Better Business Bureau honors local businesses

The by the Better Business Bureau for the Shreveport-Bossier market have been announced.

Local businesses are eligible to win one of four categories, including the Integrity award, the Customer Commitment award, the Good Neighbor award and the Not-for- Profit award.

Andy Fisher, president/CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Northeast and Central Louisiana and the Ark-La-Tex, is pleased with this year’s winners.

“The Integrity award highlights businesses that maintain a solid commitment to ethical business practices,” Fisher said. “The Customer Commitment award celebrates businesses with outstanding customer service programs. The Good Neighbor awards businesses and employees who play a significant role in their support and involvement in local goodwill, and the Notfor-Profit award goes to someone that has positively impacted the communities of Shreveport-Bossier.”

“The bottom line of the Torch Awards is that businesses and customers practice ethics in the marketplace,” Fisher said. “My favorite part of the contest is during the presentation of the awards when I get to see the expression of the finalists and the winners when we announce them!”

2018 Integrity Award Winner Paul’s Home Inspection Service

Paul Collucci, LHI #10813 and owner of Paul’s Home Inspection Service, began his business in February 2013 after retiring from the Louisiana Department of Transportation, where he was a construction inspector for highways and bridges. Having experienced his own home purchases with major issues not addressed by the home inspectors, Mr. Collucci wanted to make a difference for home buyers. He made the decision to become a professional, state licensed home inspector. He has received an appointment to serve on the Louisiana State Board of Home Inspectors 4th Congressional District and is currently vicechairman.

Paul’s Home Inspection Service’s goal is to provide his clients with the most professional, thorough and complete home inspection with honesty, diligence and integrity that should never be compromised.

“Winning the Torch Award for Integrity was great,” Collucci said. “It says a lot about how I do business. It’s also believed that I am the first home inspector in this area, maybe even in the state, to have received such an honor.”

Collucci’s favorite part of his job is working with and helping clients understand their investment a little better. For more information, visit www. yourhomeinspection.com.

2018 Customer Commitment Award Robert Brown Plumbing

Robert and Debbie Brown, owners of Robert Brown Plumbing, have been serving customers in Northwest Louisiana since 2003. They provide quality residential and commercial plumbing services and strive to stay on the leading edge of plumbing and sewer solutions. The Robert Brown Plumbing team is dedicated to making sure a home or business owner is completely satisfied with their work. Over the years, local civic organizations and magazines have recognized this business with multiple awards for their excellence in service.

The Browns take pride in their work, along with their office staff and plumbing techs, and dedicate themselves to their mission: “We unclog your problems, one pipe at a time.”

2018 Good Neighbor Award Winner Roppolo’s Insulation

Roppolo’s Insulation is a locally-owned family business and has been operating since 1978. They provide traditional fiberglass insulation as well as the spray foam for the smallest to the largest job. Owner Bryan Roppolo and Roppolo’s Insulation are very involved in the community and enjoy giving back. He is a founding member of Giving BAK Foundation, a non-profit organization providing for underprivileged children, and is the director of operations for the entire country for the nonprofit organization Operation BBQ Relief, a natural disaster response team. These are just a few of the many organizations that Roppolo’s Insulation team dedicate their time to each year. Recently, Bryan has helped provide thousands of hot meals to the victims in North Carolina’s devastation caused by Hurricane Florence just as he did in Hurricane Harvey’s devastation last year in Houston, Texas.

2018 Not-For-Profit Award Winner Gingerbread House Bossier Caddo

Celebrating 20 years of bringing healing and hope to children, the Gingerbread House helps children heal from abuse while holding offenders accountable. Over the years, successful prosecution rates have gone from less than 5 percent to over 97 percent. They are an accredited member of the National Children’s Alliance, the highest recognition possible for a child advocacy center in the United States. They partner with local and state initiatives to help promote their message to keep children safe from abuse.

Jessica Milan Miller, M.A., MBA, executive director, was so touched by the award. “Our entire Gingerbread House team was thrilled to have been named the 2018 Torch Award winner in the (not-for-profit) category by the Better Business Bureau,” Miller said. “We celebrate the recognition by sharing it with the other outstanding non-profit organizations that were finalists. Our community is a better place thanks to so many nonprofit organizations that fill key needs and provide services to vulnerable populations in our community.”

Thanks to their volunteers, the work of the Gingerbread House would not be possible without the support of those who give their time, talents and resources to assist the center.

“We are so thankful to the Northwest Louisiana community for rallying behind the Gingerbread House and supporting our work with child abuse victims,” Miller said. “It hasn’t always been easy, but I truly believe God has guided our work, and through determination and grit, this year we are able to celebrate 20 years of bringing healing and hope to children in our community!” – Betsy St. Amant Haddox