On April 17, 2008, the BBB Torch Awards Luncheon honored those reflecting BBB’s mission to advance marketplace trust. Awards were presented as follows:
Marketplace Excellence Presented to one business and one public charity in recognition of their superior commitment to exceptional standards that benefit their consumers, employees/volunteers, suppliers, shareholders and communities.
Maui DiversMaui Divers’ jewelry sales training is vital to earning trust and keeping its customers happy. Salespeople are carefully trained and retrained to provide full disclosure about the jewelry they are showing or selling. In addition, the company provides a certified, written appraisal with the technical features and replacement value of any piece bought at
Maui Divers.
Robert Taylor, president
and CEO of Maui Divers,
winner in the Marketplace
Excellence business category.
Mental Health KokuaMental Health Kokua provides advocacy and action to address the needs of people whose mental distress, emotional crisis or mental illness is interfering with their lives. Community based-services are timely, cost effective and focused on helping those with mental illness move toward recovery and restoration. Annually, the agency asks community members, employees, and consumers for suggestions and feedback for future planning and quality improvements at
Mental Health Kokua.
Greg Payton, CEO of
Mental Health Kokua,
winner in the Marketplace
Excellence public charity category.
Advancing Marketplace Trust Presented to one business and one public charity in recognition actions, programs, or sustainment activities that significantly and positively contribute to advancing trust in the marketplace.
101 Financial101 Financial agents meet face to face with individuals or families in their own home and provide a personalized money management and debt elimination plan for each client. The
101 Financial system helps build trust between clients and the bank institutions in the state.
Alan Akina, president of
101 Financial, winner in the
Advancing Marketplace Trust
business category.
Mediation Center of the PacificThe Mediation Center of the Pacific began as a way to resolve neighbor disputes in a peaceful manner. The Center's mission is to provide and promote high quality mediation and dispute resolution services that are accessible and affordable. The Center actively collaborates with other agencies and groups to offer on-site mediation in outlying communities, and provide specialized programs on many specific issues through the
Mediation Center of the Pacific.
Tracey Wiltgen, executive
director of the Mediation
Center of the Pacific, winner
in the Advancing Marketplace
Trust public charity category.
Consumer Leadership Presented to one individual who has significantly advanced marketplace trust through consumer advocacy, protection or education, a specific action or lifetime achievement.
Olin LagonOlin Lagon’s passion for social entrepreneurship is a reflection of the values he holds. His work has been recognized by Small Business Administration and
New York's Petra Foundation. Olin has served as an East West Center Fellow, a U.S. Navy reservist, and Peace Corps volunteer in
Russia. He is currently a board member for Parents and Children Together and College Connections Hawaii. Olin is a staff member at
Kanu Hawaii.
Olin Lagon, winner in
the Consumer Leadership
category.
Mahalo to the 2008 BBB Torch Awards sponsors.