Nearly 160 years of integrity, service, and trust continue to define one of Nashville’s most enduring companies.
Southwestern Advantage has been named the recipient of the 2026 Better Business Bureau (BBB) Torch Award for Marketplace Trust in the medium business category by the Better Business Bureau serving Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky. The Torch Award is BBB’s highest honor, recognizing organizations that consistently demonstrate ethics, integrity, and excellence in the marketplace.
This marks the second time Southwestern Advantage has received the prestigious award, having previously been honored in 2015. As a Torch Award recipient, the company is now eligible to compete in the International BBB Torch Awards.
The award recognizes far more than business success—it celebrates a longstanding commitment to earning and maintaining the trust of customers, employees, and communities.
“Winning the Better Business Bureau Torch Award is a meaningful affirmation of the culture we have built over nearly 160 years of serving families and communities with their educational, leadership, and faith-based needs,” said Trey Campbell, Vice President of Communications and Government Relations for Southwestern Advantage. “Every day, we strive to live out our values of integrity, trust, accountability, and doing what’s right for consumers in the marketplace.”
The award was presented during the BBB Torch Awards ceremony at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. Accepting the honor on behalf of the company were Southwestern Family of Companies Chairman and CEO Henry Bedford, Trey Campbell, and several members of the executive leadership team.
During his acceptance remarks, Campbell reflected on the company’s rich heritage and the people who have shaped it throughout generations. “Champions are not born—they are built,” Campbell said. “Since 1855, Southwestern has been building generations of champions who have helped shape the business landscape of Nashville.” He continued by recognizing the thousands of individuals who have contributed to the company’s legacy.
“We stand on the shoulders of giants. Every member of our team has the best view because they embody the very principles recognized by the BBB Torch Award—ethics, integrity, and marketplace trust. We are a relationship company. We build people, and in doing so, we build great companies and a strong culture.”
The evening also highlighted the broader importance of ethical leadership in today’s business environment. BBB President and CEO Robyn Householder emphasized the significance of organizations that consistently lead with integrity. “We are honored to celebrate marketplace role models,” Householder said. “At a time when trust is at its lowest, we are proud to recognize businesses that consistently operate with integrity.”
Adding to the celebration, Southwestern Advantage was also recognized as a BBB Charter Member, commemorating more than six decades of continuous membership dating back to 1961. The company received a commemorative plaque honoring its long-standing partnership with the Better Business Bureau.
For Southwestern Advantage, the recognition is not simply about receiving an award—it’s about reaffirming a commitment that has guided the company since 1855. As the organization continues to serve families across North America through educational resources, leadership development, and personal growth opportunities, trust remains at the heart of everything it does.
This latest Torch Award serves as a reminder that while markets, products, and generations may change, character, integrity, and doing the right thing never go out of style.
Learn more about Southwestern Advantage’s organizational memberships, reviews, and honors by clicking here.
