BLD Southeast

Happy B Corp Month! We have some big announcements coming this month...stay tuned!

This is a great episode on a topic that was discussed last year in Atlanta, employee ownership. There's even a shoutout to one of our amazing Florida-based B Corps, Ocaquatics Swim School, who transitioned to employee ownership last year.

Congratulations to the Charlotte B Corp Collective, and welcome to the B Local ecosystem. ?? It's these ripples that make our conference so special--and so important to our region. ?? It's exciting to see your continued growth and humbling to know that some of this new energy was born out of a morning of service in Atlanta at last year's event! ?? We'll see you in Florida this year!!!! ??? ??

"The goal is to make the B Corp movement so impactful that it becomes the standard, not the exception—helping leaders see that this is a more profitable and sustainable way to do business." ?? - Nathan A. Stuck, MBA, Chair of B Local Georgia and Founder of Profitable Purpose Consulting Nathan’s insight highlights the power of the B Corp movement to transform the way we think about business. By showing that purpose and profitability go hand in hand, we’re not just driving impact—we’re creating a blueprint for sustainable success. Together, we can make doing good the new standard for doing business. #BLDSoutheast #BCorp #SustainableBusiness #BusinessForGood #PurposeAndProfit

"I’m back at BLD Southeast this year because we had such a fabulous time last year. I was looking forward to meeting friends and colleagues and sharing our successes over the past year with one another." ?? - Natasha Nazareth, Co-Founder, Nazareth Bonifacino Law Benefit LLC Natasha beautifully captures the collaborative essence of BLD Southeast—a space where purpose-driven leaders come together to celebrate progress, share insights, and work toward a common goal of driving positive impact. As a co-founder of Maryland’s first Certified B Corporation law firm, Natasha embodies the power of connection and collective achievement. Together, we’re creating a community where doing good is at the heart of doing business. ?? #BLDSoutheast #BCorp #PurposeDrivenBusiness #Leadership #Collaboration #CommunityImpact

"I've been studying, teaching, and working with B Corps for about 15 years, and it’s incredible to see how this movement continues to redefine the power and potential of business." ?? - Jessica Yinka Thomas, Director of Business Sustainability Collaborative, NC State University Jessica is a co-founder and Executive Director of B Academics, a global network of over 2,000 educators and researchers committed to advancing business as a force for good. Through education, collaboration, and innovative research, she’s helping to accelerate the impact of B Corporations and the B Economy worldwide. Her leadership and dedication to sustainability and social innovation are shaping a future where purpose and profit go hand in hand. ?? #BLDSoutheast #BCorp #BAcademics #Sustainability #BusinessForGood #PurposeDrivenLeadership

What's all the buzz about employee ownership? Join our friends at B Local Philadelphia on Thursday, 1/16 for a discussion with a great panel of experts on employee ownership and ESOPs (employee stock ownership plan) and leaders from organizations with employee ownership experience. They plan to explore together how employee ownership fits with the B Corp values and answer some questions about how to take the journey. Register below ??

"What’s interesting about the B Corp community is that it’s truly a real community. It feels like a family, and we show up for each other." ?? - Brian Goebel, Managing Director, Goizueta’s Business & Society Institute Brian highlights the unique strength of the B Corp movement—a network of businesses united by shared values and a commitment to building a more equitable and sustainable world. Brian also stresses the importance of community organizations, like B Local Georgia and B Academics, that allow for best practice sharing, collaboration, and moving this important work forward. Together, we’re shaping a future where business is a force for good. ?? #BLDSoutheast #BCorp #Community #Sustainability #PurposeDrivenBusiness #Collaboration

?? Have 30 minutes to contribute to some cool academic research? Then keep reading ?? Help Bridge the Gap Between Industry and Academia: Join Our Global Research Study on Purpose-Driven Organizations In collaboration with Texas A&M University, St. John’s University (NYC), Monash University (Australia), Fordham University (NYC), and the Norwegian School of Economics. We’re bringing together insights from industry leaders and academic experts to explore how organizations embed social and environmental purpose into their core strategies. By participating, you’ll contribute to groundbreaking research that bridges business success with societal impact—driving innovation, enhancing reputation, and redefining leadership for a sustainable future. What to Expect: A confidential, 30-minute Zoom interview where your insights will help uncover best practices for aligning purpose and profit. All responses will remain anonymous and aggregated. How You Can Get Involved: Share your experience in a short interview and, if possible, connect us with senior or middle managers in your organization to help us capture diverse perspectives. Together, we can inspire organizations worldwide to align their missions with meaningful impact. Let’s drive change at the intersection of business and academia! Reach out to Leigh Anne Statuto, MBA, Executive Director, Responsible Business Center to learn more! Email: [email protected]

?? "You come out of this conference with more than just connections—you leave with real friendships." ?? - Lauren Dubé, Climate First Bank Lauren captured the true spirit of BLD Southeast. Instead of just swapping business cards and generic follow-up emails, attendees build lasting relationships that go beyond work. These are connections where you can reach out not only for advice but also for laughs, support, and those life chats that make a difference. BLD Southeast isn't just about business—it's about building a supportive community that stays with you long after the event ends. ?? #BLDSoutheast #Networking #Community #Relationships