I was thrilled to be a part of the management team that created and implemented an ethical business model, especially since it was acknowledged and rewarded by the Better Business Bureau (BBB). We received Honorable Mention for businesses in the 1-9 employee category at the 2017 Torch Awards for Marketplace Ethics.

The BBB received over a thousand nominations from consumers and businesses in Illinois. The awards banquet was sponsored by numerous companies serving Chicago and Northern Illinois. Present for the award presentations were WGN, ABC, and the WCIU.

ABC 7’s Hosea Sanders hosted the event and handed out the awards. Melissa Stockwell, Army war hero, mother and three-time world champion Paratriathlon medalist was the keynote speaker. The event was well attended by 400 plus Illinois business leaders.

I was given three minutes to share highlights from our ethical practices, journey and gratitude for the award. It was the first time I received an award of that magnitude on behalf of a team and I found myself extremely nervous until my foot hit the stage. Once on the platform I quickly came up with a new speech, since Sanders touched on my planned comments as he introduced me.

During the selection process I was inundated with 25-30 hours of paperwork. Our final document answering the questions of the third party counsel was just shy of 50 pages including process and event documentation for standards adhered to and lived out.

I was energized by this once in a lifetime experience because everyone in the room was passionate about raising ethical standards in Illinois. Being in a room with like minded executives was encouraging and I hoped each company effectively instills within their employees the need for and benefits of working within ethical standards.