The judging selection teams have released the names of the finalists for the 2012 Torch Awards for Marketplace Trust presented by the Better Business Bureau in Southeast Texas and assisted by the College of Business at Lamar University. Following in-depth studies of applications, supporting documentation, and on-site interviews, the finalists are:
For-Profit - Large Business Category
Anderson Ford Mercury of Cleveland
Copy and Camera Technologies of Beaumont
Star Graphics in Beaumont
For-Profit - Small Business Category
Airport Travel in Beaumont
American Steam-A-Way of Port Neches
Main Dish Studio Kitchen of Beaumont
Non-Profit Category
Buckner Children & Family Services of Beaumont
DuPont Goodrich Federal Credit Union in Beaumont
Spindletop Center in Beaumont
The three winners will be announced at the 15th annual Better Business Bureau Torch Awards for Marketplace Trust Presentation Banquet on Tuesday, May 8 at the Beaumont Civic Center. The gathering, which will draw more than 500 business, civic and community leaders from across Southeast Texas, will also give recognition to the 2012 recipients of the “Friend of the BBB” Award.
The featured speaker for the Torch Award Presentation Banquet will be Mark Sanborn, President of Sanborn & Associates, Inc., an idea lab for leadership development. Leadershipgurus.net lists Mark as one of the top 30 leadership experts in the world.
Award presenters will include media personalities Bill Leger and Kelli Phillips of KFDM-TV, Kevin Steele and Jackie Simien of KBMT-TV, Greg Picazo and Mary Sturgill of KJAC-TV, and Jessica Guidry and Brian Glenn of KBTV-TV. Broadcast Legend Larry Beaulieu will serve as the master of ceremonies.
“The purpose of the Torch Awards is to recognize annually those for-profit businesses and non-profit organizations in our eight-county plus region committed to maintaining exceptionally high standards of ethical behavior in marketplace relationships,” said John Paschall, President/CEO of the Better Business Bureau in Southeast Texas.
Two prestigious Selection Teams judged the entries and conducted on-site visits to select the finalists and the winners from companies and organizations that entered the competition. For-profit accredited and non-accredited businesses of the Better Business Bureau from across the eight-counties of southeast Texas were eligible to enter. The judging selection team for the for-profit businesses include: Dr. Cynthia C. Barnes, Professor Lamar University College of Business; Veda Butler, Supervisor at Workforce Solutions Southeast Texas; Cindy Cherry, Jefferson County Adult Probation Supervisor; Gale Colletti, Julie Rogers “Gift of Life” Program Director of Volunteers; Jerome Delafosse, Jefferson County Employee Relations/Compensation Manager of Human Resources; Allen Lea, McFaddin Ward House Museum Executive Director; Michael Perez, Executive Director of the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club; and Marcia Stevens, Executive Director of SETX Nonprofit Development Center. The judging selection team for the non-profit businesses include: Steve Cooper, Broussard’s Mortuary Funeral Director; Tommy Patrizi, Owner of Apex Payroll; Michael Sculley, Sales Manager at Kirksey’s Sprint Printing; Tim Sudela, President of American Valve & Hydrant; and Marleen Swerdlow, Director of General Business Programs and Professor of Business at Lamar University.
Anyone may attend the May 8 Torch Awards for Marketplace Trust Presentation Banquet at the Beaumont Civic Center. A Silent Auction, with more than 100 items, and an open reception will get underway at 5:30PM. The banquet, program and presentations will begin at 7:00PM. A $10,000 contribution will be made from the Better Business Bureau of Southeast Texas to Lamar University and the BBB College of Business Scholarships, bringing contributions over the last fourteen years to $150,000. The band ‘Bada Bing’ will provide entertainment before and during the banquet.
Revenue from the event benefits the Better Business Bureau undergraduate business scholarships and the BBB Consumer Education Foundation, Inc. Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze corporate tables, as well as individual seats are available through Thursday, May 3, and may be secured by contacting Debbie Bridgeman at the Better Business Bureau. Call (409) 835-5951, ext. 117 or e-mail debbiebridgeman@bbbsetexas.org for complete information and reservations.
Additional tax-deductible contributions to this worthwhile effort are also accepted by the BBB Consumer Education Foundation, as well as donations for the Silent Auction.
