Stories from the Community
How an Oregon Startup Is Putting Soul into the Tech World
From the get-go, the leadership team of the Signalmash brand at Mash Technologies asked themselves a simple question: “What does it mean to be a responsible tech company today?”
They found their answer with 3 simple words: People, Planet, Profit and the pillars of a benefit corporation.
Taking a triple bottom line approach to business made it easy to answer the hard questions of building a tech organization. If the action the company was evaluating didn’t also positively impact people and planet, the answer was a simple “no.”
Why an Outdoor Adventure Planning App Trekked To Becoming a Triple Bottom Line Business
When Tribe Pilot decided to become an Oregon Benefit Company, it was not a deviation from their business map. The founders had always focused their mission on becoming a force for good being inspired by the purpose-driven work of outdoors brands like Patagonia.
Recently they felt the time was right to certify their beliefs and practices of serving People, Planet and Profit through Benefit Corporations for Good.
How a Strategic Financial Services Firm Found Its Purpose Far Beyond the Bottom Line
As the founder and CEO of Tailwind PDX, Colleen Ruhlin brings a Fortune 100 financial and accounting skill set to her clients. Her strategic thinking and ability to see beyond a company’s financial statistics can do much to improve the performance of a business.
But when she made the decision to become an Oregon Benefit Company, she knew it wasn’t solely about the numbers. It was based on the practice of a Triple Bottom Line of People, Planet and Profit where a business focuses on its employees, its clients, and its communities in addition to making a profit.
We recently interviewed Colleen about becoming a certified Oregon Benefit Company. Here’s what she had to say about it, her motivation for doing it, and why it was right for her business.
Who Else Wants to Help Oregon Small Businesses Impact the World?
The Oregon Benefit Company was introduced in January 2014. Yet very few state businesses know about it or the simple steps required to become one. In fact, Oregon lists over 320,000 businesses today but only 1800 of them, or less than .5%, have chosen to become one.
How can this be, you ask?
Well, the plain and simple fact is that there is a lack of awareness. But we aim to change that and need your support so we can spread the word about how a business can commit to making a positive impact on society and the environment in addition to making a profit.
Why a Company Should Certify: A Client's Review
As an advocate of the B Corporation movement and designation, I speak often about business certifications. Should a company apply for a certification? What’s the value in becoming certified? Is it worth the cost? Are some certifications more important than others?
In this post, I’ll try to answer some basic questions, framed in our company’s experience, and help you identify the kinds of designations you may want to avoid.
Why a Portland Management Consulting Firm Followed Its Heart in Becoming a Certified Oregon Benefit Company
It’s difficult to listen in on a business conversation these days without hearing the word metrics. Measuring what you do is a critical component to a business’s success and longevity. And that accountability is a key reason why co-founders Trever Cartwright and Michelle Janke pursued certification as an Oregon Benefit Company.
How Kayaking in the Sea of Cortez Turned a Vegan Shake Creator into an Oregon Benefit Company
Let’s say you create hand-crafted, certified vegan shake blends. They’re dairy-free, soy-free and gluten-free. Oh, yes, they also taste delicious according to the fans of said vegan shake blends. But then you also decide you want to mix in social and environmental impact.
Well that’s what has happened with David Cascadden, founder of Left Coast Raw in Bend, Oregon.
What Our First 15 Oregon Certified Benefit Companies Have in Common
They are more alike than different. Even in such contrasting industries as legal services, wine-making, and women’s apparel, these twelve companies all share the same soul. That is, they are firm believers and practitioners of the…
Why a Portland Law Firm Became a Certified Oregon Benefit Company
“I graduated law school in 2009. After graduating in the recession and facing a variety of hardships (and bar exams), I became a lawyer in 2017. Here I was finally a lawyer after years of doing other things: marketing and branding, real estate, nonprofit work, conflict resolution/mediation, restaurant work, law firm work, etc. (all legal activity I promise).
Since I was young, I’ve always been…
Why a Well-Known Brewpub Changed from Being a Nonprofit to Oregon Benefit Company
When you add delicious craft beer and social impact together, you get one purpose-driven brewpub.
I’m talking about Ex Novo which was founded by Joel Gregory. He happens to be a busy beer professional right now as he…
How To Make Benefit Corporation Certification Better
As firm believers in the “there is no finish line” concept, we are constantly seeking improvement with our certification process. Day-by-day, week-by-week, month-by-month, we look for ways to make our Triple Bottom Line of People, Planet and Profit certification not only stronger but more meaningful to all stakeholders.
In an online Oregon Business magazine article posted last Friday
"Oregon Business" Interview: How To Make the Oregon Benefit Company Stronger
How To Find Inspiration in Business (When All Else Fails)
I’ve seen the future.
And it was in Wright’s Great Hall at the Menucha Retreat Center last Wednesday morning at 9 a.m.
I was invited to speak to the Rotary Youth Leadership Awakening about the benefit corporation movement. Which I did in front of 30-plus business minded folks under the age of 30.
I took them through the “why” and the “how” for this business structure…