White

Becoming a benefit company, or a business that registers with the state to officially consider its own impact on society and the environment, is trending in Oregon.

On April 6, Portland’s sixth annual Business Expo West trade show will connect industry experts and small businesses with the theme of social responsibility in business.

Beaverton’s Business Executive Sustainable Training Headquarters (BESThq) helps small business owners on the west side with relationships, empowerment and inclusion.

Ron White, BESThq founder and head coach, said he anticipates 500 attendees on top of more than 100 business exhibitors.

“The theme of the Expo, which is a business-to-business trade show, is Go Make a Difference,” White said. “It’s a business to business trade show, so the whole idea is to connect industry and community leaders to help move forward together and with this theme, we’ve got three benefitting nonprofits that we’re going to lift up in this.”

The Beaverton Life Change Center for women and children, run by the Union Gospel Mission, along with nonprofits Bridge Meadows and Verde will receive a portion of the event’s proceeds.

“It just demonstrates what BESThq is, as an organization, committed to: what we call quadruple bottom line,” White said. “Triple line bottom is people, profit and planning — we throw in purpose and allow all that to be part of the business expo. We’ve seen some pretty amazing people as a result and we’re excited to celebrate it at the business expo event.”

This year, the keynote is different — it’s during breakfast instead of during the Expo.

“We had keynotes in the past address the participants from the floor,” White said. “What we found was people were having such a good time networking and participating in the Expo on the floor it was really hard to focus on the keynote … so we decided to break out the keynote this year and Jack Jewsbury was kind enough to represent the Timbers and talk about some of their activity within the community at our breakfast keynote.”

The featured breakfast keynote, happening at 9:30 a.m., is Jack Jewsbury, former Portland Timbers player and captain. He’ll also be speaking on the expert panel “Making a difference through corporate social responsibility.”

“We’re actually big Timbers fans for many years,” White said. “One of the things I’ve noticed is that through their Stand Together program, they’ve been successful as an organization, a business and as a club, but also from what I’ve seen as a community member — everything from the Timbers Army to the way they embrace the community.”

At noon to 4 p.m. the Expo will be in full swing, with booths from more than 130 registered businesses.

“If you are able to make it, you’ll experience a beautiful cross section of everything from different types of business to age diversity, business diversity, you have ethnic diversity on the floor,” White said. “It’s exciting we’re going to have ads in three languages for this event on four radio stations, so it’s kind of fun.”

English, Spanish and Russian ads will play for the business expo.

“I’m most excited about really bringing forward this theme of Go Make a Difference,” White said. “It’s about trying to do just a little more with our time than just make money in business — it’s about celebrating social responsibility and environmental responsibility … especially in a time which there’s a lot of division in community.”

Business registration ranges from certified small business exhibitors for $199 to platinum sponsors for $6,000, with sign-up available online. General public and nonprofit registration costs $299-$399.

“This is an annual outreach,” White said. “Half of the exhibitors will be BESThq members, the other half just friends who signed up as exhibitors. This community ethic will be omnipresent.”

Regular passes for the Expo cost $20, with a pre-Expo pass sale going on for $15, ending March 31. To attend the breakfast keynote and the Expo, tickets run $40.

“BESThq is a benefit company, so one of the things we’re doing is celebrating that there are over 1,100 benefit companies in the state — and there wants to be more,” White said. “The program just started three years ago now. We were one of the founding first 29.”

The Business Tribune is a sponsor of this event, along with Twirl advertising, Hoffman Construction, Day CPM services, Probity builders, the City of Beaverton and many more.

“In helping grow firms, that’s part of our mission: growth through community, with community,” White said. “The concept really aligns nicely with being a benefit company: you can do good while doing well.”

There will be a free after party at the BESThq location, 12745 S.W. Beaverdam Rd., with a free shuttle service.

“The point is, we can go make a difference and do things that have lasting benefits, and it’s more than just about making money,” White said. “We’re trying to celebrate doing a little more together with good people, that’s the fun part.”

By Jules RogersReporter971-204-7875email: jrogers@pamplinmedia.comFollow us on TwitterVisit us on Facebook