Our independent panel of judges are selected prior to the applications being submitted and are a mix of community and business organizations, past winners and media outlets.
We believe it is an extremely valuable part of the process to have past winners participate in the judging as they have the unique perspective of having gone through the process and being publicly honored as a company of integrity. The BBB Torch Awards for Ethics judging process has two phases:
1) written submission review and scoring; and
2) in-person interviews.
The judges' scores determine the award recipients.
Meet the Judges
Robert Blaney, Arizona Small Business Association
Margie Burke, Desert Botanical Garden
Jessie Bustamante, ACCEL
Becky Fawson, Kingman Area Chamber of Commerce
Christopher Jansen, Phoenix Business Journal - Media Sponsor
Kimberly Kahl, Yuma County Chamber of Commerce
Anne Landers, Junior Achievement of Arizona
Joanne MacDonnell, Arizona Ombudsman-Citizens’ Aide Office
Leepsa Nabaghan Madhabika, Arizona State University
Dr. Loui Olivas, Professor Emeritus, ASU & President Pete C. Garcia, Victoria Foundation
Karrie Singer, Lake Havasu Chamber
Emily Striffler, WESTMAR
Jason Thibodeau, Rescue One Air (past winner, 2022)
Tami Ursenbach, Mohave County Econ Development
Bill Verdini, Professor Emeritus, ASU and President of AROHE
Kevin F. Warren, Desert Financial Credit Union
Jeffrey R. Wentzel, Desert Financial Credit Union
Brian Wood, Mars Coaching