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We just became Ukiah, California’s first Certified B Corporation, verifying that we meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. The certification provides public recognition that we are part of a global movement to use business a force for good, a movement that includes local businesses like Thanksgiving Coffee, North Coast Brewing Co., and Fetzer Vineyards, as well as international companies such as Patagonia and Ben & Jerry’s.

Becoming a B Corp has been a great process. It made us look at everything we do: which clients we choose, who our vendors are, how we treat employees, where we buy supplies—basically, it helps you incorporate your values into every decision you make.

March is B Corp month, so it is fitting that we made her announcement at this time. Led by the certifying organization B Lab (bcorporation.net), this is the month when Certified B Corps celebrate their positive social and environmental impacts and invite other companies to join the movement.

We learned about the B Corp movement several years ago, but personal challenges prevented us from pursuing certification until last year. I’m so grateful to my friend and amazing and consultant Heather Paulsen (hpaulsenconsulting.com) for helping us complete the B Impact Assessment and working with me to implement policies that hard-wired my deeply held values into the company. I’m also grateful for employee Kendyl Saxby’s consistent and thoughtful project management skills that were instrumental for successfully completing B Lab’s rigorous verification process.  

Even if a company doesn’t certify, going through the B Impact Assessment is worthwhile. But, I’m really glad we are certified!

Jendi Coursey Communications (jendicoursey.com) focuses primarily on education and healthcare, though Coursey also enjoys working in other industries. The company provides public relations, crisis communication support, leadership training, and communication coaching. Clients include Mendocino Coast Clinics, Kelseyville Unified School District, Mendocino County Office of Education, and many more.