaders, past Torch Award winners, and members of academia.

For more information go to www.bbb.org/wisconsin/torch-award or contact Carole Milos, cmilos@wisconsin.bbb.org or 414-847-6064. For an online version of this story, go to www.bbb.org/wisconsin