BBB honors businesses at awards banquet

The Better Business Bureau’s 10th annual Torch Award banquet will be held Oct. 30 at East Ridge Country Club.

“The goal of the Torch Awards is to recognize the businesses in our market that practice high ethical standards toward customers, suppliers, users, shareholders, employees and communities in which they do business,” Andrew Fisher, president/ CEO of Better Business Bureau of Central Louisiana and the Ark-La- Tex, said. The BBB presents these awards as part of its overall mission of advancing an ethical marketplace where buyers and sellers can trust each other.

This year’s program will honor 33 local businesses, and the winners in each of the four categories will be revealed during the ceremony. “The nominees are either selected by another company or by that company or one of its employees and forwarded to the BBB for consideration,” Fisher said. “The company must be in our market area which includes Northwest Louisiana. We have other Torch Awards in our other markets of Alexandria and Texarkana. The winners are selected by a group of independent judges from the local colleges and businesses.”

Fisher said the awards program is not only about acknowledging current success; it is also about empowering young people to become future success stories.

“One of the most important goals of the Torch Awards is to raise money for scholarships to the local universities and colleges,” Fisher said. As part of the awards program, the BBB will also honor the recipients of scholarships for students majoring in business from Louisiana State University Shreveport, Centenary College, Southern University-Shreveport, Bossier Parish Community College, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches and Louisiana Tech-Bossier.

The featured speaker will be Jay Dardenne, Louisiana Lt. Governor, and Sonja Bailes, public relations liaison for Bossier Parish Schools, will serve as emcee this year. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. with a cash bar followed by dinner, program and awards presentation at 7 p.m. For tickets, call 797-1330 ext. 108. Reservations must be made in advance.

–Kirk Fontenot

Torch Finalists

Integrity Award: Paul’s Home Inspection Service, Bluebird Broadband Services, Landers Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram, Magnolia Manor Nursing & Rehab, Caddo Paint Co, Music Mountain Spring Water, Cypress Bayou Home Builders and Tri-State Aluminum Products.

Customer Commitment:

Precision Waste Solutions, Chick-fil-A, Pirate Ships & Fairy Tales, RE/MAX Real Estate Services, Splash Kingdom, Jimmy Granger Ford, East Ridge Country Club, United Home Health Care, Shreveport Security Systems, Preferred Care at Home of Northwest La and Robert Brown Plumbing.

Good Neighbor: Community Trust Bank, TownSquare Media Shreveport-Bossier, Jamie Eagles State Farm Insurance, Kelloggs Auto Air & Heat, Margaritaville Resort Casino and National Mail-It.

Nonprofit: Pet Savers, Inc., Goodwill Industries of Northwest La, Downtown Shreveport Unlimited, Susan G. Komen NWLA, Divine Healthcare Sitter & Transportation Service, The Community Foundation, Shreveport- Bossier Rescue Mission and Louisiana Association for the Blind.