Dayton937

The Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame recognizes the efforts of Ohio’s distinguished men and women who have worn the uniform of our nation’s armed forces and then continue to contribute to their communities, state and nation through exceptional acts of volunteerism, advocacy, professional distinction, public service and philanthropy.

The nomination packet MUST focus on achievements and contributions outside of and beyond military service. This program is not intended to focus on what Ohio military members accomplished while in uniform.

Who is eligible?
The veteran nominee must meet the following criteria:

• Must be a past or current Ohio resident

• Must have received an honorable discharge

• Must be of good moral character Common errors when submitting nomination packets:

Definition of Veteran:
Veterans means any person who has completed service in the armed forces, including the national guard of any state, or a reserve component of the armed forces, who has been discharged under honorable conditions from the armed forces or who has been transferred to the reserve with evidence of satisfactory service.

For the Nominators:

Recommendations for induction are submitted for review to the Governor of the State of Ohio. Finalists and their nominators will be notified in September. Nominators of veterans who were not selected will be notified.

All state elected officials, members of the General Assembly, members of the Governor’s staff, the director of the Ohio Department of Veterans Services, members of the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame Executive Committee, members of the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame Foundation and members of any County Veterans Service Commission are ineligible for induction into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame until two years after they have left their positions.The executive committee may waive the two-year requirement for nominees over 70 years of age.

Nomination Packets For the submission process to uniformly portray the post-military achievements and accomplishments of these great Ohio veterans, the nomination packet must adhere to the following format. Please label sections accordingly.

Section 1 Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame Nomination Form This form requires the signature of the nominator to validate that the information is accurate.

Section 2 Verification of Veterans Status Attach a copy of the nominee’s final discharge papers such as DD Form 214.

Section 3 Summary of Post-Military Achievements Examples include exemplary professional distinction; contributions through educational, fraternal, faith, veteran and service organizations; political office; public service; volunteerism; philanthropy and more.

Section 4 Post-Military Awards and Honors Provide a list and highlights/significance of awards and honors. Examples include Presidential awards, Citizen of the Year, Veteran of the Year, significant milestones, etc.

Section 5 Summary of Education and Training Accomplishments Include a chronology of education and training accomplishments. Section 6 Narrative Detailing the Veteran’s Overall Accomplishments and Achievements Provide a comprehensive narrative detailing why this Ohio veteran should be considered for the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame. Approximately 500 words. If space allows, letters of recommendation can be included in this section.

Nomination packet deadline: June 1, 2022. Send to Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame, Ohio Department of Veterans Services, 77 S. High Street – 7th Floor, Columbus OH 43215 or [email protected] or fax to 614.387.7317

Better Business Bureau serving Dayton and the Miami Valley hosted its Torch Awards For Ethics dinner (formerly the Eclipse Integrity Awards) this 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 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.

Torch Awards For Ethics Winners

BBB’s Torch Awards For Ethics 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.

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. Bella Sorella is unique as most of its staff doesn’t need to work; most are retired or already have well-paying full-time jobs, but they want to work with Bella Sorella. The team wants the company to have the best showing and reputation and this is evident time after time at events. They do it with smiles and good attitudes. Even though the business is small, it’s made a commitment to be involved in the community, providing support to Pelotonia, Aullwood, Kleptz YMCA and more. This family-run business is truly invested and dedicated to incredibly hard work and love of food.

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. It follows industry best practices and gets customers involved in the development of systems the company builds for them. The company’s ethical culture begins with new employee orientation, is reinforced by the Employee Handbook Code of Conduct and Business Ethics and is followed up with annual trainings and check-ins. NextGen and its employees support local charities and engage in its communities. Its beneficiaries include Dayton VA Fisher House, Dayton Regional STEM School, Angel Tree and various Veteran activities. NextGen Federal Systems is focused on being an ethical company and seeks to be a trusted partner with all its constituents.

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. And, it starts with employees. The leadership knows a culture where customers are treated with respect is impossible without a culture that treats employees with respect. The leadership educates, trains and empowers every employee to carry the integrity in the organization out into the community. They give back to the community in many ways from local school events and sports to libraries, parks, festivals, parades and many other types of fund raisers. Integrity and character are more than just talk 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. Since its inception, it has partnered with 78 distribution partners, 30 food recovery partners and numerous other community organizations. The team has never lost sight of the goal to provide a nourishing meal that provides a sense of warmth, care and dignity for the recipient. By collaborating with each other, they have created a space free from discrimination and judgment, that’s welcoming for all and provides opportunities for growth. Miami Valley Meals has a culture centered on creativity, adaptability, respect and hospitality.

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 our community and nationally, believe in employees’ abilities to lead and lead with “grace in the gray space” for clients. The organization’s grown from distributing five million pounds of food in 2009 to distributing over 17 million in 2021. It rescues 6.5 million pounds of food annually through local food organization partnerships. Plus, it’s built a greenhouse, which can produce up to 1,000 heads of lettuce weekly. The Foodbank strives to be transparent to donors. In fact, it maintains a four-star rating on Charity Navigator and a platinum rating on GuideStar. The Foodbank is a strong servant leader, dedicated to world class excellence.

Students of Integrity Winners

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 your 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.

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. She also demonstrates her passion for volunteerism as the student ambassador of the Mark Kreusch Memorial Fund. In her further education, she plans to focus on entrepreneurship and poverty studies so she can help marginalized communities capitalize on their own skills and resources. “I would tell a person working towards making a voice for themselves in the world to take that first step. Even if that step feels like a big stride…be courageous, trust yourself, turn off negative thoughts and make your dreams reality.

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. Caitlyn plans to attend law school and focus on defense of civil liberties. “Humanity is an intimidating pool to aspire to change, but with the guidance of further education and fire for societal revival, I believe I can make a powerful stance against the overlooked wrongs experienced by many.”

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. She recognizes the need for strong peer leaders because she feels she often felt a lack of leadership in her childhood. She credits her mother’s strength in handling two children and many other life setbacks. Emma plans to attend The Ohio State University and find a path to truly ignite her passion for leadership. “I want to go into work each day with a fiery passion. To love what I do is something I strive to have in the workplace.”

Community Honor Recipients

BBB’s Community Honor 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 Community Honor Award 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.

A highlight of its efforts is the annual Vets Moving Forward event, which features a resource fair for organization to share information on their mission with Veterans, as well as hosts a job fair for organizations to talk with Veterans about positions within their companies. It also offers a Dayton VA Medical Center Enrollment Fair for Veterans to sign up for VA services. Its community involvement extends even further through its support of United Way’s VetsLink, Alzheimer’s Military Task Force and the Virtual Faith Leader Veteran Workshop. It is always looking for ways to identify and facilitate forums where service providers can connect to improve outcomes, meet with Veteran Service Organizations, and promote information sharing between service providers, facilitate feedback mechanisms for Veterans and host listening sessions to gather Veterans’ needs.

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.

Giving back is integral to the culture at Think Patented. During the holidays, the company contributes to four different charities in the name of its customers and collects donations for TOYS for TOTS. It also strongly encourages and gives each employee a day off annually to volunteer for a worthy cause. It even donated 50,000 surgical masks to Children’s Hospital of Dayton during the pandemic. Its leadership has for several years served on the board of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, one owner a former chair, and the Dayton Development Coalition. Three of the owners have been through the Leadership Dayton Program. It is also proud to be a sponsor/partner with the Dayton Dragons and University of Dayton Athletics. The list of organizations benefiting from the company’s generosity is long, as is its list of industry awards and honors.

Spark Awards

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.

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. Developing the business on deep friendships mixed with pre-established trust and respect, its team has the best interest for each other as individuals and the company. The ultimate goal for the team’s production is to be that craftsman and collaborative partner that builds virtual connections through storytelling. The company hasn’t hesitated to give back to the community. It works alongside and partners with local companies or nonprofits whenever possible. It’s committed to Declare, City of Trotwood, Elija Seabrook (artist and producer), Vandalia Barbershop, as well as nine different Christmas productions during the pandemic in 2020.

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. It views every new project as an opportunity to build a reputation for excellent service through designing, crafting and delivering a quality experience and product for every client. Operating with dedication and personal connections, it’s always welcoming others’ input and willing to ask for help to improve. They know creating trust will allow the business to adapt a positive brand image. In its efforts to give back, the founder has partnered with YWCA Dayton on multiple projects. The owner is also involved with GoRecycle to provide battery recycling.

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. From the start of its journey, the business has grown to serve outside of just online subscribers and farmer’s markets. Focusing on feedback, communication, transparency and recognizing the constant need for improvement is vital to the success of a leader, the team and business. Allowing the team to shine in different areas is a major factor contributing to how the business thrives. Showing support for the community, the team has given back in unique ways, such as partnering with childcare centers who are under Child and Adult Care Food Program and recently securing a partnership with Dayton Children’s Hospital.

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. By bettering the business, it continues to devote itself to providing excellent customer service. Creating an honest and open policy in the workplace allows new ideas, growth and value to the business as a whole. With a mission to give back to the community, it recently partnered with Clothes That Work. For every order the business receives, it donates one article of clothing to Clothes That Work. The plan is simple – the more the business grows, the more it donates.

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.”