Campus & Community / Magazine Feature

Business alliance recognizes ethical Colorado businesses, individuals

Three organizations and two individuals have received awards from the Colorado Ethics in Business Alliance (CEBA).

Designs by Sundown and Keller Bros. Auto Repair were given the business ethics award, presented to businesses with well-defined efforts directed toward an important social need.

Harry Lewis of Lewis Investments and Robert Powell of Character Fort Collins received the Daniel L. Ritchie Award, which is given to individuals in the business community demonstrating high moral character and ethical practices.
The Samaritan Institute award, given to nonprofits demonstrating a high level of effectiveness, was awarded to the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Bruce Hutton, dean emeritus of the Daniels College of Business and a CEBA board member, helped form CEBA in 1990 shortly after taking the reins of DU’s business school.

“We felt that even though there were significant ethical issues in business, that there were also lots of businesses that went about their jobs every day doing well by doing good—making good products, engaging in the community, treating employees fairly, etc.,” says Hutton. “We thought it was important to recognize those companies and, by doing so, providing models for positive business behavior for others.”

CEBA solicited nominations for the award, and members of the Daniels Net Impact chapter conducted research about each company.  “This gives our students a great opportunity to see the insides of large and small companies recognized for ethical behavior and who are successful,” says Hutton.

Since its 1991 start, the annual awards program has grown to become the largest single event of its kind in the United States. The Colorado Ethics in Business Alliance has honored more than 100 business organizations and nonprofits as well as business and civic leaders.

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