The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) is proud to announce the 2012 finalists for the 13^th Annual Better Business Bureau Integrity Awards. The Integrity Awards Centennial Gala, presented by Best Buy, will take place Monday, October 29 at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul from 6-9 p.m.

The 2012 BBB Integrity Award finalists are:

• Category I (1-10 employees):

Brett Dorrian Artistry Studios, St. Paul, MN

Mark O. Finney, DDS, New Brighton, MN

Pet Buddy Plus, Minneapolis, MN

White Bear Animal Hospital, White Bear Lake, MN

• Category II (11-50 employees):

Lakeside Cabinets and Woodworking, Inc., Nowthen, MN

Raymond Auto Body, Inc., St. Paul, MN

Twin Cities Siding Professionals, St. Paul, MN

• Category III (51-99 employees):

Handi Medical Supply, St. Paul, MN

Labrador Talent, Inc., St. Louis Park, MN

Master Collision Group, Plymouth, MN

• Category IV (100+ employees):

CenterPoint Energy, Minneapolis, MN

Discovery Benefits, Inc., Fargo, ND

Park Dental, Roseville, MN

“Here in our Centennial year, we’re especially proud to hold the Integrity Awards, which honor those companies that stand out above the rest; companies that make ethics a top priority and are rooted in integrity,” said Dana Badgerow, President and CEO of the BBB of Minnesota and North Dakota.

The 2012 Integrity Awards are being held as part of the BBB’s Centennial Gala, in honor of the 100^th anniversary of the founding of the BBB, and serve as the capstone event of a year-long celebration. The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota is proud to be known as “the first BBB.” Recipients of this year’s Integrity Awards will be announced live at the event on Monday, October 29 at the Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Boulevard West, St. Paul.

The BBB presents the Integrity Award each year to companies who exemplify ethical behavior and display integrity in all aspects of their operations; toward their employees, vendors, customers, and within their community. The Integrity Awards are open to all for-profit businesses in Minnesota and North Dakota. Nominees are offered the opportunity to submit an entry to the BBB, where a panel of independent volunteer business and community leaders review the entries and choose the winners.

This year’s keynote speaker is Holly Petraeus, head of the Office of Servicemember Affairs, part of the recently created Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in Washington, DC. Her role specializes in protecting military families from predatory lenders and unscrupulous businesses. Before this appointment, she led the Better Business Bureau's Military Line. Holly Petraeus is the wife of General David Petraeus, top NATO commander in the Afghanistan war and current Director of the CIA.

Tickets for this event are available to the public and can be purchased online at www.bbbis100.org/integrity/registration or by contacting Mackenzie Kelley at mkelley@thefirstbbb.org or 651-695-2482. Pre-registration is required.

Early bird tickets (dinner included) are available at the following rates until October 7th:

• Individual tickets are $85
• 10 tickets for $765
• Accredited Business pricing:
  • Individual tickets are $65
  • 10 tickets for $585

For the sixth year, the BBB will present its Student of Integrity Scholarship Awards to high school seniors who demonstrate (through essay) their understanding of the impact ethical decisions have had on their lives. The scholarships will be presented to students to use towards the colleges of their choice.

“These scholarships are designed to recognize students who faced adversity and made choices that displayed character and demonstrated their understanding of the importance of staying true to their values,” said Lisa Jemtrud, Director of the BBB Institute for Marketplace Ethics.

Best Buy is the 2012 Integrity Awards presenting sponsor. Additional sponsors for the event are: CenterPoint Energy, Think Mutual Bank, Gray Plant Mooty, ABRA Auto Body, Financial Concepts, Inc., Northland Group, Clear Channel Radio, Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, Pioneer Press, Clear Channel Outdoor, Del Monte Agency, Prairie Business Magazine, Memory Vision, and Rippe Print. 2012 Student of Integrity Scholarship sponsors are: Hubbard Broadcasting, Cedar Valley Exteriors, Diversified Exteriors, Globe University, and Multiventure Properties.

The mission of the Better Business Bureau is to be the leader in building marketplace trust by promoting, through self-regulation, the highest standards of business ethics and conduct, and to instill confidence in responsible businesses through programs of education and action that inform, assist and protect the general public. Our hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Contact the BBB at bbb.org or 651-699-1111, toll-free at 1-800-646-6222. Visit our Centennial website at bbbis100.org.