Colorado ethics in business awards: winners strive to provide hope and opportunity in business and the community.

• Author: Sukin, Gigi
• Position: COMMUNITY

In business and in life, we repeatedly face moments in which an imaginary devil resides on one shoulder and an angel on the other, weighing the costs and benefits of lying, cheating and stealing versus steadily following a moral path.

For business owners, more specifically, how do you ensure that those you work with are your ethical equals. It's not as straightforward as "monkey-see, monkey-do," but it is entirely achievable and ever-important as the Colorado Ethics in Business Alliance (CEBA) has reminded us for 21 years with its annual awards; the winners of which are proof positive that regardless of circumstances, business can be conducted fairly and humanely. Since its inception. CEIBA has showcased the best and brightest organizations and professionals in the state who exemplify principled conduct day in and day out.

This year's Colorado Ethics in Business Alliance winners who were honored April 12 at the annual CEBA awards luncheon are profiled here.

DANIEL L. RITCHIE AWARD: BOB COTE

To disregard a man with tattered, dirt-caked rags for clothes and a cardboard sign on the side of the road or to give in to the momentary pang of guilt in between an otherwise "ignorance is bliss" mentality, presents a challenging moral dilemma. Every few passers-by surrenders to the words on the sign, "Anything helps ... God Bless," handing over a few crumpled dollars or some spare change.

But Bob Cote lakes a different approach entirely.

To "take responsibility away from a person who can assume responsibility dehumanizes that person," Cote said in a 2009 interview at The king's College. "Giving people money or anything without expecting something in return is killing them. It's suicide on the installment

Cote has discovered that tough love can be an effective method in tough times. Fie knows discipline can bear results dais his cold turkey, zero tolerance style he's employed since 1983, when he began helping homeless addicts gel their lives hack on track with his inpatient rehabilitation center. Step 13.

Without government knitting, the voluntary. multi-phase transitional living treatment program in the heart of the Denver metro area provides men the time to kick addictive habits and ultimately emerge as healthy, stable and productive contributors to their communities with newly acquired skills and confidence.

With a 30 percent recovery rate, Cote's program ranks comparably to national averages.

And Cote is not all talk. Corning from the street...