BBB | Greater Maryland Torch Awards

BBB Honors 2008 Torch Award Winners

Better Business Bureau | Greater Maryland presented five MD businesses that “Start With Trustâ” with its 2008 Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics. The winners accepted their awards at a reception sponsored by BBB’s Educational Foundation in front of a crowd of about 200 representatives from the MD business community.    

 

The five 2008 Greater MD Torch Award winners include Bob Ward Companies, e Mortgage Solutions, Inc., Junior Achievement of Central Maryland, Radebaugh Florist & Greenhouses and Thompson Creek Manufacturing. 

“The Torch Award is a symbol of a business’ commitment to honesty and integrity toward customers, employees, shareholders and their community, and is one of the most recognized trademarks in the world,” said Angie Barnett, president & CEO, BBB | Greater MD. “Our honorees not only hold a belief in marketplace trust, but have worked to bring it to life in their daily business practices,” she added.


Above: Eric Stewart from e Mortgage Solutions poses with President/CEO of BBB | Greater MD after receiving his 2008 Greater MD Torch Award


Evaluation for the Torch Award is preformed by a panel of judges that includes previous Greater MD Torch Award winners and other BBB Accredited Businesses. Each application is evaluated by BBB criteria in the areas of management practices, customer/vendor relations, marketing/advertising and sales practices and reputation within industry and community.

 

"As a fourth generation business, we have followed the motto my Grandfather, George W. Radebaugh, lived by, ‘Treat everyone as you would want to be treated,’ we are glad to see it still holds true today. Over our 84 years in business we have been blessed with many dedicated employees who share our ideals and vendors who share our standards in quality,” said Steve Radebaugh, principal, Radebaugh Florist and Greenhouses.



Above: Stephen Radebaugh stands proudly with his 2008 Greater Maryland Torch Award. “All the kind words spoken about our business made us very proud, it was truly a special evening for all of us," he later wrote


Sponsors for The Big Event included AES Builder & Home Improvements Inc., AT&T Mobility, Atlantic Financial Federal Credit Union, CareOne Services, Custom Direct, Inc., G&E Contractors, Inc., IWIF Workers Compensation Insurance, Johnson’s Metropolitan Termite and Pest Control, McCormick & Company, Millennium Marketing Solutions, Travel Advantage Network and SmartCEO magazine.

 

BBB’s Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization whose mission is to enhance consumer confidence through education and information. In the first six months of 2008, the Foundation’s efforts made it possible for consumers to search for a MD business or charity over a half-million times. During the same period, it provided scam alerts and monthly tips via Consumer Club a free, monthly, subscription-based e-newsletter. BBB’s Educational Foundation is funded through tax-deductible charitable donations. For more information visit them on the Web at www.greatermd.bbb.org/foundation.

Past Torch Award Winners