UW Center for Principle-Based Leadership and Ethics Participates in National Meeting

The University of Wyoming Center for Principle-Based Leadership and Ethics recently participated in the 2023 International Association of Better Business Bureaus (BBB) Torch Awards for Ethics.

Four businesses were honored for outstanding commitment to leadership character and organizational ethics. The winners were: The Congruity Group, of Dayton, Ohio; Rescue One Air, from Tempe, Ariz.; GBQ Partners LLC, of Columbus, Ohio; and Optima Tax Relief, from Santa Ana, Calif. Each was honored at the BBB Trust Summit last month.

“It is truly inspiring to be part of a process that honors those who not only meet but exceed the high ethical standards set by the Better Business Bureau,” says Kent Noble, UW’s Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Faculty Fellow. “Recognizing and celebrating their dedication to leadership character and organizational ethics reinforce the crucial role that integrity plays in shaping a trustworthy marketplace.”

Presented annually since 1996, the BBB International Torch Awards for Ethics recognize businesses in North America that maintain outstanding dedication to upholding ethical business practices and promoting trust in the marketplace. Companies were evaluated against four criteria: the character of the organization’s leadership; if and how an authentic culture is being fostered; the company’s transparent relationship with its customers; and the impact the organization is making in the local community.

The International Torch Awards for Ethics is one of the most important programs each year, says Kip Morse, International Association of BBB president and CEO.

“BBB sets standards to make trust a fundamental component of the American marketplace, but these businesses are out there every day making it happen,” he says. “By awarding them the 2023 International Torch Award for Ethics, we are demonstrating to the business community that adhering to Better Business Bureau ethical standards is the hallmark of successful, competitive companies.”