FORT MYERS, FL (June 5, 2009) — Shell Point Retirement Community was named as the recipient of the Fourth Annual Uncommon Friends Business Ethics Award at “An Uncommon Evening” held Thursday, June 4, at Harborside Event Center in downtown Fort Myers.
The Uncommon Friends Foundation was established in 1993 and named after the book written by local Fort Myers real estate developer James Newton who chronicled his unique and inspiring friendships with five uncommon men: inventor Thomas Edison; auto magnate Henry Ford; tire manufacturer Harvey Firestone; Nobel prize-winning surgeon Dr. Alexis Carrel; and famed aviator Charles Lindbergh. Inspired by the characteristics and principles outlined in Newton’s book, The Uncommon Friends Foundation was established as a character education and business ethics foundation whose mission is to “instill ethics, moral values, and a sense of purpose in tomorrow’s leaders.” The foundation’s mission is accomplished through curriculum that spans all age levels, business ethics programs, scholarships, and the Legacy Speakers Series. The Uncommon Friends Foundation instituted the Business Ethics Award to highlight the critical importance of ethical behavior in business and industry.
“We are truly honored to have been chosen for this award,” said Peter Dys, president of Shell Point Retirement Community. “As a non-profit ministry, our mission is to glorify God and to provide senior adults with a broad continuum of residential choices and services that enhance independence.” More than 2,000 residents live at Shell Point and enjoy the benefit of the services and resort-style amenities the community offers. “While we are pleased to receive this recognition, we receive greater pleasure in knowing that we are providing the finest care possible to our residents.”
The Business Ethics Award is given to an organization that demonstrates a commitment to business ethics at all levels of the organization from line employees to upper management. Shell Point was recognized for its outstanding reputation and leadership with the retirement and senior health care industry locally, statewide, and nationally, as well as for its commitment to business ethics in its dealings with its customers, employees, vendors, regulators, lenders, and the community. The organization was also commended for its commitment to business ethics in marketing, communications, and sales practices.
Shell Point is a non-profit retirement community that offers lifecare options in a resort-style setting for individuals during their retirement. Three areas of living are offered including Independent, Assisted Living, and Skilled Nursing. Currently, Shell Point employs approximately 850 people and the community and staff work hard to offer residents care and service that exceeds their expectations while also providing activities that include championship golf, trips, boating, arts and crafts, computer labs and training, lifelong learning opportunities, numerous clubs, an annual fine and performing arts concert and speaker series, and fulfilling volunteer opportunities.
Shell Point Retirement Community was established more than 40 years ago as a ministry of The Christian and Missionary Alliance to glorify God and serve the needs of America’s growing senior population. Recognized as a national leader in the senior housing and care industry, Shell Point has set the standards by which other communities are measured. The community offers waterfront living in a tropical island setting with recreational amenities such as boating and golf – combined with the assurance of lifecare that includes assisted living and skilled nursing if needed.
Shell Point is passionate about its mission and ministry. The organization has a rich Christian heritage that provides the guiding principles for Shell Point’s operation and provision of services to its residents, employees, and the surrounding community in which it is located. These values are reflected in every aspect of the organization, including health care, residential life, business and marketing practices, and employee relations. According to Dys, “What we believe permeates everything we do. It is the source for all our ethical decisions and actions and provides the consistency of our mission, core values, and operating principles. It underscores who we are, what we do, how we do it, and most importantly why. The focus is on honesty, transparency, integrity, and trust.”
Shell Point’s belief that every life is sacred and has meaningful value provides the impetus for treating each resident and employee with utmost respect and the Shell Point culture is epitomized by its core values of Caring for, Serving, and Satisfying its residents and employees. The organization is committed to offering compassionate care to the resident and support to their family at every stage of their physical life by providing a variety of holistic programs to help residents remain as independent as their health will allow and enjoy the highest quality of life possible at every level.
Shell Point management recognizes that residents have placed a sacred trust in the community’s ability to deliver on its promises and to provide the services for which the residents have paid. The community provides these services in an atmosphere of excellence so that it consistently exceeds resident expectations.
Among all of the companies nominated for the Business Ethics Award, Shell Point was one of two finalists at the banquet. The second finalist was Entech Computer Services located in Cape Coral, Florida.
Entech is one of the foremost computer service companies in Southwest Florida and its mission is to blend passion, integrity, and technology for the benefit of its clients by resolving computer related challenges with an incomparable quality of service and to be the ideal workplace for all employees. This is accomplished by consciously living Entech’s philosophies which are based entirely on the Golden Rule.
According to Martin Haas, owner and president of Entech Computer Services, “There is nothing as simple as truth and correctness. Life is much too short for anything else. I believe Entech is unique because we care about our clients. Everyone at Entech Computer Services is totally committed to keeping our customers’ networks functioning which enables them to carry on with their businesses.”
Realizing that computers would become a vital tool in daily communication and commerce, Martin Haas began Computer Tutor in 1998. Working from his house, Martin built a loyal client base of residential and small business computer users. Dedicated to unparalleled customer service, Martin was determined to stand out among the service companies in the area and grew his company at a rapid rate. After graduating from University of Florida, his stepson Jake Spanberger joined the firm and they have expanded several times until in 2005, they became Entech Computer Services, a full-fledged IT Consulting Company which currently employs 23 people, and offers 8 repair vehicles and 2 locations.
“It was an honor to be nominated for this prestigious award,” said Haas. Peter Dys of Shell Point agrees, “Shell Point and Entech are examples of two completely different organizations. We serve different markets, offer different products and services, and are much different in size and scope, yet, beneath it all, there is a similarity that is striking – the desire to do the right thing.”
For more information about the Uncommon Friends Foundation or the Uncommon Friends Business Ethics Award, visit www.uncommonfriends.org.
