2003 Recipients
Hobbs News-Sun
Even at the cost of the headline of the day, the Hobbs News-Sun believes strongly in keeping their word – “Off the Record” means just that. While many news organizations will say they believe in fair and honest reporting, the Hobbs News-Sun has made it their mission.
The Hobbs News-Sun’s mission statement clearly reflects the overall goals of the paper to provide accurate, unbiased information that treats its community with respect and dignity. The Sun regularly prints letters to the editor whether they are attacks on reporting or another viewpoint not previously expressed. Daniel Russell, managing editor, says their reporters abide by a written code of conduct and are committed to objective reporting without bias.
Caroll Leavell is a New Mexico State Senator and business owner in Lea County. He says the Hobbs News-Sun has great integrity and is a trustworthy news organization. He feels confident that he can share information off the record, and this trust will not be breached.
Their commitment to providing well-rounded news coverage holds true for their competition as well. When the Lovington Leader couldn’t print due to a mechanical problem with their press, the Hobbs News-Sun offered to print the Lovington Leader’s papers for them. The Leader’s editor/owner, John Graham, say that, even though competitors, his paper’s relationship with the Hobbs News-Sun is strong.
The Hobbs News-Sun has earned the respect of its community by constantly pursuing excellence in the workplace and empowering its readers, employees and competitors through high ethical standards.
Reid & Associates, Inc.
Their vision statement announces that the reputation of Reid and Associates, Inc. for service, integrity and quality projects should be unsurpassed in the industry. This statement is the goal of their design professionals and sub-contractors.
Reid & Associates, Inc. institutes a 360 degree evaluation for every project which helps the company ensure their service, integrity and quality. This evaluation is a comprehensive questionnaire for the building owner, project coordinator, sub-contractor, designer, project manager and superintendent. Each of the stakeholders is asked to complete a self-review and a peer review. Questionnaire topics include financial management, accuracy, safety, quality control and relationships. Jeff Olivera, a long-time client, says there are no hidden surprises with Reid & Associates, Inc.; instead there is always clear, consistent communication.
Employees enjoy generous benefits that are above the industry standard. For example, upon completion of projects, employees and administrators received 20-40% bonuses while the industry average is 3-5%. Sub-contractors and suppliers for Reid & Associates, Inc. describe a strong and trustworthy relationship. Aztec Mechanical says many companies line up to work with Reid & Associates, Inc. Moreover, they are known for paying their sub-contractors in a prompt manner that exceeds the industry standard.
Reid & Associates, Inc. have been in business for 15 years in the Albuquerque/Rio Rancho area relying on word-of-mouth advertising. While they are a small business with only 15 employees, they are a strong economic force in the region with $6-8 million of profit each year. For this year’s recipient of the 2003 New Mexico Ethics in Business Award for a small-sized business, ethical principles have translated into healthy profits and the respect of the community.
SUMMIT Electric Supply
SUMMIT Electric Supply is a recipient of the 2003 New Mexico Ethics in Business Award by making business ethics a company-wide priority. It has a written Ethics Statement that places ethical practices at the foundation of their relationships with customers, suppliers, and associates. It is a policy to adhere to good business principles and to provide customers with honesty and integrity.
SUMMIT Electric Supply supports its associates with programs that go above and beyond the standard expectations. For example, SUMMIT Electric Supply employees have an associate loan program, which allows employees to take a loan from SUMMIT for 12 months with no interest. Employees are offered bonuses for completing in-house training modules and both full- and part-time employees are offered tuition reimbursement. For those seeking religious comfort, a chaplain is available to any employee requesting help.
In day-to-day operations, SUMMIT Electric Supply follows a strict set of customer service standards. They provide timely and efficient service backed by a guarantee. Counter service is delivered within 30 seconds or customers receive a $5 SUMMIT coin for goods and services. Call-in orders are guaranteed within 20 minutes or the customer’s account is credited with $20. In addition, they provide 24-hour, seven-days-a-week emergency service.
SUMMIT Electric Supply is well known in New Mexico for its charitable work in the state. They are strong supporters of organizations such as the Mid-Rio Grande Chapter of the American Red Cross, ACCION New Mexico, and the Salvation Army. They are also known for their generous contributions in times of tragedy such as the Cerro Grande fires and the September 11th terrorist attacks.
SUMMIT Electric Supply was founded by Victor Jury, Sr., Victor Jury, Jr., and David Meredith. Since then, it has become on of the fastest-growing privately held electrical supply firms in New Mexico. They’ve grown from five employees to over 300 associates and 10 service centers in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona.
Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Mexico
As with many not-for-profit organizations, Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Mexico employees donate a great deal of their personal time to fulfilling wishes. What sets them apart, however, is their genuine appreciation of the mission. As an example, the organization found itself in a financial crisis in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. Donations were down and the only way to fulfill wishes was to cut the administrative budget. Employees agreed to a pay decrease and the uncertainty of continuous future employment.
The organization’s integrity is of greatest concern to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Mexico. To maintain their integrity and the trust of the community, they have instituted a code of ethics call the Annual Conflict of Interest Statement. All employees and volunteers are expected to read, sign and comply with the code. This statement discusses the importance of confidentiality, conflicts of interest, legal assurance, integrity and guidelines for ethical behavior.
Donations come in all shapes and size to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Mexico. When the organization was recently offered a piece of artwork that appraised far less than the donor’s suggested value, the donor insisted on a tax deduction at the suggested value rather than the appraised value of the item. Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Mexico chose to refuse the artwork instead of compromising their ethical standards.
In 2002, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Mexico granted 56 wishes to children who have medically-diagnosed, life-threatening illnesses. With only 3 paid staff members, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Mexico relies on the help of 150 state-wide volunteers to help children realize their wishes. This organization fulfills its heart-warming mission utilizing all available resources while remaining true to its ethical principles.
PNM Award for Individual Excellence in Ethical Business Practice,
in Honor of John Ackerman
Mary Poole Mary D. Poole has established an unparalleled reputation based on high standards, personal integrity, public service, and a commitment to others. Her contributions and accomplishments have made her one of the most respected and admired people in our community – and an influential role model to many of us.
Mary is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Minnesota and has a Master’s Degree in Public Administrations from the University of New Mexico. For sixteen years, she managed Marketing and Development operations for the Presbyterian Healthcare Foundation. She has recently retired from Jerold Panas, Linzy & Partners where she served for nine years as Senior Partner for Research and Studies. Mary strongly believes businesses, for profit and non-profit, cannot be motivated solely for profit, but rather that their overall intentions must be socially responsible. She integrates this philosophy into her life as an individual, a volunteer and an employee.
Balancing her professional life with multiple volunteer activities, Mary has served as International President of the Association of Junior Leagues, Board Member and Chair of the Development Committee of Albuquerque Academy, Chair of the University of New Mexico Foundation, and President of the Albuquerque Community Foundation. Mary Poole is a past Chair of the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) and is a Fellow in AHP, the highest accreditation in the field.
Honesty, integrity, intellect and a creative understanding of individuals and their organizations are but a few of the qualities that Mary displays in her every action. She has successfully blended voluntarism with a professional life distinguished by using her talents in behalf of philanthropic endeavors. Her colleagues, mentors and the many people whose lives she has touched respect her astute ability to strategize the correct and most compassionate solution to any problem.
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