A Letter from the President and CEO
The year of 2012 marked an important milestone in BBB history as we celebrated our centennial year . For 100 years , BBB has helped consumers make smarter buying decisions , and has evolved to meet the ever-changing needs of the marketplace . This past year has been one of celebration , strong growth and continued momentum as we made great strides to strengthen our commitment to our mission of advancing marketplace trust .
In 2012 , BBB leveraged its iconic brand throughout North America with its centennial celebrations . BBB participated in national symbolic events , such as ringing the New York Stock Exchange bell and laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier . BBB also celebrated its International Assembly of Better Business Bureaus at Mt . Vernon in our nation ’ s capital . You should be proud to be a part of an organization with such a rich history .
Through BBB Accreditation , your local BBB hit a milestone of serving more than 10,000 Accredited Businesses . More and more businesses are seeking BBB Accreditation as the standard under which businesses must operate — The Standard for Trust . Your local BBB continues to be one of the largest business organizations in Texas , serving 79 counties .
With more and more consumers looking to social media for information , BBB focused much of its efforts on increasing its outreach in social media outlets . Specifically , BBB launched its mobile app at m . bbb . org , which continues to grow with more than 331,000 business reviews accessed through a mobile device last year alone . BBB hosted several business-focused webinars on issues such as garnering trust with current and potential customers through social media and search engine optimization . Through these channels , BBB continues to drive more consumers to BBB Accredited Businesses and is a true business partner . In addition , BBB reached consumers through its award-winning “ BBB Rewind ” videos posted weekly on Facebook and other digital channels .
This year , BBB implemented a new BBB Accredited Charity Seal Holder Program . The purpose of this program is to provide factual information about charitable organizations for potential donors . Charities that met BBB ’ s Standards for Charitable Accountability qualify to use the Accredited Charity seal in their fundraising efforts . This is important to help the philanthropic community make informed giving decisions .
In 2012 , our BBB was again recognized as one of the most influential BBBs in North America , and the efforts of BBB staff have rendered record-breaking results at both the local and national levels . BBB received eight international awards at the BBB International Assembly of Better Business Bureaus . Your BBB received recognition for all facets of BBB work , including Accreditation growth and support , investigations , social media efforts and enhanced conciliation and arbitration programs . BBB was also honored by The NonProfit Times , a national publication , as one of the “ Best NonProfit Organizations to Work For ,” for the second year in a row , as well as a Top Workplace in 2012 by the Austin American Statesman . BBB ’ s marketing and communications were recognized internationally through Hermes Creative and Marcom Awards . Both of these competitions accept entries from around the world and your BBB is proud to have received 10 awards from these organizations .
In closing , you are all associated with an award-winning organization and through the efforts of your local BBB are creating additional exposure for all BBB Accredited Businesses we serve . I want to express my pride in the BBB team for its hard work , discipline and dedication to consumers and businesses , and my gratitude to all BBB Accredited Businesses for your ongoing dedication to BBB ’ s mission of advancing marketplace trust .
Respectfully Submitted ,
Carrie A . Hurt , President and CEO BBB serving Central , Coastal , Southwest Texas and the Permian Basin
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