Studer Community Institute

Murdoch, Blair earn Ethics in Business Awards

May 5, 2015
/ Staff Reports
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The Combined Rotary Clubs of Pensacola and the University of West Florida College of Business named Michael Murdoch and Heidi Blair as the 2015 recipients of the annual Ethics in Business Award Monday. Murdoch was given the award for the large business sector (50 or more employees); Blair was given the award for the small business sector (49 or fewer employees). [sidebar] About the award The award is given to recognize those who exemplify the concept of “service above self” and work to build a positive sense of self-worth within both the business community and the community at large. Criteria for the award is based on adherence to the high ethical standards of honesty, integrity and consistency in dealing with employees, contractors and customers, while enhancing the economic well-being of the firm’s stakeholders and providing jobs, opportunities and profits. [/sidebar] The awards in their 13th year, go to leaders whose business ethics and practices exemplify "The Rotary Four Way Test" and ‘Service-Above-Self,’ said Dr. Ed Ranelli, dean emeritus of the College of Business. “Northwest Florida is fortunate to have so many community leaders, like Michael Murdoch and Heidi Blair, who enhance business and ethical standards and contribute to the economic development of our region,” Ranelli said. Murdoch is an innovator, an entrepreneur and a leader in the high-tech marketplace. He is the CEO of AppRiver, which he co-founded in 2002. With more than 25 years of business and product development experience, Murdoch has led AppRiver's explosive growth in the e-mail and Web security market segments. His company serves 47,000 businesses with more than 8 million mailboxes worldwide. AppRiver's rapid rise to industry-leader status, along with its award-winning service led Ernst & Young to name Murdoch its Florida Entrepreneur of the Year® winner for 2009. Heidi Blair joined USO Northwest Florida as director in December 2006. She moved from Spokane, Wash., where she was executive director of a child abuse and neglect prevention agency. During her time at the USO she has grown the organization from one location at the Pensacola International Airport to three locations. The USO at Pensacola Naval Air Station opened in 2008. In 2012 the Pensacola NAS location expanded. The USO at Destin-Fort Walton Airport was opened in 2010. This location had a waiting list for volunteers before it was even opened. Military member visits at the physical USO’s have grown from 30,000 in 2006 to more than182,000 visits in 2014. Blair’s general service area spans from Tallahassee to east of Mobile. The USO volunteer force is currently at approximately 400 volunteers who staff the three centers and help provide services at the area bases. She has been an active member of Rotary International since 1989. She is a two-time past president and currently serves as District 6940 membership chairperson and conference chairperson.

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Murdoch, Blair earn Ethics in Business Awards

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