UWF Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business and Combined Rotary Clubs of Pensacola name 2026 Ethics in Business Award Recipients

The University of West Florida Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business and the Combined Rotary Clubs of Pensacola named Sam Young and Tom Vaughn as the 2026 recipients of the annual Ethics in Business Award during the 24th Combined Rotary Luncheon at the Pensacola Yacht Club.

The Ethics in Business Award recognizes individuals 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 broader community as a whole. Criteria for the award include adherence to the high ethical standards of honesty, integrity, and consistency in dealing with employees, contractors and customers, while positively enhancing the economic well-being of the firm's stakeholders and providing jobs, opportunities and profits.

Young, president and CEO of Pensacola Habitat, was awarded the winner of the large business sector, or organizations with 50 or more employees. Under Young's leadership, Pensacola Habitat is now ranked eighth out of 1,000 competitors across the nation. This growth came from Young's mission to double home production, shorten construction timelines, and reduce per-home costs with the purpose of lowering barriers to homeownership and serving families in the Pensacola community. With patience and persistence, Young established the Northwest Florida Community Land Trust and a rental housing program with the intention of creating affordable homes that will be sustainable for decades to come.

"I am honored to receive this recognition from UWF and the Combined Rotary Clubs of the Panhandle," Young said. "At Pensacola Habitat, ethics is not a separate part of the work - it is central to how we serve families, steward community resources, and build trust with our partners. This award reflects the commitment of our entire team, board, volunteers and supporters who believe that expanding access to affordable homeownership is one of the most meaningful ways we can strengthen this community."

Vaughn, winner of the small business division, is the president and co-founder of Vaughn Brinkley Wealth Strategies Group of Northwestern Mutual. For 45 years, Vaughn has served his clients and employees with selflessness, honesty and fairness. While under the direction of Vaughn, his group was recognized again by Forbes as the Best in State Wealth Management firm 2026, conveying the company's culture of putting client needs first. Vaughn also actively serves in the community as a Paul Harris Fellow sponsor, long-term member of the Gulf Breeze Rotary, and member of both the Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business Advisory Council and the UWF Executive Mentor program.

"I'm truly honored to receive this recognition," Vaughn said. "As a Certified Financial Planner, I'm held to a fiduciary standard, but to me, that's never been a burden; it's simply the right way to do business. Rotary's 'Four-Way Test' aligns perfectly with that belief, and it's a standard I believe every business should strive to uphold. In living out 'Service Above Self,' I found that when I consistently put others' needs ahead of my own, my own needs have been met far beyond what I ever expected."

For more information about the UWF Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business, visit uwf.edu/lbjcob.