WKU News

Having success beyond profit–using your business as a positive influence – these are the core ideals of the team at Canopy, our WKU Innovation Campus Member of the Month. The brainchild of Scott Koloms, Canopy was born from his search for an employee retention strategy to reduce turnover rates of Facilities Management Services, pbc – his janitorial services company. He realized that to attract and keep the best quality workers, he had to find a way to show them that he valued them beyond the profit they made for his company.  Koloms began to offer workers a series of life-affirming perks such as providing free tax-prep services and financial literacy courses, matching employee funds for car and home loans, and even a fresh fruit and vegetable market every two weeks to employees for $1 using a subscription to local community supported agriculture. When Koloms realized the great impact of this change on his business, (his company’s turnover rate is less than ½ of the industry) he set out to find other businesses with the same shared set of values to form a network and a movement that converges purpose and profit to build a stronger economy through positive influence for Kentucky now and in the future.

Canopy’s Road to Success

Over the six years since its creation, the Canopy network has grown to include 70 companies now under Canopy’s umbrella with its purpose-driven businesses outperforming their counterparts by 42%. Canopy is also working towards legislative and business incentives that benefit purpose-driven businesses and has strong bipartisan support from Kentucky business officials. Such phenomenal success in the Louisville area has inspired Canopy to do the same for Bowling Green beginning with their “Pillars of Work”:

●       EDUCATE

●       CERTIFY

●       CONNECT

EDUCATE - outreach programs for K-12 including a Junior Achievement partnership and free high school curriculum; post-secondary lectures, panel discussions, curriculum;  topical workshops and recurring programming with individual support for

CERTIFY - free online certification to guide companies through the process of providing employee services that retain good workers while simultaneously maintaining growth.

CONNECT - annual Good Business Summit; member mixers promotional events

Canopy’s Vision for the Future of Bowling Green

With Bowling Green being the fastest growing area in the Bluegrass, Canopy has joined the WKU Innovation Campus to connect businesses to their network movement to unite value-centered businesses who want to have success beyond profit; who want to attract top talent; who want to energize and educate area youth so that they stay in Kentucky to realize their dreams.  If this sounds like your business, contact Mr. Ben Smock, Director of Development (502) 741-5672, or email bensmock@canopyky.org. Join Canopy in their mission to make Kentucky a national business destination for business through servant leadership.

Need help telling your story? Contact KY Brand Builders!

Holly Elmore  - 270-999-1888 /  holly@kybrandbuilders.com  Cheryl Gilstrap - 270-791-4160 /  cheryl@kybrandbuilders.com