Douglas C. Broten, CEO of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving Central California, recently received the international Bureau Operations Committee Meritorious Service Award. The honor, one of only two given in 2008, was conveyed at the annual International Assembly of Better Business Bureaus held in San Francisco.
The prestigious award is given annually to the person who has made the greatest impact on the BBB system in the past year. It requires a unanimous decision by the Bureau Operations Committee, which oversees the activities of the BBB Bureaus internationally.
The Meritorious Service Award was presented to Broten for his outstanding contributions to improving and enhancing the technological resources of the entire BBB system. He was instrumental in building an international data warehouse of business complaints. He was also a major force behind the process of simplifying understanding of BBB business reports through a uniform grading system.
Broten has been the CEO of the BBB serving Central California for since 1985, during which time he has been a consistent leader in improving the way the BBB system serves businesses and consumers.
This year the award was given to the two people who made a major impact during a time when the BBB was rebranding its look. The second award was given to Steve Cox, vice president of the Council Better Business Bureaus, for his efforts in increasing the media presence of the BBB.
About BBB
BBB is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Businesses that earn BBB accreditation contractually agree and adhere to the organization's high standards of ethical business behavior. BBB provides objective advice, free business BBB Reliability ReportsTM and charity BBB Wise Giving ReportsTM, and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. To further promote trust, BBB also offers complaint and dispute resolution support for consumers and businesses when there is difference in viewpoints. The first BBB was founded in 1912. Today, 125 BBBs serve communities across the U.S. and Canada, evaluating and monitoring nearly 4 million local and national businesses and charities. Please visit www.bbb.org for more information about BBB.