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Better Business Bureau gives businesses, leaders awards
By Kalea Hall
POLAND
A century-old grocery store, a metal-processing company, a specialized cleaning company, a heating and cooling provider, a revitalization organization and a community leader all have one thing in common: They were honored by the Better Business Bureau of Mahoning Valley.
This year’s BBB’s Torch Award winners show the Mahoning Valley’s marketplace trust is alive, said Carol Potter, the BBB Mahoning Valley president.
“The nominees are just stellar,” Potter said. “Something about this Valley that is so remarkable is how tight we are. We are all in it together. It’s an honor to be able to give them one of these Torch Awards.”
For the third year in a row, the BBB honored businesses, a nonprofit and a civic leader at The Lake Club in Poland on Thursday.
Recipients of the Torch Awards for Marketplace Trust were Rulli Bros., Butech Bliss, CKC Cleaning Specialist and William Price Heating Co. Inc.
The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. received the Torch Award for Nonprofit Excellence, and Suzanne Fleming received the Torch Award for Civic Leadership.
Rulli Bros. is a fourth-generation, family-owned business that started on Youngstown’s East Side and now has stores in Austintown and Boardman.
Mike Rulli, a leader in the company, gave credit of the business’ success to the employees and the customers.
“They represent what we do,” Rulli said of the employees.
John Buta started Butech in 1985 and in 1999 purchased Bliss-Salem Corp. to form Butech Bliss.
Today, the company has 238 employees. It’s known for its innovative, patented scrap-chopper technology, but the company.
“We really try to do a really good job for everyone ... whether a supplier or customer,” Buta said.
CKC Cleaning Specialists of Hubbard has served Northeast Ohio, western Pennsylvania and parts of West Virginia since 1979. The company specializes in having mobile pressure-washing trucks, and also offers installation of LeafX Gutter Protection system.
William Price Heating and Cooling of Girard was established in 1937. The family-owned and operated company has had four generations lead the company to growth.
The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. started in 2010 as an organization devoted to the stabilization and revitalization of city neighborhoods.
In the last five years, YNDC has repaired more than 250 homes in Youngstown.
“Without the city and the [Raymond John] Wean Foundation, this organization would not exist in its current form,” said Ian Beniston, YNDC director.
Fleming is involved in several organizations, including the Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Authority, the Mercy Health Foundation, the Youngstown Rotary and the Raymond J. Wean Foundation.