Ethics in business honored

April 6th, 2008, 6:00 am · 1 Comment · posted by Jan Norman, small-business columnist

Ethical leadership is rarely rewarded, especially in business. But Vanguard University in Costa Mesa and Passkey Foundation recently honored Tustin public relations consultant Hilary Kaye, owner of HKA Inc., (right) with a Vanguard Pillar Award in the 12th annual Ethics in America celebration.

Kaye is the honoree in the business category, and another long-time O.C. entrepreneur, Augie Nieto, (below) is the Pillar Award honoree in social/community involvement. The other honorees are:

Erin Grunwell, the Freedom Writers Foundation, education category
John Speraw, UCI men’s volleyball coach, sports/entertainment category
Dennis Prager, national talk radio host based at Los Angeles’ KRLA, the American Heritage Award for Ethical Distinction

I, like most of you, have a healthy respect for ethics, but it’s power and importance in business were really brought home to me when I was researching my book, What No One Ever Tells You About Marketing Your Own Business. Business owners all over the country told of their most successful marketing tools. Ethics and honesty were mentioned more than anything else.

Many people think ethics and marketing are incompatable, but my book research and Kaye’s business conduct illustrate that they can and must go hand in hand.

Kaye is a tireless worker and board member for the Orange County chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners and founding board member of the Women’s Philanthropy Fund of United Way.

A former journalist and author, Kaye started her public relations practice 20-some years ago. She has done pro bono work and fund raising for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Multiple Sclerosis Society. For several years, Hilary has headed the Ruby’s Raider’s team that walks to raise money for MS research. She named the team for her mom, who has MS for many years.

Augie Nieto has been in my blog and It’s Your Business column for what I’d call his post-business endeavors, although the man who make Life Cycles popular is still chairman of Octane Fitness and advisor to North Castle Partners. His current passion is Augie’s Quest, which takes a business approach to raising funds for research of Lou Gehrig’s disease, which Nieto has.

Erin Gruwell’s work was told in the recent movie, Freedom Writers. Her foundation’s goal is to prepare teachers with the innovative teaching tools they need to reach and empower their students.

John Speraw led the UCI men’s volleyball team to its first NCAA national championship in 2007. He has been a finalist for national coach of the year three of the last four years.

Dennis Prager has been broadcasting on radio in Los Angeles since 1982. His show became nationally syndicated in 1999. His books include Happiness is a Serious Problem and Why the Jews?

Click here to read more about the award and the 2008 Pillar Award recipients.

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