Copyright: B Lab U.S. & Canada

Tess Hart zeros in on the impact of B Lab’s certification on employment culture at the brewery in the second episode of Get Down to Business: A B Corp Podcast. Her focus is on inspiring a mindset of ownership in the economic welfare of excluded folks in the Philadelphia community.  

COVID-19, A Wake-Up Call To Fulfil Purpose 

In the second episode of Get Down to Business, Tess Hart, co-founder of Triple Bottom Brewing, tells co-hosts Lauren Everett and Briana Humes about the brewery’s journey from navigating survival in the pandemic to making waves in employee welfare and community engagement. 

The COVID-19 era may have been humbling for the brewery, but it provided clarity on how to achieve its brand mission. Although the brewery had to wait a year to qualify for a B Corp certification, the waiting period became a learning experience for Tess on how to become a more purposeful founder. 

“The thing about B Corps that is so cool is that it’s really intimate,” says Tess. It offers an intimate look into the business, which often requires a hands-on approach from senior leadership. Tess admitted that dedicating the time to get certified was tough for the brewery, but knowing you had a cheerleader as your certifier was comforting. 

A Journey of Commitment And Accountability 

In Tess’s words, “a B Corp is a for-profit business with high social impact.” Before becoming certified, Triple Bottom Brewing always had a heart for service. Triple Bottom employees earned three times the minimum wage in Pennsylvania. 

However, taking care of employees in this way wasn’t institutionalized. Not stating it in the handbook meant they could go back on their word, and no one would know. The certification helped Tess recognize the importance of prioritizing employee welfare by incorporating this obligation into the handbook and taking it a step further by measuring environmental sustainability in their service operations, from energy use to waste collection. 

B Corp Certification, A Way to Honor Triple Bottom Brewing’s Mission and Bottom Line

Since becoming a Certified B Corp in 2021, the brewery has received applause from employees and customers alike. Beyond it being a morale boost for Tess, earning the certification has become a sense of pride for Triple Bottom Brewing employees. Even bartenders use it as a talking point behind the counter. 

Being woman-owned (which Tess admits is super rare) and the only Certified B Corp brewery in Pennsylvania impresses customers. “Our culture is amazing. It’s this beautiful culture of joy, collaboration, and just incredible kindness and respect for all different types of people,” says Tess. 

Triple Bottom Brewing has been able to institutionalize this culture, thanks to B Corp Certification. It has become easy to communicate Triple Bottom Brewing’s culture even in employee interviews. According to Tess, the brewery has built a diverse team of employees and has documented the steps in its handbook as a result of the certification. 

Why Investing in Fair-Chance Hiring is Living The B Corp Dream

To Tess, breweries are amazing community spaces—spaces that can nurture dreams once derailed by life’s unexpected events. Patrons don’t just come in for a drink; many of them want a story, and stories about second chances deepen the community bond. Tess noted that the founding team at Triple Bottom Brewing was a blend of industry professionals and folks formerly incarcerated. 

“There are so many people in our communities who are barred from that opportunity to craft a career for themselves, even just to make a living,” Tess says. Triple Bottom Brewing recently launched an apprenticeship program to drive these opportunities in its community. The Future of Service apprenticeship program is a reimagination of what the future of the service industry can be in Philadelphia—and maybe nationally.

It’s a 16-week, paid program with 12 apprentices in each cohort. Triple Bottom Brewing offers participants classroom and on-the-job training. The taproom helps them acquire transferable leadership skills and certifications. Beyond food handling and alcohol management, apprentices receive training in CPR and sexual harassment. 

While Triple Bottom Brewing is still quantifying the success of its first cohort, another one is underway. Two graduates from the first cohort are employed at Triple Bottom Brewing, and another has been promoted to supervisor at their workplace, all within the last two months. 

The major challenge for Triple Bottom Brewing in working with formerly incarcerated individuals is getting them to trust systems again. In the first two weeks of their employment, the managers at Triple Bottom Brewing go the extra mile, leaving the door open to establish and deepen trust, proving they mean what they say.  

How Fair-Chance Hiring is Shaping The Philadelphia Community. 

Triple Bottom Brewing’s goal is to give people access to opportunities they’ve been denied in the past. The brewery hopes the success of the fair-chance hiring policy will encourage buy-in from other businesses, starting with paying decent wages and partnering with non-profits to foster prosperity in the community. 

Tess notes that there’s now a deeper sense of collaboration among business owners in the Philadelphia community—Kimberly McGlonn of NOOR by Grant Blvd and Gabriel Mandujano of Wash Cycle Laundry are among those inspiring her growth. She added that REDF planted that first seed in her. 

Tess concluded that the B Corp community in Philadelphia is growing and nurturing friendships. More founders are rooting for each other to do great things, which is comforting for many. 

For the brewery, the next phase is expanding the apprenticeship initiative to host three cohorts annually. Tess considers job training and placement as Triple Bottom Brewing’s way of fostering economic freedom. With support from other businesses, Triple Bottom Brewing plans to inspire a community of practice among employers, particularly in those looking to create job opportunities for individuals overcoming entry barriers.  

Episode 2 of the Get Down to Business podcast featuring Tess Hart, co-founder of Triple Bottom Brewing, will be available across streaming platforms, with an accompanying video on B Lab U.S. & Canada’s YouTube channel, on Tuesday, July 15.