Making Kentucky First in Good Business

Scott Koloms has passionately advocated for a socially conscious and impact-driven business movement in Kentucky for the last two years. He dreams of Kentucky having the strongest, most effective group of for-profit social enterprises in the country. Over the last few years, Koloms played a pivotal role in the passage of the Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) legislation in Kentucky. As President and owner of Facilities Management Services (FMS), PBC, Koloms also led FMS to become the first public benefit corporation in Kentucky and the first janitorial services company in the world to become a certified B Corp.

Hometown - Nashville, TN

Education - BA in Corporate and Organizational Communication from Western Kentucky University

Work History - Neat Method: Social Media Manager | with Canopy from the beginning

What I love about Our Work - I love that Canopy is putting Kentucky on the map for good business. I count it a privilege to be a small part of this movement, while being surrounded by the brightest minds and warmest hearts in Kentucky.

Favorite Thing about Kentucky - My favorite thing about Kentucky is the beautiful landscape and culture.

Hometown - Louisville, KY

Education - MBA from the University of Louisville | BS in Business Management from the University of Kentucky

Work History - Norton Healthcare Foundation | Metro United Way

What I Love about Our Work - Good business practices become increasingly more important by the day. Our future depends on it. It's not just the work of individuals, nonprofit organizations, or governmental entities, it must also be a sincere focal point of the business sector. Catalytic solutions to social and environmental challenges must be creative, collaborative, and ultimately focused on people and planet in addition to profit. I love being part of this transformational movement in Kentucky where I can use my business acumen and nonprofit experience for Good.

Favorite Thing About Kentucky - Hiking and camping in Red River Gorge

Hometown - Shepherdsville, KY

Education - MA in Critical and Curatorial Studies from the University of Louisville | BA in History of Art from Vanderbilt University

Work History - Curator of Visitor Experience at Sazerac Company

What I Love about Our Work - I'm excited to support and celebrate the companies that are doing good business in communities all across the state. As a lifelong Kentuckian, I'm so proud of my state and I value the opportunity to empower businesses that enact positive social and environmental impact into their practice.

Favorite Thing about Kentucky - The people! Kentuckians are the nicest people in the country.

Hometown - Elizabethtown, KY

Education - BS in Economics & BSBA in Marketing from the University of Louisville

Work History - Kentuckians for the Commonwealth | Mary Byron Project | University of Louisville | Kentucky Association for Environmental Education

What I love about Our Work - I love Canopy’s mission, and how Kentucky-centric it is. This state has so many people who are doing wonderful things for their communities, the environment, and more. Canopy does a wonderful job at recognizing and helping them to embrace it.

Favorite thing about KY - The people and the world around them! Kentuckians are so caring, diverse, and beautiful. Just as the state itself is from the bluegrass to Appalachia.

Hometown - Louisville, KY

Education - BA from Centre College | JD from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law

Work History - Founder/Owner/Etc. of Against the Grain Brewery | Founder/President/Governmental Affairs Chair at the Kentucky Guild of Brewers

What I love about Our Work - Movements can be started by an individual or a small group caring an awful lot, but they grow by incentivising action. I love that Canopy works to make the right choice easier to make. Showing business leaders that Good Business is a smart choice that improves the bottom line rather than harming the bottom line is the way to cause serious investment in improving the Commonwealth.

Favorite thing about KY - Kentucky has this wonderful, almost indescribable sense of fictionality. We may seem easy to underestimate, but you don't have to be here long to see that this beautiful state is absolutely brimming with brilliant, thoughtful, tenacious, interesting people. Every nook and cranny of Kentucky holds some fascinating person willing to tell you some fascinating story. Some of them are even true.

Hometown - Lexington, KY

Education - BFA from the University of Louisville

About - A cellist and composer with an strong background in environmental advocacy

What I Love about Our Work - I love that I get to connect my passion for storytelling, the environment, and the arts with Kentucky’s business community. I particularly love finding the “aha” moment when business owners discover that they share values and can agree that they want to have a positive impact through their products and services.

Favorite Thing about Kentucky - The land. The hills and hollers create incubators of culture, ideas, and, sometimes, innovation.

Hometown - Ashland, KY

Education - Pursuing a MS in Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship from London School of Economics | BS in Business Administration from the University of Louisville

Work History - Intern at Louisville Metro Office of Civic Innovation and Technology and E3: Education, Excellence, and Equity | Full Time Governors Scholar Program Resident Assistant | Part-Time Access Ventures Associate

What I Love about Our Work - I love to see the variety of creative ways Kentucky businesses lead in social and environmental change, transforming their communities and internal operations.

Favorite thing about Kentucky - I miss Kentucky’s rolling hills and bluegrass. I’ll never get tired of how beautiful it is.

Hometown - Mt. Washington, KY

Education - Pursuing a BA in Political Science and a BA in Economics with a Certificate in Ethics from the University of Louisville

Work History - Cemeteries Administration Intern at the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs | Legislative Intern at the Kentucky House of Representatives | Director of Operations at the Commonwealth Credit Union Cardinal Cupboard Food Pantry

What I love about Our Work - I love that we foster change in the dialogue about business and engage with the community.

Favorite thing about KY - The people are compassionate and gritty!

Hometown - Prospect, KY

Education - Pursuing a BA with majors in Economics and Medicine, Health and Society and a minor in Sustainability Studies from Vanderbilt University

Work History - Resident Adviser at Vanderbilt University | Legal Intern at Ferreri Partners, PLLC | Student Research Assistant at Vanderbilt University | Intern at the Borgen Project

What I love about Our Work - I love being part of an organization that is helping lead the movement toward social responsibility in Kentucky's businesses: it is fulfilling to know that our work makes a positive impact on others every day.

Favorite thing about KY - I have never seen sunsets more beautiful than the ones in Kentucky - watching the sun set over the Ohio River never gets old!