BLD Southeast 2026: Full Schedule

9:25am EDT

From Readiness to Responsibility: An AI Readiness Workshop for Purpose-Driven Companies

Thursday September 17, 2026 9:25am - 10:25am EDT

Every leadership team is having the same quiet conversation. "We know AI matters. We're using it in pockets. But is it actually moving us forward, or are we just busy?" For B Corps there's a second layer. Doing it in a way that protects stakeholders, upholds transparency, and stays true to the mission.

This working session turns that question into a plan. Building on the Ethical AI conversations from BLD Mountain West, PNW, and Bay Area, Jonathan Will walks the room through a live, six-area AI readiness assessment tool. You leave with an Organizational AI Readiness Score, a clear view of your biggest gap, and a practical step you can put into action right now, for free, to start closing it. All of it framed through a responsible, stakeholder-first lens.

Speakers

Jonathan Will

Director of Strategic Partnerships, GadellNet

Jonathan Will works for GadellNet, a certified B Corp IT, cybersecurity, and strategic consulting company, leading the growth of the Colorado market and new markets. He is passionate about business, community involvement, and service. He served on the board of B Local Colorado and... Read More →

Tiffany Lentz

Managing Vice President, Pariveda

I lead our Purposeful Profit Office, enterprise Social Impact, NPO strategy, JEDI, and B Corp Certification. I’m a storyteller and love sharing stories of business operating for good!

Jahari Soward-Weaver

CEO, NPursuit Career Partners

Jahari Soward Weaver is a responsible AI adoption and workforce transformation strategist, speaker and coach. As Founder and CEO of NPursuit Career Partners, a talent solutions company with a social impact model, she helps organizations prepare their people, operations and governance... Read More →

Thursday September 17, 2026 9:25am - 10:25am EDT
Room 302

Session, Breakout

Track Emerging Challenges

10:35am EDT

From Proof to Power: Building the Infrastructure for Systems Change

Thursday September 17, 2026 10:35am - 11:35am EDT

Room 301

This session will explore a central question for the B Corp and sustainable business community: Now that we've spent the last two decades proving that stakeholder-oriented business works, what will it take to translate that proof into durable systems change?

Panelists will discuss the policy, civic, economic, and movement infrastructure needed to move beyond individual company leadership and toward lasting change at scale.

Speakers

George Chmael II

CEO & Founder, Council Fire

Shaibya Dalal

Senior Director, Policy Research & Development, PolicyLink

Holly Ensign-Barstow

Co-Executive Director, B Lab U.S. & Canada

Abby Maxwell

Policy & Advocacy Manager, ASBN

Abby Maxwell is the Policy & Advocacy Manager at the American Sustainable Business Network (ASBN), where she works on the development of advocacy initiatives, such as Advocacy 101 training for business leaders focused on sustainability and climate policy. Since joining the organization... Read More →

J. Dontrese Brown

Community Development Executive | Ecosystem Architect | Educator, Hidden in Plain Site (HiPS™)

J. Dontrese Brown is a Community Development Executive and Opportunity Ecosystem Architect who designs and aligns cross-sector partnerships, systems, and strategies that create opportunity and help communities thrive. His work sits at the intersection of community health, economic... Read More →

Thursday September 17, 2026 10:35am - 11:35am EDT
Room 301

Session, Panel

Track Emerging Challenges

1:10pm EDT

Beyond the Statement: Building Structural Solidarity That Pays Off Before, During, and After a Crisis

Thursday September 17, 2026 1:10pm - 2:10pm EDT

Room 308

When social/political flashpoints hit, most companies scramble to figure out what to say and do in the moment, often getting it wrong. This interactive workshop gives B Corps and mission-driven businesses a practical framework for building structural solidarity before a crisis arrives, so that when something happens, the organization already has proof to point to, not just a statement. Participants will work through the "Three Traps" organizations fall into during crisis response, a Proof Spectrum self-assessment tool, and a condensed framework for turning stated values into structural commitments. The session also makes the business case: organizations that build this infrastructure see it pay back in retention, recruitment, and trust, long before any crisis ever arrives.

Speakers

August M Ball

Founder/Lead Consultant, Cream City Conservation & Consulting LLC

August M. Ball is the founder of Cream City Conservation, the first Black woman-owned business in Wisconsin to earn B Corp certification, working at the intersection of organizational development and environmental conservation. With over 20 years in youth program management and a... Read More →

Thursday September 17, 2026 1:10pm - 2:10pm EDT
Room 308

Session, Workshop

Track Emerging Challenges

1:10pm EDT

From B Impact to Certification: Demystifying the Audit Process

Thursday September 17, 2026 1:10pm - 2:10pm EDT

Room 301

This interactive workshop provides a practical, end-to-end walkthrough of the B Lab certification and audit process—from submitting evidence in the B Impact Assessment to certification decision and ongoing audit cycles.

The session goes beyond a traditional presentation by incorporating real-world scenarios and interactive breakouts. Participants will gain a clear understanding of what to expect at each stage of the audit, how audit findings are assessed, and how companies can prepare effectively.

Breakout sessions will be tailored to the audience:
• A session with B Lab consultants focusing on audit end to end process, evidence requested, and non-conformities (major vs. minor, corrective actions, timelines).
• A peer-learning work session for Medium to XXL companies focusing on multi-site audits, including sampling approaches, risk-based selection, and common challenges in implementation across locations.

Speakers

Cheryl Ross

Sr. Technical Specialist - B Lab, SCS Global Services

Cheryl is an auditor within the SCS B Lab certification program, responsible for conducting audits and evaluating company performance against B Lab requirements. She works closely with clients to assess evidence, identify non-conformities, and support the certification process through... Read More →

Bonnie Holman

To-Cert

Thursday September 17, 2026 1:10pm - 2:10pm EDT
Room 301

Session, Breakout

Track Emerging Challenges

3:30pm EDT

From Proof to Power: Designing the Next Phase of the Movement

Thursday September 17, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm EDT

Room 301

Building on the themes from the panel earlier in the day titled From Proof to Power: Building the Infrastructure for Systems Change, this workshop, From Proof to Power: Designing the Next Phase of the Movement, will engage participants in helping identify and shape the infrastructure, leadership pathways, policy strategies, and collective action mechanisms needed to advance that work. The session is designed as a highly participatory working session and will generate recommendations that can inform future collaboration across the responsible business ecosystem.

Together with the panel above, the two sessions are intended to create a learning arc: understanding the challenge, exploring emerging solutions, and contributing to what comes next.

Speakers

Holly Ensign-Barstow

Co-Executive Director, B Lab U.S. & Canada

Shaibya Dalal

Senior Director, Policy Research & Development, PolicyLink

J. Dontrese Brown

Community Development Executive | Ecosystem Architect | Educator, Hidden in Plain Site (HiPS™)

Abby Maxwell

Policy & Advocacy Manager, ASBN

Holly Fowler

Director of Impact, Council Fire

Holly Fowler is the Director of Impact at Council Fire, a sustainability consulting firm and B Corp, where she brings big-picture strategy and sharp attention to detail to every project she touches. Driven by a lifelong love of nature and the ocean, Holly believes critical thinking... Read More →

Jeffrey Lue

Finance & Operations Manager, Council Fire

Jeff Lue is the Finance & Operations Manager at Council Fire, a sustainability consulting firm and B Corp. A sustainability-focused problem solver at heart, Jeff keeps Council Fire running smoothly while championing a fun, human-centered culture along the way. He brings six years... Read More →

Thursday September 17, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
Room 301

Session, Workshop