2016 RABEF ETHIE Awards Recipients Announced

ROCHESTER, NY (October 17, 2016) The Rochester Area Business Ethics Foundation (RABEF) presented its 2016 ETHIE Awards to Lewis Tree Service, Inc. Tipping Point Communications and Triplett Machine Co. The ETHIE recognizes businesses and organizations that do the right thing through strong ethical foundations, aspirations to high standards of business conduct, and the multifaceted nature of ethics in our daily lives.

Tipping Point Communications took home the ETHIE in the small business category. The firm is a marketing communications agency offering media buying, social media, digital marketing, inbound marketing and public relations services. “Tipping Point Communications was one of the most inspiring site visits that our Award Process Committee Team has ever completed”, said Kara Martin, ETHIE Award Process Committee Chair. “This company focuses on the “why” behind the win and celebrates the actions and decisions that help them be successful. They have shown a commitment to doing the right things, but always in the right way. The dedication they have put forth in building and fostering an ethical culture truly shined in their application and visit and their work on this front is admirable and impressive.”

Triplett Machine Co., the ETHIE recipient for the medium business category, is a manufacturing company making machine precision components for the commercial, military and aerospace industries. This family-operated business, based in Phelps, NY, has a long-standing commitment to culture and its customers and employees. Martin said, “Overwhelmingly, the family-feel shined through Triplett Machine Co.’s application. The culture of dedication to their employees and to the growth of the company was obvious with each example and prevalent at every stage of their application process. The team approach they have implemented to quoting projects, which allow machinist employees to get involved in the early in the process, is one example of the dedication of this company. They are dedicated to their employees by gathering input and dedicated to their customers by putting the best minds on each project.”

Lewis Tree Services, Inc. received the ETHIE in the large business category. Lewis Tree Services, Inc. is one of the largest providers of utility vegetation management services in North America, Lewis Tree Services is a leader in safety, responsiveness, and innovation. Lewis personnel work in support of many investor-owned utilities, electric co-op and municipal electric utilities. Whether working around-the-clock in a storm or reliably managing the ongoing line clearing needs of its customers, utilities count on Lewis to get the job done right. Lewis Tree Service is 100% employee-owned with approximately 4,000 employees in the U.S. and Canada “We were very impressed by their leadership team and the number of years of experience and dedication to the company. Combined, the six leaders have over 110 years with this company. The passion for their employees, their desire for success and the pride they take in being an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) company was obvious. The company view of ethics as a lens, through which behavior is governed, decisions are made, and the general understanding of the ways one operates is disseminated, has nurtured their impressive ethical culture.” said Martin.

Hart Hearing Centers and Leonard’s Express, Inc. also made the 2016 ETHIE finalists list. RABEF plans to induct all five organizations into its Honor Roll at an event to be held in early 2017. An independent panel of judges carefully and impartially analyzes the completed ETHIE Award entry forms to determine the finalists, which then undergo a site visit by a member of the judging committee. The committee then names recipients of the annual awards. Learn more about applying for the ETHIE Awards at www.RochesterBusinessEthics.com.

2016 Rochester Area Business Ethics Foundation sponsors include Founding Partners the Society of Financial Service Professionals, St. John Fisher College, and Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce; Platinum sponsors: ConServe, Genesee Valley Motors, Genesee Valley Trust, ITX, Nocon & Associates/Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., Rochester Business Journal, St. John Fisher College, and The Rochester Group, and Gold sponsors: Bergmann Associates, Inc,, Doyle Security Systems, Inc., Futures Funding Corporation, Isaac Heating and Air Conditioning, Karpus Investment Management, Klein Steel Service, Inc., LeChase Construction, Lyons Nation Bank, Nazareth College – School of Management, Northwestern Mutual, PS&E Plan to Prosper, Roberts Wesleyan College, Rochester Chamber of Commerce, and Sagemark Consulting.