From left, Mike Diehm and Karen Maupin accepted the traveling plaque from William Grace at the Ethics In Action Fifth Annual Awards Luncheon. Diehm's Tire Service of Marshall was recognized as the local business that exemplified service and integrity for 2008. (Rachel Harper/Democrat-New) [Click to enlarge]

Missouri Valley College hosted its Fifth Annual Awards Luncheon celebrating the 2008 "Ethics in Action" award winner, Diehm's Tire Service, on Tuesday, March 25.

William Grace, associate professor of business administration and Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) chapter advisor at MVC, began the program by introducing the guest speaker for this year's event.

Angie Wells, president of Marshall Chamber of Commerce and owner of Adventure Quest Travel, said her company engrosses her in ethics on a day-to-day basis.

She compared ethics of "legacy" airlines to "no frill" airlines.

Wells asked five of her friends and family members what they though ethics was and she was returned with five different answers. Some answers were respect, accountability, honesty and even religion.

Ethical practices are paired with employment and various other aspects, according to Wells.

According to flyersrights.com, Wells said that "legacy" airlines, like American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, scored an "F" for ethics in ground delays, while "no frill" airlines, like AirTran Airways and Southwest Airlines, scored a "B."

"This is because of customer service," Wells said. The no frill airlines are offering consumer's cheap airline tickets and good customer service.

"I guarantee you, if you call them at 8 p.m. at night, someone will answer," Wells said. If she calls a legacy airline at that time, she will get a voice attendant and maybe eventually a real person.

She said there are several ways to overcome ethical barriers. One is to choose how to treat the customers and choose to stand-up for what's right.

"I live and I work in a small town," Wells said. "It depends on how I treat them (if my business is successful)."

"It only takes a few people to step up," she said.

Southwest Air has been named as one of the 100 best corporate citizens for the last eight years in a row, according to Wells.

"They are setting the ethical standard for all the other airlines to follow," she said.

She concluded by saying, "Be honest, be ethical and be trustworthy."

After the presentation of the traveling plaque, Mike Diehm said, "We appreciate this very much. We did not expect this. We try to do what's right and it isn't always easy."

Diehm and Karen Maupin accepted the plaque from Grace.

"We are attempting to give recognition where recognition is definitely due," Grace said. Recipients of this award in the past are Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home, Jim and Julie Lewis; Jerry's Menswear, Jerry Hedrick; Quality Lawncare, John Giger; and Dave Raines Auto, Dave Raines.

Contact Rachel Harper at marshallcity@socket.net