 Since its 1991 start, Colorado Ethics in Business Alliance has become the largest single event of its kind in the United States, honoring over 100 business organizations from the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors, as well as business and civic leaders, at nine luncheon events that average close to 1000 attendees.
This success is a testimony to the vision of the event’s founders, Rev. R. J. Ross of the Samaritan Institute, Dr. Bruce Hutton of the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business and Jeff Rundles, editor of ColoradoBiz magazine. "We did it on a handshake and our belief that despite pervasive national media coverage to the contrary, there were business organizations and leaders who were dedicated to the ethical pursuit of business success", Dr. Hutton recalls.
Armed with their idealism and backed by their organizations Samaritan Institute, University of Denver and ColoradoBiz magazine - they laid the foundation for an Alliance luncheon that would recognize organizations and individuals who strive to conduct their businesses honorably and ethically.
The purpose of the organization is summarized in our MISSION STATEMENT:
The mission of the Colorado Ethics in Business Alliance program is to promote ethical business conduct for the benefit of the workplace, the marketplace, the environment, and the community. This is accomplished through educational programming and recognizing companies and individuals exemplifying these standards.
In 1991, 200 people attended the first-ever Colorado Ethics in Business Alliance luncheon honoring five winners of the Business Ethics Award: Cooley Gravel, Hewlett Packard, KUSA Channel 9, SCOPE Project Team, and U. S. West. They also applauded Bill Coors, the winner of the Daniel L. Ritchie Award. Bill Daniels himself was the featured speaker, speaking on "Ethics and Integrity: The Bottom Line". Governor Romer declared the day of the event "Colorado Ethics in Business Day".
In 1992, Norm Augustine was the keynote speaker, and attendees honored Blackmore’s Metal Mart in Rifle, Colorado, Southwest Bank, Teledyne WaterPik, U. S. West, and Young Americans Bank with the Business Ethics Award, and John Fielder with the Daniel L. Ritchie Award. Joan Shapiro, a pioneer in community development banking, spoke in 1993. Barker-Rinker-Seacat & Partners, Greenbar Corporation, The Independence School & Minds, Ltd., Frank Sandoval and Trapper Mining were honored with the Business Ethics Award, and Samuel Gary and Ron Williams were honored with the Daniel L. Ritchie Award. In 1993, the Samaritan Institute Award was added specifically for the not-for-profit sector. The first award went to Adele Phelan.
John Chancellor gave one of his last and finest speeches at our 1994-1995 Alliance luncheon. Award honorees that year included: Dependable Cleaners, First National Bank of Durango, Professional Travel Corporation, and Spectrum Human Resources Systems Corporation, who were given the Business Ethics Award at the 1994/1995 luncheon. Ron Montoya accepted the Daniel L. Ritchie Award, and the Samaritan Institute Award went to the Center for Independence and the Community Resource Center.
A new era began in 1996, when Rotary Clubs of Colorado and the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Society of Financial Professionals became long term sustaining sponsors of the Colorado Ethics in Business Alliance. Another landmark event of 1996 was the pledge by Bill Daniels and Bob Russo of Daniels & Associates to help bring nationally renowned speakers to the Colorado Ethics in Business Alliance luncheon events. That year, Charles Osgood was our keynote speaker. Awardees that year were Colorado Container Corporation, Norwest Bank of Colorado and Wright Water Engineers for the Business Ethics Award, National Sports Center for the Disabled for the Samaritan Institute Award, and Roger and Laura N. Sanborn of Sanborn Western Camps for the Daniel L. Ritchie Award.
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