Forward TS Wins 2026 Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Ethics
October 14th, 2026
Forward TS, a family-owned managed technology services provider, has been named a 2026 Torch Award for Ethics winner by the Better Business Bureau of Wisconsin. The company was selected as the Category 2 winner, the category for organizations with 11 to 50 employees. The award recognizes Wisconsin businesses and nonprofit organizations that demonstrate an exceptional commitment to ethics, trust, character, culture, customer care, and community impact.
How the Torch Award Is Decided
Applicants do not win this award on the strength of an essay. An independent panel of business and community leaders evaluates every application against a benchmark-based scoring process. Forward TS submitted documentation and examples showing how ethical values are embedded in day-to-day operations, from leadership and workplace culture to customer relationships and community involvement. What that application described is the same set of values that has guided the company for decades: honest communication, long-term customer partnerships, and a commitment to serving the community with integrity.
Trust as the Business Model
That customer-first philosophy and dedication to ethical business practices were key factors in earning the BBB Wisconsin Torch Award for Ethics.
"Trust is everything in our business," said Tim Sett of Forward TS. "There are a lot of companies in our industry that can make technology feel confusing or overwhelming. Our goal has always been to simplify it, be honest about what customers actually need, and earn their confidence over time."
Nearly 50 Years of the Same Approach
The award reflects more than a single achievement. It reflects nearly 50 years of building a business centered on trust. Forward TS was founded as a local copier dealership and grew into a comprehensive technology partner providing managed IT services, office equipment, phone systems, laptops, displays, and other workplace technology solutions. Through that growth, the company has stayed committed to the family-owned values that built its reputation in southeastern Wisconsin.
A Team That Stays
Since taking over the company in 2020, Sett has focused on expanding Forward TS's capabilities while preserving the customer-first culture that has defined the organization for decades. The company holds that ethical business practices are not limited to policies or mission statements; they show up in honest recommendations, dependable service, and a commitment to doing what is best for the customer.
"We have people on our team who have been here for 37 years, 36 years, and decades at a time," Sett said. "That kind of tenure matters. Customers know they are working with people who understand their business, their equipment, and their history. At the same time, we have younger leaders and engineers helping us bring new technology forward for the next generation of customers."
Forward TS has also made a deliberate effort to strengthen and formalize its culture. In 2022, the company launched an initiative focused on aligning its values, mission, and day-to-day decision-making across the organization. That focus was especially relevant to the Torch Award process, which evaluates not only how companies serve customers, but also how they develop employees, demonstrate leadership, and foster ethical business practices throughout the organization.
"Culture and ethics start at the top," Sett said. "If I don't embody it, why would employees ever do that? The only way we can survive and outcompete the big companies is by being more present, more accountable, and more connected to the people we serve."
Beyond the Customer Base
That commitment to being present, accountable, and connected extends past customers and employees into the communities the company serves. Forward TS employees contribute not only financially, but also through volunteerism, donated prizes, and active participation in community initiatives. The company measures success not only by business growth, but by the positive impact it makes on customers, employees, and the broader community.
"We want to give back to our customers and our community in more than one way," Sett said. "Sometimes that means writing a check. Sometimes it means showing up, volunteering, donating prizes, or supporting a cause that matters to someone on our team. That presence matters."
What the Award Means Going Forward
For Forward TS, the BBB Wisconsin Torch Award for Ethics is both a recognition of the company's past and a commitment to its future. As the business grows and expands its technology capabilities, its mission stays rooted in the values that earned the award: trust, service, community, and customer-first business practices.
"Technology should make business easier, not harder," Sett said. "Our job is to help customers make smart decisions, keep their systems running, and know they have a partner who is going to do the right thing."
The award now sits at the top of our awards and recognition page alongside the company's other honors.
Forward TS provides managed IT services and managed print for businesses across southeastern Wisconsin. To talk through what your business needs, contact us or start with a free audit.