This lecture will explore organizational structures for responsible businesses, highlighting how different models embed social and environmental impact into their core operations. We will examine business and employee-owned cooperatives, where democratic governance and shared ownership empower workers and communities; B Corporations, which balance profit with purpose through rigorous social and environmental standards; Social Purpose Corporations (SPCs), a Washington State-specific structure that allows businesses to prioritize mission alongside shareholder value; and Non-Profit Organizations, which reinvest all revenue into advancing a social or environmental cause. By comparing these models, we will discuss their benefits, challenges, and real-world examples of businesses using these structures to drive meaningful change.

Suggested Pre-reading:
The Washington State Small Business Guide (business.wa.gov) 

Speaker
Dr. Sean Moore

Dr. Moore is the Director of the Thurston EDC Center for Business & Innovation and oversees over a dozen resources to support entrepreneurs in startup and growth. Dr. Moore is also an Adjunct Business Faculty member at the South Puget Sound Community College. He is academic research focused on responsible businesses environmental performance. He has fifteen years of management experience and has worked for responsible businesses like Patagonia.

Zoom link: https://evergreen.zoom.us/j/87559132782

For more information about this and future CELTC Lectures visit https://www.evergreen.edu/academics/centers-institutes/entrepreneurial-leadership/events