Jackson, Miss., March 30, 2006 – Four Mississippi companies have been awarded Integrity Awards by the Better Business Bureau of Mississippi and the Mississippi Business Journal. The winners in each of four size categories were announced Thursday, March 30 at the Mississippi Telecommunications Center in Jackson.

Winners, chosen from among 13 finalists, included:
Category 4 (more than 1000 employees): Mississippi Power, Gulfport
Category 3 (100-999 Employees): Cellular South, Jackson
Category 2 (11-99 Employees): The Cirlot Agency, Flowood
Category 1 (1-10 Employees): Insight, Ltd., Jackson

“We had a wonderful response to the Integrity Awards this year,” said Bill Moak, President of the Better Business Bureau of Mississippi. “The judges had many great entries, which I believe reflects the quality of the companies who entered.”

Moak noted that nearly all of the companies recognized were affected severely by Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. “These businesses have survived and thrived because they have deep roots and a commitment to do the right thing for their customers, employees, other businesses and the public,” he said. “They prove that success in business does not mean that you must make ethical compromises, and that a company’s ability to survive challenges is directly related to its commitment to a strong commitment to being a good corporate citizen.”

The winners will go on to compete in the International Torch Awards for Marketplace Ethics, the winners of which will be announced in September at the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) International Assembly in Vancouver, Canada.