San Diego, CA—September 18, 2026—Blanchard®, a global leadership development company, has been named a recipient of the 2026 Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Ethics, recognizing organizations that demonstrate exceptional integrity, ethical leadership, and a commitment to building trust.
After being named a finalist earlier this year, Blanchard completed a rigorous evaluation focused on Character, Culture, Customers, and Community, followed by an in-person interview with an independent panel of judges. Tom McKee, Chairman of the Board, accepted the award on Blanchard’s behalf at the September 9 Torch Awards celebration in San Diego.
“At Blanchard, leadership comes down to responsibility: how we show up, the values we lead with, and the impact we have on the people around us,” said McKee. “This recognition reflects the standards we hold ourselves to every day and inspires us to keep raising the bar.”
That commitment is reflected in how Blanchard supports its people, serves clients, and invests in its communities. Full-time colleagues receive up to 40 paid hours each year to volunteer, contributing 7,701 volunteer hours since the Blanchard Ambassador Program launched. Through the Blanchard Institute, more than 800 students have received leadership training at no cost, supported by more than 200 Leadership Champions. The company also reinforces its values through employee development, recognition, transparent communication, and a commitment to putting long-term customer trust ahead of short-term gains.
“Culture is built one decision at a time,” said Kristin Brookins-Costello, Chief Operating Officer and Chief People Officer at Blanchard. “Our values influence how we hire, develop our people, collaborate with clients, and support our communities. We're grateful to the Better Business Bureau for recognizing the culture our associates have built together and the responsibility we feel to earn trust every day.”
“These business owners remind us that trust is earned through daily actions, not just words,” said Vicky Lockett, Associate Vice President of Stakeholder Engagement at BBB. “They are showing our marketplace that doing business with integrity isn’t separate from building a successful company, it’s fundamental to creating one that lasts.”
Blanchard’s core values—Be True, Scale Kindness, Transform Together, and Relentless Pursuit—guide how the company works with clients, colleagues, and communities. This award reflects Blanchard’s vision of Leaders Powered for Good and its commitment to earning trust through everyday actions.
For the complete list of 2026 San Diego County BBB Torch Awards for Ethics finalists and winners, visit torchawards.bbbcommunity.org.
About Blanchard
Blanchard is a global leadership development, consulting, and coaching company that empowers leaders at every level to create workplaces where people and organizations thrive. Since 1979, Blanchard has helped millions of leaders around the world develop the skills to build trust, inspire performance, strengthen relationships, and achieve meaningful business results.
About BBB Mountain West & Pacific Southwest
Better Business Bureau (BBB) has empowered people to find businesses, brands, and charities they can trust for more than 110 years. BBB provides tools and objective expertise that educate communities on ethical behavior in the marketplace and how businesses can build trust. Learn more at BBB.org.
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