UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Smeal College of Business and the Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County (CBICC) announced Sept. 13 that they are partnering to recognize noteworthy local achievements in ethical business leadership.
To be presented at the CBICC’s annual Excellence Awards Dinner in December, the Ethical Business Award will recognize a business for its outstanding demonstration of commitment to ethical practices.
“The CBICC welcomes the opportunity to partner with the Smeal College of Business on this year’s Excellence Awards,” said CBICC President and CEO Vern Squier. “Community and university collaboration is an essential part of many chamber initiatives, so we were honored that Smeal approached us with this idea. It is particularly fitting to incorporate the concept of business ethics into a night in which we recognize the very best of Centre County’s business community, and to give students hands-on experience in identifying best practices in this area.”
Nominees for the award will be interviewed by select Smeal College of Business students in an effort to discern how the nominees translate the ideal of business ethics into specific policies, practices and behaviors. Consideration of such factors as how the business emphasizes a culture of integrity and demonstrates achievement of social responsibilities will be used to identify the winner of this award. Select students also will help present the award at the dinner.
“A commitment to ethics is an important element of our strategic plan at Smeal, and this partnership with the CBICC provides not only an experiential opportunity for our students to learn more about how ethics is practiced in business, but is a wonderful continuation of Smeal’s collaboration with the local business community,” said Michelle Darnell, Smeal’s director of honor and integrity.
The nomination process for the 2018 CBICC Excellence Awards will open Monday, Sept. 17, and run through Oct. 31. The Excellence Awards Dinner will be held Dec. 13 at the Nittany Lion Inn. The event will recognize the best of Centre County’s business community in seven categories. The 2018 CBICC Champion and Centre County Economic Development Partnership Economic Development Champion also will be named.