Episode 280: “Fuel for Good,” Brand Fuel’s B Corp Journey with Danny Rosin and Mel Hubner
“Making business a force for good,” that’s the purpose behind B Corp. And when our good friends Danny Rosin and Robert Fiveash, through their company Brand Fuel became B Corp certified, it’s as if they opened a door for our industry in a way that wasn’t quite possible.
Why?
Well, it felt like Danny and Robert were one of us. A legacy distributor, over 25 years in business, and though they have this amazing track record for community impact, most of us equate B Corp with only one thing: sustainability. When in reality, being a conscientious business that cares about where and how products are made, who they sell to, and how they impact the planet and the people they serve is what Brand Fuel was always about, and when they became B Corp certified, it was a wake-up call to what’s possible for any entrepreneur in this business, large or small.
But it wasn’t an easy journey. Today, we talk about Brand Fuel’s 10-year ambition to become a B Corp company.
Our guests today are Danny Rosin, co-owner of Brand Fuel, and Mel Huber, Dir of Social Impact and Sustainability at Brand Fuel.
Danny, along with his 40-year friendship and partnership with Robert Fiveash, founded Brandfuel in 1998. He is the proud co-founder of PromoKitchen, PromoCares, and Reciprocity Road. He is also the co-founder of Band Together, a nonprofit that has donated $12 million to the Triangle nonprofit community through live music experiences. He serves on the board of A Place at The Table, a “pay what you can” café, and Gabi’s Pals, a nonprofit that empowers people with special abilities through fulfillment programming. He has served on the executive board of PPAI, as the president of Carolinas Association of Advertising and Marketing Professionals (CAAMP) and volunteered on numerous PPAI committees.
Mel Hubner is the Director of Social Impact and Sustainability at Brand Fuel. Mel focuses on growing their collection of sustainable products, their partnerships with other purpose-driven organizations, and the positive impact on their team, clients, and the planet as a Certified B Corporation. She’s passionate about community engagement and the role that businesses play in addressing social and environmental issues. As a B Local NC Triangle board member, Mel also creates the space for B Corps to engage, collaborate and support each other locally and globally.
We talk with Danny and Mel about the B Corp process, how it has changed their organization, their shift in working with clients, the decision to bring Mel on as their Director, and what her role encompasses.
Even if you’re not interested in becoming a B Corp, you’ll appreciate the relentless pursuit of honing and shaping a business of any kind and any size, to become a force for good.