Whitehouse High School earned third place in BBB's Student Video Contest.  Pictured are, from left, Symphony Tarbutton, Lauren Camper, Shelly Young, Jaxson Payne and David Fowler. (Contributed Photo)

From Staff Reports

Multiple East Texas businesses, one nonprofit, and a group of high school students were awarded this week by the Better Business Bureau Serving Central East Texas.

The local BBB on Sunday presented the televised production of its 2025 BBB Awards for Excellence, presented by The Genecov Group, Landmark Title, Project One Roofing, Income Solutions Wealth Management, Texas Crystal Blue Pools, Stonewater Roofing, Gollob Morgan Peddy, PC, Thrivent, Compass Financial Group, Henry and Peters, Texas Bank and Trust, and Tyler Junior College. The program aired on KLTV.

Six companies and one nonprofit organization were honored for displaying honor and integrity in all aspects of their operations — toward their employees, vendors, customers and within their community, according to the BBB.

“The Better Business Bureau has been helping to create healthy communities for over 100 years. We do this by contributing to a robust and healthy marketplace by supporting trustworthy organizations and ethical businesses practices and by directing consumers to companies whose goal it is to do the right thing,” said Mechele Agbayani, President and CEO of BBB Central East Texas. “The BBB Awards for Excellence brings recognition and celebrates East Texas businesses and charities who also support BBB core values, and who go above and beyond for their employees, their clients, and their communities.”

This year, the 42 organizations who were nominated received over 15,000 votes.

The nominees in the Large Business Category were: Bannister Plumbing & Air, Delek US -Tyler Refinery, Hood Packaging Corporation, John Soules Foods and Republic Services. Delek US-Tyler Refinery was selected as this year’s recipient.

The nominees in the Mid-Size Business Category included: AVCO Roofing, Burns Commercial Properties, Moran Refreshments, Olshan Foundation Repair, Project One Roofing, Realty ONE Group Rose and Specialty Restoration of Texas. The 2025 recipient was announced as Realty ONE Group Rose.

The nominees in the Small Business Category included: Dream Maker Bath & Kitchen of Tyler, East Texas Hearing Aids, Gecko Pest Control, The Holloway Partnership, Link Financial Benefits, Matabo Surveying, Mathnasium of Tyler, Moon Fencing LLC, Myers Roofing Solutions, The Pamela Walters Group, Proforma Horizon Total Source, Texas Crystal Blue Pools and Tyler Valet. The recipient was announced as Gecko Pest Control.

Nominees in the Minority-Owned Business Category were: Compass Chiropractic, Gilmer Tire and Auto, Enchanted Medical Spa, Macias Painting and MBS Crafts Studio. The recipient was announced as Enchanted Medical Spa.

In the Veteran Owned Business Category, nominees included: L&L Asphalt Corporation, Hex 6 and Co. Diesel Repair and Wheelchair Accessible Transportation. The recipient was named as L&L Asphalt Corporation.

In the Spark Award Category, nominees were: Miller Homes and Construction, Norman’s RV Rentals, Passport to Paradises Travel Agency, Raised Right Roofing & Restoration and Restorative Healthcare. The recipient was named as Restorative Healthcare.

In the Nonprofit Category, nominees were: CASA for Kids of East Texas, Champions for Children, Christian Women’s Job Corps of Tyler and East Texas Crisis Center. The recipient was announced as Champions for Children.

Students honored

BBB also announced the winners of the 2025 BBB Student Video Contest, an interactive competition which is open to high school students across the 19 counties served by BBB Central East Texas.

Lindale High School’s team came in first place, with a total of $2,500 in winnings from the BBB Foundation. Trinity School of Texas in Longivew earned second place, earning a cash prize of $1,250. Whitehouse High School earned third place, with a total of $600 in combined winnings for the students and the school.

Winners were selected through a combination of community voting and evaluation based on how effectively students communicated the theme, their overall creativity, and the production quality of their videos.

For more information about the BBB Awards for Excellence, visit bbbwards.org or contact BBB at 903-581-5704.