Social Procurement - Ep 3

In this episode, we talk about Social Procurement, which relates to our value of Action for Impact. A Social Enterprise is an organization created for impact, and SEA's vision is to create a new equitable economic norm by catalyzing social enterprises in the U.S. to grow their revenue and their impact.

Today, we are joined three guests… David Simnick from Soapbox, sharing with us a little of their story and how they have been able to sell to large corporations; Mike Arkes, who leads one of SEA’s first affinity groups - the corporate sellers collective; and from Rebecca Dray, one of our board members who also is one of the most passionate and well informed people I know about the topic of Social Procurement.

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Dave Simnick is the CEO and co-founder of Soapbox, a company whose mission is to empower customers with the ability to change the world through everyday, quality purchases. SoapBox products are currently shelved in tens of thousands of stores across the United States and beyond. He’s worked on various sides of the startup industry: helping companies expand, getting the ball rolling with funding and publicity, making connections, and putting ideas together from the ground up.

soapboxsoaps.com

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Michael Arkes founded HHP (now HHPLIFT) in 2007, to combine his passion for helping others with his expertise in the incentive industry. For 42 years, he worked for his family’s incentive business, serving as the company leader for 26 of those years.

Michael continues to work passionately and tirelessly at HHPLIFT to develop new business opportunities, fundraise, and offer guidance, mentorship, and expertise to all on the HHPLIFT team and to the social enterprise community at large.

hhplift.com

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Originally from the United Kingdom, Rebecca started her career in the hospitality industry working for Marriott Hotels. She transitioned into the charitable sector, supporting mental health advocacy groups, then founded her first social enterprise business in 2006. She went on to run a group of 8 social enterprises in the UK, all engaged in social procurement contracting and supported employment. Rebecca sat on the boards of regional and national social enterprise membership organizations and travelled the country giving presentations, training and mentorship to the social enterprise sector.

Rebecca moved to the US in 2014 and started two social enterprises – Society Profits which administers the USA Certified Social Enterprise accreditation and Buy Social USA – a social procurement intermediary network supporting corporate, anchor institution and government buyers to put social and environmental impact sellers into their supply chains. She also volunteers time as the Chapter Leader for the Michigan Social Enterprise Alliance Chapter and joined the national Social Enterprise Alliance Board in May 2020.

www.societyprofitsus.com

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What is a Social Enterprise?

A Social Enterprise is an organization created for impact. It uses a sustainable and earned income business model with a governing structure focused on stated social or environmental goals. It invests a significant portion of its revenue, profit or assets into expanding this stated mission.

socialenterprise.us

[email protected]

toastinggood.com

ACTION FOR IMPACT

We all measure what we care about. The ultimate purpose of Social Enterprise is to have a positive effect in people’s lives. We elevate the measurable impact of social enterprises.

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