Category Archives: Jobs Jobs Jobs

How do we create jobs in the United States? What sort of jobs? How do people get trained for them? Is the future bright or dim? What REALLY creates or hurts job growth? Are we asking too much or too little from our government, our employers or our laborers?

Southern Energy Management: A B Corporation Success Story

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Southern Energy Management  is an example of a B Corporation Success Story. 120 employees, started in 2001, winning contracts and doing great work. Founders Bob and Maria Kingery talk about the path to becoming a B Corp.

It’s a fairly inspirational story and they, along with thousands of other small companies are at the bleeding edge of a sea change in the way corporations do business.

Learn about B Corps. in this video featuring a talk with Jay Coen Gilbert.

This is a man some of our politicians and the leaders of many of our publicly traded corporations could learn a thing or two from.

B Corporation Is Now A Reality in New York

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Last week Governor Cuomo signed legislation making the creation of social corporations legal in the state. What does this mean? It means that no longer is the sole mission of a corporation to protect the owners and make a profit for shareholders, but adds some other requirements to the overall mission.

1. Meet comprehensive and transparent social and environmental performance standards; 

2. Meet higher legal accountability standards;

3. Build business constituency for public policies that support sustainable business.

For those who think business is over-regulated, this might just be the solution. It puts the responsibility on the corporate leadership to do the right thing. B corporations have made a choice and are putting their money where their PR departments would normally be. No longer can you just put out some advertising saying you are “green” or that your workers (or as PR likes to call them “team members”) love you. You have to prove it.

One question that’s been asked, and it’s a good one, is what financial benefit does the company get for becoming a B Corp? Is there a tax break? As far as I know, and I may be wrong about this, there is none. It’s purely a social and ethical benefit. It’s earning your good will from the employees, the community and the people the company serves. It’s a strong faith that people are ultimately good and that they will make the right choice if it’s offered to them. If they trust you, trust your products/services and trust your mission, they will support you and you will prosper.

In the non-B-Corp world, the board of directors and corporate executives have a legal fiduciary duty to make the biggest profit they can for the shareholders. This is a recipe for corruption, shortcuts, downsizing, cutting benefits, risky behavior and even reduction of quality to meet those goals. In many ways, the old corporate structure actually encourages it. Make what as much as you can, as fast as you can and get out. Of course that is a bit of an exaggeration, but the foundation is there to take the path of least resistance.

In the B corp, the bar is set significantly higher. You not only have to meet your fiduciary duties to make a profit, but you must remain conscious of the social costs of your decisions. Does my decision put the community at risk? Does it harm the environment? Are my employees going to be unduly hurt by this decision?

This is not an easy goal to meet, but there are many companies already following the standards.  It will take truly exceptional leaders to get there and leaders who are there not only to earn a golden parachute, but to change the way the world works.

Let’s see where this goes and if you think it’s a good idea, or a bad idea, share your thoughts.

Here is a random sampling of some B Corps. As you can see, most of them are small businesses and  they have a wide range of products and services. Find one in your community and go talk with them to find out more about why they made this decision.

Eleek (makers of home decor and finishing products)

Arnold Development Group (real estate)

Southern Energy Management (commercial and residential energy planning and implementation)

Well Care Strategies (healthcare efficiency and quality software)

Stay Tuned – Average US Citizen is Coming Soon!

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This site is being created for the large but silent center. Those who are willing to take a look at an issue from multiple viewpoints, weigh the pros and cons, compromise, sometimes change their minds, and have to courage to admit mistakes.

Average US Citizen is not a site for trolls or screamers, or absolute partisans (example 1) (example two). It’s a site for thoughtful, informed realists. It’s a site for exploring, offering and maybe even finding solutions. It is not a site for posting rants or venting anger. It is not a site exclusive to the working class or highly educated academics. It’s not exclusive to any economic, social, religious or atheist group. It is a place to encourage organizing and taking action. It’s for those who think a B corp may be a way to encourage both corporate and social responsibility or that we may need to change the way we fund and use social welfare as demographics, life expectancy and medical costs change.

It will be moderated, and though I’m not immune to partisanship myself, I will do my best to be as objective and open as possible and encourage others to do the same. If you’re a conservative or liberal troll, go somewhere else as there are plenty of places you can talk to yourself. We don’t need it or want it.

Post your sources and don’t just parrot the talking points of the day and partisan rhetoric. If you give facts and figures, let us know where you got them and if they have been vetted.

That’s it. Stay tuned!

Rick