Better Business Bureau

Greater Cleveland

The

of

Proudly Presents the

Award Program

and

Annual Meeting

December 7, 2011

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Today’s Events

7:30

8:20

8:30

8:50

Eat & Greet

Presentation of BBB’s 2011Students of Integrity Awards

Keynote Speaker & AddressTeresa MurrayColumnist, “Money Matters”The Plain Dealer

David Weiss, BBB President & BBB Education Foundation

PresentersAnne Bomar, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Dominion East Ohio

Karen Schuele, Dean, Boler School of Business,John Carroll University

BBB Annual Meeting

Election of Directors & Officers

Board Recognition

Presiding: Marlene Herman, PresidentAamco TransmissionsBBB Board Vice-Chair

Marc Blumenthal, Vice PresidentB&B ApplianceImmediate Past Board Chair

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BBB Board of Directors

BBB StaffDavid Weiss, President

Sue McConnell, Senior Vice PresidentDick Stagneth, Business Manager

Ericka Dilworth, Director of Trade ServicesChristine Roberts, Business Development Director

Trade Practices Barbara Andersen Betty Creter Alexa Kyrkos Nichole MeansSirita Queen Lauren Roth Ed StreichLou TekavcicMelissa TrahanRhonda Whitelock

Customer ServiceCheryl HortonLinda Jaquays

Accredited Business ServicesLaura FitzgeraldJanice LightnerJan Stagneth

Social Media &CommunicationsSara Jennings

Business RelationsCindy DavidRosemary FarnsworthKyle Fraser Randy Norfus

Moreen Bailey-FraterWEWS NewsChannel 5

Hal BeckerThe Becker Group

Terry BishopDominion East Ohio

Andy FiffickRad Air Service Centers, Inc.

Ella FongWVIZ/WCPN Ideastream

Bob GillinghamBob Gillingham Ford, Inc.

Scott T. HarrisonPNC Bank, N.A.

Tom HollandHolland Paving & Sealcoating

Patrick G. HurstHurst Design-Build-Remodeling

Chris KamisAbsolute Exteriors, Inc.

Richard P. Kasunic Jr, CPRParadise Renovation & Repair

Barry LeaventonPrint Communication, Inc

James LineweaverLineweaver Financial Group, Inc.

Ed MontgomeryNorth Coast Seal, Inc

Marvin MontgomeryMarvin Montgomery & Associates

Sherrill Paul-WittTrolley Tours of Cleveland

Geof PelaiaPelaia Media Group

Nancy RamseyMicrosoft Corp.

Diana RichardsVacuum Systems Int’l

Cary RootALG Computer Consulting

Jay SeatonCCCS/Apprisen

Paul WadsworthP. K. Wadsworth Htg & Cooling

Charles WienMarshall Carpet One

Bill WoodburnChoice Relocation Mgmt

Chairman: Leslie Dickson, VoicePro, Inc.Vice Chairmen: Ingrid Halpert, Weiss Movers, Inc.

and Marlene Herman, Aamco TransmissionsSecretary: Bill Mann, Joseph, Mann, & CreedTreasurer: Mike Filarski, First National Bank

Immediate Past Chairman: Marc Blumenthal, B&B AppliancePresident: David Weiss

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Congratulations to these outstanding high school seniors who were chosen to represent their schools in the

Students of Integrity Competition:

Melissa AnselmiAlescia AustinMarissa Berggrun Elise BrueningMeghan ButlerMorgan ChoeLisa CombsSusan DalessandroBrandi DuVallJoseph EganMelissa FelmanOwen FlanaganSarah FracciThomas GaetanoEmily GintyGeoffrey GoldenMichael GoskyDavid GreenMadeline HaasRosa HeryakAlethea HofferAnnie HolzKristina KamisMallory KeenerJeremy KovalchukTyler LanceShannon LottRick LovelandRachel MentzerCaylie MindlingAustin NowakowskiRyan PenhallurickAnika ProtsLauren PughKaryssa RoseTimothy RosenbergerJohn SpearMadeleine TaylorElissa TennantChrishona ToddCarlina VanjoEdward VaughnRachel WalcoffEmily WestfallKarly Wisnyai

North High School (Eastlake)Lorain High SchoolOrange High SchoolMadison High SchoolFirelands High SchoolKirtland High SchoolCuyahoga Heights High SchoolGrand Valley High SchoolShaw High SchoolWest Geauga High SchoolBeachwood High SchoolNorth Royalton High SchoolMentor High School Wellington High SchoolSaint Joseph AcademyCleveland Heights High SchoolSaint Ignatius High SchoolCornerstone Christian AcademyBeaumont SchoolGilmour AcademyCleveland School of the ArtsEdgewood Senior High SchoolMidpark High SchoolRocky River High SchoolRiverside High SchoolAvon High SchoolBerea High SchoolLedgemont High SchoolOberlin Senior High SchoolOpen Door Christian SchoolsPymatuning Valley High SchoolBrecksville-Broadview Heights High SchoolNotre Dame - Cathedral Latin SchoolPerry High SchoolFairport Harding High SchoolLutheran High WestChardon High SchoolSaint Martin de Porres High SchoolWickliffe High SchoolMartin Luther King Jr Career Campus Lake Catholic High SchoolSt. Peter Chanel High SchoolStrongsville High SchoolHoly Name High SchoolAshtabula County Tech & Career Center

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I said the ball did not hit me. After the game I was reprimanded for making this remark and my coach asked me why I would ever let those words come from my mouth. I told her it was because I had integrity and that I was honest. I vividly remember one of the girls asking what integrity was and going into a five minute conversation about the ethics of having good character. This was a time where I displayed good character. So, the question remains of how this has made a difference in my life. When reading UncommonSense and the quote by Leo Tolstoy, my mind drifted to the song Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson. Making the world a better place is an ultimate goal of mine. All I want to do is make a differ-ence but all of that has to start with making myself a better person. These situations and having good character has helped me to look at that person in the mirror and feel good about what I see. To me, this is where the difference begins, inside. I want to motivate others to join me as a passionate advocate of per-sonal character and integrity through my own passion, law. A lot of times law-yers have the reputation for being cut throat people who lack integrity. One of my greatest heroes, Atticus Finch, taught me to have character with fidelity and justice. This is how I want to make a change, by motivating lawyers to re-main true to the traits of a person with true character. Lawyers are sometimes forced to fight for things they do not believe in. Fidelity is when your behavior matches your beliefs. I believe an organization should be started to protect lawyers against law firms who force them to argue cases they don’t believe are right. I also want to motivate lawyers to stay true to justice. Even when everyone else believes something is right, they might be wrong. A lawyer of character will make sure justice prevails and that the innocent are protected even when the whole world is against them. At the end of my life, reflections in my mirror would not only display my personal character but the character of the many I have advocated to.

Lisa CombsCuyahoga Heights High School

The day I received this schol-arship application, I hit a car in my school’s parking lot. If you stop and think about the situation for a minute, it is actually a little ironic. No one saw me hit the car and I could have simply left it there with a scratch on it and no one would have known it was me. In-stead I left a note with my information and ended up paying for the damages. This was a time when I displayed char-acter. I was up to bat at a softball game and my coach screamed, “the ball hit you.” The umpire looked at me and

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Joseph EganWest Geauga High School

A wise man once said, “Character is what you are in the dark.” Being a person of character involves more than just doing the right thing under pressure; it involves doing what is right in all circumstances. Being a person of character has shaped me into one who takes every decision seriously. Even when I seem to know the right action to take, I carefully think situations through and act accordingly. I demonstrated this quality in my job as a life-guard at Gilmour Academy, where acting on my character made a difference in how us lifeguards did our job. As the job title “lifeguard” implies, lives are at stake in every action we take. During the summer at Gilmour, the pool is very busy with day camp groups coming in for swimming lessons. While Water Safety Instructors (who are also certified lifeguards) are in the pool with the children or at the poolside teaching, the lifeguards on deck must remain alert for potential problems as well. This past summer, some of the lifeguards on my shift were not staying alert to what was going on: sometimes they would remain in the pool and other times they would rotate positions incorrectly. Both of these actions left parts of the pool uncovered by guards. Any emergency that would have occurred here would not have been responded to quickly. In response to the guards not coming out on deck to watch the pool, I initially expanded my zone of surveillance to include the areas left uncov-ered. While these guards were my friends, I knew I would have to hold them accountable at the same time. Therefore, when rotation time came, I politely told the idle guards that they needed to take their positions so the whole pool was covered. Additionally, I respectfully critiqued the guards who were incor-rectly rotating positions so the whole pool was covered. My boss had specifi-cally instructed us lifeguards on how to rotate but did not call the guards out for their mistake, so I took it upon my-self to let the guards know what they needed to do. My boss could see that I was following her instructions and even called me into her office to thank me for my diligence. The guards also no-ticed this and they began to take their job more seriously. Knowing that I had become a role model, I continued to do my best at the job. It took character (doing what was right when no one was watching) for me to correctly approach this situation. I intend to remember this scenario and do my best to act with integrity and character in my future jobs.

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money to buy food. I didn’t have any money, but I told him I had a box of leftovers from lunch in my car if he wanted it. The man eagerly followed me. I handed him the box of leftover angel hair pasta, and he immediately stuck his hand in it, grabbed out a handful of the noodles, and shoved them in his mouth. Then he retreated back to his corner saying “Thank you and God bless you sir.” I never saw the man again, but I never forgot my shock at meeting him. I went back to school with a mission to make a lasting difference to fight poverty. I became president of the E.P.I.C. service club which raised $4,000 for, and logged over 2,000 hours of, service in the City of Cleveland. We did things, like collecting, and sorting, medical supplies for Medwish International, and helping fund after school programs for disadvantaged teens. But, we also did little things like raking the yards of elderly Clevelanders, beautifying public places, and creating the fastest growing blood drive program in Northeast Ohio. Our organization made a real difference as we hosted hundreds of low income students for Holiday parties and partnered with Building Hope in the City to expand their program, City Serve. City Serve brings together almost 500 high schoolers for one day of service in Cleveland. It provides much needed rein-forcements to area churches, community groups, and shelters. Although the E.P.I.C. service club was accomplishing a lot, I saw that we were failing in our mission to educate. In response to this I founded Atlas Educational Services L. L. C. Our non-profit provides tutoring, sports training, and musical instruction to children of all ages. The profits from these services are then granted out to area educational non-profits. We have registered with the State of Ohio to become an official non-profit and to date have almost 30 student instructors. We have made over $500 in grants and are endowing a scholarship at Lutheran West next year. Cleveland is a wonderful city that I am proud to call home, but it can be better. The work I have done so far has barely dented the problems our com-munity faces, but I believe that continued efforts by civic minded individuals will prove sufficient to meet the challenges we encounter.

Timothy RosenbergerLutheran West High School

On my way home from my job as a science intern at the Cleveland Clinic, I met a man who would shape the rest of my high school career. Although it was over 90 degrees out, the man was wear-ing a stained sweatshirt. It was evident that it was his only outfit. As I walked past he mumbled something in my di-rection. I replied “excuse me, can I help you?” He began to tell me about how he had gotten sick and spent all his money on medical bills. I was disappointed that something like this, that someone like this, could only exist in America The man asked me for some

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Lauren PughPerry High School

Norman B. Rice says, “Dare to reach out your hand into the darkness, to pull another into the light.” This is a phrase I live by whether it be in my service op-portunities, my leadership roles or my everyday life. While serving dinner at a homeless shelter in Cleveland, a man approached the line for his meal. He looked me in the eyes and said, “God bless your beautiful soul. I can’t express how much I appreciate all that you have done for me today.” What had I done for him? While the food was important, it was the respect and warm smile I shared with him that hopefully pulled him into the light. This was the moment I realized that serving others was my true calling. Shortly after that visit, I took on the challenge of raising a puppy that will become a guide dog for the visually impaired. I felt like I really could bring someone into the light by giving them a way to experience the world. I was soon encouraged to compete for an internship at Congressman Steven LaTourette’s district office. Earning the opportunity to work with a government leader has helped my own leadership skills in conjunction with service. I developed strong leadership and communication skills as Manager of Panera Bread. Supervising others, handling customers and training others has taught me to communicate my ideas efficiently and effectively. Not only is leadership important in my career, but it is also important in my extracurricular activities. As President of United Way Club, I plan various service projects such as serving dinner at 2100 Lakeside in Cleveland and helping families in need during Thanksgiving. Currently I am planning a Hunger Awareness Walk for the Cleveland Food Bank to provide food backpacks for needy children. These service projects benefit others by meeting community needs and creating a culture of volunteerism. Ralph Marston suggested that, “Excellence is not a skill. It is an atti-tude.” Similarly, my mother taught me that success is not about money or fame,

but rather it is about making someone else’s life better. I strive to be a hard working student, a strong leader and a committed volunteer because it embodies how I want to live my life. I take on the responsibility to not only serve but to lead others around me to serve. As President of the United Way Club, I work to moti-vate others to make a change in someone else’s life every day, even if it is as simple as giving someone a kind smile. It is the little things that count and what change our community one step at a time. Service not only motivates me to help others but it motivates me to be a better person each day. Like Albert Einstein said, “Only a life lived in service to others is worth living,” and I truly believe that this quote repre-sents how I choose to live my life.

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My guidance counselor...told me about [a foreign exchange student from Germany]... & her “sister,”...from Norway, and how they weren’t enjoying their stay in the US because they weren’t well-matched with their host family...I felt awful because both girls had paid a large sum of money to visit our country and they were getting a terrible experience in return. Im-mediately, I wanted to do something...heaps of paperwork later, we were bringing my two new sisters home...Soon the community was reaching out. People were... raining down on us with support. It was a real life example of “paying it foward.”

My teacher would have been gone for another 20 minutes & I could have replayed the recording and...continued to write. But I didn’t. I put my short, choppy...wreck of an essay on her desk and left the room. To me, the small example sums up the large idea of integrity...I’d rather be known as an honorable and trustworthy person than a student with a great (unearned) Spanish grade.

Although paralyzed, Scott is still optimistic to walk again so I try to ...inspire him. This football season I invited Scott to hang out with the team... For him to say that the foot-ball team has inspired him to reach his goals was inspiring to us...Being a person of integrity...can change lives for good and help people, and most do not realize how easy it can be.

Honorees

By limiting myself to one primary ac-tivity and performing it well, I show others how to be persons of character & integrity. Too many of my class-mates are over-extended, drowning in activities as they strain to build a seemingly impressive resume...This pliability is, in fact, the antithesis of character...when others see someone else’s fortitude, it may just motivate them to reject being mere rats in a maze.

After giving witness to both the trials and tribula-tions I had experienced on my road to developing a strong moral character, I was met at the back of the congregation by a teenage girl with tears in her eyes. She hugged me and informed me that my story had touched her deeply, inspiring her to re-examine the choices she had made in her life thus far...I was overwhelmed.

~ Meghan Butler, Firelands High School

cont...

~ Melissa Feldman, Beachwood High School

As the President of my school’s Interact Club and Student Council I have learned that the best way to lead others is by conducting myself the way I want the members of these organizations to act...When I graduate I plan to educate those who take my positions so they know the best way to lead...and...they will learn to educate those who follow them and there will be many serving leaders.

~ Rachel Mentzer, Oberlin Senior High School

~ Ryan Penhallurick, Brecksville-Broadview HS

~ Tyler Lance, Avon High School

~ Elise Bruening, Madison High School

~Shannon Lott, Berea High School

~ Rosa Heryak, Gilmour Academy

I believe being a person of character means searching for truth and wisdom in both extraor-dinary experiences and daily life, allowing each experience to shape my character and give me a better understanding of the unique situation of others....I have found that I truly learn from oth-ers by finding the skills that lie within me.

I try to live each day with an encour-aging attitude and lead by example...This has helped me go through my teen years thus far with no major regrets. I don’t have the “cloud of drama” hanging over my life that I see in the lives of countless students at my school; in particular, those students who I work with through Peer mediation. Though it can be a challenge to offer advice to my peers, it has brought out a passion in me to motivate others to talk out their problems.

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Teresa Murray

Teresa Dixon Murray has been a business reporter for The Plain Dealer in Cleveland for 13 years and has covered personal and consumer finance for more than a decade. She covers a range of topics including banking, investing, mortgages, credit cards, credit scores, financial literacy and taxes. For the last four years, she has focused heavily on the banking/mortgage crisis.

In addition to daily news and feature stories, Teresa writes a weekly consumer advice column, “Money Matters,” that aims to educate, empower and entertain readers. In 2009, Teresa was named the best business writer in Ohio by the Associated Press of Ohio. In 2006, Teresa received a National Head-liner Award for Business News Coverage (second place). In 2004, she received first place in the Associated Press of Ohio “Best Business Re-porter” category. She’s also been honored with other state and regional awards for her personal finance coverage. A graduate of Kent State University, Teresa has been a journal-ist for nearly 25 years, covering business for most of her career. Prior to joining The Plain Dealer, she worked for daily newspapers in Ohio and North Carolina and a business magazine in Ohio. Teresa has been mar-ried for more than 20 years and has two teenage sons.

Business Reporter / Columnist The Plain Dealer

I am an honest person who lives up to what I feel is morally ethical, & I am an advocate of a drug and bully free lifestyle...The amount of bullying and fights in hallways are very minimal now because of our ac-tions. Others were inspired when they noticed how my moral codes made them feel protected. Self-confidence is key, and it’s contagious...If you believe in yourself, anything is possible...Being a person of character is a life choice, and has affected me in many positive ways.

While the majority of society looks down upon the home-less population, I have a great respect for how they live their lives...just because they cannot afford a home does not mean that they cannot pay society in an-other way - namely through their genuine friendship. The homeless population of Cleveland has become a strong union of friends to me, and has greatly en-hanced my character.

I have always had a great sympathy for those in need or pain. I think making people feel better is always rewarding & honoring. Being respectful, honest, and trustworthy has made a difference in my life. It has earned me a lot of respect from others and I have mad some really good friends.

~Michael GoskySt Ignatius HS

~Chrishona ToddMLK Jr

Career Campus

~ Rick LovelandLedgemont HS

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BBB Mission Statement

Students of Integrity

The Better Business Bureau is a public service organization that advocates ethical, responsible conduct in the marketplace. Through the support of business members sharing its goals and standards, the BBB offers programs which promote informed buying and giving decisions, truthful advertising and selling practices, and the resolution of marketplace disputes.

The Students of Integrity Awards Program honors high school students in our area who exemplify integrity through leadership and academic excellence, community service, and strong character ethics.

Special Thanks To

The Corporate Sponsors of This Year’s Annual Meeting

Better Business Bureau2800 Euclid Ave 4th FlCleveland, OH 44115Phone (216) 241-4476Fax (216) 861-6365mybbb@cleveland.bbb.org

® cleveland.bbb.org

and for the generous support of

The Corporate Sponsors of This Year’s Students of Integrity Scholarship Competition