September 14, 2010 – Saint Paul, MN – The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) announced the finalists today for the prestigious Better Business Bureau Integrity Awards. The 11th Annual Integrity Awards ceremony will take place Wednesday, October 20, 2010 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul.
The BBB presents the Integrity Award each year to companies who exemplify ethical behavior and display integrity in all aspects of their operations; toward their employees, vendors, customers, and within their community. The Integrity Award is open to all for-profit businesses located within the Minnesota and North Dakota region. Each year, the BBB invites anyone to nominate a company they feel demonstrates exceptional ethics. Nominees are then offered the opportunity to submit an entry to the BBB, where a panel of independent volunteer business and community leaders review the entries and decide on a winner(s). Companies compete in four different categories based on number of employees.
The 2010 BBB Integrity Award finalists are:
- Category I (1-10 employees): EDS Builders, Inc., Lakeland, MN; Kamarron Design, Inc., Minneapolis, MN; Thread Logic, Jordan, MN.
- Category II (11-50 employees): Latuff Brothers Auto Body, Saint Paul, MN; Schmit Towing, Inc., Minneapolis, MN; Victory Auto Service & Glass, Fridley, MN.
- Category III (51-100): Carpet King, Inc., Minneapolis, MN; Lehman’s Garage, Bloomington, MN; ORBIT Systems, Inc., Mendota Heights, MN.
- Category IV (100 + employees): Empire Today, LLC, Eagan, MN; Right at Home, Bloomington, MN.
“Today more than ever it’s necessary that we spotlight and celebrate companies in our region who operate with integrity in all aspects of their operations,” said Dana Badgerow, President and CEO of the BBB of Minnesota and North Dakota. “The Better Business Bureau and our fellow Integrity Awards sponsors are proud to provide the platform for this special event which recognizes the wonderful achievements of all of our finalists.” Recipients of this year’s Integrity Award will be announced live at the event on Wednesday, October 20, from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Boulevard West, Saint Paul.
This year’s keynote speaker is Kathy Tunheim, President and CEO of Tunheim Partners, Inc. Ms. Tunheim is a highly respected business leader, specializing in corporate communications and communication strategy. Prior to cofounding the agency which became Tunheim Partners, Inc., Ms. Tunheim was Vice President of Public Relations and Internal Communications at Honeywell, where she gained experience in both the corporate world and the political arena that profoundly shaped her business approach. She also serves as trustee and board chair of several large nonprofit and philanthropic organizations.
Tickets for this event are available to the public and can be purchased online at www.thefirstbbb.org or by contacting Mackenzie at mkelley@thefirstbbb.org or 651-695-2482. Pre-registration is required.
Early bird tickets (dinner included) are available at the following rates until September 30:
- Member pricing:
- Individual tickets are $65
- 10 tickets are $585
- Non-member pricing
- Individual tickets are $85
- 10 tickets are $765
After September 30, ticket prices will be $70 and $90, respectively.
This is the fourth year that the BBB will present its Student of Integrity Scholarship Awards to high school seniors who demonstrate (through essay) their understanding of the impact ethical decisions have had on their lives. Best Buy is sponsoring the awards this year, and one $10,000 and one $5,000 scholarship will be presented to students of integrity to use towards the colleges of their choice.
“These scholarships are a wonderful way to reward students who have dealt with adversity, but found ways to remain true to themselves and their values,” said Lisa Jemtrud, Director of Outreach and Industry Services for the BBB.
Sponsors for the event are: ABRA Auto Body & Glass; Best Buy; The Gold Guys; Financial Concepts; The CW Twin Cities; Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal; Think Mutual Bank; Northland Group; CenterPoint Energy; Memory Vision; Clear Channel Radio; Rippe Print Communications; CHS, Inc. and Valley Pools & Spas.
