Local man wins regional award

By Staff
Jonathan Willis
A long-time Russellville businessman has been honored by a group of fellow north Alabama business leaders.
Danny Gist, owner of Franklin Manufacturing and G &G Steel in Russellville, was given the American Business Ethics Award in Huntsville last week.
The ABEA was established in 1994 by the Society of Financial Service Professionals to exemplify the commitment of the society and it members to business ethics.
The society has established seven canons of professional responsibility to implement their commitment including, fairness, competence, confidentiality, integrity, diligence, professionalism and self-regulation.
Michael W. Innes, of AIG in Huntsville, nominated Gist for the award.
"It is for businesses that are profitable and well respected in their communities," Innes said. "He keeps employees for long periods of time because he treats them well. That's a great thing because you see a lot of people coming and going these days."
Gist joined his father in starting a construction company in 1955. They sold that and started G &G in 1975 with three employees and a pickup truck.
Today, it has grown to 4 corporations, over 200 employees and two separate plants.
"The growth they have realized, came from providing quality workmanship, taking pride in a job well done and standing behind what they have done, sometimes even to the detriment of the bottom line," Innes said in his nomination letter.
Gist said he was surprised to learn of the nomination, but he was grateful for the honor.
"I am proud that they thought enough of us to give it to us," Gist said.
He said the honor means something very simple.
"Basically being in business a long time without getting into trouble and making sure you treat employees right," he said.