Torch Technologies (Torch), a 100% employee-owned technology services and solutions company, has been awarded the coveted North Alabama Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics in the Government Contractor category for 2020.

With this year’s recognition, Torch is now the only four-time recipient of the North Alabama Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award, having also won this award in the Mid-size Company category in 2005, the Large-size Company category in 2009, and the Government Contractor category in 2015.

Presented annually, the BBB Torch Award honors businesses that demonstrate exceedingly high standards of behavior toward customers, employees, suppliers, shareholders and communities; adherence to truthful and honorable advertising and sales practices; and an earned reputation for noteworthy contributions to their industries and the communities in which they do business. In lieu of the traditional annual awards luncheon, this year, due to COVID-19, winners were presented their awards at their place of business.

The Torch Award is designed to promote not only the importance of ethical business practices, but the willingness and efforts made by outstanding businesses to ensure that our country’s marketplace remains fair and honorable for all Americans. Candidates for the Torch Award were nominated and given the opportunity to submit information regarding their ethical relationships with customers, employees, and vendors. A prestigious panel comprised of representatives of the academic and business community judged the 26 entries from businesses and organizations that accepted their nomination and provided an entry for the Torch Award.

“We are honored to receive this prestigious recognition from the Better Business Bureau of North Alabama,” said Torch President and CEO John Watson. “The BBB upholds a national standard for enterprise and ethics, and we feel that receiving the Torch Award is one of the highest compliments that could be paid to us.”

The BBB awarded the 2020 Torch Award for Ethics to: Jackson Plumbing, Heating & Cooling in the Small Business Category (1-25 employees); Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne P.C. in the Mid-Size Company Category (26-99 employees); Farmers Telecommunication Cooperative in the Large Business Category (100+ employees), Torch Technologies in the Government Contractor Category; and Ethic Tech in the Veteran-Owned Category.

Torch President and CEO John Watson stated, “On behalf of our employee-owners, we are honored that the confidence placed in us by our services and solutions DoD customers has resulted in Torch being recognized for the sixth year as one of the largest professional services prime contractors to the Federal Government.”

See the complete list at Washington Technology 2020 Top 100.

Of the tens of thousands of companies that have applied to the Inc. 5000, 0.02% have made the list 14 times.

Inc. magazine today revealed that Torch Technologies, a 100% employee-owned technology services and solutions company headquartered in Huntsville, is No. 4313 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies.

Torch is the only company in Alabama -and one of less than ten companies nationwide- that has made the list 14 or more years. Since its 2002 founding in Huntsville, Alabama, Torch has maintained consistent growth, expanding to include seven regional technical offices, and providing on-site field support at customer locations worldwide.

“We are proud that Torch has again been recognized as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, and we are delighted to be among the 0.02 percent who have made the list 14 years,” said Torch President and CEO John Watson. “During these unprecedented times, we are especially thankful for Torch’s continued success and for our employee-owners’ diligence and commitment to our company, to our customers, and to the Warfighter.”

Not only have the companies on the 2020 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but the list as a whole shows staggering growth compared with prior lists as well. The 2020 Inc. 5000 achieved an incredible three-year average growth of over 500 percent, and a median rate of 165 percent. The Inc. 5000’s aggregate revenue was $209 billion in 2019, accounting for over 1 million jobs over the past three years. 

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000

“At Torch, more than a third of our employee-owners are millennials who will help carry the torch for our company’s future endeavors,” says Torch President and CEO John Watson. “It is an honor to work alongside bright employee-owners from every generation as we work together for the benefit of our customers and our company.”

The Best Workplaces for Millennials stand out for their unique, innovative cultures, which helps them attract and retain Millennial employees. Great Place to Work evaluated team members’ experience on the job, including employee pride in the organization’s community impact, belief that their work makes a difference, and feeling their work has special meaning. Torch has achieved this culture through programs including the Society of Torch Emerging Professionals (STEPs), a voluntary internal group that currently has more than 100 members and focuses on professional development, networking, and community outreach opportunities for early career professionals. Torch has also implemented mentorship programs, a Leadership Book Club, training opportunities, and more.

“For many years, organizations have put forth considerable effort towards attracting and retaining millennial talent” said Michael Bush, CEO of Great Place to Work. “The Best Workplaces on this list have created cultures where its youngest employees experience not only an environment where they can grow professionally and personally, but also find a deeper sense of purpose in their work. As we prepare for a large influx of young professionals from Generation Z to enter the work force for the first time, these organizations have distinguished themselves as the leaders in attracting and developing the leaders of tomorrow.”

The Best Workplaces for Millennials is one of a series of rankings by Great Place to Work and FORTUNE based on employee feedback from Great Place to Work-Certified organizations. Torch was also ranked a Best Workplace for Millennials in 2018 by Great Place to Work and FORTUNE, as well as a Best Workplace in Consulting & Professionals Services in 2016-2020, in addition to a Best Small and Medium Workplace by Great Place to Work and FORTUNE in 2016-2018.

Torch Technologies is proud to announce that it has been selected for a “Best in Business” award in Colorado Springs. Torch was selected as the third place “Best in Business” award recipient in the Cybersecurity & Homeland Security category.

The awards program, held at Almagre and virtually for those who wanted to watch from the comfort of their own home, was hosted by the Colorado Springs Business Journal, on June 24, 2020. Selections for the Best in Business awards were based on Colorado Springs Business Journal reader votes for businesses in each category, and the top three companies from each category were awarded.

Torch President and CEO John Watson said, “We are honored to be recognized as a Best in Business in Colorado Springs recipient, especially during this unprecedented time. Great people make up the core of every good company and great people shine during a time of crisis. We are very fortunate to have great people who care about our mission, our community and our company; and who have shone brightly over the past few months as we have all navigated this COVID-19 pandemic.”

Torch President and CEO John Watson stated, “Torch continues to strive to provide the greatest and most cost-efficient solutions to our government customers in support of the Warfighter, so we are proud that we have again been included on the Bloomberg Government list of the top federal contractors for the fourth consecutive year.”

See the complete list at BGOV200.

Great Place to Work has once again honored Torch Technologies (Torch) as one of the 2020 Best Workplaces in Consulting & Professional Services. The ranking is representing more than 357,000 employees working in the consulting or professional services industry in the United States. Great Place to Work, a global people analytics and consulting firm, evaluated more than 60 elements of team members’ experience on the job. These included the extent to which employees trust leaders, the respect with which people are treated, the fairness of workplace decisions, and how much camaraderie there is among the team. Rankings are based on employees’ feedback and reward companies who best include all employees, no matter who they are or what they do for the organization. Torch took the No. 20 spot on the Large Companies list.

 “During these unprecedented times, we are especially proud of the special culture that we have at Torch. Throughout this pandemic, we have witnessed extraordinary displays of collaboration, innovation, personal integrity, and determination within our employee-owners,” said Torch President and CEO John Watson. “It is an honor to be able to work with such an exceptional team every day. We are also honored that our employee-owners continue to rate our workplace highly, and that Great Place to Work® is recognizing our positive culture for the fifth consecutive year.”

The Best Workplaces in Consulting & Professional Services stand out for excelling in one of the nation’s most competitive marketplaces.

“COVID-19 creates very unpredictable and rapidly changing markets for Consulting & Professional Services companies,” said Michael Bush, CEO of Great Place to Work. “Companies on this list stand out for the high level of trust they have built with their entire workforce. High-trust, For All cultures enable these organizations today to quickly adjust to remote work arrangements and to successfully navigate through uncertain times.”

The Best Workplaces in Consulting & Professional Services is one of a series of rankings by Great Place to Work based on employee feedback from Great Place to Work-Certified organizations. Torch Technologies was also ranked as a Best Workplace in Consulting & Professionals Services in 2016-2019, as well as a Small and Medium Workplace by Great Place to Work and FORTUNE in 2016-2018, in addition to a Best Workplace for Millennials in 2018 by Great Place to Work and FORTUNE.

Torch Technologies is proud to announce it has been chosen by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), North Alabama Section (NAS), as the Outstanding Engineering Organization for 2020. In selecting the engineering organization of the year, the NAS considers engineering accomplishment, contributions to the community, milestones, research, and contracts that impact the Huntsville/Tennessee Valley area. The award was presented at the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Engineers Week banquet on February 20^th at the Jackson Center in Huntsville.  

Torch President and CEO John Watson stated, “We are honored to receive this recognition during Engineers Week, and we have our employee-owners to thank for our continued success. Our engineers continue to strive to deliver outstanding solutions and technologies to our customer, and we take great pride in the work that we do supporting the Warfighter.”  

Entrepreneur360 List

“We are proud to have again been recognized by Entrepreneur magazine for our distinctive approach to innovation, growth, leadership, and culture,” says Torch President and CEO John Watson. “Our continued success as a 100% employee-owned company is thanks to our invaluable employee-owners. We are privileged to be part of a growing group of extraordinary people who are innovative and bright, and who make Torch a great place to work.”

“Every entrepreneur knows that a healthy business isn’t just about growth. It’s about being well-rounded—growing your culture and your systems as strongly as you grow your revenue,” says Jason Feifer, editor in chief of Entrepreneur magazine. “That’s why we’re excited to celebrate these companies with our fifth annual Entrepreneur360 ranking. The companies that make the list have pushed boundaries with their innovative ideas, fostered strong company cultures, impacted their communities for the better, strengthened their brand, and grown impressively as a result.”

Honorees were identified based on the results from a comprehensive study of independently- owned companies, using a proprietary algorithm and other advanced analytics. The algorithm was built on a balanced scorecard designed to measure five metrics reflecting major pillars of entrepreneurship—innovation, growth, leadership, impact, and business valuation.

For additional details on the E360 List and the companies recognized, visit: entrepreneur.com/360

Torch is the only Huntsville-based company that has been on the list for 13 consecutive years, and the largest of only two companies in Alabama to make the list 13 or more years.  Inc. Editor in Chief James Ledbetter remarked, “Needless to say, making the list gets harder every year as your starting base grows. Of the tens of thousands of companies that have applied to the Inc. 5000 over the years, only a fraction
have made the list more than once.”

Torch continues to maintain consistent growth, being one of only 10 companies in the history of the Inc. 5000  to make the list 13 consecutive years. Of the 26 Huntsville-based companies on this year’s list, Torch had the highest revenue for 2018 with $405M.

Torch President and CEO John Watson stated, “We are proud that Torch has again been recognized as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, and we are thrilled to be one of only 10 companies who has made the list 13 consecutive times. We know that our continued success is due to our employee-owners and their constant commitment to our company, to our customers, and to the Warfighter.”

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000