DRF Real Estate earns B Corporation status

2021 is getting off to a good start for one Niwot business. DRF Real Estate, LLC, has been certified as a B Corporation, an ambitious designation that recognizes a business's commitment to the planet and to the community.

Similar to a "fair trade coffee" designation, the recognition doesn't bring direct benefits to a business, but it allows customers to know more about a company's values and approach to its operations. It also makes the business part of a regional and global community of other organizations with a similar approach.

"It's good validation for us," said DRF Real Estate owner Deborah Fowler. "It's not an easy thing to get. We had to do a lot of evaluating, updates of how we do things, and documenting of our processes to meet their standards."

According to bcorporation.net, the website developed by the certification's creator B Lab, the status recognizes businesses that balance purpose with profit. The site states, "It's a community of leaders driving a global movement of people using business as a force for good."

The B-Corporation certification isn't easy to achieve. Participants need to meet legal requirements, including a statement of a public benefit purpose, and complete a rigorous process, called the B Impact Assessment, that evaluates how a company's operations, governance model, and business model impact its community, the environment, its workers, and its customers. Once the assessment is complete, a tool compares a business to others that have taken the same assessment and provides information on how to meet certain benchmarks.

According to the website, DRF Realty is one of just under 4,000 companies that have achieved the certification. More than 100 of them are in Colorado according to B Local Colorado, which, as the name suggests, is a regionally-focused group of Colorado certified B Corporations. Other Colorado B Corporation companies include New Belgium Brewing Company, Avid4Adventure, Colorado Capital Management, Bhakti Chai, Upslope Brewing Company, and Gary Community Investments.

As the list of current members shows, the achievement of a B Corporation certification is appropriate for companies across a range of industries. Said Fowler, "I thought that it was a bit granola to begin with, but I looked into it, I realized it fit because I already do things that show I care about the planet and about the community."

She added, "It's just being more mindful, really. When we're doing inspections, or listing a house, or representing a buyer, I've always tried to be sure the company is doing the right thing. Doing it in good conscience."

Encouraged to use some of the downtime she experienced during the pandemic to do something positive, Fowler ultimately decided to pursue the designation last year. As she completed the process, she realized how well her company practices naturally fit into the certification's purpose.

Niwot-based business consultant Tommi Wolfe, the owner of Top 6 Business Coach who first told Fowler about the designation, agreed. "A B Corporation basically cares not just about profit, but about people, planet, and profit. Deborah was already doing many of the things a model B corporation stands for. I thought she should get the recognition for it by getting certified."

For her part, Wolfe said, "I get a lot of pleasure out of seeing other businesses doing well and people enjoying themselves in the community. I enjoy giving back."

As part of her time in Niwot, Fowler has served as the vice-president of the Niwot Business Association. She's also been a core part of a group of Niwot Business Association members who organized events and kept customers aware of what local businesses had to offer during the pandemic. The socially distanced gatherings have been credited with helping businesses achieve much needed sales.

"When I first heard about Covid-19 restrictions, I thought it would be three or four weeks and we would be back to normal," Fowler said. "Then I realized this is more of a long-term thing and I was worried about people's mental state."

Fowler continued, "At a certain point, I switched my mentality. I was sick of hearing what we couldn't do, everywhere there were signs about this. Don't stand too close to each other. Don't forget to wear your mask. I wanted to focus on what we can do."

In addition to supporting community activities, Fowler showed other ways that she fulfilled some of the more environmentally-focused requirements to achieve B Corporation status. Her actions ranged from using local-vendors and switching to an electric vehicle, to using compostable plates and utensils at open houses or other events. In addition, she now has a Terra Cycle receiving box outside her office and uses wine glasses for First Friday events, even though that means she has to wash them at home after the event.

For Fowler, her approach to managing her business and being part of the community supersedes any third-party certification.

"I always say to anyone I'm making a deal with, "If you're going to deal with me in Niwot, I need to be able to look you in the eye after. After all, I'm pretty sure I'm going to bump into you at Niwot Market or 1914 House or someplace."

The B Corporation certification is just one more way Fowler is living up to this self-imposed standard.