- 6 reads
Starting Point: 2006
A - The Leadership:
The Founders:
Jay Coen Gilbert: Despite having no game, Jay Coen Gilbert co-founded and sold AND 1, a $250M basketball footwear and apparel company based outside Philadelphia. Jay led AND 1's product and marketing for most of his 13 years and was AND 1's CEO during the period of its most rapid growth.
Bart Houlahan: Bart Houlahan was CFO, COO and President of AND 1. As the principal operator of the business, Bart joined AND 1 in its second year, when revenues totaled just $4M. Over the course of the next 11 years, Bart helped to finance, operate and scale the business to $250M in brand revenues with distribution in 110 countries worldwide.
Andrew Kassoy: Before leaving the private sector to form B Lab with two long-time friends and college mates, Jay and Bart, Andrew Kassoy spent 16 years in the private equity business; as a Partner at MSD Real Estate Capital, an affiliate of MSD Capital, the $12 billion investment vehicle for Michael Dell; and before MSD, as Managing Director in Credit Suisse First Boston's Private Equity Department, a founding partner of DLJ Real Estate Capital Partners, and President of its international business.
B - The Organization/Company:
The Mission: B Lab envisions a new sector of the economy which harnesses the power of business to create public benefit. This sector is comprised of a new type of corporation, the B Corporation, which is purpose-driven and creates benefit for all stakeholders, not just shareholders.The mission of B Lab, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is to support B Corporations and this emerging sector by certifying and rating B Corporations through the B Ratings System; developing and disseminating a legal framework to institutionalize stakeholder interests within existing corporate law; recruiting and promoting B Corporations; and helping B Corporations access purpose-driven capital markets.
About B Corporations: B Corporations are a new type of corporation that uses the power of business to create public benefit. B Corporations:
1) Meet comprehensive and transparent social and environmental performance standards;
2) Legally expand the responsibilities of the corporation to include stakeholder interests; and
3) Build collective voice through the power of the unifying B Corporation brand.
C - The GREEN 10-Qs:
Answers provided by B Lab founding partner - Bart Houlahan
1.What childhood, personal, or career eco-experience inspired your current work?
AND 1 was a life-changing opportunity for me. There I learned that businesses could "do well and do good". AND 1 was an employee-centric organization that was committed to the local community through direct service and charitable giving. It was at AND 1 that I first began to believe that business must be a part of a broader solution to address the most pressing social and environmental challenges we all face.
2.Who inspires you in our Philadelphia community?
The 27 B Corporations in the regional community inspire me every day. They include:
- Abacus Wealth Partners
- Andy Smith Photography
- Benchmark Asset Management
- Dansko
- Edgewood Partners
- EOS Energy Solutions
- GREENandSAVE.com
- Kimberton Whole Foods
- Learning and Vision Partners
- Mair Affair
- Mantria Corporation
- Mugshots Coffeehouse and Café
- National Foundry
- Nolan Painting
- One Village Coffee
- PainBeGone Village
- Practical Energy Solutions
- Praxis Consulting
- Re:Vision Architecture
- Sage Financial Group
- Siw Thai Silk
- Strategy Arts
- Studio ETC
- The Hub
- Untours
- White Dog Café
- Workplace Dynamics
Having not killed Jay in 15 years as his partner.
4.What is one of your favorite Philly eco-activities, products, or services?
The annual Social Venture Institute, organized by the Sustainable Business Network, is an inspiring, educational opportunity for small businesses committed to positive social and environmental impact. I participate every year.
5.What is one of the things that you regularly do to make your life more eco-friendly?
I hold my breath every hour for at least one minute to reduce my carbon footprint.
6.What would you change about your home or office to make it more eco-friendly?
I'd live in a yurt. Seriously, we are in the process of building a new corporate headquarters; I used Greenandsave.com to give the landlord suggestions on how to make the office more eco-friendly.
7.What would you change about Philly to make it more eco-friendly?
The regional rail and subway system is embarrassing. Real investment in our public transportation infrastructure is desperately needed.
8.What book, movie, or TV show would you recommend people to read or watch?
The Daily Show and the Colbert Report make me smile every night. Life is too short not to smile on a daily basis.
9.In addition to your family and friends, what three people living or dead would you take to live with you for a decade on a deserted island?
Captain Morgan, Jose Cuervo, and Jack Daniels... those three with my family and friends on a deserted island... that would be one hell of a decade.
10.What quote (with source) or your own words of wisdom would you like to share with our readers?
"Look, Dad, I have freckles just like a banana." Molly Houlahan at age 2. My children, Molly and Carly, have inspired me every day for 16 years and counting.
LEARN MORE:
To learn more about B Lab and the B Corporations visit: BCorporationTo contact via email: thelab@bcorporation.net
Purpose Driven:
B Lab has pioneered an innovative new structure for purpose-driven companies, and you may want to learn if it is right for your business or employer. See BCorp for information, and you may want to apply that same purpose driven approach to your personal life. Get a GREENandSAVE jump start to your eco-lifestyle.
