Better Business Bureaus June 2019 Market Monitor includes stories on an Appliance Repair Firm, BBB's Spark Award, a dues increase and BBB's Celebration of Integrity.

1. theMarketMonitorN E W S F O R B E T T E R B U S I N E S S B U R E A U A C C R E D I T E D B U S I N E S S E S®
B E T T E R B U S I N E S S B U R E A U S E R V I N G G R E A T E R C L E V E L A N D
The 2019 Celebration of Integrity was held April
18th at Stillwater Place located in the Cleveland
Metroparks Zoo.
Guests recognized BBB Students of Integrity,
BBB Spark Award Winner, and the BBB
Champion of Integrity.
If you joined us, it was great to see you! If
you missed it, we hope you will make it a
point to attend next year. Many thanks to our
emcee, Ed “Flash” Ferenc, who kept the crowd
entertained.
INSIDE: B2B Discounts • Students of Integrity • Champion of Integrity
Teen Smart Hits 10th Year • 3% Fee Increase • July Happy Hour
JUNE 2019
SERVICE TO THE
COMMUNITY
Greater Cleveland BBB Activity
January - May 2019
Reports issued on companies/
charities: 657,102
Customer complaints filed: 3,205
Customer reviews
submitted: 2,775
bbb.org/cleveland visits: 1,068,778
Advertising review cases
initiated: 35
3 Tips for Motivating
Employees in the
Summer
• Be Flexible: Family obligations
can change during the warmer
months. Consider letting
employees be more flexible with
their schedules in the summer.
• Amp Up the Office: A little
friendly competition can be
a great way to energize the
office—create teams and start
a Fitbit challenge or sales
competition to encourage
team-building amongst your
employees.
• Embrace the Weather: The
hot and muggy days can slow
anyone down—consider enacting
a more relaxed dress code or
having activities like a company
picnic or ice cream break to help
employees feel more invigorated
during the work day.
BBB CELEBRATES INTEGRITY
An appliance
sales and repair
business located
in Ashtabula
has generated
complaints from
consumers who
have paid in
advance for
repairs that were never performed.
J&J Appliances (Not to be confused with J&J
Appliance Service in Berea, Ohio) is owned
by Jose Velez. Consumers tell Better Business
Bureau Serving Greater Cleveland (BBB) that
Velez takes payment in advance, typically in
cash, for repairs to various appliances but does
not return to perform the repairs.
An Ashtabula woman filed a complaint with
BBB after she paid Velez over $500 to repair
two stoves. After taking the money, he never
returned. Others report similar experiences
with washing machines and ice makers. In
most cases, Velez accepted cash payments for
repairs of several hundred dollars but never
returned and does not answer calls.
Another Ashtabula woman told BBB she hired
Velez to fix her refrigerator. After paying
$660 for parts, Velez was unable to get the
refrigerator to work. “I still have a broken
refrigerator,” she said. “I had to hire another
technician who informed that the refrigerator
is unfixable and anyone who is properly
trained in appliance repair would have known
that from the beginning. I am out $660 and
feel scammed.”
Velez did not respond to any complaints
sent to him by BBB and has an “F” rating as
a result.
When selecting a service professional, BBB
has these tips:
• Get more than one estimate for repairs.
• Check the companies’ ratings at
bbb.org. You can research and read
consumer complaints and customer
reviews.
• Research the businesses and their
principals online.
The Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act
gives consumers the right to a verbal or
written estimate for repairs or services
that will cost more than $25. The rules also
require suppliers to obtain the consumer’s
authorization for repairs or services that will
cost more than 10 percent of the estimate.
APPLIANCE REPAIR FIRM LEAVES
CUSTOMERS IN A FIX

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SOLON HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR WINS TOP
AWARD IN BBB SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST
BBB’s Students of Integrity Award recognizes high school students
who personify integrity through their leadership, community service,
academics, and strong character ethics.
Lea Kim, a Solon High School senior, was awarded the top prize of a
$2500 scholarship. Along with her academic accomplishments, Kim has
a passion to end food waste. She founded “Project Leftovers,” which
focuses on reducing food waste and feeding those who are hungry. She
places bins throughout the school into which students place unopened
containers of food. The food is then collected and given to students in
need at the school and donated to local shelters. She took her passion
to the Yale Young Global Scholars
program where she addressed over 500 scholars regarding
food waste. At Solon High School, she is president and
concertmaster of the sinfonia orchestra. In her spare time
she is a private violin instructor, a violinist in the Cleveland
Youth Orchestra, and a musician at her church. Her guidance
counselor said, “It is almost as if she is already showing signs
of someone who will make a significant change in the world
that will benefit humankind.” BBB received 50 entries from
area high schools. Other winners of $1,000 scholarships each
were:
Te’John Chapman—Andrews Osborne Academy
Jenna Sayle—Kirtland High School
Leland Starwalt—Avon High School
DR. LEE PONSKY NAMED
CHAMPION OF INTEGRITY
Dr. Lee Ponsky received BBB’s Champion of Integrity award at the
Celebration of Integrity.
Dr. Ponsky was presented the award for his work with his nonprofit,
MedWish International, which he founded in 1993 following his
experience working on a medical compound in Nigeria where he
became aware of the severe lack of medical supplies that medical
facilities in developing countries had available. Prior to beginning
medical school, Dr. Ponsky created MedWish International
(medwish.org) to collect unused medical supplies from hospitals
that would otherwise discard them.
MedWish International, a BBB Accredited
Charity, has recovered more than 4.5 million
pounds of medical supplies, keeping these life-saving items out of
landfills and putting them into the hands of people in need worldwide in
over 100 countries. Dr. Ponsky has instilled integrity as one of the core
values of his nonprofit, saying in MedWish’s mission statement that
“we do the right thing operationally, financially, and socially.”
BBB Champions of Integrity have consistently displayed an aggressive
commitment to ethical, honest, and fair business practices in the conduct
of their business careers in the Greater Cleveland area, as demonstrated
by leadership in efforts or organizations promoting business self-regulation, ethical business
practices, consumer education and/or advancing consumer/business trust and confidence in
the integrity of the marketplace.
B2B DISCOUNTS FOR
BBB ACCREDITED
BUSINESSES
Easton Telecom Phone service
rates ranging as low as 5% off
most retail services. For a no-
obligation cost comparison and
service analysis, contact Jim
Butler at (800) 222-8122.
Intellicorp Records, Inc. offers
online criminal checks for
$17.07 each. Other reports also
discounted. Call
(800) 539-3717.
Office Depot discount on office
supplies and printing. Contact
Jessica Samp at
(248) 842-7514 or jessica.
samp@officedepot.com. Use
SPC Account #8012 380 6671.
PartnerShip®
offers discounts
on select FedEx®
services
including express packages,
ground packages, and
residential delivery, on both
new and existing FedEx®
accounts. Also save at
least 70% on standard and
guaranteed LTL freight
shipments with UPS Freight,
YRC Freight, Con-way Freight,
and other reputable carriers,
including competitive pricing
on truckload, expedited, and
tradeshow shipments. Call
(800) 599-2902.
Company 119 launched an app
to help you easily get customer
reviews that are sent to your
BBB Business Profile. This
is offered free only to BBB
Accredited Businesses. To sign
up, go to maxfeedback.com/
bbb.
Some member discount programs
generate revenue which BBB reinvests
into the organization’s operations.
Te’John Chapman, Lea Kim, Chris Kamis of
Absolute Roofing & Construction, Inc., Jenna
Sayle and Leland Starwalt
Dr. Lee Ponsky and
BBB Board Chair
Christian Klein

3. bbb.org/cleveland
theMarketMonitor
BBB WRAPS UP ITS 10TH YEAR
OF TEEN SMART WORKSHOPS
Since 2009, BBB has partnered with Cleveland
Metropolitan School District to offer Teen Smart
Financial Literacy Workshops to juniors and seniors.
These workshops are tailored to help students make
better buying decisions and be more responsible with
their finances. Our interactive presentation helps to
engage students to understand credit and how to use
it wisely, the importance of budgeting and saving, and
avoiding identity theft.
Recently, BBB has added a budgeting activity. Students use Smarties as their money to make
choices on how they want to spend their funds. They choose where to live, transportation,
insurance, clothes, entertainment, etc. It is a great way to help get students engaged! Students
interact not only with each other but with the BBB staff, laughing and asking lots of questions.
One student shared that they enjoyed the budgeting activity we created the best. They
said, “It was helpful and showed me priorities to have, and what to
compromise on.” Another student said, “I like that this class gave us
an insight on how important it is being a young adult, having/taking
care of your responsibilities.”
Since its inception, BBB’s Teen Smart program has conducted over
160 workshops, reaching over 3,000 students. Bob Gillingham, BBB
Director and owner of Bob Gillingham Ford, was instrumental in
helping us launch this program.
BBB ANNOUNCES 2020 SPARK AWARD
Better Business Bureau is pleased to announce the launch of its
2020 BBB Spark Award. The annual award program identifies
trustworthy entrepreneurs aged 35 and under. The BBB
Spark Award is an exclusive honor to receive, but it is just the
beginning of a meaningful relationship that we build with award
winners. The BBB starts with trust and trust starts with a spark.
BBB is now looking for early-stage businesses and
entrepreneurial organizations whose leaders demonstrate a
high level of character, generate a culture that is authentic
about its mission, and embed social impact into their business
model to support their community. Those interested must
complete a written application and provide a video submission no more than two minutes
in length. Video themes should include how your business embodies character, culture, and
community. BBB has partnered with LaunchHouse to provide the Spark Award recipient a
$2000 cash prize. The winner will be announced at the 2020 LaunchHouse Bootstrap Bash. To
learn more, visit bit.ly/CLESparkAward.
BBB BOARD APPROVES
ACCREDITATION FEE INCREASE
In the past 36 years, BBB accreditation fees have increased five times, with the latest increase
taking place in 2014. To keep pace with rising costs and to ensure BBB can continue to provide
the quality service we promise to deliver to you and our community, BBB’s Board of Directors
voted to enact a 3% fee increase. Beginning June 1, the minimum fee for a business with 1-3
employees will increase from $405 annually to $417. This slight increase will help BBB promote
the value of using BBB Accredited Businesses, bolster staffing, and maintain IT needs. We can
set up quarterly or monthly payment plans at your request.
JOIN BBB TO
CELEBRATE THE
LAUNCH OF THE
2020 SPARK
AWARD!
JULY 16, 2019
4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
TERRESTRIAL
BREWING COMPANY
If you are a business leader
35 or younger, join BBB and
LaunchHouse for our Happy
Hour kickoff of the 2020 Spark
Award. Learn more about the
contest and how you can win
$2,000. Enjoy networking,
Happy Hour specials, free
tacos (while supplies last), and
more! RSVP to
pam@cleveland.bbb.org or call
(216) 413-5232.
CONGRATS!
BBB congratulates these
Accredited Businesses whose
leaders were recognized as
recipients of the sixth annual
Corporate College Smart 50
Awards, presented by Smart
Business. This award recognizes
these individuals for their
talent to effectively build and
lead innovative and “smart”
organizations. Fifth Third Bank,
Planned Financial Services,
LLC, LaunchHouse, LLC, and
Blue Technologies, Inc.
2019 Spark Award Winner, Josh
Steinberger, Owner NextGen Restoration;
Todd Goldstein, LaunchHouse; Pam
Anson, BBB; and Kevin Adelstein,
Cleveland Jewish News

4. The Market Monitor
Better Business Bureau
2800 Euclid Avenue, 4th Floor
Cleveland, OH 44115-2417
Periodicals Postage PaidThe Market Monitor
Better Business Bureau
2800 Euclid Avenue, 4th Floor
Cleveland, OH 44115-2417
Periodicals Postage Paid
The Market Monitor (ISSN 1085-5122). June 2019. Volume 15 No. 3. Published bimonthly in February, April, June, August, October and December by the Better Business Bureau, Inc. 2800 Euclid Avenue, 4th Floor,
Cleveland, OH 44115-2417, Periodicals postage paid at Cleveland, OH. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Market Monitor, 2800 Euclid Avenue, 4th Floor, Cleveland, OH 44115-2417.
JUNE 2019
A special thank you to our
2019 Celebration of Integrity sponsors.
Absolute Roofing
Boler College of
Business
Cleveland Magazine
Coit Cleaning and
Restoration
Company 119
Dominion Energy
Ohio
Easton Telecom
Services
Kaufman, Drozdowski
& Grendell LLC
Kirby
LaunchHouse
Lindens Propane, Inc.
Lolly The Trolley
New Image Media
RadAir Complete Car
Care & Tire Center
Sheakley
Thomas Accounting
Service
The Indemnity Group
Toth Painting
Solutions
Weiss Movers