The Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving Upstate New York is proud to announce the 2010 Torch Award winners for Marketplace Ethics. In light of everyday headlines the public has grown used to… news about business closings, layoffs and other consumer rip-offs; today’s announcement is testament that commitment to business ethics and service do earn high marks.
The BBB Torch Award is the highest recognition given to area businesses by the organization. This award, achieved though a rigorous application and judging process, honors businesses for their ability to demonstrate the highest standards of customer service, community involvement, adherence to truthful and honorable business practices and outstanding reliability. The following four businesses have won the 2010 BBB Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics:
- West Herr Automotive Group of Western NY - Corporate category;
- Comfort Windows of Upstate NY - Large category ;
- Adirondack Basement Systems of Halfmoon NY – Medium category, ;
- Zaretsky and Associates of Rochester NY - Small category.
“There’s simply no replacement for good old fashioned honesty and business ethics,” said David Polino, Better Business Bureau President. “Today’s consumers need the support of reliable customer service, and commitment to business principles that make each buying experience positive. These businesses have maintained their operations through tough economic pressures, and continued to offer excellence for the consumer, contribute to their community, care for their employees and demonstrate true reliability.” Every business operating within the 50 counties of Upstate New York are eligible to enter the annual BBB Torch Award program whether they are BBB Accredited or not. Applications are reviewed by independent judges to select the winners from four categories.
“The BBB Torch Awards are our way of publicly honoring businesses each year that represent the best in marketplace ethics, consumer service, and community support. These firms are good neighbors,” added Polino.
When contacted for comment about what this honor means to their business, this year’s Torch Award winners were eager to share how their employees maintain the high standards they set out to achieve every day. “The West Herr Automotive Group is committed to developing and maintaining the highest ethical standards in our relationships with our employees, our customers, our suppliers, and our community,” said Scott Bieler, President, West Herr Automotive Group. “Receiving the Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics is affirmation that everyone at West Herr understands that our reputation as a fair and ethical business is vital to our success and business is conducted accordingly. We applaud the outstanding efforts of our employees who consistently work with integrity, accuracy and empathy.”
"Winning the Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Business Ethics, to me, is validation of the dedicated effort put forth daily by every member of Team Comfort,” said Fritz Gentile, Corporate Manager, Comfort Windows. “Our employees come to work every day with a great attitude and a real desire to help deliver to the customer a superior product at a great value -- each taking the responsibility seriously for the role they play in delivering Comfort's famous Single Source Satisfaction. Because of this incredible effort, our company continues to grow and prosper and gain in our reputation as "the name you know, the people you trust."
“I am very proud of all my staff here at Adirondack Basement Systems. This award is a culmination of thirteen years of hard work and dedication of everyone on our team,” said Kevin Koval, President, Adirondack Basement Systems. “We’ve assembled a group of superstars that make providing the high level of service that we do, possible.”
“Being a recipient of the BBB Torch Award confirms what we already knew: that doing the right thing in all aspects of our business really pays off in the long run”, said Sharon Coates, Vice-President of Zaretsky and Associates, Inc. “Just going through the application process had its benefits, and reminded us how fulfilling creating a well rounded company can be.” Bruce Zaretsky, President, added, “Being acknowledged in this way should prove to all businesses, large and small, that profits are not the main focus of a truly successful business. We’re happy to be a profitable company, but even happier that we do it in an ethical way.”
Independent celebrations will be held for each Torch Award winner. These companies join hundreds of BBB Torch Award winners across the country that are being recognized for their excellence in ethical business practices as well as their efforts to ensure that our country's marketplace remains fair and honorable. BBB 2011 Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics call for entries will occur in the Fall.
About 2010 BBB Torch Award Winners:
West Herr Automotive Group - Corporate Category Winner, (1000 plus employees):
West Herr strives to be the auto dealer of choice for their customers, an employer of choice for their co-workers and a model of integrity and excellence for their industry and their community. The company is proud to be part of the Western New York area, with owners that live locally and are a visible part of their dealerships and community. They provide a continuously improving and safe work environment that encourages creativity, innovation and personal growth with sound financial performance. For more information on West Herr go to www.westherr.com or join them on facebook at www.facebook.com/westherr.
Comfort Windows - Large Category Winner, (100-999 employees):
Comfort Windows is known for locally manufactured hand crafted windows, and operates branches in Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse. The company has been locally owned and operated for over 30 years. They offer door systems, siding, insulation, sunrooms and basement remodeling in addition to custom windows, and is BPI certified. Comfort Windows is a licensed lead safe installation firm and follows all EPA lead safe regulations, giving families a safe living environment after the installation. Their motto is live in comfort with the name you know, the people you trust. Although Comfort Windows has grown as a company, they remain dedicated to individual attention, superior craftsmanship, product quality and expert industry regulation knowledge.
Comfort’s work is performed by employees who are installation experts, insuring that the customer experiences “single source satisfaction.” Comfort Windows prides themselves on a commitment to the highest customer service standards, family values and a sense of “community.” Part of their dedication encompasses support to many non-profit, civic, and school related organizations and the activities they implement to serve a variety of causes. To find out more, visit them at www.comfortwindows.com.
Adirondack Basement Systems - Medium Category Winner (11 - 99 employees):
Adirondack Basement Systems was founded in 1997 and is part of the world's largest network of basement waterproofing and crawl space environment contractors, across the US, Canada, UK and Ireland. This professional network allows them to offer the most innovative products in the waterproofing market. Specializing in making basements and crawlspaces safe usable spaces for homeowners and businesses, they also provide foundation stabilization, Bilco ScapeWel, and Egress windows.
The company prides itself on clear education for each consumer looking for solutions to water and moisture issues, prior to performing work. They have installed over 4000 basement solutions and serve eleven counties in New York. In addition to their business work, Adirondack Basement Systems has made a commitment to their community by supporting various charities, several local sports teams, road maintenance and Earthrace Inc.. For more information, visit www.adirondackbasement.com.
Zaretsky and Associates Inc. - Small Category Winner (1 - 10 employees):
Zaretsky and Associates, Inc. is a national-award winning landscape firm formed in 1989. They work towards designing and installing residential landscape projects of all sizes that meet the needs of their clients, both architecturally and functionally. Zaretsky and Associates is also on the forefront of healthcare garden design, having designed and installed several important healing gardens in the Rochester region, including The Woodward Healing Garden at Rochester General Hospital and Sharon’s Sensory Garden at Mendon Ponds Park.
Zaretsky and Associates share their landscape and design expertise as writers, speakers, both locally and nationally. The company is active in community projects and has won many local and national awards for their landscape design work, and was a 2009 recipient of the Rochester Business Journal’s Environmental Leadership Award. The design team, led by Bruce Zaretsky and Sharon Coates, is dedicated to improving their world through creative and inspiring gardens and landscapes. To find out more, visit them at www.zaretskyassociates.com.
# # #
For more information or to schedule an interview with the winners, please contact Peggy Penders, at 800.303.4490 or ppenders@upstatenybbb.org.