Colorado Ethics in Business Alliance Awards: celebrating role models for leadership and service.

• Position: 18th Annual

The reward for practicing good ethics is being able to sleep at night knowing you did the right thing. But it also leads to the long-term success of a business, organization or individual. This year's winners of the Colorado Ethics in Business Alliance Awards offer strong examples.

Mountain Crest Mortgage, which earned an Ethics in Business Award this year, steered clear of the subprime loans and adjustable rate mortgages that had such a huge role in the near collapse of the financial system. That decision has helped the Denver company earn the loyalty of its customers.

Robinson Dairy, also an Ethics in Business Award winner, has supported many civic and business groups and charitable causes during its 124-year history in Denver and has continued to be considered a local brand--even though it's been owned by a national company for more than a decade.

Lee Palmer Everding, winner of the Daniel R. Ritchie Award this year, has worked with volunteer and charitable groups throughout her professional career and founded Denver Eclectics as a vehicle to promote discussion and debate among the city's women.

And in a time when nonprofits are having a difficult time securing sponsors, Junior Achievement Rocky Mountain Inc.--the winner of this year's Samaritan Institute Award--boasts 3,200 volunteers and has managed to grow even during the downturn. Longtime CEO and President Robin Wise has led the operation to become the 12th-largest JA in the nation.

The Colorado Ethics in Business Awards program was founded by the University of Denver, ColoradoBiz and the Samaritan Institute. Winners are profiled on the following pages. They'll be honored at the 18th Annual CEBA Awards on March 18 at the Sheraton Denver Downtown. Visit www.ceba.org for details and to register.

The Denver/Boulder Better Business Bureau has noted Mountain Crest's ethical standards, too. Since 2004 when the BBB introduced its Cold Star Award for companies with zero complaints for the previous three years, Mountain Crest has been a Gold Star winner every year. The company also received a 2009 Denver/Boulder BBB Torch Award in the small business category for ethical standards and practices, long-standing reputation, marketing, advertising, management practices and training programs.

Bamonte, who started out in the mortgage business after earning a degree in finance from Indiana University, says he was somewhat surprised by his firm's increased business in 2009. But he has no difficulty explaining it.

"One, we just have a very loyal following," he says. "Two, mortgage rates were low, which helped. And three--and I feel bad about this--a lot of mortgage companies shut their doors. Even though the pie was shrinking in terms of consumers, so was our competition."

--Mike Taylor

ETHICS IN BUSINESS AWARD

Mountain Crest Mortgage

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