Elumenate, BLLC 2023 Annual Report

So, in 2022 I established a new LLC in Utah and was thrilled to find that they offered a 'Benefit' LLC option.  I have always desired to do something meaningful with my life efforts to provide for my family.  Well, it has been over a year now, and as a benefit company, you have to complete an assessment annually on how you are doing at benefiting the world and publish it in an annual report.  Below, you will find our first annual report.  Please feel free to comment at the bottom.  

BTW, our first company is Seating Innovations.

Best,

Ben

Elumenate, BLLC 2023 Annual Report

A Utah Benefit Company since 2022

Benefit Decisions, Actions, and Results

As a Benefit Company, in decision making, Elumenate, BLLC seeks to consider the effect of any action or inaction on:

(i.)    The members of Elumenate, BLLC

(ii.)   The employees and workforce of Elumenate, BLLC

(iii.) The interests of customers as beneficiaries of Elumenate, BLLC's general public benefit purpose or specific public benefit purpose of “Building a Better World”

(iv.) Community and societal considerations, including those of each community in which offices or facilities of Elumenate, BLLC or the benefit company's subsidiaries or suppliers are located

(v.)   The local and global environment

(vi.) The short-term and long-term interests of Elumenate, BLLC, including benefits that may accrue to the benefit company from the benefit company's long-term plans and the possibility that the interests may be best served by the continued independence of Elumenate, BLLC

(vii.)                       The ability of Elumenate, BLLC to accomplish the benefit company's general public benefit purpose and any specific public benefit purpose, including “Building a Better World”

The ways in which Elumenate, BLLC pursued the benefit company's general public benefit purpose during the year and the extent to which general public benefit was created

As this was the first year of operation, significant effort was expended in simply becoming operational in a manner that will enable the sustained operation of Elumenate, BLLC as an independent benefit company.  While standing up operations, we sought to apply the decision-making rubric above resulting in the following decisions:

1)      Use of powder coating instead of volatile-organic-compound-emitting paint

2)      Use of aqueous degreaser instead of solvent

3)      Allowing flexible hours as determined by employees

4)      Minimizing waste

5)      Reducing many prices for customers

6)      Allowing a high degree of autonomy for our workforce to develop and implement improvement ideas.

7)      Placing air compressor so as to reduce noise pollution

8)      Providing PPE

9)      Working hard

Which resulted in:

1)      Company is proving to be a viable source of income to the owner’s family and will likely be able to continue in existence and hopefully fund future benefit activities. 

2)      Fewer emissions to the atmosphere

3)      Less waste disposed of

4)      Good work/life balance for employees

5)      Safe work environment

6)      Improved good will by customers as they find purchase prices in line with other available sources.

The ways in which Elumenate, BLLC pursued any specific public benefit that the benefit company's certificate of organization states is the purpose of the benefit company to create and the extent to which the specific public benefit was created

The purpose of Elumenate, BLLC, as declared in the certificate of organization is “Building a Better World.”  We pursued this purpose this year by establishing a viable company that provides suspended dining chairs to our customers.  The product itself makes the world better by reducing effort needed to maintain a neat and orderly house and reducing wear and tear on floors by the legs of chairs and bar stools.  The world is also better from our efforts in that the owner is able to experience increased autonomy and satisfaction in his job.  We also began managing one rental house, making the world better for the tenants by providing a comfortable place for the tenants to live.

Circumstances that have hindered Elumenate, BLLC’s creation of general public benefit or any specific public benefit

The primary hindrance to creating additional benefit is the workload involved in establishing and operating the business.  It is hoped that as we clear the start-up phase, more time will be available to pursue things such as new ways of working/Teal or other positive organization development.  It is also hoped that more effort can be applied to process improvement thereby freeing additional time to be spent “Building a Better World.”

The process and rationale for selecting or changing the third-party standard used to prepare the benefit report

Elumenate, BLLC has chosen to assess ourselves against the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals.  It is believed that this will provide a broad context from which to consider ways of “Building a Better World.”  It is also freely available and will not waste scarce company resources, which can instead be allocated toward “Building a Better World.” 

Assessment of the overall social and environmental performance of Elumenate, BLLC against a third-party standard

This assessment shall be:

(i)            Applied consistently with any application of the standard in prior benefit reports; or

(ii)           Accompanied by an explanation of the reasons for any inconsistent application

As this is the first year performing this assessment, and to aid future year assessments to be consistent, the assessment is performed as follows:

1)      Consider each strategic development goal (SDG) individually or in the strategic groupings outlined below in each of the following ways:

a.       Discussion of how this goal applies, or could apply to Elumenate, BLLC

b.       As appropriate, develop key performance measures (KPMs).

c.       Actions taken in the past year in support of the SDG and the beneficial results from those actions

d.       Opportunities for further improvement

Application

Currently Elumenate, BLLC impacts poverty primarily by creating a value stream that otherwise would not exist.  By doing this, additional value is brought into the world, which provides opportunity for our employees to work and earn money, provides profit to the members, and creates demand for raw materials, parts, and services, which provides income to those involved in providing such. 

Key Performance Measures

Revenue received in each of the following areas:

1)      Employee wages, including taxes

2)      Profit

3)      Expenses for materials, parts, and services

Actions Taken and Beneficial Results

We took over an existing business that was being shut down, moved operations into a cheaper facility, and streamlined production resulting in a right-sized organization with the following results for the time period 10/22-9/23:

1)      $13k paid to employees

2)      $108k profit to members

3)      $188k to suppliers

Opportunities.

·         Grow the business.

·         Create more jobs, more economic activity, more value creation.

·         Volunteer at local food bank or other community service as a team.

 

Application

No current direct application. 

Key Performance Measures

None identified.

Actions Taken and Beneficial Results

·         Provided jobs to individuals who were in need of cash to pay bills, potentially keeping them from food insecurity.

Opportunities.

·         Grow the business, create more jobs.

·         Company meals.

 

Application

One of our primary company values is loving ourselves.  This means we care about our health and safety.

Key Performance Measures

Number of lost work days due to injury.

Actions Taken and Beneficial Results

·         Provided PPE:

o   Gloves

o   Safety glasses

o   Respirators

o   Ear protection

o   Welding gear

·         Low VOC aqueous degreasers

·         Fire extinguishers

·         Powder coat instead of liquid paint

·         Health insurance for managing director’s family, workers’ comp for employees

Resulting in zero lost time work days due to injuries.

Opportunities.

·         Provide health insurance for employees.

·         Create positive and inclusive work culture that builds upon our spiritual natures.

·         Integrate work with family living.  Healthy work life balance.

·         Weld fume exhaust treatment.

Application

Various skills are required to run the business, providing opportunities for on-the-job training.  We could also support the educational pursuits of our employees.

Key Performance Measures

None identified.

Actions Taken and Beneficial Results

·         On-the-job training provided to employees.

·         Self-learning from the web also happened.

Resulting in we got the job done, with very few quality issues.

Opportunities 

·         Trades education: welding, powder coating, etc.

·         Apprentice program.

 

Application

Hiring and promotion within the company.

Key Performance Measures

Percent of employees male and female.

Actions Taken and Beneficial Results

·         Offered jobs to my daughters and wife at same wages as the men. 

Resulting in all male workforce.

Opportunities.

·         Equal pay, when female is hired.

·         Assign job duties commensurate with abilities.

 

Application

No current application identified.

Key Performance Measures

None identified.

Actions Taken and Beneficial Results

Utilized our access to clean water and sanitation via restroom and kitchen facilities provided to employees on site.

Opportunities.

None identified.

 

Application

Use of.

Key Performance Measures

Percent of power from clean sources.

Actions Taken and Beneficial Results

·         Utilized access to affordable energy.

Resulting in energy used, but from unknown sources via the grid and from generators. 

Opportunities

·         Solar panels

·         Three-phase converter

 

Application

Creating within the company.

Key Performance Measures

Number of full-time-equivalent (FTE) employees.

Actions Taken and Beneficial Results

·         Value stream created

·         Flexible hours

·         Decent pay

Resulting in less than one FTE employee.

Opportunities.

·         Grow the business

·         Maintain flexibility

·         Build to stock core product

·         Air conditioning

 

Application

Developing infrastructure to operate the business.  Capitalizing on innovation within the company.  Being industrious.

Key Performance Measures

None identified.

Actions Taken and Beneficial Results

·         Added infrastructure to power former industrial chicken coops converting them to productive structures rather than storage sheds.

·         Very flexible idea implementation encouraging innovation amongst employees.

·         Improvement idea discussion ‘breaks’

·         Equipment purchased

Resulting in being able to get the job done.

Opportunities.

·         Ironworker

·         Automatic bandsaw

·         Product redesign

·         Standardize

·         Expand in sheds

·         Concrete work

·         Solar power

·         3-phase

 

Application

Within the company and with our customers

Key Performance Measures

None identified.

Actions Taken and Beneficial Results

·         Reasonable wage versus minimum possible

·         Provided some job opportunities

·         I charge more for some fancier chairs, while offering a cheaper option with stools

Resulting in employees feeling fairly treated.

Opportunities.

·         Have more cheap options so those with less money can enjoy our product

·         Charge more for custom and fancier options so those with the means can get what they want, but have to pay for it.

·         Pay more in wages

 

 

 

Application

Run the business in a sustainable way.

Key Performance Measures

None identified.

Actions Taken and Beneficial Results

·         Aqueous degreaser

·         No VOC powder coat versus paint

·         Minimize waste

·         Recycle and reuse packaging, minimizing packaging

·         Refurbishing existing systems and reusing

·         Home-based business

Resulting in reduced waste in landfills and less air pollution.

Opportunities.

·         Reclaim powder

·         Use scrap to make collars

·         Solar power

·         Solar degreaser heater

 

 

Application

How we run the business.

Key Performance Measures

None identified.

Actions Taken and Beneficial Results

·         Reduced discharges to the environment

·         Land

o   Minimized waste created

o   Proper solid waste disposal

·         Water

o   Minimal water used. 

·         Air

o   Minimize chemical use

o   aqueous degreaser.

Resulting in less harm to local environment.

Opportunities.

·         Waste oil furnace

·         Repair leaky equipment

·         Improved paint booth filtration

 

Application

Support local government.

Key Performance Measures

None identified.

Actions Taken and Beneficial Results

·         Abiding by all applicable laws and regulations including:

o   Business license

o   Legal entity

o   Employee reporting

o   Tax payment

Resulting in supporting government financially and not being a drain on resources.

Opportunities.

·         None identified

 

Application

Use for strategic planning. 

Key Performance Measures

None identified.

Actions Taken and Beneficial Results

·         Using these strategic development goals to guide our benefit LLC strategic thinking.

Resulting in a broader assessment of our benefit opportunities than likely would have otherwise happened and readers of this report may become more familiar with the SDGs.

Opportunities.

None identified.

Connection between the organization that established the third-party standard, or the organization's directors or officers, or a holder of 5% or more of the governance interests in the organization, and Elumenate, BLLC or the benefit company's members, managers, or officers or any holder of 5% or more of the outstanding interests in the benefit company, including any financial or governance relationship that might materially affect the credibility of the use of the third-party standard.

No connection.

 

End of Report