ETHICS IN BUSINESS

OUR GOAL: WE ILLUMINATE those businesses, individuals and nonprofits who believe that doing GOOD is good business, and maintain our level playing field in the Central Texas business community by exemplifying ethical practices.

The purpose of RecognizeGood’s Ethics in Business program is to illuminate those businesses, individuals and nonprofits who believe that doing GOOD is good business. The Ethics in Business award program helps not only preserve, but expand, the ethical environment that allows our businesses to prosper, grow, and better support the communities of Central Texas. Utilizing partnerships with Concordia University and Leadership Austin, candidates for this award are examined and interviewed at multiple levels to determine award finalists and honorees in five award categories. Honorees are announced at the annual Ethics in Business Awards Celebration, where hundreds of business leaders gather each year to recognize great examples of business integrity and join together to stand up for doing the right thing.

Will your business join us?

HOW IT WORKS:

Each year, nominations are gathered by RecognizeGood. Nominees are then researched and vetted by hand-selected business students at Concordia University Texas during their study of ethical principles.  Once the students have reviewed the nominees and conducted phone interviews, they score each nominee and narrow the field to 3 finalists in each category. Each finalist is then interviewed in person, and students prepare a rigorous, in-depth review before presenting their findings to an independent selection committee made up of hand-selected Leadership Austin alumni.

Concordia is annually awarded the Tom & Reina Wiatt Scholarship for their involvement with the research and selection process of selecting the finalists. All finalists are recognized and award recipients announced at the awards luncheon, attended by hundreds of Texas business leaders and growing in size each year. Proceeds benefit the founding presenter of this program in Central Texas, the Samaritan Center.

Award Criteria

  • Be Respectful 
  • Be Fair 
  • Be Honest 
  • Strive for Justice 
  • Embrace Sustainability

Award Categories

  • Small Business (5-249 employees)
  • Large Business (250+ employees)
  • Nonprofit
  • Individual

2023 Ethics in Business Awards

Recap our 2023 Ethics in Business Awards!

UPCOMING EVENTS

2024 ETHICS IN BUSINESS AWARDS LUNCHEON

Date: May 17th, 2024 (in-person event, livestreaming at recognizegood.org)

 

Location: Zlotnik Ballroom, AT&T Hotel & Conference Center (1900 University Ave, Austin TX)

As we all stand together as pillars for good, we form the foundation of a fair and just business community where, as partners, we can all thrive. RecognizeGood, Samaritan Center and Concordia University invite you to honor Central Texas businesses, nonprofit organizations and individuals for their exemplary ethical standards and behavior. For more information about sponsorship levels and opportunities contact: 

illuminate@recognizegood.org  |  (800) 232-4810


Ethics in Business Award Nomination

Testimonials

“If we try to be an example to others, it stands to reason that we also look for examples to emulate. If you surround yourself with groups that you admire, you have the opportunity to take on their positive characteristics. This can also serve to confirm your own good, ethical traits. You do good, you see others do good, they see you do good … it’s a neat cycle!”   

Marc Bove, President – The Bommarito Group 

“Our firm has won more than 50 industry awards over the last eight years. Winning the Ethics in Business award is by far, the greatest recognition we have ever received.”    

Kevin Tuerff, President – EnviroMedia Social Marketing

“All of us in leadership positions have the responsibility to share our ethics and demonstrate integrity in our daily walk, especially when it isn’t easy.  I was honored and humbled by this award.”    

Brian McCoy, CEO – McCoy’s Building Supply Centers 

We consider it a great honor to be a part of this process and see it a natural connection – as a university, we are committed to acting in ways that promote ethical practices, growth and impact in the Austin region. This city is filled with ethically-run businesses, each seeking continued improvement and challenging others to uphold ethical standards. The standards have been set and the bar is rising. [The businesses involved] have demonstrated the types of qualities that these students will seek in future employers, and have given them a real world learning experience that equips them to follow in their footsteps as ethical leaders.

Dr. Lynette Gillis, Chief Financial Officer at Concordia University

As intensive as [this course] was, everything I learned can be directly applied to my future career. I truly understand the importance of scheduling and communication within a business framework, and by connecting me with so many companies that have outstanding moral principles, RecognizeGood has set my expectations extremely high. From something as simple as recycling to equality for women in the workplace, all of these details play a huge part in one particular area – doing the right thing. It seems like such a simple task to do good, and to be good at it, right? But the process proved otherwise – doing the right thing isn’t always cost-effective or easy, but [some businesses] excel at it and spend the extra dollar to do the right thing. I hope that someday I’m able to represent a company of this caliber, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this.

Kaitlyn Ellis, 2018 student examiner

We have all grown in different ways from it. I personally have enjoyed getting to know so many incredible people who have an impact not only on the community but on individual lives. It honestly speaks volumes that the each companies nominated for this award stand apart from hundreds of other organizations – they are each making an impressive impact on people whether they realize it or not.
It’s essential to set the type of example we want others to follow. Regardless of what you do in life, people will remember how you treated them – this directly aligns with our ethical standards. Francis Chan has said that our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter. It is our personal decision to determine what truly matters in life and illuminate that for others to see and follow.

Breanna Rodarte, 2019 student examiner

The Ethics in Business Awards program is a fantastic partnership between RecognizeGood and Concordia University Texas. The university has been involved in this program for over 12 years, allowing our students to have a real-world experience with business and their ethical practices. As they interview employees and investigate business practices, they are shaping their own ethical beliefs and practices for years to come. The impact of this partnership lives on in the businesses and organizations in which our graduates are employed across the region and beyond.

Dr. Donald Christian, President and CEO at Concordia University Texas

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