We Won the 2026 BBB Torch Award for Ethics. Here's What That Means for Your Remodel.
Murray Lampert won the 2026 BBB Torch Award for Ethics. Here is what the award measures and what ethics looks like in a San Diego remodel.
Key takeaways
- On September 9, 2026, BBB Serving the Pacific Southwest named Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel one of eight San Diego County winners of the 2026 BBB Torch Award for Ethics.
- It is our second Torch Award win, and it came in our 50th year of continuous BBB accreditation.
- Torch Award winners are judged on four criteria (Character, Culture, Customers and Community) through a written application and an in-person interview with an independent panel.
- For homeowners, it comes down to how we price building and remodeling: we look at the whole project holistically, listen to your lifestyle goals, design to your budget and give you the real number from the start.
On September 9, 2026, the Better Business Bureau Serving the Pacific Southwest named Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel one of eight San Diego County winners of the 2026 BBB Torch Award for Ethics. The award was presented at the Torch Awards celebration at the La Jolla Marriott, in the same year we mark 50 years of continuous BBB accreditation.
Awards are easy to list. What matters is what they say about how a company works. So here is what the Torch Award measures, why this one matters to our family and our team, and what ethics looks like in the parts of building and remodeling you cannot see from the street.
What is the BBB Torch Award for Ethics?
The BBB Torch Award for Ethics is one of the highest honors the Better Business Bureau gives. It recognizes businesses that consistently uphold the principles of trust and ethical conduct. In San Diego County, it is awarded by BBB Serving the Pacific Southwest.
How are Torch Award winners chosen?
Earning a Torch Award takes more than a strong BBB rating. Each applicant submits a written application showing how ethics shapes the business in four areas:
- Character: leadership and ethical practices across the organization
- Culture: how ethical practices shape the way the company operates and treats its team
- Customers: how the company earns and keeps customer trust
- Community: how the company contributes beyond its own work
Finalists then sit for an in-person interview with an independent panel of volunteer community leaders. Winners are selected from the finalists who show the highest standard of ethical leadership across all four criteria.
Why this award matters to us
This is our second Torch Award, and it arrived in a milestone year. We have been BBB-accredited continuously since 1976 and hold an A+ rating, so 2026 marks 50 years of accreditation.
Murray Lampert was founded by Murray Lampert in 1975. We are now a fourth-generation, family-owned design-build firm, led by Gregg Cantor, President & CEO; Lisa Cantor, CFO; Rachel Cantor Walker, VP of Operations; and Cameron Poeschel, Director of Operations.
This recognition is a reflection of what we have believed since 1975, that earning customer trust is not a marketing strategy, it’s a daily practice. Every person at Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel has helped us earn this award and we share it as a team. Their professionalism, honesty, and commitment to being accountable every day is what makes Murray Lampert who we are.”
Gregg Cantor, President & CEO
What does ethics look like in a remodel?
Too many remodeling problems start long before construction does. The scope was not clear. The budget was not real. The right questions were not asked. Important elements were left out, or the work was underbid, leading to change orders. For us, ethics is mostly about what happens before we build.
- We look at the whole house and listen to our customers’ goals before we price it
Gas, water, electrical: the things behind the walls that become expensive if nobody checks. If something needs upgrading, we tell you and put it in the budget from the start. Important features, fixtures, and finishes are discussed up front. - We design to your budget
We do not over-design and price it afterward. Scope, feasibility and cost are checked against your budget as the design develops. - One accountable team does the work
Our architectural designers, interior designers, project consultants, project managers and builders work in the same building, from the first conversation in your home to the final walkthrough, with no handoff between firms. - We stay after the walkthrough
Our work is backed by a three-year workmanship warranty, and we stay responsive as a resource after it ends.
Could that make our number higher than a firm that did not look? Absolutely. We would sooner give you the real number now than explain a different one later.
How can you tell a thorough remodeling bid from a thin one?
A thorough bid accounts for the whole house, not only the rooms being remodeled. When you compare proposals, ask each firm:
- Did you check site conditions such as utilities, structural, grading, drainage and unique code requirements?
- Was the design developed against my budget, or priced after it was drawn?
- Who designs the project, who prices it and who builds it? Are they the same team?
- Are architectural and interior designers on staff?
- What is not included in this number?
- Who do I call when something changes during construction?
- Who do I call when something changes during construction?
- When two bids are far apart, the difference is often in what one of them left out or underbid. The answers to these questions will tell you which one. Low bids put the buyer at risk of change orders, substandard work or lower quality materials.
On the technology side, our clients favor features that make daily life easier, such as touchless faucets, smart ovens, integrated speakers, and lighting controls, over gadgets that will be outdated in a few years. We recommend technology that’s reliable, serviceable, and easy to update.
What others said about the award
The award is a testament to the culture you all have built. Thank you for 50 years of BBB Accreditation!”
Matthew Fehling, President & CEO, Better Business Bureau Serving the Pacific Southwest
The evening’s keynote speaker, JJ Birden, former NFL wide receiver and bestselling author, sent his congratulations after the event:
Congratulations again to you and the Murray Lampert team on earning the Torch Award… well deserved. I really enjoyed being part of such a special event and celebrating organizations that are doing business the right way. Keep beating the coverage!”
JJ Birden
Frequently asked questions
Who won the 2026 BBB Torch Award for Ethics in San Diego?
BBB Serving the Pacific Southwest named eight San Diego County businesses as 2026 winners, including Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel. The full list is on BBB’s website.
What are the criteria for the BBB Torch Award for Ethics?
Applicants are evaluated on Character, Culture, Customers and Community, through a written application and an in-person interview with an independent panel of volunteer community leaders.
How long has Murray Lampert been accredited by the BBB?
Since 1976. 2026 marks 50 years of continuous accreditation, and the firm holds an A+ rating.
What is a design-build firm?
A design-build firm handles both design and construction, so the team that designs your project is the same team that prices and builds it. At Murray Lampert, architectural design, interior design, permitting and construction are all in-house.
What areas does Murray Lampert serve?
Homeowners throughout San Diego County, for whole-home remodels, custom homes, room and second-story additions, ADUs, kitchen and bath renovations, and outdoor living projects.
Thinking about a remodel?
Tell us about your home and what you’re hoping to accomplish.
Not ready yet? See how we work
See the full list of 2026 BBB Torch Award for Ethics winners on BBB’s website.
About Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel: a fourth-generation residential design-build firm, family owned since 1975 and serving homeowners throughout San Diego County. Our in-house architectural designers, interior designers, project consultants and builders work as one accountable team, designing to each homeowner’s budget. CA CSLB License #458038. Plan first. Build better.