Third Annual Consumer Advocacy Symposium

When:  Dec 6, 2016 from 04:30 PM to 07:00 PM (ET)

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

Location

20 West St
Boston, MA 02111