These are trying times for our marketplace, the pandemic’s even made an impact on the Better Business Bureau’s Eclipse Integrity Awards, which are sponsored byWesBanco Bank, Inc., Back To Business I.T., WDTN-TV, Cox Media Group Ohio and iHeart Radio. This awards event was scheduled to be held earlier this year in May, but the BBB decided to take it virtual and announce the winners this week. This is certainly not how the organization expected to recognize its honorees this year, but the health and safety of all is of utmost importance
The BBB’s Eclipse Integrity Awards are about ethics, honesty and integrity. The award judges reviewed 20 completed nominations. The competition was tough and it was difficult for them to make their decisions, but they narrowed the field to 12 finalists, which narrowed down to six winners. Each nominee demonstrated strong rationale for why it should be considered.
The Eclipse Integrity Awards are presented to businesses featuring strong leadership and team members. Their leadership is committed to ethics, building a culture of high character ethics and unifying team members around ethical practices. The team is dedicated to performance management practices, ethical human resource practices and committed to the community as demonstrated by their community service and support of the BBB ideals.
The Nonprofit Eclipse Integrity Awards are presented to nonprofits or charities, which demonstrate outstanding community service through their mission and accomplishments, demonstrate excellence in programs and fiscal stewardship, operate with integrity through ethical leadership and a strong team, are transparent in their communications and value the power of collaborations/partnerships. Their actions make a positive impact on the vitality and overall health of our community while supporting the ideals of BBB.
Roberson Law, the Eclipse Integrity Award winner in the 0-10 employees category, is a premier law firm, which focuses on estate planning, trust, probate and elder law. Its mission is to provide excellent, compassionate legal services to help people plan for the unexpected and prepare for the inevitable. The firm hires based on character rather than credentials. Employees are motivated by exhibiting integrity through ethical behavior, excellent work, honest communication and service to the community. The team goes above and beyond the call of duty by obtaining certifications that aren’t required to practice law, but enable them to excel at what they do. They also exhibit integrity in their communication by telling the truth and minimizing negativity. Staff volunteer hundreds of hours in the community and do pro bono legal work. The founder has offered her speaking services free of charge for twenty-five years. In addition, many employees serve on nonprofit boards and assist at charitable events.
Maxim Roofing Company, the Eclipse Integrity Award winner in the 11-25 employees category,does commercial, industrial and residential roofing. The team considers old-fashioned values and friendly personal service among its most important assets. Team members work hard to be better today than they were yesterday. They constantly learn from experiences good and bad, looking forward to the future without forgetting the past. They work hard not to lose sight of the small company feel, wanting customers to feel comfortable from their first contact to job completion. At every meeting, it is always stressed “When in doubt, take care of the customer and use good roofing practices”. Maxim Roofing stands behind its products and services. Maxim Roofing is a proud sponsor of many organizations, including baseball and softball leagues, pee-wee football, volleyball, high school athletics, church camps, church bulletins, church fundraisers and a variety of veteran and police organizations.
For 20 years, Dayton Dragons Professional Baseball, the Eclipse Integrity Award winner in the 26-59 employees category, has worked tirelessly to make its sports-entertainment experience one of the best, striving to provide the highest standards for the community. The organization’s drive for excellence can be seen in the quality of products. The organization has five key business strategies that help guide its morals, ethics and management philosophy. These are part of all decisions made and the team provides continual staff training to ensure employees are aware and embrace them. The Dragons’ sellout streak has required the organization to hire better, train better, lead and manage better and provide unsurpassed customer service. The Dragons have even initiated many programs that directly promote, highlight and give back to the community. Its Foundation provides necessary funding and resources to support the countless donations, charitable giving requests, in-kind donations, unique game experiences and community-wide programs it supports every year.
The Eclipse Integrity Award winner in the 60+ employees category, JYG Innovations. is an organization that provides IT managed solutions, cyber security and research/analysis. The JYG Innovations team believes high integrity simplifies complex situations. By maintaining a high level of integrity, it maintains an honorable reputation. One unique example of integrity within the organization is it doesn’t measure success based on annual revenue or sales. The team believes a focus solely based on dollars and cents may lead to poor choices and behaviors. Instead, they focus on how the organization delivers services, takes care of employees and exceeds customers’ expectations. The team believes the organization has a responsibility to be an engaged corporate citizen. Employees are encouraged to be active and engaged in their communities. Through JYG Cares, the company supports sports activities, adopt-a-family initiatives and various non-profit organizations, such as the YWCA, DCDC, Air Camp and Women in Defense.
The Tandana Foundation, the Nonprofit Eclipse Integrity Award winner in the 0-10 employees category, offers support for community initiatives internationally as community members work toward dreams of education, health, food security, water resources, environmental conservation and income generation. The organization has grown exponentially. For instance, it partnered with a few communities at its start to now over 100. It’s increased from three volunteer ventures annually to 12. And, it’s increased donations from $7,000 in 2006 to $355,186 in 2019. Tandana’s focus on its values of positive intercultural relationships, responsibility and respect for people and their cultures remains constant. The pandemic’s made the organization stay true to its values, coordinate resources to make good decisions and find alternative ways to deliver on its mission. Being a BBB Accredited Charity, a Guidestar Platinum Seal of Transparency and a 2020 top-rated Great Nonprofit confirms Tandana lives by its ideals. These honors give others confidence Tandana is an organization worthy of support.
The Nonprofit Eclipse Integrity Award Winner in the 11+ employees category, Agape for Youth, Inc., is a foster care, adoption through foster care, reunification services and a bridges service provider that embraces the philosophy of loving unconditionally to make a difference in children’s lives. Since 1989, hundreds of children have been placed in the care of loving foster families and well over a hundred families have opened their hearts, homes and become licensed foster and adoptive parents. Through its Strength Finders 2.0 initiative, Agape has built a positive, professional and progressive culture, which continually strengthens programs and services while serving with excellence. The team treats everyone that visits the office with respect and kindness. It continually meets the BBB’s high standards to provide donors, volunteers and supporters with the assurance they’re able to trust the organization. Bottomline, the Agape for Youth team is passion ‘embraced’, commitment ‘driven’, integrity ‘centered’…the result.….” AGAPESTRONG”!
John North, president/CEO of BBB serving Dayton and the Miami Valley, says, “Congratulations to all of our winners. They are the best of the best and model the way for others in our marketplace. It’s an honor to celebrate the great things all the winners have done, are doing and will be doing in the future. We will be featuring them at multiple events this fall and hope you join us for each of them.”
Mark your calendars to join us at these events. On September 9, 8:30 – 10 a.m., we’ll be hosting a virtual integrity panel featuring our Eclipse winners and Torch Award honoree, Yaskawa Motoman. Register at https://bit.ly/EclipseIntegrityPanel.
