Agnes Saghatelian – Owner/President Valley Lahvosh Bakery
Saghatelian
Thank You Sponsors
SPCDL Truck Driving School – Marketplace Excellence - Small Business
DTLA Insurance Solutions – Marketplace Excellence - Medium Business
Quality Home Services – Marketplace Excellence - Large Business
San Mar Property Solutions – Distinction for Ethical Leadership
SPONSORED BY:
Dr. Julie Olson-Buchanan & Blair Looney
California State University, Fresno and Better Business Bureau Serving Central California & Inland Empire Counties
The Celebration of Ethical Leadership awards ceremony is a fantastic opportunity to not only highlight those who are ethical and do the honorable thing, but it is also an opportunity to remind others that ethics matter, and we are all succeeding when we are committed to doing the right thing.
This grand alliance between Fresno State’s Craig School of Business and Better Business Bureau will allow for more opportunities to get the word out that there are good people and businesses doing great work in the community. Being ethical means more than just knowing what the right thing to do is, it means having a higher moral standard, and doing the right thing, even when nobody is watching. This is something we encourage everybody to strive for in their everyday lives.
We hope this event inspires others in the community to have further conversations about the importance of ethics in business, the community, and in every aspect of their everyday lives.
EVENT HOST
Kayla Holt
Reporter, KSEE24
Kayla Holt is a journalist known for her incisive reporting and compelling storytelling. She began reporting for her college news station, NTTV, at The University of North Texas in 2020.
After trying reporting for a few months, she anchored for the station, and were apart of special segments, showcasing life around north Texas. Once graduating UNT in 2022, Kayla moved to Sherman, Texas to work as a multimedia journalist at KXII.
During her two-year tenor with the station, Kayla was able to interview politicians like, Beto O’ Rourke, and cover many community events, and historical moments in Texoma. In June of 2024, Kayla moved to Fresno, California to continue her career as a news reporter.
A little over a month later, an opportunity became available, and she switched gears to become the host for Central Valley Today.
In her free time, Kayla enjoys socializing with friends and family, watching movies, and spending time with her toy poodle, Corduroy.
THANK YOU TO OUR JUDGES
President and owner of Spherion Staffing with locations in Fresno and Visalia, Spherion places thousands of Central Valley residents in jobs each year. Glenna was 2010 recipient for Ethical Leadership for her agency and has served the Better Business Bureau board for ten years. she is an active board member of both crime stoppers and fresno police, as well as neighborhood watch.
Glenna Gates Karen Lynch
An attorney at McCormick and Barstow, with her concentration in civil litigation, Karen received an Ethical Leadership award in 2014 which marked her as the first law firm to achieve this recognition. Engaging as an active member of a number of community and legal organizations, Lynch serves her community through various volunteer works, including the San Joaquin River Parkway and Eco Village Project. She currently sits on the board for the Fresno County Bar Association where she has been recognized in the pro bono services section as attorney of the year for her dedication and commitment to increasing access to justice. Ms. Lynch has also given seminars for attorneys on ethics.
Peter
Weber
Following a successful business career, Mr. Weber retired early to devote himself to public service. Since then he has served on multiple non-profit boards. He was a founding board member of the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley, founder and chair of the Fresno Bridge Academy, co-chair Emeritus of California Forward, and currently serves on the boards of the New California Coalition and California Competes. Pete was the 2023 recipient of the Ethical Leadership Award from the Ethics Center at Fresno State.
THANK YOU FINALISTS
Small Business Category
Arroyo’s Touch
BeRaediant Dental Med Spa
California Scuba Center, Inc.
El Oscar Jewelry & Repair
F&B Automotive, Inc.
Focus Point Emergency Management Consulting Services
Fowler White Tiger Martial Arts
How To Be Happy
Hydration Well, Inc.
Innovating Business Services, Inc.
Livescan Superprints I, LLC
Natalies house Keeping L.L.C
Rob Clark Construction & Deign Inc
South Pacific General Contracting
SPCDL Truck Driving School
Suitable Insurance Services
The Cleaning Squad
Unique Auto Care
Medium Business Category
American Auto Club
Auto Dealz of Fresno
Business Development Group LLC
DTLA Insurance Solutions
Glazzworks
Large Business Category
AM/PM Medical Transportation Company, Inc.
Auspice Home Care & Transportation
Dias Law Firm, Inc.
HQE Systems, Inc.
Quality Home Services
San Mar Properties
ETHICAL LEADERSHIP AWARD HONOREE
Agnes Saghatelian President/CEO
Valley Lahvosh Baking Company
Nominated by: Fresno State’s Craig School of Business
Agnes Saghatelian is the third generation President and Owner of Valley Lahvosh Baking Company, which was founded in 1922 in Fresno, California by Agnes’s grandfather, Gazair Saghatelian. The bakery is still operating from its original location in downtown Fresno. Valley Lahvosh Baking Company is known for its Armenian breads, such as Peda and Lahvosh Crackerbread. The company was grown by Gazair’s children, Sam and Janet, and over 100 years later, his granddaughter Agnes continues the family’s tradition of quality and goodness.
Agnes graduated in 1993 from California State University Fresno with a degree in business administration. She serves on the board of the Fresno Fire Chiefs Foundation and the Business Advisory Council for the Craig School of Business at Fresno State.
Agnes is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the family business. Once solely a corner bakery, the manufacturing facility has grown to occupy an entire block in downtown Fresno. Today, Valley Lahvosh has nationwide distribution of its products, selling to key Foodservice and Retail distributors across the United States. The company is a certified Woman-Owned business and Food Safety Certified, SQF.
Agnes is committed to expanding the business and continuing the family legacy for decades to come.
2024 BBB ETHICS AWARD WINNERS
Small Business Category
Ethics Award for Marketplace Excellence Awarded by Better Business Bureau® CCIE
SPCDL Truck Driving School
Medium Business Category
Ethics Award for Marketplace Excellence Awarded by Better Business Bureau® CCIE
DTLA Insurance Solutions
Large Business Category
Ethics Award for Marketplace Excellence
Awarded by Better Business Bureau® CCIE
Quality Home Services
Distinction for Ethical Leadership
Ethics Award for Marketplace Excellence Awarded by Better Business Bureau® CCIE
San Mar Properties, Inc.
THANK YOU BBB FOR MAKING OUR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE
Empowering our local communities through partnership and care.
“THE GREATNESS OF A COMMUNITY IS MOST ACCURATELY MEASURED BY THE COMPASSIONATE ACTIONS OF ITS MEMBERS.”
– CORETTA SCOTT KING
CULTIVATING FUTURE PHYSICIANS
CHSU strives to improve the health care outcomes of people living in the Central Valley.
Learn more today!
M� SPRAYMAN
Systems -Wehelp identify, acquire, install, and maintain the systemsto conduct your business
Day-to-DayTech Support - We areaone-stop -shop; capable oftroubleshooting almost all components of your systems
Recurring Maintenance - Weprovideproactive 24x7x365 continuous and systematic monitoring and housekeeping ofyour critical systems
BusinessContinuity Solution - Just as the name implies, in case ofa disaster, this willenableyou to conduct business as usual
THANK YOU SPONSORS
CELEBRATION ETHICAL LEADERSHIP of
Presented by Fresno State’s Craig School of Business and Better Business Bureau® Serving Central California & Inland Empire Counties
