Walking the talk:
What it means to do business as a certified B Corp, Social Purpose, or minority-owned company
Now more than ever, people are choosing to make a profit AND make a difference in the world around them. We’re also faced with more options than ever of certifications to consider obtaining for our businesses. But is the work required to obtain those certifications really worth it?
These are the questions on our mind as we dig in with this month’s guest speakers:
“I want to make a difference in the world!” Is it actually possible to be a for-profit company that “does good”, or should I look to establish my business as a nonprofit, instead?“
“Why should a business owner consider going the extra mile of getting formally certified as a B Corp, Social Purpose or MBE company? What difference does it make? What are the advantages / disadvantages?“
“Certification ‘stuff’ feels complicated. I don’t know if I even have bandwidth for it. Where should I start? Who can help me?”
“Is there a local community of like-minded business people in this area? Where can I find them?”
Joining us are Angie Tomisser of Rice Fergus Miller, Kristann Orton of 17 Ways, and Lisa Stirrett of Lisa Stirrett Creative Warrior Studio—all local leaders who are driving forward a new way of doing business, for good.
ANGIE TOMISSER
Rice Fergus Miller
Angie is an Associate Principal at Rice Fergus Miller Architecture & Planning, one of the largest architecture and design firms in Kitsap County. Leading the Community Impact market for RFM, Angie’s work has deep roots regionally and focuses on projects that strengthen communities such as food banks, community centers and work for other non-profit organizations. She has been a design professional for just shy of twenty years and maintains her NCIDQ and LEED Green Associate professional certifications.
Angie volunteers her time with AVID at Bremerton High School and sits on many boards such as the Kitsap Economic Development Alliance and the Kitsap County Historical Society. Outside of the county, she is on the Advisory Board for the University of Idaho College of Art and Architecture, and co-leads the Washington B Corp Collective, a business organization that focuses on using business as a force for good.
Connect with Angie on LinkedIn, or by email.
Download Angie’s Lighting Talk presentation slides below.
KRISTANN ORTON
17 Ways
Kristann Orton is an innovation strategist, helping to build businesses that deliver impact for their customers, society and the planet. She founded a management consultancy, Inceodia, that delivers technology + business strategy and innovation services; she is the CTO at 17 Ways, helping to bring sustainability into B2B purchase decisions; and she is an Angel investor with Seattle Angel Conferences, building the startup ecosystem around the Puget Sound.
Kristann believes that infinite possibilities emerge when organizations empower their greatest assets: their employees, partners and customers. She has led teams to uncover their ideas for growth and innovation, launching new businesses at Hewlett-Packard, leading cultural change in federal government, and catalyzing disruption from innovation in higher education, healthcare and nonprofits.
Connect with Kristann on LinkedIn.
LISA STIRRETT
Lisa Stirrett Creative Warrior Studio
Lisa is the owner, artist, and speaker for the Creative Warrior Brand. The Brand consists of the Creative Warrior Studio, Glassy Cuts, a national retail company, and the Creative Warrior nonprofit.
The Studio is a place where you can Shop our beautiful handmade works of art, Create masterpieces with a little bit of our help, and make an Impact.
Lisa’s vision for the Creative Warrior Brand has been to combine the love of producing her artwork with her passion to empower women both locally and globally.
She works locally with Scarlet Road to help fight sex trafficking, and globally in Liberia and Burkina Faso, West Africa to provide business training and no-fee no-interest micro-loans to women in need.
Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn, or by email.
Download Lisa’s Lighting Talk presentation slides below.
Special thanks to our partners
The Lunchtime Lighting Talks series is offered through the Matchstick Lab Microbusiness Accelerator program at Vibe Coworks. Funding for the Microbusiness Accelerator has been provided by the Washington State Microenterprise Association (WSMA), thanks to a grant made by the Washington State Department of Commerce.