At Better Business Bureau, our mission is to promote trust in the marketplace. One of the most powerful ways we bring that mission to life is by celebrating businesses that lead with integrity — where trust isn’t just a value, but the very backbone of how they operate. That’s exactly what we did during our annual Torch Awards for Ethics luncheon, held Wednesday at the Chattanooga Convention Center. We honored organizations that don’t just talk about ethics — they live it.
BBB’s Torch Awards for Ethics were established locally in 1989 and are presented annually to gain public recognition for businesses and non-profit organizations that serve as our marketplace role models when it comes to fairness and honesty.
During the event, we proudly announced five BBB Torch Award for Ethics winners and twelve award finalists. We also recognized ten Student of Integrity scholarship recipients.
Companies were nominated for BBB’s Torch Award and then asked to provide information that demonstrates their focus on the four c’s of Trust: character, culture, customers and community.
They were asked to share details for the following areas of their operations:
— How a company’s leadership uses internal and external communication and/or activities that help their organization intentionally build and maintain an ethical culture and practice
— How the organization implements the best management practices and encourages employees to pursue and develop expertise in their areas of responsibility
— How human resource practices prepare, support, recognize and provide opportunities for growth in both competency and ethical behavior for employees
— Examples of the company’s community support and service activities within their industry and community
We applaud the following companies, which were recognized as BBB’s 2025 Torch Award for Ethics winners and finalists:
Category I (1-10 employees)
— Winner: BC Solutions (Chattanooga)
— Finalists: Allison Insurance & Senior Advising (Ringgold), Greg Callaham Graphic Design (Chattanooga), Songer Dentistry (Rossville) and Turn2Us Handyman Services LLC (Chattanooga)
Category II (11-25 employees)
— Winner: Clean Heating & Air and Clean Crawlspace (Dalton)
— Finalists: Eric Buchanan and Associates (Chattanooga), Smith Auto Solutions Inc. (Cleveland), Tasteful Gatherings Catering (Riceville) and Yogi’s PrimoPromo (Chattanooga)
Category III (26-99 employees)
— Winner: Shallowford Animal Hospital (Chattanooga)
— Finalists: Ashland Terrace Animal Hospital (Chattanooga), C&M Disposal (McDonald) and Springdale Heating & Air (Cleveland)
Category IV (100+ employees)
— Winner: Southern Adventist University (Collegedale)
— Finalist: Marion Environmental Inc. (Chattanooga)
Non-Profit Organizations
— Winner: Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Chattanooga
Winners of BBB’s local Torch Awards are eligible to compete for the International Association of Better Business Bureau’s International Torch Award, which is offered annually and is open to North America companies that have recently received a local Torch Award.
During our local event, we were proud to recognize four Chattanooga-based companies that have won an award or honorable mention from the international association in the past seven years.
In 2020, Walden Security was one of four companies to be selected as a winner of an international Torch Awards for Ethics. First Volunteer Bank, now Builtwell Bank, received an honorable mention for the 2021 International Torch Award. Lawson Electric Co. Inc. received an honorable mention for the 2018 International Torch Award, and PlayCore received an honorable mention for the 2024 International Torch Award.
Thanks to the generous financial support of several area businesses, BBB has proudly awarded more than $210,000 in Students of Integrity scholarships to deserving high school seniors located throughout Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia since 2005. As part of their scholarship entry, students are asked to draft an essay on the impact of ethics on businesses and our community.
BBB received more than 130 applications for BBB’s 2025 Students of Integrity scholarships, and the following ten students were selected for $1,000 scholarships:
Arike Akinbolagbe of Darlington School, Reagan Baker of Central High School of McMinn County, Lillian Chattin of Rhea County High School, Kaylynn Churches of Bledsoe County High School, Emma Flegal of Ridgeland High School, Elizabeth Gunter of Walker Valley High School, Rachel Sloan of Hixson High School, Georgia Smith of Calhoun High School, Ella Kate Walraven of Sonoraville High School, and Evan Wood of Gordon Central High School.
BBB’s special commemorative Torch Awards for Ethics insert will be offered in print and digitally in the Chattanooga Times Free Press on June 1. The publication will highlight BBB’s 2025 Torch Award winners, finalists, scholarship recipients and event sponsors.
BBB is now taking nominations for the 2026 Torch Awards for Ethics, which can be submitted at bbb.org/chattanooga under the Torch Awards for Ethics event link or by contacting BBB at 423-266-6144.
Michele Mason is president of the Better Business Bureau in Chattanooga.
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