These Montgomery Area Businesses and Professionals are Role Models for Ethics and Public Service

The Business Council of Alabama on Monday, Oct. 16, co-sponsored the eighth annual River Region Ethics in Business and Public Service awards ceremony in Montgomery.

The BCA was a supporting sponsor of the ceremony by the Samaritan Counseling Center Inc., which provides mental health services, educational programming, and consulting services to the needy in the Montgomery river region through a wellness-oriented philosophy emphasizing mind, body, and spirit regardless of the ability to pay.

“The Business Council of Alabama is proud to be able to do its small part in supporting the Samaritan Counseling Center’s Ethics in Business and Public Service Awards event now in its eighth year,” said BCA President and CEO William J. Canary. “The work of the Samaritan Counseling Center and its involvement with central Alabama citizens in need of mental health services is to be commended and supported.”

  • Montgomery Area Non-Traditional Equestrians was the winner in the Non-Profit Category. MANE and its volunteers provide therapeutic horse riding opportunities to children and adults in central Alabama who have cognitive, physical, social, emotional, and/or behavioral difficulties. The other finalists in the Non-Profit Category were Medical Advocacy and Outreach of Alabama and Montgomery Volunteer Lawyer Program.
  • Martha’s Place in Montgomery, a nationally known restaurant in Montgomery, was the winner in the Small Business Category of between one and 15 employees. Founded by single-mother Martha Hawkins 30 years ago, Martha’s Place was nominated for its significant charitable efforts in Montgomery. The other finalists were Mooty & Associates law firm and Primary Care for Adults.
  • The Gilpin Givhan P.C. law firm was the winner in the Medium Business Category of between 16 and 85 employees. Gilpin Givhan teams with clients to help support local hospitals, foundations, and other charities. Other finalists were Jim Massey’s Cleaners-Formalwear and Phoenix Salon and Spa.
  • Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama was the winner in the Large Business Category of 86 or more employees. The $1.7 billion vehicle assembly plant in Montgomery began production in 2005. Its employees contribute to philanthropic efforts in central Alabama. The Beasley, Allen law firm and Jack Ingram Motors in Montgomery were the other finalists.
  • Dr. Laurie Dill, medical director and chief medical officer of Medical AIDS Outreach of Alabama received the Maury D. Smith Award for Excellence in Professional Ethics Award. Finalists were Baptist Health President and CEO Russell Tyner and Edward Welch Jr., principal and co-founder of Welch-Hornsby Investment Services in Montgomery, Birmingham, and Charlotte, N.C.

The Samaritan Counseling Center Inc. was founded in 1999 and is one of the largest private providers of mental health services in Alabama, having served thousands of individuals and families in the River Region.

The Business and Public Service Awards program is held in collaboration with the schools of Business and Science at Auburn University Montgomery in order to foster a climate of ethical integrity by businesses, organizations, and individuals, promote awareness and education concerning ethical business and public service behavior, heighten awareness regarding programs and services of The Samaritan Counseling Center that strengthen families and organizations, to support the healing work of the Samaritan Counseling Center Inc., and to pay for scholarships for Auburn University Montgomery business and public administration students.