The Massachusetts Bar Association 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.
The event is presented by the MBA's Consumer Advocacy Task Force
and co-sponsored by the Complex Commercial Litigation and Dispute
Resolution sections. All members are invited to attend this free
event, which is open to the public.
During the program's discussion of mandatory arbitration
clauses, 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."