in this issue: bbb foundation honors integrity & bbb’s “decade … · 2008-11-11 · sharon...

www.bbb.org

BBB CONTACT INFORMATION

Winners2008 Integrity Awards Pages 6-8

Health Savings Accounts — a good alternative

Page 2

Students of Integrity Awarded

Page 3

Secure Your ID Day — an incredible response!

Page 4

Identity Theft Advice

Page 5

Omaha Office:11811 P StreetOmaha NE 68137(Headquarters)

Jim Hegarty, president and CEO

Public Line – (402) 391-7612Member Line – (402) 391-7647

Lincoln Office:3633 O Street, Suite 1Lincoln, Nebraska 68510Sharon Brodhagen, Lincoln branch manager


Sioux Falls Office:300 N Phillips Ave, Suite 202Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57104Jim David, South Dakota state director


Toll Free (800) 649-6814

Business Integrity Awarded

The Better Business Bureau

Foundation annually bestows the

prestigious BBB Integrity Awards

to those firms in the BBB’s service

area whose business practices

and related activities exemplify

the BBB’s mission and principles

which include honesty, commitment

and trust. The BBB believes that

communities, committed to ethical

business principles, coupled with an

educated and informed public, are

the keys to fairness and honesty in

the marketplace.

President and General Manager of

KETV, the “Torch Sponsor” in Omaha,

Sarah Smith explained what winning a

BBB Integrity Award means. She said,

“There are many different ways to

define trust, but there are two words

that really sum it up — integrity and

performance. Integrity means honesty,

which is not only telling the truth, but

also ‘walking the talk,’ acting humbly

and having the courage to do what’s

right — even when it’s difficult.”

“Trust is also about performance,”

she said. “Before people can have trust,

you have to prove your skills, show

results and create a strong track record.

No matter the size of your business,

people need to know that they can

count on your company to get the job

done and to get it done right.”

The companies that were selected

by the judges as winners of the

2008 BBB Integrity Awards have

earned the trust and respect of their

customers, employees, vendors and

community at-large. In addition, they

have clearly acknowledged formal

ethical practices in their mission

statements and have demonstrated

them in all aspects of their corporate

cultures. They model the way for all

businesses.

At the Integrity Awards event held

in Lincoln, Nebraska on September

3rd, attended by over 400 people,

the judges selected six companies to

receive Integrity Awards. The winners

are: KaBloom Studios, Reynolds

Design & Remodeling, Gene Lilly

Surety Bonds, Meginnis Ford Co.

Lincoln Electric System and United

Way of Lincoln and Lancaster

County. These awards were presented

by Jack Zohner, BBB Lincoln Board

chair and Sharon Brodhagen, BBB

Lincoln branch director.

This year, Lincoln’s Integrity Awards

Committee created a new award

for notable application entries by

organizations that demonstrated how

ethics and integrity are incorporated in

their business relations. “Ambassador

of Integrity” certificates were given to:

A+ Media, All Care, Capitol Heating

& Air Conditioning, Christian Record

Services for the Blind, Columbus

Physical Therapy, Downtown Lincoln

Continued on PAGE 7

Dr. Tom Osborne, keynote speaker at the Lincoln event

Sara Smith, KETV president and CEO

Jim Hegarty, BBB president

A publication of the Better Business Bureau with offices in Lincoln & Omaha, NE and Sioux Falls, SD 3rd Quarter 2008 | Vol. 10 No. 5

BBB Foundation Honors Integrity & BBB’s “Decade Members”

In This Issue:

B e t t e r B u s i n e s s B u r e a u B u l l e t i n

PAGE 2 www.bbb.org3rd Quarter 2008 | Vol. 10 No. 5

BBB BULLETIN (USPS 183-500) is published quarterly by:Better Business Bureau, Inc.11811 P StreetOmaha, NE 68137 Subscription Rate:$8 per year

Periodical Postage paid at:Omaha, NE POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:BBB Bulletin11811 P StreetOmaha, NE 68137

The news has been

filled with discouraging

headlines -- corporate

scandals, financial failures,

unethical government

actions and an unstable

economy. There is no

question that today’s

uncertain times have shaken consumer confidence.

Not since the Great Depression has public opinion

about business and government been so low. People

are not sure where to turn when they need help

locating reputable businesses to help with home or

personal needs.

That is why it is more important than ever for

business owners small and large to return to the

foundation of what has been behind the success of

so many American companies — business ethics.

A reputation for integrity is one of the strongest

assets a business can hold. It inspires customers

to buy a company’s products or services. It

encourages people to recommend the company

to others. It is one of the strongest attractions for

high-quality employees, and can be critical when

looking for investors.

We are fortunate that the vast majority of

businesses in our BBB’s service area have embraced

good business ethics and practices. In some parts

of the country business ethics has become a punch

line for comedians. This is surely not true in our

region, where nearly 7,000 companies have been

accredited by our BBB. Although we can never rest

on our laurels, consumers can take heart in knowing

that doing business with BBB Accredited Businesses

will be a positive and enjoyable experience.

A Message from Our President Jim Hegarty

Small Business Advice on Health Savings Accounts

Rising healthcare costs

are forcing small business

owners to decide

whether or not

they can afford

to provide health

coverage for their

employees.

Some employers are choosing to contribute

to Health Savings Accounts (HSA) for

employees as an alternative to paying for

health insurance, and BBB is providing

guidance for small business owners on

whether HASs could be a viable option

for their company.

According to a recently released Kaiser

Family Foundation study, in 2008 employer-

sponsored health insurance for a family costs

an average of $12,680—a five percent increase

from 2007—with one-fourth of that cost paid

by employers. While the cost of healthcare is

high now, there’s more bad news for business

owners in the future. Unfortunately, it appears

that employer healthcare costs are only going

to increase, according to a Hewitt Associates

study that estimates costs are expected to rise

6.4 percent in 2009.

“Employers have found that providing

health insurance is an effective way to

attract and retain a quality workforce,

however, the rising cost of healthcare is

making it harder for businesses to provide

that incentive,” said Jim Hegarty, BBB

president. “Health savings accounts are an

alternative for cash-strapped businesses to

trim healthcare costs while still providing

healthcare incentives for employees.”

According to a 2008 report from the

United States Government Accountability

Office, the number of individuals

covered by HSA-eligible plans increased

significantly between September 2004

and January 2007—from about 438,000 to

approximately 4.5 million.

Following are some guidelines and

background information from BBB on HSAs:

The Basics

HSAs were established as part of the

Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement

and

Modernization

Act of 2003. HSAs

are designed as an

account into which both

employers and employees can make

tax-free contributions. The accumulated

money is the property of the employee and

is used to pay for medical expenses.

Eligibility

In order for employees to maintain a

Health Savings Account they must also be

part of a high-deductible healthcare plan

and cannot be covered by other health

insurance (dental, vision or disability is

permissible, however).

Tax Incentives

Employee contributions to an HSA are

above-the-line tax deductions. As well,

earnings such as interest and dividends are

tax-exempt. Withdrawals from the accounts

are tax-free as long as the money is used

for medical expenses.

Contributions

The maximum contribution for an

HSA is $2,900 for single coverage and

$5,800 for families. Business owners can

contribute to their employees’ HSA at any

point and in any amount, however they

must make comparable contributions to

all participating employees. Contributions

do not have to be the same for part-time

versus full-time employees.

Administrative Costs

Another benefit for small business

owners is that there are minimal

administrative costs associated with HSAs

since the accounts are self-administered by

the employee.

Getting Started

Small business owners can learn more

about HSAs on the U.S. Small Business

Administration’s (SBA) website at www.

sba.gov/hsa. SBA also recommends small

business owners go to www.HSAfinder.

com, www.HSAInsider.com, and www.

ehealthinsurance.com for assistance in

finding qualified HSAs and determining

eligibility for coverage.


PAGE 33rd Quarter 2008 | Vol. 10 No. 5Start With Trust

Katie Rose Erickson

Molly Soholt

Kelsey Jo Bigando

At the Integrity Award

events, the Scott Mecham BBB

Students of Integrity were

introduced and presented with

framed certificates that formally

acknowledged their awards.

This program, sponsored by

the BBB Foundation, annually

gives $2,000 scholarships to

three students who reside in

the geographic area served by

BBB. These scholarships were

established to honor the memory

of Mr. Mecham who served as

BBB president from 1991 until

January 2006.

The student, selected by an

independent panel of judges

from Lincoln, is Katherine

Rose Erickson. She attended

Wauneta-Palisade High School

in Palisade, Nebraska, and is now

a freshman at the University

of Nebraska in Lincoln where

she is pursuing a career as an

elementary school teacher.

Marilyn Mecham, the wife of

the late Scott Mecham, and their

two sons Shane and Marc made

the presentation to Katie at the

Lincoln event. Mrs. Mecham stated,

“Katie’s essay, submitted for this

award, reflects her understanding

of what it means to have integrity.

Katie wrote that ‘integrity is one of

the most important qualities that

could mark a person’s life. When

someone is known for his or her

integrity, they are respected by

their peers, friends and families for

being honest, accountable and fair

in all that they do. I have seen this

in my parents’ lives, and I want to

be the kind of person that others

can confidently look to, knowing

they can count on me to do the

right thing in all situations’.”

The Omaha Local Board

Chairman Doug Hiemstra

presented award certificates

to the parents of the other

“Students of Integrity”. The

student chosen by the South

Dakota judges is Molly Soholt

who graduated from Washington

High School in Sioux Falls, South

Dakota. She is now a freshman

at Colorado State University

where she is a pre-med major.

Her application included

an essay that focused on

politics. She stated, “I have

heard many comments that

today’s youth do not find

politics relevant. How can

we be so easily dismissed?

My generation depends on

it —a government leading to

a secure society. How else

will our dreams be realized?

Politics will always affect

my life, and I choose the

kind of person I want

to be in relationship to

it. My desire is always

to have the courage to

choose honesty, respect

and integrity.”

The Student of Integrity

selected by the judges

from the Omaha metro

and southwest Iowa area

is Kelsey Jo Bigando.

Kelsey graduated in May

from Burke High School in Omaha.

She is currently attending Fort

Hays State University in Kansas.

She would like to have a career in

business and marketing.

Kelsey’s application essay was

about business ethics. She used

Warren Buffet as an example of

“a person that employs trust and

integrity in his business to yield

results.” She stated, “Mr. Buffett

believes and practices the idea

of focusing on a mistake made

that produced a loss… We need

to be accountable for the mistake

and learn from it. By acting

ethically and responsibly in any

situation, especially the negative

ones, we will eventually build a

stronger ‘character.’ I hope that

ethics, honesty and integrity will

continue to be a greater role in

the business world. I can only

imagine the great benefits we

would all receive from fair, moral

and ethical business practices.”

The BBB offers its

congratulations to the

Foundation’s Students of Integrity!

The 2009 application guide,

nomination and application forms

will soon be available on our

website at www.bbb.org under

“Announcements”.

Katherine Erickson, Shane, Marc and Marilyn Mecham

Deb and Mike Bigando, parents of Kelsey Bigando

Deb Soholt, mother of Molly Soholt

Students of Integrity Awarded



Secure Your ID Day

T H A N K Y O U L O C A L S P O N S O R S !

Locally, approximately 1,050 vehicles brought

documents for shredding. About 750 vehicles

came to the Omaha event. The location, at 85th

and West Dodge Rd, was donated by Methodist

Health System. KETV was Omaha’s media

sponsor that promoted the event, and Shred-It

Omaha provided the services. Over 14 tons of

materials were destroyed.

In Lincoln, the event took place at People’s

Choice Federal Credit Union at 25th & O

Street. There, 150 vehicles brought 2.5 tons

of documents. The shredding services were

donated by Paper Tiger, and KLKN-TV provided

media sponsorship. Additionally, this location

collected over $500 for the Lincoln Food Bank.

The Sioux Falls event was held at First Dakota

National Bank at 2400 S. Louise Avenue, and

Shred-It Sioux Falls enabled 2.5 more tons of

documents to be destroyed. One hundred and

fifty vehicles attended this event, and donations

to their local Food Bank were also collected.

BBB President Jim Hegarty exclaimed, “Not

only did our BBB shred 19.5 tons of credentials,

but we also gave everyone that attended

goodie bags filled with valuable information

about identity protection. We had an incredible

response from consumers. I heard the words

‘thank you’ more times in five hours than I have

heard in the 14 years that I have been with BBB.

This was the ultimate win-win for all involved.

Our media partners were blown away by the

turnout and so were the BBB staff that helped

organize and run the event. It was a gratifying

day for everyone!”

Education is one of the most important ways

BBB works toward building trust in today’s

marketplace. “Our goal was to make personal

information less accessible and empower

people to be their own first line of defense

against identity theft. With community-based

BBBs across North America collaborating

simultaneously, we had a tremendous coast-to-

coast presence that reached numerous people

and helped prevent Identity theft,” said Hegarty.

Going forward, BBB will continue providing

expert advice to protect consumers and

business owners from the ongoing threat of

ID theft throughout the year in various ways.

BBB plans to hold the next “Secure Your ID”

Day in May, 2009.

BBB “Secure Your ID” Day Shreds Over 355 Tons of Materials Across U.S. and Canada

Nearly 13,000 vehicles descended on 83 sites

across the U.S. and Canada on Saturday, September

20th, all filled with boxes and bags of sensitive

documents to be shredded free of charge during

Better Business Bureau’s “Secure Your ID” Day

community service event.

BBB and its leading national partners Shred-

It, Equifax, ProQuo and National Association for

Information Destruction (NAID) saw consumers

and small business owners from 30 states and two

provinces deliver more than 710,000 pounds (355

tons) of materials for safe, responsible destruction,

making BBB “Secure Your ID” Day the largest

single day event of its kind ever held.

Community Service Event Helps Consumers and Business Owners from

Omaha, Lincoln and Sioux Falls



BBB Business Advice: Your Company’s Identity May Be At Risk

Everyone is aware of the threat of personal

identity theft, but identity thieves also prey

on businesses. Recent studies cite more than

eight million Americans as ID theft victims, with

nearly $50 billion in annual losses, but the most

sophisticated identity thieves are now pursuing

even bigger payoffs by targeting businesses. BBB is

offering advice on how to avoid the different forms

of business ID theft, as well as guidance for small

business owners if their company’s identity has

been compromised.

Because businesses have higher credit limits and

make larger purchases than consumers, charges by

scammers are less likely to be noticed by owners,

accountants and creditors. And whereas most

consumer ID theft costs victims less than $5,000

on average, individuals and criminal networks that

target businesses can easily haul more than 10

times that amount.

“Business identity theft is a very real concern

in today’s marketplace because, from a criminal’s

perspective, it is significantly more cost-effective to

steal business identities than consumer identities,”

said Jim Hegarty, BBB president. “Small businesses

can be especially easy targets because they may

not be as adept or well-equipped to protect

sensitive information as larger companies that can

afford to hire dedicated staff to ensure oversight

and security.”

ID theft aimed at stealing directly from a

business isn’t the only type of commercial identity

theft. Another form of business identity theft

happens when a scammer poses as the company in

order to rip off unsuspecting consumers. Following

are examples of common business identity theft

schemes identified by BBB.

Defrauding the Business

A crafty ID thief can do a lot of damage with

a company’s Employer Identification Number,

including gaining access to bank and credit card

accounts or opening up new lines of credit under

the business’s name. Business identity theft can

also be perpetrated by scammers—and sometimes

even employees—who purchase items in the

company’s name either for personal use or to resell.

Phishing E-mails

Phishing e-mails are a common example of

business ID theft, and all are designed to defraud

consumers. Phishing e-mails are spam disguised

as messages from a business or government

agency, and are used to coerce sensitive financial

information from the recipient or to install malware

and viruses on recipients’ computers. According to

a recent 2008 report by Websense Security Labs,

nearly 10 percent of spam messages are phishing

attacks, representing a 47 percent increase over

the previous six month period.

Defrauding Consumers

In many cases, criminals will hijack a company’s

name and reputation to commit consumer fraud,

such as advance fee loan or lottery scams.

Scammers use and leverage the company’s identity

and good reputation to create a trustworthy façade

behind which they operate their scam. In BBB’s

experience, business owners are usually alerted to

the identity theft by angry consumers who were

ripped off by the scammers.

Alert the Authorities

Business owners

need to immediately

contact their local police

department if they believe

the company’s identity

has been compromised.

In some cases where bank

or credit accounts have

been compromised, law

enforcement investigators

may want the accounts to

remain open in order to

track down the thieves. If

scammers are using the

company’s name on phishing

e-mails or with phony

websites, business owners

can also contact the FBI’s

Internet Crime Complaint

Center at www.ic3.gov.

Alert Bank and Credit

Card Companies

If scammers are

accessing the business’s

credit or bank accounts,

forging company checks

or opening up new lines

of credit, it’s important for

a small business owner to

notify financial institutions

involved in order to limit

any further unauthorized

transactions. Before closing

any accounts, the business

owners will want to receive

the go-ahead from law

enforcement so as not

to jeopardize ongoing

investigations.

Alert the Public

If the company’s identity

has been stolen and is being

used to rip off customers,

warning the public is a top

priority to prevent additional

people from becoming

victims. An easy first step

is to prominently post a

warning on the company’s

home page briefly explaining

the threat. Depending on the

scope of the scam, business

owners might also want to

consider alerting media or

making direct contact with

customers via phone or

e-mail. Businesses can also

contact their BBB for help

in getting information out to

consumers quickly.

Review Credit Report

If the business is a sole

proprietorship, then the

same consumer protections

apply as if an individual’s ID

were stolen—such as access

to free credit reports

and the ability to place a

fraud alert on the report.

Unfortunately for most

businesses, monitoring

their credit history is not

that easy. Business credit

reports exist; however,

they don’t typically

include the information

necessary for detecting

fraud. Small and medium-

size enterprises can,

however, increase internal

controls and monitoring of

accounts in order to better

track abuses.

Following are steps BBB recommends business owners take to mitigate harm if their business identity has been stolen.


PAGE 6 3rd Quarter 2008 | Vol. 10 No. 5

WINNER

OMAHAThrasher Basement SystemsGreg Thrasher, president

Thrasher Basement Systems’ team has a passion for excellence. They

are on a quest to not just provide outstanding customer service, but to

set the standard for their industry in innovation, expertise and integrity.

25-99 Employees

WINNER

Midwest Eye Care, PCDr. Michael Halsted and Dr. Peter Whitted, head practitioners

In the complex field of medicine, Midwest Eye Care strives to exhibit

leadership by promoting innovative medical procedures, quality

customer service, continuing employee development and assistance

to the disadvantaged.

100+ Employees

WINNER

Goodwill IndustriesFrank McGree, president

For 75 years Goodwill Industries has provided the community with human

service programs based on integrity and trust. By offering employment

and training, this organization gives people hope, dignity and respect.

Charity

WINNER

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NebraskaSteven Martin, president and Jack Mills, board chairman

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska takes its responsibility as

an ethical corporate leader and community partner very seriously.

Decisions are made at BCBS based on what is best for their members,

employees and the Nebraska communities they serve.

Pictured accepting the award is Jack Mills

100+ Employees

WINNER

Fat Brain ToysMark and Karen Carson, co-owners

Fat Brain Toys has earned their customers’ trust in the faceless,

nameless world of online sales by treating each order as more than

just a toy, but as a gift of one’s self to another.

6-24 Employees

WINNER

Dingman’s Collision CenterBoyd Dingman, president

Dingman’s Collision Center always stands behind their work.

This business is built on a foundation of trust. Their employees

take great pride in a job done well, and they strive to make all

customers happy.

6-24 Employees

WINNER

Teeter Auto TransporterJerry Teeter, president

A proven track record of honesty, integrity and good work ethic has

earned Teeter Auto Transporter a BBB Integrity Award. They consider

their customers, drivers and employees as the fuel which sustains

them in their highly competitive business.

1-5 Employees



Honorable Mention Awards in OmahaThe judges selected four organizations to receive Honorable Mention Awards this year. These companies have sufficiently demonstrated that their

success is directly linked to ethical business practices and standards that are an integral part of their corporate cultures.

PayPalBrian Waldron, director of North America Consumer Protections

Wells Fargo Bank N.A.– Omaha Christina Castro-Matukewicz, community development representative

Better Business EquipmentDaron Smith, president

CAS, Inc.Drew Lungren, president

Association, General Collections Co., Latch’s,

Leadership Resources, Lincoln Laminating,

Merry Manor School of Childhood, Nebraska

Seamless, Pickering Creative Group, Quick

Connect Computer Services, Russell’s

Automotive, Sandquist Construction &

Development, Servpro of Lincoln, SolutionOne,

Talent Plus, the HOMEBIZ Inspection Team

and Waddell & Reed-Lincoln Division. The

companies are from both the metro Lincoln

area and greater Nebraska.

In addition, a special award was presented to

A+ Media/A+ Nightlife Entertainment for their

donation of time and talent to the BBB. For the

past three years they have produced, directed

and managed the videos of the Integrity Award

winners for the Lincoln event.

The winners of the metro Omaha Integrity

Awards, presented at the event in Omaha,

Nebraska, attended by almost 1,000 people on

September 17th, are: Goodwill Industries, Teeter

Auto Transport, Fat Brain Toys, Dingman’s

Collision Center, Thrasher Basement Systems,

Midwest Eye Care and Blue Cross and Blue

Shield of Nebraska.

In addition, Tom Bosch, on behalf of Better

Business Bureau’s Sioux Falls Board of Directors,

presented, for the first time, BBB Integrity Awards

to two companies from South Dakota. They are

Express Collections, Rapid City, SD and Wells

Fargo Bank N.A., Sioux Falls, SD. Mr. Bosch

explained, “The Sioux Falls branch of the BBB

does not yet have its own awards ceremony, but I

am pleased that companies throughout the state

applied for an Integrity Award. I would like to

thank the judges for considering the applicants

and recognizing deserving organizations in South

Dakota for their ethical business practices.”

Honorable Mention Awards were given

by the Omaha judges to: Better Business

Equipment, CAS, PayPal and Wells Fargo Bank

N.A.-Omaha for having demonstrated their

commitment to ethical business practices. They

have achieved significant milestones in fostering

and implementing ethics into all aspects of their

corporate culture.

Finalist Awards were also granted, at

the Omaha event, to those companies that

demonstrated recognition of the importance

of ethical business practices. The judges

determined that they have the foundation to

formally incorporate ethics into all aspects of

their corporate culture and understand that ethics

is an important aspect for success and profitability.

The Finalists are: AON Risk Services Central,

Clarklift West, McCarthy’s One Hour Heating and

Air Conditioning, MSI Systems Integrators, Monarch

Siding & Windows, National Safety Council,

Netshops and Road Warriors Auto Transporter.

BBB President Jim Hegarty remarked,

“Being recognized for integrity by the BBB

is a distinctive and prestigious honor. These

companies are to be congratulated for their

commitment to ethical business practices

with key stakeholders including customers,

employees and their communities.”

Integrity Awards Continued from PAGE 1

“Decade Members” RecognizedAlso acknowledged at the Integrity Award events were BBB Accredited Businesses that have “Decade”

anniversaries in 2008. Plaques were presented to the businesses that joined the BBB in 1998, 1988, 1978,

1968, 1958, 1948 and 1938. There were 163 companies recognized: 128 ten-year “Bronze” members, 14

twenty-year “Silver” members, 6 thirty-year “Gold” members, 4 forty-year “Platinum” members, 1 fifty year

“Diamond” member, 3 sixty-year “Ruby” members and 6 seventy-year “Emerald” members. Jim Hegarty

said, “I am grateful that this BBB has so many companies affiliated with our organization for so many

years. Their decades of support exemplify their ongoing commitment to our organization and the BBB’s

importance in the marketplace.”

70 Years

member

70 Years

member

60 Years

member

60 Years

member

50 Years

member

70 Years

member

70 Years

member

70 Years

member

70 Years

member

Journal Star Printing Company, Manosha Nair

Sartor Hamann Jewelry, Don Hamann

Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., Scott Stuckey

Latsch’s, Inc., Mike Decker

US Bank, Beth Morgan

Black Hills Energy, Don Nordell

Lincoln Electric System, Terry Bundy

Windstream Communications, Cheryl Kruger

Davis Design, Wade Stange



LINCOLN

Reynolds Design & RemodelingRoger Reynolds, president

Reynolds Design & Remodeling provides a remodeling experience

that is creative rewarding and enjoyable to their clients and

employees through open communication and adhering to the highest

standards of ethical conduct in every decision and transaction.

Pictured are Jack Zohner, BBB Lincoln Board chair and Mr. Reynolds

1-5 Employees

WINNER

Meginnis Ford Co.R. James Campbell, president

Meginnis Ford Co. and its employees strive to provide excellent

customer service in a low pressure atmosphere. Their objective

is to have every customer that leaves their dealership

completely satisfied.

Pictured are Mr. Campbell and Mr. Hagerty

25-29 Employees

WINNER

Lincoln Electric SystemTerry L. Bundy, administrator

Lincoln Electric System, believes each customer has a

unique set of circumstances that must be addressed.

Its goal is to do what is in the best interest of each

customer, and to go “above and beyond” in treating

all customers in a positive and ethical manner.

100+ Employees

WINNER

United Way Of Lincoln And Lancaster CountyBrian Wachman, chief professional officer

Since 1923 United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County has

worked to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of

the Lincoln and Lancaster Communities. Its vision is to be the

organization that inspires and engages all citizens to support

and solve human service needs.

Pictured are Mr. Zohner and Mr. Wachman

Charity

WINNER

Kabloom StudiosKara Plicanic, president

Putting the client first and giving them more than they expect is

KaBloom Studio’s commitment. Through constantly researching

better ways of doing things and implementing the latest

technological developments, clients are ensured a memorable

photographic experience.

Pictured are Mr. Hagerty, BBB president and Ms. Plicanic

1-5 Employees

WINNER

Gene Lilly Surety BondsBob Cirone, president and Jim King, vice president

Gene Lilly Surety Bonds, Inc. specializes in contract surety and

commercial bonds. Its mission is to provide bonding services to its

clients and prospects with the utmost trust and confidentiality. In

addition, GLSB also assists in the development of local laws and

ordinances which benefit the surety industry and are consistent

with the public’s interest.

Pictured are Jim Hegarty, Mr. King and Mr. Cirone

6-24 Employees

WINNER



Wells Fargo Bank — Sioux FallsDan Murphy, regional president

Wells Fargo Bank holds honesty, trust and integrity in the

highest regard, and everyone in the Wells Fargo Corporation

works hard to maintain them every day. They understand these

are the values that distinguish the Wells Fargo brand in the

community and in the banking industry.

Pictured accepting the award is Heather ZweifelWINNER

Express CollectionsTroy Anderson, owner

A key factor that enables Express Collections, Inc. to enhance the

financial well-being of businesses in Rapid City is their culture- one

of support and growth for their employees that specialize in the

ambitious task of recovering past-due accounts.

Pictured accepting the award are Jennifer Meyer and Mary Melaringo

RapidCity

Sioux Falls

WINNER

SOUTH DAKOTA

The BBB Foundation wishes to thank all

the companies and individuals listed for their

generous support of the 2008 BBB Business

and Student of Integrity Award programs. By

sponsoring these awards and/or participating in

the events, they have aligned themselves with

the BBB and helped promote ethics and trust in

the marketplace. Their contributions of service,

money and/or products are greatly appreciated!

LINCOLN EVENTTorch SponsorA+ Media/A+ Nightlife Entertainment

Trust SponsorsAssurity Life Insurance Company

Lamar Outdoor Advertising

Ethics SponsorsBailey Lauerman

Black Hills Energy

Nebraska Book Company

US Bank

Values SponsorsAmeritas Life Insurance Corp.

Commonwealth Electric Co.

Farmers Mutual Insurance Company of Nebraska

Gene Lilly Surety Bonds, Inc.

John Henry’s Plumbing, Heating & Air

Conditioning

Legacy Retirement Communities

Lincoln Financial Management

Meginnis Ford Co.

NECO Security

T.O. Haas Tire

Two Men & A Truck

U-Stop Convenience Shop

Union Bank & Trust Company

Wet Gate Bank

Pride SponsorsA to Z Printing

ABC Electric Company, Inc.

Bob Stephens & Associates, Inc.

Li-Cor, Inc.

NAI FMA Realty

Peoples Choice Federal Credit Union

Pinnacle Bank

OMAHA EVENTTorch SponsorKETV

Integrity SponsorsPayPal

SAC Federal Credit Union

Trust SponsorsCox Business Services

Lamar Outdoor Advertising

Omaha Steaks

Pinnacle Bank

United Enterprises Company

Ethics SponsorsAAA Nebraska

Bailey Lauerman

Blue Cross Blue Shield NE

Borsheim’s

Centris Federal Credit Union

Embassy Suites

General Service Bureau

Marriott Worldwide Reservations Center

McCarthy’s One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning

Midwest Eye Care, PC

Thrasher Basement Systems, Inc.

Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society

Values SponsorsAmerican Classifieds

Boys Town

Certified Transmission

Dave’s Auto Body, Inc.

Lutz & Company

Markel BMW, Land Rover Omaha

Midlands Newspapers

Millard Sprinkler

Nebraska Furniture Mart

New Cassel Retirement Center

Omaha Public Power District

PayFlex Systems USA, Inc.

Suburban Newspapers

Two Men and A Truck

Wells Fargo Bank N.A.-Omaha

Pride SponsorsAtchley Ford, Inc.

Charlie Graham Body & Service

Credit Advisors Foundation

Farmers National Company

Fuchs Machinery

Goodwill Industries, Inc.

Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce

Heartland Scenic Studio

House of Mufflers and Brakes

Husker Home Foods

Husker Siding & Windows, Inc.

Integrity Staffing

Les Hays Graphic Design, Inc.

Malibu Sunrooms & Patios

Monarch Siding & Windows

Sanwick Remodeling Contractors

UnitedHealthcare/A UnitedHealth Group Co.

Mike & Brenda Kaiser of A+ Media were presented a Special Award of Thanks, at the Lincoln event, by Sharon Brodhagen, Lincoln branch manager

Thank You For Your Generous Support!



Consumers are inundated with thousands of advertising images

daily through the Internet, TV, radio and print. In such a crowded

marketplace, a business’ greatest challenge is to be seen and heard.

One way BBB Accredited Businesses can set themselves apart from

other companies and stand out as a business that values trust is

to participate in the special advertising programs that have been

arranged by your BBB.

They offer opportunities for your company to be featured in ads

that link you with the BBB’s highly recognized logo and trusted

name. They also have a consistent BBB message that helps brand the

BBB and lets consumers know that it is good to do business with a

BBB Accredited Business!

Except for the BBB Accredited Business Directory, The Solution, all

advertising programs are managed and sold by the participating media.

BBB Accredited Businesses pay for being featured in the ads.

PRINT MEDIAOmaha World-Herald — Company listings by type of business categories

and helpful consumer information run twice a year. There is a special

pull-out supplement, for BBB Accredited Businesses only that comes out

in March. In August, there are dedicated BBB pages in the Metro Guide.

These publications reach 225,000 households and have a readership of

over 400,000. Contact: Joan Miller at 402- 444-1448

Grand Island Independent — Ads run weekly Contact: Amanda Beale at

308- 381-9402

Norfolk Daily News — Ads run once a month Contact: Elaine Thelen at

402- 371-1020

Kearney Hub — Ads run two times a month Contact: Megan Crouch at

308-233-9763

Daily Nonparei — Ads run once a month Contact: Jaimi Miller at

712- 325-5702

Lincoln Journal Star — Ads run once a month Contact: Beth Corrick at

402- 473-7421

BROADCAST MEDIAKLKN-TV 8 (Lincoln metro area) — Fourteen shared 30 second messages

a month for every two non-competing Accredited Business sponsors, or

fourteen exclusive 30 second commercials per month.

Contact: Phil Maddern at 402-436-2241

KETV (Omaha metro area)

Value Package: Ongoing Program — Two Sponsors per Ad

You will be featured in twenty-five 30 second (:30) commercials per

month that include a short (:10) BBB message along with information

about the two sponsoring companies. Your business and one other non-

competing BBB Accredited Business receive:

An (:8) eight second message about your company•

Message includes: audio, video, your logo, phone number, email •

and address

No production cost for your company•

Ten commercials will air on KETV•

Fifteen commercials will air on Weather Now•

An average of 125,000 consumers will see these ads each month•

Ethics Package: New Program

You will be featured in twenty-five 30 second (:30) commercials

per month that include a short (:10) BBB message along with your

company’s message. Your business receives:

A (:20) twenty second message about your company•

You may use an existing commercial or KETV will produce a new •

spot at a 50% discount

Fifteen commercials will air on KETV •

Ten commercials will air on Weather Now•


Torch Package: New Program

You will be featured in thirty-five 30 second (:30) commercials

per month that include a short (:10) BBB message along with your

company’s message. Your business receives:

A (:20) twenty second message about your company•

KETV will produce your commercial for FREE•

KETV will design an animated Internet banner ad that rotates •

throughout www.ketv.com that will link directly to your website

and be viewed by about 50,000 people per month

Twenty commercials will air on KETV •

Fifteen commercials will air on Weather Now•


Contact: Katherine Ramirez at 402-978-8943

BBB ACCREDITED BUSINESS DIRECTORYThe Solution — A Marketplace Guide and Yellow Page Directory of

BBB Accredited Businesses (Nebraska, South Dakota and southwest

Iowa). There are many different advertising opportunities available to

all BBB Accredited Businesses. It is published by the BBB annually. The

advertising deadline for the 2008/2009 edition is May, 2009.

Contact: Pam Atz at 402-898-8538 or 800-649-6814 #8538

If you are interested in learning more about any of the BBB’s advertising

opportunities listed above, call the contacts indicated or BBB Communications

Director Margo Riekes at 402-898-8526 or 800-649-6814 #8526.

BBB Activity ReportsJune 1, 2008 — September 30, 2008

Top 10 Local InquiriesRoofing – Contractors = 17,0751. Contractors – General/Remodeling = 7,9532. Internet Marketing Services = 4,9433. Siding – Contractors = 4,1144. Insurance = 3,1605. Heating/Air Conditioning – Contractors = 3,1216. Home Builders = 3,0767. Banks = 2,9018. Painting – Contractors = 2,8219. Windows-Sales/Installation/Service = 2,71210.

Total Number of Inquiries/Contacts = 172,335Company Reliability Reports From:

Automated Voice Response System = 2,279BBB Staff = 7,652Web = 162,404

Total Number of Pages Viewed on BBB Website = 548,930

Top 10 Local CompaniesAdvertising – Direct Mail = 3891. Credit Cards & Plans = 1842. Internet Shopping Services = 763. Banks = 754. Auto Dealers – New/Used Cars = 665. Auto Dealers – Used Cars = 656. Cellular/Wireless Phones – Services/Supplies = 487. Auto & Truck Brokers = 428. Contractors – General/Remodeling = 409. Financial Services = 3110.

Total Number of Complaints Opened = 3,907Total Number of Complaints Closed = 3,961Total Dollar Amount Involved = $586,317.00

IMAgE Can Mean Everything



IOWACouncil BluffsAce ConstructionBarb’s Best Friends, LLCCouncil Bluffs Building Trades

AssociationCouncil Bluffs DistributorsHospice With HeartLazy Mule LeathersMooney Construction Company, Inc.Professional Roofing & SalesTyten Plumbing Services, LLC

KirkmanAction Air Duct Cleaning

MindenWest Central Roofing & Guttering

Missouri ValleyBusiness Cleaning Solutions, Inc.Hillside CottagesMidwest Coatings CompanySisson Construction

PisgahAmerican Custom Carpentry, Inc

UnderwoodAdvanced Pest Management

WoodbineTriple C Roofing, Inc.

NEBRASKAAlmaMetzger Plumbing

AmherstSchake Construction, Inc.

ArcadiaSell Service, Inc.

ArcherArcher Cooperative Credit Union

ArthurSizer Well Service

AuroraA-May-Zing Construction, LLC

BellevueBumper ManLewie Krueger PhotographerM & T Stump Removal, Inc.New Life Thrift

BennetMidwest Walls & Landscape, Inc.

BenningtonBTS Custom Floors, LLCEagle RacewayVince Kunasek Design, Inc.Visiting Angels Living Assistance

Services-Omaha

BlairHicks Drywall

Blue HillBarton Pipe & Rod and Mike’s WeldingC B’s Electric Heating Air

BoelusAll Floor One

Boys TownExspurt Plumbing, Inc.Go-Dog Direct

ByronMoeller Electric, Inc.

CerescoAndy’s Automotive

ChapmanRathman-Manning Corp.

ColumbusDeWine Mechanical, Inc.Greiner’s Furniture & CarpetJay’s Body Shop

David CitySturgeon Garden Center, LLC

DawsonKEAN Seed & Fertilizer

EagleNewcastle Construction, Inc.

ElkhornPinnacle Heating-Cooling

FordyceMenford Electric, LLC

Fort CalhounBeed’s Total Repair

FremontStandard StorageSteenblock Erectors, Inc.Tactical Solutions Gear, LLCTriple J Roofing

GenevaLauber Seed Farms, LLC

GibbonRay Moffett Construction

Grand IslandOseka Homes, LLC

GretnaDostals ConstructionEarl Snider Construction, Inc.Newton Roofing

HamptonWilderness Mechanical Service

HastingsPrecision Sprinklers

HoldregeDiversified Mechanical Maintenance

KearneyJC’s Auto RepairKevins Floor Service

KenesawRon’s Roofing

KennardBennett’s Construction

La VistaDone Right Home ImprovementRotella’s Bakery

LawrenceG T Metal, LLC

LexingtonKratzer Electric, Inc.

LincolnA & S Auto Truck RepairA+ TreeworksAbove & Beyond Cleaning ServicesA-Cross Time Cleaning ServiceAdvanced Technical ServicesAuto Glass NationBrighton Construction Company, Inc.Custom Painting, Inc.D & G Construction, Inc.Diamond Sawing & Coring, Inc.Duct GuardElite Custom Technology, LLCExpress Employment ProfessionalsFlat Water Construction, Inc.Gateway Senior LivingGene Lilly Surety Bonds, Inc.Gettin Around to ItGreen Touch Grounds & Landscape, Inc.Kraftwork Design, Inc.Krayon CampusL & K ConstructionLehman Insurance, LLCLost in Fun, Inc.Lucas Wieser Construction, LLCLuckie’s Lounge & RestaurantMarketing Hawks, LTDMC PlumbingMyers ConstructionNelson Construction & DesignOutpost 12 StudiosPitter Patter PlaceQuality ConstructionR & L SidingR & M ConcreteReinick Refrigeration Heating & Air

Conditioning Service Co.Security Services, Inc.Smart1 Therapeutic Muscle & Body WorkStem GallerySwisher Handyman ServicesUnique Deck DesignWehrs Construction, LLC

Mason CityLash Wood Heating & Air

MernaT & S Signs

MindenEugene Worley Construction & Roofing

MitchellMakin Rain Irrigation

MullenCooley Well Drilling & Trenchng

NelighWerkmeister Cabinets, Inc.

North BendDvorak Well, Inc.

North LoupMid Nebraska Millwrights, Inc.

North PlatteAllied Power Systems, LLCHunt’s ConstructionPlatte Valley PaintingTaulborg Construction

OgallalaOgallala Landscape Services

OmahaA HOLE in the WallA Perfect Touch PaintingA Thousand Words Photo & Design, Inc.A+ Auto Glass And MoreAAA Dental Studio, IncAAll About TreesA-All City Glass & WindshieldAffordable ConstructionAll Wired UpAmazing Renovation ResourcesAmerican Building Supply, Inc.American National BankAndy’s Roofing CompanyArtistic IllusionsAssistant Cafe, Inc.AT&T MobilityBarnes ConstructionBBC Contracting, LLCBig Mama’s Kitchen & CateringBinswanger GlassBleak to CHICBlue SummitBraun Development and ConstructionCanopy GardensCar MaxCartagena Painting ServiceCharlie’s on the LakeCustom Image Motorsports & AutobodyDC Centre Banquet Facility & Ballroom

InstructionDent B Gone Dirt B GoneDiversity Home Improvement-Heating &

Cooling, Inc.Double D Lawn Care, Inc.DRD Home ServicesDriggers Construction, Inc.E & S Carpentry, Inc

Eagle Roofing & Construction, LLCElite Floor Covering, IncErin’s Dance StudioExclusive Formal WearFantastic Beginnings, Inc.Finance 1, LLCFONLOGIX, LLCGraphics PlusHanna Roofing & ConstructionHarding’s Mobile Home RepairHeartland ComputersHeartland One ConstructionHome Standards Inspection ServicesImmediate SolutionsING Financial AdvisorsJ.D. ConstructionJanovich RoofingJelipa PaintingJensen Service & Diagnostic CenterJES Custom FabricatingKnowledge ComputersLil Bros’ TattoosM J Design/Build, Inc.Mastercraft Exteriors, Inc.McCoy Roofing & SidingMcPherson & Jacobson, LLCMia Latte CafeMidwest Crane Service, LLCMidwest Logistic SolutionsMike Anderson RoofingMike West Painting & Wallcoverings, Inc.Millard Transmission SpecialistsMolly MaidMop & Bucket Cleaning ServicesMSM PrintingMustang Electric, Inc.New Horizons Landscape DesignNext Level Consulting, Inc.Omaha CareOne Caregivers, LLCOmaha School of Massage TherapyOmar Carpet CleanerOvatowhite’s ConstructionPaul The PlumberPawz Pet Services, LLCPlant Pros of Omaha, Inc.Premier CountertopsPremier ExteriorsPrism SignsProcess Systems Co., LLCR & A BuildersRemodeling & MoreRichard & Sons Sheet Metal, Inc.Richard C. Morford ConstructionRony’s Marble & GraniteRybin ConstructionSham’s Enterprises, LLCSmoke Pit Bar-B-QueSS LawnsStrandberg HomesTailgate Games, LLCThompson Law Office, LLCThorson Brothers Lawn CareTraditions Interiors by Patti AdamsUrban OasisVoss ConstructionWater Works PlumbingWeb Boy Design, Inc.Western WaterproofingWilliams RepairXtreme Used Cars

PalmyraAAdvanced Carpet Cleaning &

Restoration

PapillionAbsolute SecurityBAT LogisticsBlair Construction & RemodelingiGroup Studios, Inc.Papio Coin and Collectibles

PlattsmouthBuilding Cost Consultants, Inc.Loving Hands Daycare & PreschoolPondscapes

RaymondR & B Contractors, Inc.

Saint PaulSt. Paul Equipment, Inc.

ScottsbluffCalder’s Auto CenterMeister Landscaping

SheltonWeisdorfer Construction

Silver CreekB & C Electrical Services, LLC

ValleyOutdoor Living CompanyWalvoord Finish Grading, LLC

WaterlooCity Wide HVAC Systems

WayneJacob’s Room

SOUTH DAKOTAAberdeenHase Plumbing, Heating & Air

Conditioning, Inc.

BalticMeadowland Springers

Black HawkTipton & Sons Construction, Inc

BrookingsDave’s Window Cleaning, Inc.Old School Cycle Works

ChancellorBent Nail Construction

DanteK-POD’S Heating & Cooling

DeadwoodOne Way Service Pros, Inc.

ElktonLynn’s Heating and Air

EmeryPro Siding & Window Installers

Fort MeadePrivaFone, Inc

GarretsonTrim

HartfordA-1 Portable ToiletsCheckered Grafx

HurleyDakota WindmillTurkey Creek Pheasant Haven

Letcher Heritage Roofing

MartinHahn Construction, Inc.

MitchellDakota Hearing InstrumentsT K Electric

New UnderwoodSawhorse Construction

PiedmontPower Plus Electric, LLC

Rapid CityB.E.S Lighting Center, Inc.

Benson Bros PaintingChris Wells ConstructionConcrete SpecialtiesDents Plus Paintless Dent RepairDreamMaker Bath & KitchenExtreme Heating & Cooling Systems, Inc.K & K Sheet Metal Company, Inc.

SelbyWestern Winds, Inc.

Sioux FallsDakota HypnosisDale Animal HospitalEnvision Companies, Inc.Hager Construction, Inc.Hay Painting, Inc.Home CreationsHow Sweet It IsKidtopiaKilian Community CollegeKSFYPrecision Drywall, Inc.S & S Concrete, Inc.Spherion StaffingSturdevant’s Cliff Avenue Auto PartsVishnu Bunny Tattoo & PiercingY & N Cleaning Commercial Service

SturgisJerry’s Refrigeration, Heating & Cooling, LLCPeterson Automotive

WatertownDrainmanLand Logic Landscaping, LLCSouth 81 Storage

Welcome New BBB Accredited BusinessesThe following companies have joined us during June 1, 2008 – September 30, 2008. BBB Accredited Businesses must meet our high standards.

Those listed below have been accepted because they believe in fair play and ethical conduct in the marketplace.

Attention

BBB Accredited Businesses!!!Is your Information Correct?

Have you moved?•

Do you have a new phone number?•

Have you added a location?•

Do you have a website?•

Do we have your correct email address?•

Do we have the correct contact information?•

You may check your company’s public

report and information at www.nebraska.bbb.org,

www.southdakota.bbb.org or at

www.swiowa.bbb.org. Let us know if we

should update something by contacting

Communications & Membership Retention

Assistant Suzanne Hazuka at 402-898-8531,

800-649-6814 #8531 or email her at

[email protected]. We need the

correct email address of the person at

your company who should receive BBB

communications, as we have been sending

media releases and BBB news regularly to

our Accredited Businesses via the Internet.

Unfortunately, many are coming back as

undeliverable.



An Element of EthicsGood Customer Service Matters

According to the latest BBB/Gallup

Trust in Business Survey, one in five people

surveyed specifically cited good customer

service as a prerequisite for building their

trust in a business.

As a pioneer in dispute resolution,

the BBB offers advice on how business

can maintain high levels of trust through

customer service and satisfaction programs.

A dissatisfied customer is not a lost

cause. According to a recent Harvard study,

an unhappy customer can be turned into a

repeat customer 80 percent of the time if the

business takes action and provides effective

customer service.

For businesses with a staff of one or

one thousand, the BBB offers the following

advice for keeping customers satisfied:

Customer service starts with a vision

The first step in providing good customer

service is a mission statement or vision

for the business that clearly states an

institutional priority for providing excellent

customer service. To emphasize that

customer service is highly important to

the company, some of businesses include

customer satisfaction as part of employee

evaluations.

Make customer service representatives accessible

A recent survey by Vocal Laboratories

found that, when asked which factors were

most important in providing good customer

service, 82 percent of respondents said,

“Make it easy for you to reach a live person

(if necessary)” — the most popular response.

Disgruntled customers need to know

that their complaint is actually being heard

and will only become angrier if they feel

they are given the runaround or can’t talk

to an actual person.

Training, training, and more training

A well-trained, knowledgeable and

courteous staff is a business’ first line of

defense against losing a customer.

The BBB recommends that customer

service representatives undergo formal

training in dispute resolution — including

how to handle irate customers.

The Vocal Laboratories survey also found

that, when asked which factors made for bad

customer service, 37 percent of respondents

answered, “The person you spoke to didn’t

have authority to help you.”

Whoever in the company has

responsibility for fielding complaints from

customers needs the power and authority

to resolve common problems without

having to talk to a supervisor.

Learn from common complaints

Learning from customer complaints

is one of the best ways to find areas for

improvement within a business. Management

should continually monitor complaints for

trends and recurring problems.

Working to resolve the underlying issues

leading to common complaints can have a

major impact on the experience of many

future customers.

Promote Your Company in the Next Edition of The Solution

Plans for the 2009/2010 Solution, your BBB’s

Marketplace Guide and Yellow Page Directory of BBB

Accredited Businesses are in motion. Two-hundred

thousand copies of the 2008/2009 edition were printed

in June, and are being distributed throughout our service

area to consumers and businesses for their use all year

long. Advertising in this publication puts your company’s

message in front of people making buying decisions. It’s

exposure you do not want to miss!

As a BBB member, your company has a free listing

in your primary Type of Business Category in the Yellow

Page section of the directory. The publication also includes

articles to help people shop smarter and avoid schemes

and scams. Placing an ad in The Solution is an ideal way to

position your company as a business with integrity and to

let consumers know that you’re part of the solution for a

healthy, thriving business community!

If you buy advertising now, your ad will be put into the

current online Solution on our website that is receiving

approximately 600,000 hits per month, giving you more than

a year’s exposure for your advertising dollars! “This extra

feature has been very attractive to past advertisers,” stated

BBB Membership Retention Director Pam Atz.

For information about the many different ad sizes and

options available, call today, 402-898-8538 or 800-649-6814

#8538. The sooner you reserve your spot in The Solution, the

sooner your ad will be online! Your participation will speak

volumes about the way you do business and you will stand

out as a company that “Starts With Trust!”

It’s great to be part of The Solution!

Start With Trust

in this issue: bbb foundation honors integrity & bbb’s “decade … · 2008-11-11 · sharon...

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