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Better Business Bureau

2024 WiBN Women To Watch

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The Better Business Bureau’s Women in Business Networking (WiBN) program is thrilled to announce the 2024 Women To Watch honorees, as well as Jeanne Porter Career Achievement Award recipient.

WiBN Women To Watch honorees are dynamic professional women who have been recognized for inspiring and encouraging those around them to actively challenge the status quo, working to improve their communities, develop their employees and advocate for women in general. Rather than being content with others just watching them work, these women involve those around them in their endeavors thereby increasing their collective impact. They help others ”Prepare To Propel”, which is also the WiBN theme for 2024.

Sheri Sword, WiBN executive director, shares, “The Women To Watch honorees are amazing women that model the way for other women in our marketplace. They are making a difference in our community through their actions as they live, work, play and volunteer. It is our privilege to put a spotlight on them and their efforts.”

 

2024 Women To Watch include:

Sarah Bennett

WeDoVids

Sarah Bennett is an accomplished business photographer. Her photography journey took an unexpected turn as community service transformed her from a photographer into a dynamic videographer. Serving as a facilitator for “Getting Ahead in a Just Getting by World,” she found her calling in bridging poverty gaps by collaborating with nonprofits and uncovering hidden community resources. As a four-year graduate in portrait and commercial photography, Sarah’s dedication to her craft is matched by her commitment to continuous learning. As a driving force behind WeDoVids, she crafts compelling narratives that drive business growth and community change through multimedia.

 

Sarah Brandell

Kettering College & Sarah Brandell Coaching

Infertility Life Coach

Sarah Brandell, a Dayton native graduated from Centerville HS (2009), Ohio State University (2013) and Kettering College PA Program (2016). She currently serves as full-time faculty with her alma mater Kettering College, teaching future PAs her skills in Emergency Medicine and Primary Care. In addition to her work as a PA, Sarah is an advocate for women navigating infertility and pregnancy loss. She hosts The Path to Motherhood Podcast which shares insights about the emotional rollercoaster of infertility and loss. Sarah also works as a life coach for women navigating their own infertility journey and hosts a local infertility support group. Sarah’s a wife to her high school sweetheart, Jason, and mother to their own rainbow baby girl. Their journey with infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss is what inspired her work supporting other women on the journey.

 

Emily Broughton

Preschool Promise, Inc.

Emily Broughton is a community advocate and mother of three. Her career spans over a decade in marketing, public relations and development roles in both for-profit and nonprofit industries. She is currently the director of marketing and development at Preschool Promise and the president of the Women’s Board of Dayton Children’s Hospital. She has served on various area boards and committees and is a current member of the Culture Works board and the immediate past president of the Dayton Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.

 

Caressa Brown

(DE-FI) Global INC

Caressa Brown comes from a long line of business owners and civil rights activists. A 1998 graduate of Jefferson High School and a 2007 graduate of Wright State University, she’s also a 2019 Dayton Business Journal Top 40 Under 40 recipient and 2021 Ohio Black Excellence award winner who has launched the careers of thousands of models, designers, photographers and more into the fashion industry. Owner of the first-of-its-kind fashion incubator, the volunteer led, (DE-FI) Global INC, Caressa has worked behind the scenes of major New York Fashion Week events produced by IMG/Endeavor via the Council of Fashion Designers of America CFDA where she’s a founding member of the CFDA Connects Program serving the programs executive board during the inaugural year and is a voting member for the CFDA Awards Guild. Caressa also helped develop and currently sits on the advisory board for Hocking College’s Fashion Design & Retail Merchandising Program.

 

Patty Buddelmeyer

Strategic Ohio Council for Higher Education

Patty Buddelmeyer, senior vice president of development, has worked at Strategic Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE) since 2015. She has been instrumental in leading the organization into new and diverse opportunities to strengthen its portfolio and local impact. She created and led innovative programs that established workforce pipelines, curricula for critical skills needed by high-tech employers and experiential learning opportunities for high school and college students in Ohio. Patty has extensive leadership experience guiding STEM development teams, as well as program management experience. Before joining SOCHE, she worked in technical leadership roles at AT&T and PNC Bank. Patty is thankful to be following her passion and helping others pursue their educational and career goals.

 

Sarah Chapman 

CareSource

Sarah Chapman is proud transplant to the Dayton area.  She’s a passionate advocate of the local arts community, serving as vice-chair of Culture Works. You’re likely to find her attending a Broadway show, tasting bourbon for a fundraiser at the Boonshoft or celebrating all night at the DAI Bourbon and Bubbles. She brings that same passion for service to her work with Marriott International as the director, digital compliance where she ensures digital experiences meet and exceed requirements. In particular, she sees to it that the digital world is accessible to all, including those with disabilities. Sarah has spent her career managing digital experiences, working with CareSource locally and some of the world’s largest brands, such as P&G. If you’d like to start a conversation, just ask her about Charmin and the #MadPooper. In all her roles, both personal and professional, Sarah strives to be inclusive, creative and dream big.

 

Blanca Criner

Abbey Credit Union

Blanca Criner is an accomplished marketing leader, community servant and relationship connector. Blanca’s in the process of establishing Blanca’s Pronto One and Associates, a coaching company focused on developing Spanish speaking leaders and managers to bridge cultural gaps. Previously, she served as chief marketing and business development officer at Abbey Credit Union, where she led and executed the expansion of membership to five counties, built strong – long lasting – successful relationships and helped Abbey CU to win a national award. Prior to AbbeyCU, Blanca was VP of channel development at PNC and previously held leadership roles with Vocalink, Wells Fargo and XX Lager corporation. Blanca serves on several boards, including the Better Business Bureau’s Women in Business Networking (WiBN), Women in Christian Leadership and Beavercreek Optimist. She’s active in three area Chambers of Commerce, seven networking groups and three Optimist groups. She’s a certified John Maxwell coach and DISC certified consultant and trainer. She’s also involved in Transformation Movement in Panama and Greater Dayton.

 

Carli Dixon

The Brightside Music & Event Center

Carli Dixon is the founder and owner of The Brightside Music & Event Venue, as well as founder and owner of Bloombeads|Freezeframe floral preservation.  She has been an entrepreneur since graduating from The American University in 1996, where she received a BSBA with a focus in entrepreneurship. Carli became established in downtown Dayton in 2009 when she and her husband Hamilton Dixon purchased several abandoned properties on E. Third Street that are now home to The Brightside Venue, Bloombeads|Freezeframe, and Hamilton Dixon’s metal studio. Carli plays an active role in the day-to-day operations of both the venue and floral preservation company, while also being a wife and mother.  When not working a wedding or concert, or doing landscaping and maintenance on the properties, she enjoys travel, yoga, biking and dining in downtown Dayton’s many great restaurants.

 

Christy Fielding

Waibel Energy Systems

Christy graduated Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Arts and a Master’s in Public Administration. She worked in local government for eight years. She was the assistant superintendent for operations for a school district for seven years. She’s been with Waibel Energy Systems for the past five years and recently promoted to the director of business development and sales. She is president of the Dayton IFMA Chapter, member of the Associate Board for DRMA, a member of the BizOps team with OASBO, and a member of the Board of Directors for the Troy Chamber of Commerce. In 2014, Christy was a 40 Under 40 winner through the DBJ and Outstanding Business Operations Manager of the Year through OASBO. She constantly looks for ways to make a difference in her profession and community. Christy lives in Troy and has been married since 2009 to Tim and has a 12-year-old son Jake.

 

Erinn Heymann

Dayton VA Medical Center

Erinn Heymann is a hospital administrator at the Dayton VA Medical Center, and she holds an Independent Clinical Social Work License. She has a passion for serving others through all avenues of health and wellbeing. Her experience within the mental health field and hospital administration, set the foundation for her continued service to VA partners, Veterans and Veteran families. When Erinn is not working within the hospital setting, she continues to serve her community through her self-owned online counseling firm or through community outreach and volunteering efforts that she leads through her beloved church, Miami Valley Church of Christ. Rather it be professional or personal, Erinn is a leader who shines best through her ability to serve others.

 

Lisa Japs

Dayton Live

Lisa Japs is a driven and accomplished woman with a diverse range of experiences. With a career spanning two decades at Dayton Live, Lisa’s impact has been profound. Her journey began in the Ticket Office, allowing her to gain deep insights into customer service and theatre operations. Lisa currently serves as COO, where she is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the organization’s operations. Holding a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Dayton has provided her with a strong foundation in human behavior and has been invaluable in her professional and personal pursuits. Outside of work, Lisa loves to garden and is an active volunteer with Levitt Pavilion Dayton. She currently serves as the Chair of the Friends of the Library Board. Through her volunteer work, she has been able to give back to her community and make a positive impact in the lives of others.

 

Margaret (Meg) Maloney

City of Dayton

Meg Maloney is currently the sustainability manager at the City of Dayton. In this role, she advocates for a more sustainable future for Dayton residents and businesses through energy and environmental justice programs. Through this role, Meg has helped save over $14 million dollars for residents and small businesses in 2022-2023 through energy programs. In addition, Meg has helped identify over $3.5 million dollars in savings through utility billing auditing and curtailment for City of Dayton facilities in 2022. Meg is passionate about advocating for the redevelopment of disinvested communities and works to turn blighted sites into community assets. Over the past two years, Meg has been recognized for her sustainability work and was honored as a Dayton Business Journal Innovator under 25, Best Sustainability Staff Member in the State by the Ohio Mayor’s Alliance and the top Sustainability Leader for the Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio region.

 

Debbie Matheson

Violence Free Futures

Debbie Matheson is the executive director of Violence Free Futures. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in social work from Cedarville University and then her Master’s Degree in social work from Edinboro University. She’s a licensed social worker. Debbie has served in different roles at Violence Free Futures for 30 years. She started by volunteering to work with the children who suffered from the effects of domestic violence and found a strong passion for working with families affected by the devastation of domestic violence and sexual assault. Her energy now is spent educating the community, producing creative responses to domestic violence and sexual assault while supporting the talented staff at VFF.

 

Priscila McCarty

FastLane

Priscila McCarty’s hails from Sao Paulo, Brazil, moved to the US and attended the University of Wisconsin, where she earned a chemical engineering degree. Her journey didn’t stop there. Priscila’s career has been varied. She has rubbed elbows with Fortune 500 titans like Procter & Gamble, Dannon and Owens Corning, navigated the corridors of power at Wright Patterson Air Force Base and contributed to the consulting world at the University of Dayton. Now, Priscila applies her knowledge at Brixey & Meyer as a business development and advisory consultant. She works with superhero teams, streamlining processes and boosting efficiency faster than they can say “spreadsheet.” At home, Priscila is kept on her toes by her husband, Brian, and their two energetic kids, who ensure she’s always ready for the next adventure – whether it’s a boardroom challenge or a living room dance-off.

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Veronica Nunamaker

Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce

Veronica Nunamaker is the director of marketing and member engagement for the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication studies from Wright State University and a master’s degree in grant writing, evaluation and management from Concordia University Chicago. Prior to her role with the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, she spent eight years at CareSource working in customer care, service delivery and external communications. Veronica has over a decade of experience working with both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. She has served as a board member for the Junior League of Dayton, the Dayton Area Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, Hannah’s Treasure Chest and Gem City Kitties. She also has volunteered with the Southwest Ohio Association for the Education of Young Children.

 

Michelle Riley

The Foodbank, Inc.

Michelle Riley is the CEO of The Foodbank, Inc. located in Dayton, OH. She’s a graduate of Wright State University and Leadership Dayton. Michelle devotes much of her time working to strengthen the hunger relief safety net, including having served on the Board of Ohio Association of Foodbanks. Over the past twelve years under Michelle’s leadership, The Foodbank has tripled its food distribution to a network of 110 soup kitchens, emergency shelters and food pantries in Montgomery, Greene and Preble counties of Ohio. Michelle’s visionary leadership contributed to the continued growth and success of the organization, including the roll-out of a new strategic plan focused on three root cause centered initiatives: Advocacy; Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion; and Re-entry. In addition to The Foodbank, Michelle is passionate about education, sharing her knowledge with leaders and future leaders in the community.

 

Evelyn Ritzi

Ohlmann Group

Evelyn Ritzi is a dynamic communications professional with a passion for creativity, collaboration and community engagement. As content marketing manager for Ohlmann Group, she writes compelling marketing messages for the agency’s wide range of clients. As a longtime member of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce’s Generation Dayton Steering Committee, she is dedicated to fostering belonging among Dayton’s young professionals through meaningful networking and learning experiences. For these efforts, she was named the chamber’s Volunteer of the Year in 2022. In addition to her role as chair-elect for GenD, Evelyn serves as member retention chair for the Junior League of Dayton and is on the Outreach and Engagement Committee for Levitt Pavilion Dayton. Evelyn is a graduate of Wittenberg University, where she obtained a BA in Communication. She resides in Dayton with her husband, Cody.

 

Utsey Shelton

Economic Development Center

Utsey T. Shelton is a Tour-de-Force within the small business community. She’s a business advisor for the Miami Valley Urban League and provides technical assistance and opportunities of capital infusion to assist minority businesses in the city of Dayton and surrounding counties. She lends her enthusiasm and support to local organizations for annual fundraising, including the Dayton Heart Association and National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ). She served on the advisory board and facilitated coffee talks for WiBN. In 2022, she graduated from the Miami Valley Regional Environmental Justice Academy. Utsey holds a bachelor’s in communications from Central State University and was an on—air producer for WCSU-FM radio. She is a published author of the devotional Secret Moments, and co-authored Success Powered by Relationships and The Audacity to Phenomenally Become Her!

 

Lora Sigritz

Color World of Dayton

Lora Sigritz is a certified professional life coach, author and co-owner of Color World of Dayton. She passionately championed the cause of 9-to-5 working women and achieved national recognition as one of the 75 women honored during the 75th Anniversary of the Women’s Bureau at The White House. She’s also sung backup for Reba McEntire and lived in Saudi Arabia, where she helped women by teaching them to drive. Lora is a dedicated advocate for women’s workplace rights and survivors of domestic abuse. Her most significant achievement lies in the empowerment of women through her organization, FLY (Finally Loving Yourself). As the franchise owner of Color World of Dayton, Lora is committed to excellence in residential and commercial painting and holiday lighting services throughout the Miami Valley. She actively supports local charities, including Habitat for Humanity, and is a member of The 100+ Women, Women in Business Networking and The Heart of Centerville.

Gayle Simmons

Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton

Chaplain Gayle Simmons is the manager of chaplains at Ohio’s Hospice Southwest Care Region, managing the Spiritual Care team of twenty-five chaplains. Gayle’s an ordained Itinerant Elder and endorsed Chaplain of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. She received her bachelor’s in management from Wilberforce University and a Master of Divinity from Payne Theological Seminary, both located in Wilberforce, OH. She completed her chaplaincy residence at the Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Dayton, OH, and additional supervisory clinical pastoral education at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, OH. Gayle has completed further studies at the Sacred Art of Living Institute in Bend, Oregon and is certified in Spiritual Direction, focusing on Spiritual Pain at the End of Life. Moreover, she completed the Chaplaincy Management Program with the Spiritual Care Association and the Supervisory Leadership Program at the University of Dayton. Chaplain Simmons is married to Reverend Dr. Michael Simmons, and they have five children and eleven grandchildren.

 

Katina Stone-Jones

Dayton VA Medical Center

Katina Stone-Jones received many accolades over the years for her commitment to integrity, leadership and clinical achievements. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wright State University, and received a Master degree in Social Work from the University of Cincinnati in 1999. She’s been employed with the Dayton VA Medical Center since 1999 working in various capacities to include Mental Health Service Director of Programs, Chief of Social Work Service, Transformational Leader for the Community Living Center and the Chief of Quality & Patient Safety Service. Katina’s a graduate of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Leadership VA and Health Care Leadership Development Program. She’s a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and an independently licensed clinical social worker for the state of Ohio. Katina is a married mother of two daughters. She enjoys being with family and mentoring.

Mary Tyler

Mary E. Tyler Consulting

Mary E. Tyler is the proud principal of Mary E. Tyler Consulting, LLC., excels as a strategist for organizational performance and is a Certified Diversity Professional.  Mary is a thought leader who frequently presents content locally and nationwide.  She’s still engaged in the community as a retired nonprofit leader, community connector, protectress of human rights and ignitor of action.  She was instrumental in declaring Dayton as a Human Rights City. Mary passionately uses her skills and talents to strengthen organizations that impact individuals and families throughout the region.  She serves on a few local and national boards and committees.  As modeled by her mother, when Mary sees a need or injustice, she believes it is her responsibility to advocate for justice or help find solutions. Mary is the proud mother of two caring adult children she raised to understand that we are blessed to be a blessing to others.

Tracy Yates

Clark State College

Tracy serves the Clark County community in numerous roles, including serving on the Board for Leadership Clark County, The Civil Service Board, The Transportation of Clark County committee and the Salvation Army Advisory Board. Tracy also serves as a Champion City Scholar Mentor for Clark State College. Tracy was named as one of The Extraordinary Woman of Clark County for 2023. Tracy graduated from Leadership Clark County in 2018 and Clark State’s SOAR program in 2019. She completed Professional Supervisor Training in 2017. Tracy is the wife of the late Clark County Sherriff’s Deputy Matthew Yates. She lives in Springfield with her three children.

 

2024 Jeanne Porter Career Achievement Award Recipient

Bettina Buscemi

Day Air Credit Union

Bettina Buscemi will be the recipient of the 2024 Jeanne Porter Career Achievement Award posthumously. This honor is presented annually to a woman who continues to inspire, influence and impact the business community and the world around them well beyond their initial recognition as a WiBN Top 25 Woman or Woman of Impact. This award is meant to recognize an impactful professional legacy, like that of Jeanne Porter, founder of WiBN.

BBB-Dayton’s Eclipse Integrity Award Winners

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Better Business Bureau serving Dayton and the Miami Valley hosted its annual Eclipse Integrity Awards dinner this evening. About 400 people joined the organization at the David H. Ponitz Sinclair Center to honor five organizations with the prestigious Eclipse Integrity Awards, five Students of Integrity Award winners, as well as its Community Honor and local Torch Award recipients. It also presented its third class of Spark Award winners.

The BBB’s Eclipse Integrity Awards are about ethics, honesty and integrity. Here are the 2021 awardees:

 

Eclipse Integrity Award Winners 

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.

 

Schenck Furniture & Appliances, winner in the 0-3 employees category, does business the old-fashioned way. Its philosophy is to provide quality merchandise at a fair price with unmatched service as they treat everyone as a friend not just a customer. These actions develop customers’ trust and gets them to recommend the business to others. Generation after generation of customers turn to the company for their furniture and appliance needs. The business gives back to the community it serves by supporting youth and school athletic programs and being involved annually in the Montgomery County Fair, sponsoring the 4-H king and queen contest and purchasing 4-H Jr. Fair youth livestock projects. In addition, it donates pre-owned appliances to families in need. Schenck Furniture and Appliances is leaving a legacy of integrity for future generations of the business.

 

DryTech Exteriors, the winner in the 4-6 employees category, provides roofing, siding and gutter products, free inspections, repairs and installation services for both residential and commercial properties. It’s proud to be a Platinum-Preferred Owens Corning contractor, an honor awarded to 1% of contractors nationwide. Integrity is woven into every facet of the business as validated through positive customer satisfaction surveys, reviews and conversations that has allowed it to continue to grow and meet customer needs. DryTech Exteriors looks for opportunities to give back where and when it can. For instance, it provided roofing materials, labor and installation for a Habitat for Humanity home earlier this year. And, it’s beginning a Habitat For Humanity project called Roofs For Troops, which will provide a full roof replacement for a veteran in need. Unity, passion, transparency and community define DryTech Exteriors.

 

Choice Comfort Services is the winner in the 7-20 employees category. The company, which provides HVAC, plumbing and electric service, believes listening to understand, taking thoughtful action and investing wisely in its future will strengthen the team and continually create unparalleled customer experiences. Delivering comfort and peace of mind is a top priority. In fact, it created the “Touch-less Tune-up” to allow the business to do A/C tune-ups without having to enter customers’ homes during the pandemic. The company’s devoted to improving and supporting the communities in which the team lives, works and plays. Team members volunteer on boards and committees and the company supports many school sports programs. It’s even started a new initiative to help a different nonprofit each month with up to $400 in donations and volunteer time. The Choice Comfort Services team is self-aware, accountable, responsible and truthful in its actions.

 

Waibel Energy Systems, which took home the award in the 21+ employees category, is a technologically driven mechanical contractor providing HVAC system install and service, non-proprietary building automation system installation/monitoring/service, commercial plumbing, building access control and security cameras. The team promises they will do what they say they will do. They are committed to delivering the best service with expected excellence. And, if they make a mistake, they own it and make it right. They follow the Golden Rule. Waibel focuses on making a difference and makes it a practice to give back. Agencies that benefit from its generosity include the Victory Project, ABC TOOLS and the Life Enrichment Center. It’s also donated equipment to HVAC programs at Sinclair and Upper Valley JVS. The company strives to be a trusted advisor to clients and believes integrity starts with shared values and accountability.

 

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.

 

The winner in the nonprofit category, House of Bread, provides meals to people in need. It began serving lunches a few days a week to 20 people laid off from GM. Today, it serves a hot, nutritious meal in two dining rooms 365 days a year. The team believes no one deserves to go hungry and everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. The organization’s culture is whatever needs done can be done by anyone in the organization. No job is beneath anyone’s abilities and no challenge is beyond what the team can handle. Even COVID-19 couldn’t stop the team from its work. It had to stop using volunteers and find funding to hire staff to provide carryout meals to those they serve. House of Bread strives to provide confidence to donors that the organization is here for the long term to tackle the issues of poverty and hunger.

 

Students of Integrity Winners

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.

Maiya Dilbone from Troy Christian High School has not only served on Student Council, but she’s also served as team captain of the women’s varsity soccer team and attended Chick-Fil-A’s Leadership Academy. Through that program, she created and executed community service initiatives and volunteered at a local assisted-living program. This is in addition to her time teaching Sunday School at church, serving as a teacher’s assistant at school and maintaining a 4.38 GPA. Maiya hopes these skills will benefit her as she goes forward to attend Ohio Northern University in the fall to major in business.

Student council president and vice president, National Honor Society vice president, model UN delegate, Interact Club secretary and president are all titles Alexis Gastelu from Piqua High School has held during her high school career. And, that is only the tip of the iceberg. While never sacrificing her academic goals, Alexis is an awarded athlete, poet, performer, blood donor, organizer and all-around school leader. Her long-term goal is to use what she learns from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina to open a shelter for women and children.

 

Centering her actions on unity and respect, Arielle Johnson from Yellow Springs High School was ready to step up last spring as a leader of a Black Lives Matter organization called YS Speaking Up for Justice. Through that experience, Arielle got to listen to people of many different backgrounds and beliefs, discuss how the social justice movement impacted them in disparate ways and how to find validity and empathy in everyone’s experience. Through this tumultuous year, she maintained a 4.0 GPA. Arielle plans to attend Case Western Reserve University this fall and follow a pre-med track.

 

Grant Klopfenstein from Troy High School has attended the Hugh O’Brian Leadership Camp and Chick-Fil-A Leadership Academy. He’s been a Key Club officer and National Honor Society president. He spent four years as a WACO Aviation Summer Camp mentor and was recognized by Troy High School staff as Best Male Citizen. He’s also played varsity football and remained in the top five of his class. With all this leadership potential, it’s no surprise Grant is considering a career in higher education, specifically teaching mathematics. He also hopes to work in mathematic research and to work in the field of unknown mathematical problems. Grant’s thirst for wisdom and knowledge helps shape his views on leadership.

 

Zurie Pope from Piqua High School will admit no one can truly know for sure the path his or her life is going to take, but he is sure of at least one trajectory for his – writing, specifically, journalism. Though he has been involved with his school newspaper throughout high school, in the last year, he has also written for Youth Journalism International, The Hub and Unpublished. His goal is to align his love of journalism and global politics, and work as a conflict journalist for an independent news source. Zurie has also been a delegate of Piqua High School’s Gay-Straight alliance, speaking openly about finding his own truths.

 

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, sponsored by Randd Associates Printing and Promotions, was presented to Public Health – Dayton and Montgomery County. Every day the staff of this organization strive to improve the quality of life in our community by achieving the goals of public health through prevention, promotion and protection. The organization protects many environmental elements, such as air, food and drinking water. It works with schools, hospitals, community organizations and neighborhood groups to help people make healthier choices in their everyday lives. It provides birth and death records, nuisance abatement, disease reporting and control, etc. The team continually evaluates the changing needs of our community and implements new strategies to meet those needs.

The pandemic put the team’s talent, expertise, skills and resources to the test and they rose to the challenge, always keeping the health of Montgomery County residents a top priority. Staff jumped into action, hosting news conferences to share the latest information, conducting contact tracing, sharing best practices, hosting mass vaccination clinics and much more. Despite the stress of the job, they did what was right for the health of our community and lead the charge to protect our citizens from COVID-19.

 

Torch Award Recipient 

The local Torch 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.

 

Nurses Care, Inc. is committed to providing the highest quality home health care services, such as skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, IV therapy, medical social work services, personal care, homemaking and respite care, with Christian values and compassionate hearts. When COVID-19 hit the region, office staff were offered the opportunity to work from home, but no one elected to do so. The team was in the office every day without fail. Field staff heroically continued to see patients seven days a week, not missing one day of care. In fact, the company hasn’t missed one day of caring for patients in 30 years.

Always striving to be the best they can be, the company earned a BBB Eclipse Integrity Award in 2016 and was a finalist in the Dayton Business Journal’s Woman-Owned Business of the Year Award in 2019. Nurses Care has earned The Joint Commission’s Deem Status since 1997. The team always takes time to assist students interested in learning about the industry. The company’s leader, Sheila Rush, has served as a mentor for the Dayton Business Journal’s BizWomen’s Mentoring Monday for several years.

The award selection committee marveled at the company’s philanthropic efforts. Beneficiaries of its support include the Billy J. Rush Foundation, TJ’s Place of Hope, the Marines Toys for Tots and more. It has even lent its support beyond our local region as it donated water to first responders during 911 and Hurricane Katrina, donated coats to survivors of Hurricane Sandy, as well as sent medical supplies to its own nurses in Haiti. It hosts holiday parties for the residents of several local residential buildings, takes gifts to the needy and provides meals to them for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

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.

Battle Sight Technologies’ motivation, calling and duty is to spearhead technology for the frontline, whether it’s warfighters, law enforcement agencies or first responders. It strives to enhance day-to-day operations, well being and productivity for our frontline through revolutionary products. The work they do saves lives and there is no margin for error, putting competence, caring and communication at the core of the business. It’s imperative that the team listens to the boots on the ground, implements their feedback and communicates back to them that the company has their backs as they risk everything in service to our freedom and safety. The team also believes its investment within the local community only strengthens the region and provides a better environment to build the business and raise the team’s families. Therefore, it works alongside and partners with local companies whenever possible. It’s also committed to the Dayton Dragons, the Dayton Chamber and various events sponsored by Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Wright State University.

 

The Matthew Tamerisk Collection specializes in crafting unique, live edge and dimensional wood products for residential and commercial environments. The team’s goal is for its custom décor to catch the attention of all who see it and for it to become a catalyst for community for generations to come. The team views every new project as an opportunity to build a reputation for excellent service through the process of designing, crafting and delivering not only a quality product, but a quality experience for every client every time. Team members operate with humility and curiosity, always welcoming others’ input and being willing to ask for help to help them grow. They know experiencing grace and truth over time leads to personal and professional growth and an atmosphere of trust. In its efforts to give back to the community, the team has trained Victory Project students in wood-working skills and hired them to work on specific projects alongside them. The founder was a Clothes That Work role model, is involved in the Westside Makerspace Community and is slated to speak at the Greene County Career Center. The team has also given time, labor, finances and expertise to Narrow Gate Exchange, based in Nashville, Tennessee, to help the ministry continue to thrive.

Noticing a demand for prepared meals, Picnk – a company that offers convenient, nutritious and affordable options for customers – got its start. The founder focuses on emotional intelligence, communication and transparency and recognizes the constant need for improvement is vital to the success of a leader, the team and the business. Taking care of team members is considered the absolute greatest investment for the business. The leadership empowers and cultivates individuals who strive to be the best versions of themselves. And, team members’ input is valued. Community is a top priority. The company never hesitates to give whenever it can to a wide variety of causes either by catering a charitable event for a free or at reduced rate, monetary donations to various organizations, as well as raising awareness for a variety of community and social issues. For instance, it has partnered or supported Dayton Foodbank, National Guard, KIND Dayton and East End Community Services. Since the global pandemic began, Picnk has given out over 15,000 free or reduced meals to the community. All this was done despite a fire in its facility in June of 2020.

John North, president/CEO of BBB serving Dayton and the Miami Valley, says, “The actions of these honorees, whether a business, nonprofit or student, are inspiring. They make others want to emulate them, which in the long run make our marketplace better. What an honor to recognize them.”

 

Make BBB-Dayton’s Free Shredding Event Part Of Your Spring Cleaning Ritual

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It’s the time of year when we tackle spring cleaning at home and in the office. As you’re cleaning out those old files and going through the stacks of paperwork, make plans to join Better Business Bureau serving Dayton/Miami Valley for free shredding and identity theft tips at…

Secure Your ID Day presented by Routsong Funeral Home, Inc.

Saturday, April 27, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. (dependent on truck capacity)

Routsong Funeral Home, Inc., 81 N. Main St., Centerville

This popular event is a great way to dispose of your files – credit card statements, old checks, IRS tax returns, etc. – safely. You can bring up to five boxes or bags of documents to be shredded free at the event. (If you have more than five boxes, you’re welcome to go through the line again.) The first 350 cars in line are guaranteed shredding. Others will have materials shredded dependent on the trucks’ capacity. Once trucks meet capacity the event will end and cars may be directed to alternative shredding options.

Documents to be shredded should be removed from binders, but staples and paper clips are okay to be shredded. Electronics and batteries cannot be included in material to be shredded. Shredded documents will be recycled. Invite your family and friends to take advantage of this free shredding event.

BBB staff will be on hand to provide identity theft advice and tips.

BBB Announces 2017 Eclipse Integrity Awards Finalists

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Today, your Better Business Bureau announces the 2017 Eclipse Integrity Awards finalists. These awards are given to Miami Valley businesses and nonprofits who model ethics, honesty and integrity in our community. The winners will be announced May 9 at your BBB’s Eclipse Integrity Awards.

The Eclipse Integrity Awards finalists are:

1-6 Employees

The Allyn Conway Group – ACG, Inc. (Centerville)

Audio Etc…LLC (Centerville)

Solid Rock Roofing, Inc. (Centerville)

7-14 Employees

The Cakery (Riverside)

Roberson Law (Kettering)

15-99 Employees

Alpha Media Dayton (Kettering)

BarryStaff (Dayton)

HORAN (Dayton)

100+ Employees

Integrity Applications, Incorporated (Beavercreek)

Marsh & McLennan Agency, LLC – Midwest Region (Dayton)

Nonprofit (0-99 Employees)

Humane Society of Greater Dayton (Dayton)

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Dayton (Dayton)

Nonprofit (100+ Employees)

Echoing Hills Village, Inc. dba echoingU (Dayton)

TAC Industries, Inc., The Abilities Connection (Springfield)

Join your Better Business Bureau in honoring these organizations by attending the Eclipse Integrity Awards on Tuesday, May 9 at the David H. Ponitz Sinclair Center. The reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. The dinner and awards presentation will start at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the event are $99 per person or you can sponsor a table of eight for $999. Make your reservations today by calling (937) 610-2277.

John North, BBB president & CEO, says, “Integrity doesn’t necessarily come naturally in business. It is something instilled in the leadership and inspired in the organization’s team. These finalists’ nominations demonstrated how integrity is at work in their organizations every day. We are thrilled to honor them for their extraordinary efforts. Please join us and 550 other business leaders as we recognize all these finalists and announce our winners — the organizations that make our marketplace one to be proud of.” 

The Eclipse Integrity Awards are sponsored by many local organizations, including The Dayton Power and Light Company; WesBanco Bank, Inc.; Back To Business I.T.; WDTN-TV; Cox Ohio Media Group; and iHeart Radio. 

Top 25 Women to Watch For 2016 Announced Today

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Today, your Better Business Bureau’s Women in Business Networking (WiBN) program announced its 2016 class of Top 25 Women to Watch. These awards recognize exceptional women in the Miami Valley who:
  • Are exceptional in their roles and respected in their fields
  • Are causing more than just a ripple in the public arena and in their communities
  • “Light a spark” or make an impression of some sort
Each woman stands out in some special way – because of her leadership, community service and professional achievements – or all three.
The 2016 Top 25 Women to Watch include:
  • Libby Ballengee, Venus Child Productions

    Libby-Ballengee-1

    MostMetro.com contributor Libby Ballengee

  • Mary Kathryn Burnside, Clash Dayton
  • Dr. Cleanne Cass, Hospice of Dayton
  • London Coe, Peace on Fifth
  • Allison Cox, The Human Race Theatre Co.
  • Judy Dodge, Montgomery County
  • Jennifer Gilman, Prime Time Party Rental
  • Nichole Hardin, Horizon Primary Care
  • Mary Jean Henry, Wright State University Foundation
  • Elise Huelskamp, Premier Health
  • Janet Jackson, Organization Solutions, LLC
  • Reka Juhasz, RealArt/PaperReka
  • Brenda Elaine Kraner, Wright State University
  • Debbie Lieberman, Montgomery County
  • Melanie Miller, Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
  • Anna Monnett, Dayton VA Medical Center
  • Stefanie Nemitz, Dayton Children’s
  • Billi Ewing, Independent Education Management & Creative Consultant – Self Employed
  • Kathy Piech-Lukas, Your Dream Day, LLC
  • Erin Rhinehart, Faruki Ireland & Cox, PLL
  • Beth Savage, PQ Systems
  • Diana Vann, American Way Van & Storage, Inc.
  • Jenny Warner, People Working Cooperatively, Inc.
  • Laurie Westheimer, Loralie’s Boutique
  • Nancy Wilson, K99.1 FM/Cox Media Group Ohio
Jeanne Porter, BBB’s WiBN director and founder, says, “It is an honor to recognize our Top 25 Women to Watch each year. Their professional and personal lives are inspiring. Their life experiences to date set a high bar for all of us in the community. I’m excited to watch to see what these watchable women have in store for us over the coming year. They help make our community a great place to work, live and play.”
For more about this honor, visit the WiBN Web site,  www.wibn.org. Over the course of this recognition program, more than 200 women have been recognized with this distinguished honor.

BBB Guest Chefs Cook up A Holiday Breakfast

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74694_1759562834801_41140_nEnjoy made to order omelets, an amazing buffet consisting of eggs, sausage, bacon, biscuits and gravy, corn beef hash, tater tots, oatmeal, grits, fresh fruit, cereal and smoothies at John & Mark’s Holiday Breakfast!

This is going to be a great opportunity to do a little networking, take in the outstanding view from this venue, enjoy a delicious breakfast and support United Rehabilitation Services. All cash tips will be donated to United Rehabilitation Services.

Cost is free for the first 100 Accredited Businesses/Charities (2 attendees per business)*, 1 cent for Racquet Club members & $5 for others.