THE WORLDS REGISTRAR - DR. CONNIE ALLSOPP

In 2011 this case began with a technology entrepreneur learning about benefit corporations (BC). Kim Payne purchased a window replacement construction firm in 2014 incorporating it as a BC, developing its mission to achieve ten times organic growth and creating a vision to disrupt the industry. The paper highlighted Payne’s successes and challenges concluding at year end 2017 when it became apparent that he was at a crossroads. The reader is asked to focus on this CEO’s decision-making process between his: strategic planning, mission for ten times organic growth, vision to expand with disruptive quoting software, ideals of BCs (Montgomery 2012) including Blab or ESG certification, and an IRS threat that could shut down the company.  How can Payne, CEO prioritize alternatives to achieve his overall plan?

What are Benefit Corporations and “B Corps”? By Connie Allsopp, PhD

     In short, a B Corp is a for-profit corporation that receives a certification from a private company called B Lab. B Lab makes companies meet particular “social benefit” requirements in order to get certified, similar to certificated organic coffee beans that support the ethical values of Fair Trade. The B Corp is taxed similar to a regular corporation, unlike a charity or not-for-profit explained later. “B Lab” it self is actually a not-for-profit organization based in Washington DC whose purpose is to certify ‘Businesses’ as triple bottom line organizations. B Corps must go through a rigorous Certification process and must be re-certified every two years. B Corps include such global companies as Patagonia, Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream and in Canada, BDC and Tartan Communications.

     The two specific examples explained later here on the west coast of Canada are SES consulting, which is a values based, mission dr...

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