The Better Business Bureau of Chicago & Northern Illinois will hold its 81st annual dinner meeting on Thursday, March 27 at the Hilton Chicago Hotel. Headlining the program this year will be well-known businessman and TV football analyst Mike Ditka, who will be the featured speaker.
Mike Ditka will speak on the BBB's vision to enhance and support an ethical marketplace where buyers and sellers can trust each other. In addition, he will discuss the BBB mission of being the leader in advancing marketplace trust and the fact that ethical business is good business are especially important in the current economic climate.
The BBB during its annual business meeting will highlight an increase in services to business and consumers of 15 percent in 2007 and an over 700 percent increase in just the last seven years. Also an increase in complaints was seen last year and that was 18 percent over the previous year. We have helped consumers and businesses settle almost 80 percent of those. In addition, a new BBB national branding campaign resulted in the updating of the logo and standardizing of the materials throughout the international BBB system.
The 81st annual meeting will be emceed by Anna Davlantes, NBC 5 Chicago news anchor and reporter, with the dinner followed by the awarding of the coveted Torchbearer of the Year Award to Howard Medley, president of Medley Moving and Storage. Medley is a veteran member of the BBB Board of Directors with over two decades of service and will accept this award, which is presented annually by the BBB to recognize the efforts of an individual business leader in our community.
The BBB Torchbearer Award honors an individual that makes a demonstrable effort to promote ethical business practices while assisting the BBB in its self-regulating work.
Several other award presentations will be made. The Diogenes Award for Excellence in Media twill be given to Lisa Parker to honor her exceptional work on the Target 5 segment of the NBC News, which helps to educate consumers in our community. We have worked together on dozens of consumer issues since 1996 and I have found Lisa Parker to be most supportive of the BBB mission and especially effective in educating the public on companies with questionable business practices.
Also recognized at the meeting will be Kevin Wendorf as Arbitrator of the Year for the BBB. Wendorf's efforts are being recognized for his volunteering to do volume arbitrations and his ability to author thoughtful decisions in very difficult cases.
In addition, Charter One Bank will serve as presenting sponsor of this year's event. Bronze Sponsors are ABT Electronics, ComEd (An Exelon Company), Grant's Appliances TV & Audio, HSBC, R.H. Donnelley, The Pampered Chef, Ltd. and many other dedicated supporters.
The BBB services are available at www.bbb.org or by calling (312) 832-0500.
Steve Bernas, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau, welcomes comments and questions via e-mail at: steve@chicago.bbb.org
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