Businesses Doing Good

Our guest on the March 15 Conference Call is Mike Simon of Simon Solutions. The topic is "Technology that Serves those Who Serve." Mike Simon is the President of Simon Solutions Inc. (SSI), an industry leader in care networking technology and community impact. SSI helps communities advance a more networked, collaborative, and comprehensive approach to transforming lives and communities. SSI tools are used by thousands of helping agencies (nonprofits, churches, food banks, hospitals, schools, and government) to build well-connected Care Networks in over 1,200 cities across the country. These networks maximize the collective caring power of communities. Mike brings a wealth of experience having served in executive leadership of large churches, charitable nonprofits, and businesses. He has also served as a consultant for transformative processes involved in networking leaders and mobilizing volunteers for collective impact. He has invested years of research into emerging trends, best practices, and innovative

Our guest is Ron Hogue of Galt Strategies in Dallas, TX. The topic is "A Beyond Profit Culture." Ron Hogue lives and works in Dallas as a consultant for the business marketing and turnaround company, Galt Strategies. His work helps companies establish a “beyond profit” culture. Prior to his current work, Ron has served as a pastor for churches in California, Vancouver, and Dallas.He helped his churches become missional in their communities with a service focus through adopting local schools and working with the city on key initiatives. Ron also serves as the Executive Director of Good Works Now, a missions organization that offers leadership training to Christian leaders in Cambodia, Nepal, Thailand, India, Honduras, Liberia (2 Schools), and Kenya (8-10 schools).

Our guests are Paul Turek and Brett Struwe of Caribou Coffee. The topic is "Caribou Coffee's 100% Rainforest Alliance Certification" In 2011 Caribou Coffee became the first major coffeehouse retailer in the US committed to sourcing 100% of their coffees from Rainforest Alliance Certified™ farms. The Rainforest Alliance Certified seal is a symbol of trust and high sustainability standards, indicating that workers on Rainforest Alliance Certified farms receive decent wages, have access to medical care, clean water, dignified living conditions and schools for their children, and that the coffee has been harvested and processed responsibly, protecting the surrounding environment and wildlife. Rainforest Alliance Certified farms meet the rigorous environmental, social and economic standards developed by the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN), a coalition of independent, nonprofit conservation groups that promote productive agricultural systems, biodiversity conservation and human development. Our guests, Paul T

Our guest is Pablo Guevara of Epoch Pi in Cleveland, OH. The interview topic is "Purposeful Investing." EPOCH Pi was created in 2015 with the intent of creating a better world through business. EPOCH Pi is focused on helping purposeful companies thrive and flourish. Whether they think of themselves as impact, conscious capitalists, benefit corporations, social enterprises or purpose-driven leaders, they are for-profit businesses that are endeavoring to generate social as well as financial returns. When it comes to mergers and acquisitions, the path to greater transaction success includes adding culture assessment tools and thoughtful integration planning to the M&A process. EPOCH Pi utilizes proprietary culture tools to provide insights into the parties’ alignment around values and mission and then uses corporate structure and thorough integration planning to address areas of concern. We are seeing a shifting mindset and the growing belief that business can be a force for good. Where companies are led

Our guest is Jonathan Halperin of Greyston Bakery. The interview topic is "Open Hiring at Greyston Bakery and Beyond". Greyston Bakery has been working at the intersection of social inclusion and business innovation for 35 years. Open Hiring is its proven and transformative business practice now being adopted by small as well as multinational companies. Today, Greyston produces 35,000 lbs. of brownies every day for Ben & Jerry’s.

Our guest is Chuck Proudfit, President of SkillSource and Executive Director of At Work on Purpose®. Chuck also serves as an Executive Board Member for Self Sustaining Enterprises. This innovative organization creates self-sustaining initiatives, including entrepreneurial ventures, that generate a sustainable flow of funds for ministry around the world. Prior to undertaking leadership with SKILLSOURCE®, At Work on Purpose® and Self Sustaining Enterprises, Chuck developed general management skills at three industry-leading firms: The Procter & Gamble Company, The Ernest & Julio Gallo Winery, and LensCrafters Corporation. As a student at Harvard University, Chuck pioneered the school’s organizational development curriculum. Chuck has been quoted, interviewed, profiled and published in print and digital media, radio and television, across the U.S. and overseas. He is the author of Citywide Marketplace Ministry in a Box, and co-author of BIZNISTRY: Transforming Lives Through Enterprise. He holds a Black

Our guest is Scott Myers, CEO and Chairman of Good Place Holdings. Scott has worked since 1982 at the family business, founded in 1965, in roles from entry level lab technician to CEO and Board Chair. He led the formation of Good Place Holdings, a C Corporation with no owners, as a succession strategy to maintain the company’s biblically-derived leadership culture, and as a platform to develop community businesses. Married to Gina Burk with two daughters and one granddaughter, the family enjoys running, cycling, photography and travel. Good Place Holdings as Agent of Community Benefit The top level aims of Good Place Holdings’ (GPH), which we call our Charter - 1) to be economically regenerative organization that 2) gives opportunity and encouragement to members of the organization to live up to their full potential, and 3) builds Good Places in the communities where we work - are accomplished through our leadership culture, embodied in the 10 Areas of Stewarding a Good Place Organization. To date our involv