Torch Awards to recognize exemplary ethics

The Better Business Bureau of Central Louisiana and the Ark-La- Tex is accepting nominations for the 2015 Torch Awards.

The Torch Award Banquet will be held Oct. 29 at East Ridge Country Club in Shreveport with a cash bar at 6:30 and the dinner, program and award presentation beginning at 7 p.m. The featured speaker at this year’s banquet is Maj. Gen. Richard M. Clark from Barksdale Air Force Base.

The mission of the Better Business Bureau is to promote and foster the highest ethical relationship between businesses and the public through voluntary selfregulation, consumer and business education and service excellence.

“We like to recognize companies and nonprofit organizations that practice these ethics in the marketplace,” BBB President/CEO Andy Fisher said.

The agency recognizes Torch Award businesses in four categories: the Integrity Award goes to businesses that maintain a solid commitment to ethical business practices; the Customer Commitment Award is presented for outstanding customer service programs; the Good Neighbor Award is presented to businesses and/or employees who play a significant role in their support and their involvement in local charities; and the Nonprofit Award goes to those organizations that have impacted the communities of Shreveport-Bossier and other surrounding parishes.

Past recipients include United Way, the Red River Revel, Remington Suite Hotel and Spa, Barksdale Federal Credit Union, Holmes Honda, Snell’s Orthotics and Prosthetics, Argent Financial Group, Food Bank of NWLA, Cypress Bayou Home Builders, Robert Brown Plumbing, Community Trust Bank, Shreveport- Bossier Rescue Mission and The Community Foundation.

Fisher said the Better Business Bureau of Shreveport and Bossier City has been helping people make smarter buying decisions for over 60 years.

“We encourage citizens to check out companies in our database before they do business,” Fisher said.

“We recognize the businesses that are practicing good business ethics on our database of 14,000 businesses, 2,000 of which are accredited members of the BBB.”

If a consumer encounters a problem with a business, he or she can certainly file a complaint with the bureau, but Fisher urges people to attempt to resolve an issue first. “We cover a large area, including Alexandria and Texarkana,” Fisher said.

“We usually get about 160 complaints per year; however, we get about 140,000 inquiries. It’s always best to check with us before doing business, then if there is a problem and you can’t work it out with the business owner, contact us.”

Fisher said getting the message out about scams can be difficult since his staff often hears about them after the fact.

“We try to get the message out to the public as soon as we can,” Fisher said, “but we have a small budget. My best advice is to be absolutely sure you know who you’re talking to. If it’s not someone you know or recognize, don’t participate with them.”

The Better Business Bureau posts frequent articles about the latest scams in the Ark-La-Tex and CenLA on their two Facebook pages: Better Business Bureau of Shreveport & Texarkana and Better Business Bureau of Alexandria and Central Louisiana.

Proceeds from the Torch Awards Program funds the Better Business Bureau Scholarship Program that helps students attend six local universities and colleges. Past scholarship recipients will also be honored at the Torch Awards Banquet.

–Susan Reeks

Nominate a Business:

Entry forms for Torch Award nominees can be found on the BBB’s website at www. shreveport.bbb.org, or by calling 797-1330. The last day to turn in nominations is Sept. 25. The final list of nominees will be included on the award banquet invitations.