TORCH AWARDS forMARKETPLACE ETHICS

Platinum Event Sponsors:

Trust. Performance. Integrity.

Entry Packet 2015

Main Sponsor:

Who Judges the Torch Awards?

What are the Torch Awards for Marketplace Ethics?The mission of your Better Business Bureau is to promote and foster the high-est ethical relationship between businesses and the public through voluntary self regula-tion, consumer and business education, and service excel-lence.

Your BBB conducts an annual awards program to gain public recognition for businesses and non-profit organizations that maintain a solid commitment to conducting their business prac-tices in an ethical fashion.

Businesses can apply in four categories based on the number of employees. Non-profit organi-zations can apply in two catego-ries based on total revenues. An independent panel of volunteer judges selects the winners.

Winning businesses can for-ward their entries to the Coun-cil of BBB’s International Torch Awards competition.

The Torch Awards for Market-place Ethics is designed to pro-mote not only the importance of ethical business practices, but the willingness and efforts made by outstanding businesses and non-profit organizations to ensure that our marketplace remains fair and honest. Every winner and finalist of a BBB Torch Award has an unprec-edented opportunity for public recognition and well deserved visibility.

No award could mean more to a business or non-profit organiza-tion’s reputation than a Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics.

Keynote Speaker, 2014 BBB Torch Awards - Wesley Hender-son, Angel’s Envy

Candidates for the BBB Torch Awards for Marketplace Eth-ics are evaluated by a panel of judges from the business, non-profit, and academic com-munity who are independent of the BBB. The decisions of the judges are final. All criteria are judged equally, each carrying a maximum point value of 10, plus a maximum of 10 points for the overall presentation, for a total of 50 points.

2014 BBB Torch Awards (left to right) Charlie Mattingly, Presi-dent/CEO, BBB; Katie Grant, Petfirst; Patrick Sterling, BBB Board Chairman

Who is Eligible?Torch Awards are open to all businesses and organizations that serve the BBB of Louisville, Southern Indiana, and Western Kentucky markets. Previous winners are ineligible to re-apply for 3 years. The company/orga-nization must have been in busi-ness for at least three years and must be in good standing with the BBB. However, BBB Accredi-tation is not a requirement for entry or consideration. Soliciting charities are required to dem-onstrate compliance with BBB Standard for Charity Account-ability in order to be eligible for an award. For your entry to be considered the following three steps must be followed:

Complete the entry form.

Prepare your entry, address all four criteria, and include a two-

page summary.

Send or drop off the entry to the BBB by the deadline:

September 30, 2015

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Need Help? Call Reanna Smith-Hamblin at (502) 588-0043 for more information or to set up an appointment to view past winning entries

Winners and finalists of the BBB Torch Awards get a lot of attention! They are announced in a press re-lease, in newspaper articles and ads, and they are hon-ored at the Torch Awards luncheon.

Company/Organization Name:______________________________________________

President/Owner:_________________________________________________________

Street Address:________________________ City:_________________ Zip:_________

Telephone:____________________________ Email:____________________________

Website Address:_________________________________________________________

Years in Business:________________________________________________________

Product/Service offered:___________________________________________________

I would like to enter the 2015 Better Business Bureau Torch Awards for Marketplace Ethics competition in the following category:

Company:

____ Very Small Business (1-9 employees) ____ Small Business (10-99 employees)

____ Medium Business (100-499 employees) ____ Large Business (500+ employees)

Non-Profit Organization:

____ Small (Revenue under $1,000,000) ____ Large (Revenue over $1,000,000)

The official entry is being submitted by:

Name:_______________________________ Title:_____________________________

Telephone:____________________________ Email:___________________________

Entry Deadline:September 30, 2015, 4:30 pm

Step 1 Entry Form (Must submit with your binder!)

Step 2 Preparing Your EntrySupporting documents must be provided in four areas for consideration (below). While examples from all four areas must be provided, the bullet points below are only suggestions and not all are required to be addressed in order to compete for an award.

Entries MUST be submitted on 8.5” x 11” paper, with the total entry LIMITED to a 2-inch, three-ring binder. Tabs must separate the binder into four sections corresponding to the judging criteria noted below. Make a copy of your entry for your records! Judges WILL NOT review videos, DVDs, etc.

Along with addressing the four criteria listed below, entries must also include a two-page summary (maximum) that:

• Explains why the company or organization merits consideration for the award.

• Highlights specific business and management practices relevant to the award.

• Illustrates the company or organization’s commitment to standards that build trust in the marketplace.

• Explains the company/organization’s posi-tion on integrity and standards of conduct in relationships with all stakeholders - including a formally adopted policy or mission state-ment.

Management Practices• Pertinent sections from an

employee handbook showing how commitment to excep-tional standards are commu-nicated to and implemented by employees.

• A vision, mission, or core values statement describing commitment to exceptional standards that benefit its customers, employees, sup-pliers, shareholders, and sur-rounding communities.

• Training and procedures used to address concerns an em-ployee may have in dealing with ethical issues.

• Management practices and policies that foster positive employee relations.

• Employee benefits and work-place practices contributing to the quality of family life.

• Actions taken to access and mitigate risks and prevent workplace injury.

• Examples of sound environ-mental practices.

• Examples of operational practices focused on security and privacy issues.

• Illustrations of commit-ment to standards that build trust in the marketplace (ie. customer service program, employee relation policy or practice, vendor/supplier relationship, etc.).

• Existence of Ombudsman, Compliance Officer, or Ethics Officer (who investigates and resolves complaints).

• Owners of companies with no employees must explain how a personal commitment to exceptional standards is applied.

Community/Investor/Stakeholder Relations

• Examples of a vision, mis-sion, and core values state-ment in action.

• Policies and practices that demonstrate accountability and responsibility to com-munities, investors, con-stituents, and other stake-holders.

• Actions taken demonstrat-ing service “beyond the call of duty.”

• Examples of circumstances in which tough decisions were made that had nega-tive short-term consequenc-es, but created long-term value and benefits.

• Examples of and results produced by pro-bono work.

• Examples of working closely with the community and making a positive social impact - charitable and/or community service projects.

• Examples of how your busi-ness has prospered because

of honesty and integrity.• Complimentary feedback

from customers, vendors and/or suppliers (can also be placed under Industry Repu-tation).

Communications and Marketing Practices

• Methods used to ensure all sales, promotional materi-als, and advertisements are truthful and accurate.

• Sales training policies and codes of ethics used by sales personnel that ensure all transactions are made in a transparent, honest manner.

• Crisis communications efforts and associated marketing actions that educated audi-ences, prevented negative outcomes, and restored trust and confidence in the prod-ucts and services.

• Examples of internal commu-nications practices, benefiting employees and contributing to overall effectiveness and efficiency.

Industry Reputation• Media coverage reflecting

trust in the marketplace.• Awards, recognition, and

complimentary letters from within the industry or community.

2014 Winners and Finalists:

Very Small Business (1 - 9 employees)Marketing Mechanics, Westview, KY, Winner

Empire Today, Louisville, KY, Finalist

Small Business (10 - 99 employees)PetFirst, Jeffersonville, IN, Winner

Medium Business (100 - 499 employees)Century Mortgage Company, Louisville, KY, Winner

Z Salon & Spa, Louisville, KY, Finalist

Large Business (500+ employees)MSD, Louisville, KY, Winner

Non-Profit Organization (with Revenue over $1,000,000)Family Health Centers, Louisville, KY, Winner

Kosair Charities, Louisville, KY, Finalist

Step 3 Mail or Drop off Your Entry

Better Business BureauAttention: Reanna Smith-Hamblin

844 South 4th StreetLouisville, KY 40203

ENTRY DEADLINE: September 30, 2015 4:30 PM

The BBB 2015 Torch Award winners will be announced at the BBB Torch Awards Luncheon on November 4, 2015 at The Olmsted in Louisville, KY.

For sponsorship information, contact Reanna Smith-Hamblin at 502-588-0043 or rsmith-hamblin@louisville.bbb.org.