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2022 PROGRAM AGENDA

Keynote sponsors:

Event sponsors:

In-kind sponsors:

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Getting Centered

learn to lead our communities out of economic instability and into a future built on racial equity, climate justice, and a stakeholder-driven economy.

Photo: Dave Hoefler on Unsplash, Carp Lake Township, MI

Thursday, September 29 | 12:30pm (Central)

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WELCOME

Where are you joining us from today?

Share up to 3 answers in the chat box, including:

• Indigenous Ancestral Land� http://www.native-land.ca/

• City + State/Country

• Organization, Collective, etc.

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Lead with empathy - appreciate others as human beings with abundant experiences

Get comfortable with discomfort - stretch yourself

Value diverse perspectives - honor the unique experiences each of us brings, even and especially if it is different from your own

Stay judgment free - of others and of yourself

Advocate for your emotional wellbeing - take care of yourself

Move up, move back - move up to share your perspective and move back to listen to others' contributions

Practice radical inclusion - inclusion is everyone’s job; be a good ally to everyone: ask, assess, and assist

Code of Ethics for Today’s Session

Photo by Dave Hoefler on Unsplash, Wyalusing, WI

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This is a Zoom meeting. Participants will be on mute but are able to unmute themselves.

Use the chat box for chatter and to interact with other attendees—make sure to select the correct audience for your message

All registrants will receive the recording, slides, and Q&A via email.��Relax, learn, and have fun!

Housekeeping and Reminders

Photo by Dave Hoefler on Unsplash, Door County, WI

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Alice JasperPeople First Economy

Program Director�“Color Out Here”

Creator, Producer, Host

Mary StelletelloPrincipal

Vista Global Coaching & Consulting

Tim FrickPresident/Founder

Mightybytes

TODAY’S HOSTS

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Start (CT)

End (CT)

Topic/Action

Featuring

12:30pm

12:40pm

Welcome and housekeeping

Tim Frick, Host

12:40pm

1:00pm

1:00pm

1:55pm

Session 1:Leveraging Business Partnerships to Address Climate Change

Alita Kelly, Jason MacDuff,

Rochelle Guastella,

Lisa Geason-Bauer, Moderator

1:55pm

2:05pm

2:05pm

2:10pm

Jorge Fontanez

2:10pm

2:55pm

Session 2:Centering Racial Equity and Justice within Midwest Cities

Becca Hoeft, JP Johnson,�Saidirick Walker, �Sergio Manancero, moderator

2:10pm

3:00pm

Session 3:Unpacking the “Magic” Behind B Corp Governance

Jon Bishop, Kate Jakubas,�Ben Dueweke, �Tim Frick, moderator

4:00pm

4:30pm

Closing keynote Fireside Chat

AGENDA

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POLL

Which of the following best describes your relationship to the B Corp community?

Employee of a B Corp in the US or Canada [or Midwest]

Employee of a B Corp outside of the US/Canada

Employee of a company pursuing B Corp Certification

Individual supporter of the B Corp movement

Curious about the B Corp movement

Employee of B Lab

Other

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5818 Certified B Corporations

2031US/Canada Bs (35% of total)��159Midwest Bs (8% of total)

We’ve witnessed extraordinary growth of B Corps globally since 2021 including record demand during the pandemic.

Since January 2020, there have been more than 6,000 applications for certification across 80 countries — almost a 40% increase.

B CORP STATS

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159 MIDWEST B CORPS

37

11

3

24

25

10

7

23

19

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Dr. Ellonda L. Williams�Director of Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) at B Lab

Introduced by Keynote Sponsor: �Lindsey DeWitte, �President PR and EVP of Purpose & Sustainability

OPENING KEYNOTE

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Boldness is Inclusive & Sustainable:

Midwest BLD Opening Keynote

Ellonda L. Williams, Ed.D., Director of JEDI, B Lab Global

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What does it mean to be BOLD to you?

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DEFINITION: (of a person, action, or idea) showing an ability to take risks; confident and courageous.

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15

© B Lab 2021

bcorporation.net

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  1. Fear of Failure

  • Imaginary Limits

  • Passion is Palpable

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Bold

Inclusive

Sustainable

Be a future-ready movement:

  • Create practices of leadership and shared purpose
  • Meet potential & bring genius
  • Flatten structures
  • Treat talent as scarcer than capital

  • Inclusion is seen as a universal human right
  • Embrace all people irrespective of difference in race, gender identity, disability, neurodiversity, or religious belief
  • Removing barriers to enable equal access to opportunities

  • Drive positive social, environmental, and economic impacts / eliminate or remediate negative impacts
  • Works with others to create change; adds value
  • Listens and learns; earning trust thru transparency
  • Impartial

bcorporation.net

17

© B Lab 2022

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A bold vision that fundamentally misreads the competitive landscape has no chance of success, regardless of the process used to make it a reality. The vision has to be on target, sophisticated, inspiring and far-seeing.

  • Crafting and Executing Strategy: South African Edition

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Leveraging Business Partnerships to Address Climate Change

This panel-style session will present an overview of actions businesses are taking to address climate justice.

Session Moderator:

Lisa Geason-Bauer

President

Evolution Marketing

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Climate Justice recognizes that those who are least responsible for climate change are more likely to suffer its gravest consequences. Climate change is a human-made crisis that has been primarily wrought by those with economic power and privilege. But the effects of climate change have a disproportionately negative impact on the historically marginalized and underserved – primarily people of color and low-income communities around the world.

Climate Justice means advancing climate solutions that link human rights and development in a human-centered approach, placing the needs, voices and leadership of those who are most impacted at the forefront. Put simply, Climate Justice places people and equity at the center of climate action and advocacy.

The B Corp Climate Collective stands firmly in solidarity with historically marginalized communities around the world — those who are currently and will be most affected by the devastating impacts of climate change. We are committed to centering all climate action and advocacy in Climate Justice.

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5 Key Takeaways from the Climate Justice Playbook for Business

  1. This is deep, challenging, personal work. We have to set aside conventional ways of thinking and doing to do this work well. The work is non-linear and hard, and must start from within each person.
  2. People & equity must be at the center. Climate justice cannot be just a “lens:” people and justice must be at the center of all climate action and advocacy. We must listen to and take the lead from those most impacted who have been historically at the margins.
  3. We must work together. We need more than businesses simply working alone on their own impact: it’s collaboration and collective voice, awareness, and action that will enable us to solve the climate crisis and create a just, equitable, regenerative future.
  4. There’s no time like the present to get started. You’re not alone if you’re at the beginning of this journey.
  5. A fundamental mindset shift is essential. The global business community must evolve its thinking on climate action — from extractive and exploitative approaches that perpetuate a cycle of harm and injustice to equitable and regenerative ones, focused on creating sustained social and environmental well-being.

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“There is no thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives.

― Audre Lorde

Photo by Tim Frick, Winslow, IL

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Scopes One, Two, and Three

What are the Scopes?

Scope One: These are the emissions directly created from the companies burning of fuels.

Scope Two: These emissions are generated by electricity the company is consuming and purchasing.

Scope Three: These are emissions produced by companies in the supply chain that do not fit into scope 1 or 2, they are still monitored and reported but differently than other emissions reports.

Examples of the Scopes

Scope One: Combustion of Fossil Fuels or Company Vehicles

Scope Two: Indirect Emission from Purchased Energy or Purchase of Electricity, Heat, or Steam

Scope Three: Processed Products, Outsourced Activities, Renting or Leasing Vehicles, Waste Management, Business Trips

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POLL

Where do you think your business is regarding climate action?

Haven’t taken any action

Getting Started (learning/research into carbon at our business)

Identified Goals (produced a carbon footprint report - focused on addressing scopes 1-2)

Taking Active Steps (focused on unpacking scope 3, and the impacts tied to front line communities)

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Health equity is achieved when every person has the opportunity to “attain his or her full health potential” and no one is “disadvantaged from achieving this potential because of social

position or other socially determined circumstances.”

(such as climate change, or climate disasters )

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"Food Sovereignty is the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems."

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Alita KellyCo-founder

South East Market

Jason MacDuffPresident

Greenpenny Bank

Rochelle Guastella�Dir., Bus. Dev.

Artisan Dental

Photo by Tim Frick, Winslow, IL

Panelists:

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Jason MacDuff

President

888-GPENNY0 (888-473-6690)

jmacduff@greenpenny.com

greenpenny.com

MEMBER FDIC | Equal Housing Lender

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Financing a Sustainable Tomorrow

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What does a carbon strategy �mean to the bank?

Internal

Sustainable �Practices

Advocate and Invest for Future

Sustainable

Partnerships�

Serve Those�Concerned�About �Climate

Mission: Reduce carbon emissions, help customers and employees lead healthy lives, and be a catalyst for climate action.

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Rochelle Guastella: Rochelle is the Director of Business Development at Artisan Dental with over 25 years experience in the dental industry. Rochelle creates exceptional quality care for patients, while at the same time ensuring that all stakeholders have the opportunity to flourish. Through the use of sustainable business practices along with a conscious capitalism mindset, Rochelle works to inspire others to co-create the greatest impact. She was named the recipient of the 2021 AADOM Green Leader Award.

Our Mission: to optimize the health and happiness of our patients, team members, suppliers, community, and the environment through exceptional quality care and sustainable business practices.

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Alita KellyCo-founder

South East Market

Jason MacDuffPresident

Greenpenny Bank

Rochelle Guastella�Dir., Bus. Dev.

Artisan Dental

Photo by Tim Frick, Winslow, IL

Deep Dive:

Highlighting Partnerships and Programs

Photo by Dave Hoefler, Dubuque IA

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Physical�& Virtual�Locations

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����Sustainability �History�Highlights …

Decorah Bank & Trust Company

Cresco Bank & Trust Company

greenpenny

Year Established

1935

2007 (acquired by DB&T)

2020

Focus/Specialty

Community Bank, Trust, Investments

Solar Financing

Retail/Business Deposit Services

# of Locations

2 in Northeast Iowa

1 in Northeast Iowa

Virtual

Assets

75.5 kW solar (total)

ENERGY STAR® Certified

37.5 kW solar array

Geothermal

ENERGY STAR® Certified

Other

  • 2005 – Core Value ‘Be Good To Mother Earth’
  • 2009- Calculated carbon footprint for first time, 814 metric tons
  • 2010- Purchased carbon offset tags for county development
  • 2013- Energy Efficiency / Renewable Energy Loans for solar, wind, geothermal
  • 2019- Bank reached carbon neutrality for first time
  • 2020- Launched greenpenny, dedicated to sustainable banking

Energy Offsets

Bank has installed enough solar to produce 25% of its electricity needs

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Our Work is Making a Difference

Insert screenshot of CO2 offset based on Trey’s update

As of 09/07/22

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  • Carbon Credit Capital - Footprint - Scopes 1-3
  • 100% of our electricity from MG&E’s Green Power program (renewable energy).
  • Alternative carbon sensitive transportation incentive program for team
  • Purchasing modifications
  • Carbon Credits from GreenTrees (ACRE) reforestation program in the Mississippi Valley

Artisan Dental does not pass this cost of carbon offsetting onto our patients. We believe this is part of fulfilling our mission of serving one of our most important stakeholders, a healthy thriving environment

First general dentistry practice in the United States

to become carbon neutral (2020)

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  • The first oral care products recycling program in the Dane County area

  • Open to the general public

  • Designed to help keep toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes, floss containers, deodorant container, soap wrappers and mouthwash containers out of landfills

  • The Artisan Dental Recycling program is also able to earn money for charity
    • Charitable partners include: Sustain Dane, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Dane Co., United Way of Dane Co., Second Harvest Food Bank of Southern Wisconsin

  • Materials collected as part of the Artisan Dental Recycling program will be recycled into a variety of products, such as cutting boards, trash cans and bath caddies.

Example of Innovative Give Back Program

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Alita KellyCo-founder

South East Market

Jason MacDuffPresident

Greenpenny Bank

Rochelle Guastella�Dir., Bus. Dev.

Artisan Dental

Photo by Tim Frick, Winslow, IL

Moderated Q & A with Panelist

Photo by Dave Hoefler, Dubuque IA

Photo by Tim Frick, Minneapolis, MN

Please chat your answer to this question:

What opportunities do you see with your business tied to climate action?

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Break

Photo by Dave Hoefler, Ontonagon County, MI

Special thanks to this break’s sponsor:

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Centering Racial Equity and Justice within Midwest Cities

In this session, our distinguished panelists highlight the challenges their communities are facing, and then provide real world examples of actions that they have championed in partnership with local government and nonprofit partners.

SESSION 2

Becca HoeftCMO

Sunrise Bank�(see bio)

Saidirick WalkerProgram Manager

Green Homeowners United

(see bio)

J.P. JohnsonCo-founder

Blackrock Consulting

(see bio)

Sergio Manacero

General Manager

La Doña Cerveceria

(see bio)

Photo by Tim Frick, Minneapolis, MN

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Break

Photo by Dave Hoefler, Door County, WI

Special thanks to this break’s sponsor:

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Unpacking the “Magic” Behind B Corp Governance

This session will showcase examples of actions that each business has taken to create good stakeholder governance structures within their organization with a focus on actions tied to workers–including employee engagement, health, volunteerism, and recruitment.

SESSION 3

Jon BishopCEO/Founder

Envest Microfinance�(see bio)

Kate JakubasFounder, COO

Meliora

(see bio)

Ben DuewekeDir. of Community Partnerships,

Walker-Miller Energy

(see bio)

Tim Frick

President/Founder

Mightybytes

(see bio)

Photo by Dave Hoefler, Dubuque IA

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The B Impact Assessment defines �a company’s stakeholders as:

���

How do you create shared value for these stakeholder groups?

Photos: Tim Frick, Illinois, Minnesota, and Upper Michigan

WORKERS

ENVIRONMENT

COMMUNITY

CUSTOMERS

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What desired outcomes do you hope to achieve in serving various stakeholder groups?

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How do you enlist stakeholder perspectives into products, services, and programs your company creates?

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How do you hold your company accountable to these commitments?

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How do you communicate your commitments to stakeholders? What sort of reception do �you get?

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What challenges have you �faced in running a stakeholder-focused organization?

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Q & A

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August M. Ball�CEO/Founder at Cream City Conservation

Introduced by Keynote Sponsor: �Kirsten Green �Director of Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Strategy

CLOSING KEYNOTE: A Fireside Chat with August

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Climate�Justice

Themes we explored at today’s BLD

Racial�Equity

Stakeholder�Governance

Photo by Dave Hoefler, Arena, WI

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Collective Pause

Photo by Dave Hoefler, Carp Lake Township, MI

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After a Day of exploring how companies in the Midwest are addressing the critical pillars of an inclusive economy, we will close the day with One Word that describes what you most feel you are being called to Be or to Do!

Post in the chat box:�"I feel I am called to do _______" �or �"I feel I am called to be _______"

Called to Action

Photo by Dave Hoefler on Unsplash, Amnicon, WI

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Engage with Midwest B Locals

Midwest �B Locals

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Thank you, �organizers!

Photo by Dave Hoefler, Sheboygan County, WI

James Duft (KS)�Tim Frick (IL)�Lisa Geason-Bauer (WI)�Adrian Gershom (IL)�Alice Jasper (MI)�Anna Krenz (IL)�Karen Lickteig (B Lab)�Robyn Lustbader (IL)�Laura McCord (IL)�Bridget Pooley (MN)�Maryna Pryadka (WI)�Hanna Schulze (MI)�Mary Stelletello (WI)���

MIDWEST BLD PLANNING COMMITTEE

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Thank you, �sponsors!

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Speaker Bios

Photo by Dave Hoefler, Copper Falls, WI

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Speaker bio: Jorge Fontanez (Speaker)

Jorge Fontanez is CEO of B Lab U.S. & Canada, part of a global network focused on realizing stakeholder capitalism and whose global mission is to create an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative future benefitting all people and the planet. Jorge's career has been in pursuit of achieving racial equity through economic equity, influenced by the belief that business can be a force for good. ��Jorge's perspective on business comes from having in-depth experience leading marketing and brand strategy for iconic brands across a variety of sectors including Consumer Packaged Goods, Mining and Minerals, Automotive and Financial Services. In 2015 he founded Marca Studio, an independent strategic marketing consultancy serving entrepreneur founders of color in their early-stage ventures, as well as purpose-driven brands, nonprofits, and foundations. ��Jorge designed a course on Stakeholders & Marketing and lectures at the Bard MBA in Sustainability Program. He also serves as an advisor to the NYU Center for Sustainable Business and Pacific Community Ventures, and since 2014 he has been a First Mover Fellow of the Aspen Institute Business & Society Program.

Jorge Fontanez

B Lab US & Canada

CEO

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Speaker bio: Alice Jasper (host)

Alice Jasper (she/they) is a sustainability professional and outdoor enthusiast. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Alice relocated to Michigan where she attended college at Northern Michigan University in the Upper Peninsula before putting down roots in Grand Rapids, MI. �

Today, Alice leverages her experience in racial equity facilitation, community organizing and sustainable business development to serve as Program Director for People First Economy; a state-wide economic development organization that centers social and environmental sustainability and spearheads the state’s B Local efforts. Alice is also the creator, producer and host of “Color Out Here” a media platform and community organizing project created in collaboration with WGVU and PBS intended to explore the opportunities and barriers to inclusion faced by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship.”

Alice JasperPeople First Economy

Program Director�“Color Out Here”

Creator, Producer, Host

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Speaker bio: Mary Stelletello (host)

Mary Stelletello started her coaching and consulting business, Vista Global Coaching & Consulting in 2010 to support leaders and organizations in creating the change they want to see in the world, after working decades in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. Mary is a credentialed professional coach and uses these skills with leaders to strengthen their abilities to create transformation.

She has co-authored several ebooks, including: Proactively Plan for the Inevitable: A guide to Leadership Transition and Succession. She hosts a podcast called, “Minutes with Mary” where we have short conversations about coaching, leadership, organizational transformation and social impact.transformation, and social impact.

Certified in 2012, Vista Global is the longest certified B Corp in Wisconsin and has received the Best For the World honor five times. Mary has served on many national and international nonprofit boards and is the co-founder of B Local Wisconsin.

Mary StelletelloPrincipal

Vista Global Coaching & Consulting

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Speaker bio: Dr. Ellonda Williams (keynote speaker)

Dr. Ellonda L. Williams is the Director of Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) at B Lab, a non-profit organization that has a collective global vision of an inclusive, equitable and regenerative economic system for all people and the planet. In this role, she works collaboratively to create a healthy, inclusive, antiracist culture for all employees, oversees the JEDI-related organizational operations strategies and supports the B Corp Network & Board on JEDI growth.Ellonda and her team support the mission at B Lab by creating and sharing JEDI-related resources on relevant global and local matters across, governance, culture, facilities, and operations.

Most recently, Dr. Williams was nominated as a 2022 Diversity and Inclusion Inspiration Leader. She sits on the Board of Advisors for Overflow, PBC, an accelerator for Independent Consultants that provide resources to advance work quality, business growth opportunities, as well as professional and personal impact. Proudly, Ellonda was selected as a Business Equality Network, LLC LGBTQ+ Top 40 Leader Under 40 for 2022 and is also a recipient of the DiversityFIRST™ DEI Champions Award, which honors professionals who are passionate about creating an impact in the field of diversity and inclusion.

Dr. Ellonda WilliamsDirector of Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

B Lab

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Speaker bio: Alita Kelly (panelist)

Alita received a B.S. from University of Michigan in Environmental Science and Sustainable Business. Soon after completing her studies she launched South East Market in October 2020. South East Market is a sustainable, equitable people powered grocery store that sources first from BlPOC and women-led businesses and farms. She sits as the Chair for the City of Grand Rapids Urban Agriculture Committee where she advocates for policy reform to encourage food sovereignty in the area.

Alita also helped co-found the West Michigan Farmers of Color Land Fund, a land reparations program that is facilitated through the West Michigan chapter of the National Young Farmer Coalition. Alita is the director and founder of the MLK Freedom School in Grand Rapids that connects children of color to opportunities in urban agriculture, mindfulness, healthy living, outdoor recreation and ethnic studies. ��In her free time you can find Alita with her partner and two daughters, playing in the garden, traveling, observing insects and enjoying the great outdoors.

Alita KellyCo-founder

South East Market

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Speaker bio: Jason MacDuff (panelist)

Having risen through the ranks of a national bank, Jason is now happy to be working closer to his values at greenpenny, and living (part-time, at least) close to family in Iowa. ��He joined greenpenny in 2020 after taking a break from career to travel. It was in Antarctica and South American Patagonia, Amazon, and Galapagos Islands where he gained insight from environmental scientists and researchers on the effects of climate change. ��It’s clear the world needs real solutions to reduce and recapture carbon from the atmosphere now, and Jason came home committed to putting his financial services’ experience to use. Jason and greenpenny believe in the importance of using your money as your voice for fiscal and environmental advocacy to build a better world empowered by our customers and partners.

Jason MacDuffPresident

Greenpenny Bank

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Speaker bio: Rochelle Guastella (panelist)

Rochelle is the Director of Business Development at Artisan Dental with over 25 years experience in the dental industry. ��Rochelle creates exceptional quality care for patients, while at the same time ensuring that all stakeholders have the opportunity to flourish. ��Through the use of sustainable business practices along with a conscious capitalism mindset, Rochelle works to inspire others to co-create the greatest impact. ��Rochelle was also recently named the recipient of the 2021 AADOM Green Leader Award.

Rochelle GuastellaDir., Bus. Development

Artisan Dental

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Speaker bio: Lisa Geason-Bauer (moderator)

Lisa Geason-Bauer is a classically trained rural and environmental sociologist, who grew up on a multi-generational Wisconsin dairy farm working with her family. She founded Wisconsin’s first triple bottom line managed sustainability consulting, environmental communications and ethical marketing firm (Evolution Marketing) in 2007. As a sustainability practitioner and storyteller Lisa has led the implementation of sustainability strategies and corporate social responsibility programs, projects within the responsible business, government and the non-profit sectors for over a decade.

Ms. Geason-Bauer excels at communicating effectively about systems thinking, holistic sustainability and working in an intersectional space using tools from various disciplines and fields of study in order to solve society's most pressing social and environmental problems. She is a frequent conference speaker, guest lecturer and subject of media interviews. She currently serves as Chair of B Local Wisconsin, and she is the Vice Chair of the Waukesha-Ozaukee-Washington County Workforce Development Board.

Lisa Geason-BauerFounder & President

Evolution Marketing

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Speaker bio: Becca Hoeft (panelist)

Becca Hoeft is the Chief Brand Officer (CBO) of Sunrise Banks. Hoeft has been at the bank since 2014 and since then has established a strong, award-winning brand for the bank, focusing on Sunrise being a social enterprise and their reputation for community involvement. Sunrise has long lived outside the lens of traditional banking, living on the progressive edge of socially responsible financial products.

Hoeft has worked to position Sunrise as the go-to socially conscious bank in the urban core of the Twin Cities and across the country. Hoeft brings nearly 25 years of branding and communications experience to the position. She is an undergraduate alumnus of Bethel University and received her Masters of Arts in Communications at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Becca HoeftCMO

Sunrise Banks

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Speaker bio: Saidirick Walker (panelist)

Saidirick specializes in visiting homes to identify opportunities for energy improvement, and works directly to deliver on energy-saving improvements.

Saidirick is active in area community organizations and has worked for the promotion of electrification in buildings to combat climate change.

Saidirick WalkerProgram Manager

Green Homeowners United

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Speaker bio: J.P. Johnson (panelist)

J.P. is a co-founder of Certified B Corporation™ Blackrock Consulting, LLC. The purpose of this effort was to continue serving the City of St. Louis, while expanding intersectional efforts beyond artificial, jurisdictional boundaries on issues through targeted partnerships and projects. ��Today, Blackrock Consulting, LLC is a majority-woman owned business that has expanded to five-employee owners with expertise ranging from government relations and public policy to environmental sustainability and community engagement.

In addition to his work at Blackrock, J.P. Johnson is a veteran public policy administrator and dynamic team leader & strategist. He is a proud alum of various successful campaigns, including Jay Nixon's (Missouri) Gubernatorial campaign, Obama for America Presidential Campaign, and (now former) Missouri Congressman Russ Carnahan's re-election campaign.

J.P. JohnsonCo-founder

Blackrock Consulting

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Speaker bio: Sergio Manacero (moderator)

Former Marine Sergio Manancero founded his brewing company in 2016. A testament to Manancero’s own roots—he’s the son of Uruguayan immigrants—La Doña is the Twin Cities’ first Latin-owned brewery.

After operating out of a van and borrowed brewing space for two years, he landed his first location in 2018—La Doña Cervecería in Minneapolis’s Harrison neighborhood. It features a taproom, art gallery, outdoor patio, and soccer field

Sergio ManaceroGeneral Manager

La Doña Cerveceria

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Speaker bio: Jon Bishop (panelist)

Jon Bishop is an experienced microfinance professional with a successful track record managing two international community investment funds before founding Envest. He has a BA in Biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, an MS in Biology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and a Masters in International Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Glendale, Arizona.

Jon created Envest out of his conviction that poverty and environmental degradation are inextricably linked. He is also an active volunteer in prairie and savannah restoration along the Ice Age Trail near Madison, Wisconsin.

Jon BishopCEO/Founder

Envest Microfinance

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Speaker bio: Kate Jakubas (panelist)

Kate Jakubas is the Founder of Meliora Cleaning Products, a Chicago-based manufacturer of people- and planet-friendly household cleaners. She is also an Adjunct Professor of Operations Management at the Baumhart Center at Loyola's Quinlan School of Business.

Kate earned her BS in Materials Science and Engineering (MatSE) in 2006 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her Masters in Environmental Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 2013.

Kate JakubasFounder, COO

Meliora

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Speaker bio: Ben Dueweke (panelist)

Ben Dueweke serves as the Director of Community Partnerships at Walker-Miller Energy Services where he works at the intersection of policy, community, and industry to drive equitable expansion of the clean energy economy. His work includes weatherization program management, energy efficiency workforce development, policy design and advocacy, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) oversight.

Ben also serves as the co-chair of the Energy Waste Reduction Committee for the Detroit City Council’s Green Task Force and is an alumnus of Michigan Clean Energy Leaders program.

Ben DuewekeDir. of Community Partnerships

Walker-Miller Energy

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Speaker bio: Tim Frick (moderator)

Tim Frick started his digital agency Mightybytes in 1998 to help nonprofits, social enterprises, and purpose-driven companies solve problems, amplify their impact, and drive measurable business results. Mightybytes is an LGBT-Certified Business Enterprise, a 1% for the Planet member, and a Certified B Corp since 2011.

Tim is also the author of four books, including Designing for Sustainability: A Guide to Building Greener Digital Products and Services. A seasoned public speaker, he regularly presents at conferences and offers workshops on sustainable design, measuring impact, and problem solving in the digital economy. He has also served on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, including Climate Ride, B Local Illinois, and the Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Tim FrickPresident/Founder

Mightybytes

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Speaker bio: August M. Ball (keynote speaker)

After a decade of working in the environmental field, August Marie Ball, a woman of color, and citizen of the world, noticed a theme: Lack of representation of people of color in leadership positions and a lack of knowledge on how to mitigate existing organizational cultures which lead to workforce homogeneity in the first place.​

August helps environmental and community-based organizations address diversity and land stewardship needs through the cultivation of inclusive culture and creation of equitable green career pipelines.

Any organization can increase engagement of traditionally underrepresented populations and build access through her trainings because she helps them identify (and provides tools) for interrupting unconscious bias and disrupting institutional roadblocks.

Cream City Conservation is Wisconsin’s first Black Owned Certified B Corp, they received their certification in December of 2021 and were also a participant in the B Lab US & Canada LEVEL program.

August M. BallCEO/Founder

Cream City Conservation