The Massachusetts Bar Association’s Consumer Advocacy Task Force will present
the Third Annual Consumer Advocacy Symposium and Pinnacle Awards on Tuesday,
Dec. 6, from 4:30 to 7 p.m., at the MBA in Boston. The theme for this year's
symposium is The Future of Mandatory Arbitration Clauses. This event is free and
open to the public.
During the symposium, program panelists will include representatives from
private business, government and the dispute resolution field, including:
- Max Weinstein, chief of the Consumer
Protection Division, Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General
- Daniel Moriarty, vice president and
counsel, Kindred Healthcare
- Ira Rheingold, executive director,
National Association of Consumer Advocates
- Brian R. Jerome , founder and CEO, Massachusetts Dispute Resolution
Services (Also chair of the MBA's Dispute Resolution Section)
2016 MBA Pinnacle Awards
This year's symposium will also
include the presentation of the 2016 MBA Pinnacle Awards, which highlight
businesses that have taken proactive steps that benefit consumers in
Massachusetts. The 2016 MBA Pinnacle Award winners are Anton's Cleaners and
Polkadog Bakery.
About Anton's Cleaners
Anton's
Cleaners' mission has remained the same for over 100 years: to provide
consistent quality clothing care with a level of service that exceeds
expectations, and a commitment to its customers and the community. The largest
clothing care company in the Northeast, Anton's manages 43 stores in Eastern
Mass. and is based in Tewksbury. Through its Caring Partners Inc. nonprofit
subsidiary, Anton's Cleaners manages two annual drives to help those in need:
the region's largest Coats for Kids coat donation and Belle of the Ball prom
dress drive. For more information about Anton's Cleaners, visit www.antons.com.
"On behalf of our employees and Caring Partners board, Anton's Cleaners is
very proud to receive this Pinnacle Award for our community service efforts,"
said Arthur C. Anton Jr., COO. "Serving others has always been part of what we
do every day, whether it is service from behind the counter, or collecting coats
or prom dresses with our network of like-minded partners and sponsors. More than
any other, this recognition is an outstanding win for us and for our team, and
we are humbled and grateful for this award."
About Polkadog
Bakery
In 2002, Rob Van Sickle and Deborah Suchman created Polkadog
Bakery from scratch as a corner shop in the South End of Boston. They had a
single small oven, a rolling pin, and six cookie cutters. Today, they have five
neighborhood stores and an industrial wholesale kitchen at Boston's Fish Pier.
Polkadog's handmade treats sell at over 3000 retail locations across the
country. The business is defined by direct relationships with consumers and
independent retailers, with local producers of superior, sustainable
ingredients, and with charitable organizations dedicated to improving the
quality of life in the community. For more information about Polkadog Bakery,
visit www.polkadog.com.
"Winning the Pinnacle was a huge surprise. I'm humbled," said
Suchman. "Really, you spend so much time trying to make Polkadog work for people that
you don't really know if it is working. And then this happens. The Pinnacle
Award recognizes the work you put into relationships with other businesses and
the people who buy your product. You get a minute or two to realize that what
you're doing is working, after all."
Co-sponsors:
MBA’s Complex Commercial Litigation
Section
MBA’s Dispute Resolution Section