By Lauren Thornton Tobin

The Better Business Bureau of North Alabama recognized two local businesses and awarded one at the Torch Awards for Ethics on Nov. 10 in Huntsville.

Valley Rubber, LLC of Falkville won a Torch Award in the Large Business Category, or having 100 or more employees.

The manufacturing plant, a local business since 1967, won for holding moral and social responsibility as the highest standard.

According to a press release, the BBB said trust is Valley Rubber’s main value and they build it through their customer service by anticipating customers’ needs, investing in relationships and glorifying God.

Mark Waters, Valley Rubber Vice President over Finance and Operations said the award is an honor company-wide.

“Just look at some of the past winners — BP, NUCOR, Cook’s Pest Control — we were honored to be recognized in that way,” he said.

Waters said the customer service that Valley Rubber provides runs with their mission statement of being a manufacturer of custom rubber solutions.

“Being a custom manufacturer means we think about the customer all the time,” he said. “We are passionate about resolutions that positively impact our customers. We don’t create a lot of products and hope to eventually sell, we are mindful of serving the customer and their needs and creating relationships wherever we go.”

As far as the award itself goes, Waters said that as excited everyone was about it, they’re main focus is, and will continue to be, on their customers.

“I wouldn’t say we strive to win an award; we don’t worry about that kind of thing,” he said. “Our vision is to be the trusted source for customized rubber solutions and the key phrase is ‘trusted source.’ We strive to do things the right way and we try to have integrity in everything we do.”

Jackson Plumbing, Heating and Cooling, a business owned by Hartselle residents, was recognized as a finalist for the Small Business Category, or having 1 to 25 employees.

This is the business’ third year out of five to be named a finalist, and owner Keith Jackson said it’s always an honor to hear their name called at the luncheon.

“We’re very thankful to just be nominated,” he said. “We try as best we can to do the right thing. We make a great effort to make sure customers are 100 percent satisfied with what we do.”

Jackson opened his business in 1987 and it stayed solely a plumbing operation until last January when he added heating and cooling.

The BBB nominated more than 275 companies and non-profit organizations for Torch Awards, and each was given the opportunity to submit information about their ethical relationships with customers, employees and vendors.

Of those 275 businesses and organizations, 50 submitted entries and a panel of representatives from the academic and business community judged them.