BBB announces 2022 Torch Award finalists

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) Serving Southeast Texas has announced the finalists for the 24th Annual Torch Awards for Ethics.

The Torch Business finalists are Bo-Mac Contractors; Brookdale Dowlen Oaks; Gilbert & Pardue Transaction Advisors; Hol-Tech Resources; Lyons Plumbing; Ritter Lumber; and Tanglz Color Studio.

Spark finalists include EXIT Realty Property Pros – Jacey-Kay Carter; Mad Fresh Designs – Stephen Chapman; and The Golden Cup – Janna Bartz.

 Winners and runner ups will be announced on the evening of Thursday, June 9, at the 2022 Torch Awards at the Beaumont Civic Center. The featured guest speaker for the evening is Lori Ryerkerk, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer & President of Celanese Corporation, a Fortune 500 global chemical and specialty materials company based in Dallas. Celanese is a leader in the development and production of materials used in most major industrial and consumer applications. Ryerkerk was named CEO in May 2019.

The celebration will also include an Italian dinner complete with a pasta bar by Rockin’ A Café, live & silent auctions, a 50/50 raffle, photobooth and more.

A premier event for Southeast Texas business and professionals, the 2022 Torch Awards will honor all finalists in the Torch and Spark categories, along with special recognitions throughout the program – including the reveal of this year’s “John L. Bell Jr. Friend of the BBB” recipient. This prestigious award was first given to Mr. John Bell in 1986 and has been awarded to many distinguished individuals throughout the decades.

“The Southeast Texas region is fortunate to be home to so many companies that are committed to trust and ethical business practices,” said BBB Southeast Texas CEO Liz Fredrichs. “We look forward to honoring this year’s finalists for consistently going above and beyond for their employees, customers and the community.”

For over 20 years, the BBB Torch Awards for Ethics have recognized businesses whose leaders demonstrate a high level of personal character; ensure that the organization’s practices meet the highest standards of ethics; and consequently, generate trust with its customers and the community. 

In 2019, BBB Southeast Texas introduced the Spark Award. Spark is a Torch Award for Entrepreneurship, recognizing business owners that are 35 years of age or younger and/or business owners operating for less than 3 years. The organizations and business owners demonstrate a higher level of character, generating a culture that is “authentic about its mission and connection with community.”

The Torch Awards is the top fundraiser for the BBB’s Student of Integrity Scholarship program. Proceeds from the night aid in providing six Southeast Texas students each a $2,500 scholarship. BBB and the Consumer Education Foundation will recognize the previously announced 2022 Student of Integrity Scholarship recipients during the event program. 

“Our 2022 students are great examples of our Southeast Texas future leaders developing the skills and character required for a successful future,” stated Fredrichs.  

Make reservations for the 24th Torch Awards by visiting bbb.org/local/0845/tae-event or contacting Candace Carver-Brooks candacecarverbrooks@bbbsetexas.org or (409) 527-3718.

“The Better Business Bureau has empowered people to find businesses, brands and charities they can trust for over 110 years,” the organization describes. “In 2021, people turned to BBB more than 200 million times for BBB Business Profiles on 6.3 million businesses and Charity Reports on 25,000 charities, free at BBB.org.” Local, independent BBBs can be found across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, including BBB Serving Southeast Texas, which was founded in 1963 and serves the Chambers, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Newton, Orange, Tyler counties and the Bolivar Peninsula.