FRANK G SCARPACI
FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business.
– Henry Ford
Founder Statement
As a company, VIANOVA is committed to using business as a force for good. This means operating ethically and with uncompromising integrity; giving back through volunteerism, pro bono services and financial support; and reducing our environmental footprint in any way we can.
We affirmed this commitment in 2008 by seeking and earning B Corporation certification for the first time. One of the first companies to do so. In 2013 we reaffirmed this commitment by becoming a California Benefit Corporation. I’m happy to report that in 2020, VIANOVA was re-certified as a B Corporation for the sixth time.
Thank you for reading our 2022 Social Impact Report. I’m honored that you are taking the time to learn a bit more about us.
With gratitude,
Who We Are
Vianova is a consulting and facilitation company specializing in helping leaders and teams come together to create long-lasting positive change for their organizations and those they serve. Our services include strategic planning facilitation, company retreat planning, and meeting and retreat facilitation.
Vianova, which means “new path,” is a purpose-driven business committed to doing its part in building an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable economy that works for everyone and the planet.
Our Mission
Helping leaders and teams collaborate, explore what’s possible and create positive change for their most important stakeholders, their communities, and our planet.
Our B Impact Assessment Reports
A company’s B Impact Assessment score is measured on a 200-point scale, with a minimum score of 80 required in order for a company to be eligible for B Corporation certification. VIANOVA has selected the B Impact Assessment as its third-party standard for measuring its social and environmental performance. For more information visit: B Impact Assessment.
About Our Score
The B Impact Assessment is updated every three years. With each revision, the bar is raised – as it should. Revisions to questions in the B Impact Assessment naturally cause score fluctuations between versions, and will affect some companies more than others as evidenced in the changes in Vianova’s scores.
Our latest assessment (V6) had a new goal structure, which is more aligned with other relevant initiatives like the Sustainable Development Goals and the Global Reporting Initiative. As a result of this change, the point worth of certain questions fluctuated from V5 to V6, even if the question itself remains identical. This, plus the impact of Covid 19 on our business, explains the primary reason for our score decrease in 2020 from 2017’s.
We are currently in the process of being recertified for the seventh time and we look forward to sharing our results here.
Our Impact: Governance
As a Certified B Corporation, and a California Benefit Corporation we balance purpose and profit. We measure our success across a spectrum of areas that include revenue as well as the impact we have on our workers, clients, our community, and the environment.
We are proud to be among the first wave of businesses to adopt this purpose-driven approach; we’ve been B Corp certified since 2008.
Our overall mission is to help organizations on their journey to create greater value for themselves, their most important stakeholders, their communities, and our planet. In 2022 we updated our company values to better guide us moving forward:
- Lead with purpose
- Focus on people
- Do the right thing
- Make a difference
We are proud to be a California Benefit Corporation, which ensures that in addition to making a profit, we preserve our mission and consider all stakeholders.
Our Code of Ethics
Vianova’s recently updated Code of Ethics provides ethical and responsible guidelines that we use to run our company and guide our work with clients, community, our team, and other stakeholders. The Code is now available publicly. We invite you to review our policy here: Our Code of Ethic Policy
Our Impact: Community
Giving Back
In keeping with our commitment to giving back, we continued our 1% for the Planet pledge by donating 1% of our gross sales to environmental organizations tackling our planet’s most pressing environmental issues. In addition, we provided sliding-scale fee discounts to all our nonprofit clients.
We are committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work, and the issues that impact quality of life for all. We are proud to have supported these amazing nonprofits in 2022:
Supplier Diversity
We continued to support our community by purchasing from and partnering with small, local and/or women and minority- owned business for essential business services.
Our Impact: Environment
NetZero by 2030 Commitment
In 2017 we signed the NetZero by 2030 pledge as part of our commitment to B Lab’s Declaration of a Climate Emergency.
Our commitment to a low carbon future includes encouraging customers to use electronic versions of our work products, reducing paper use and shipping.
For 2022, we offset 100% of our carbon emissions through Offset Alliance. View our our certification details here: 2022 Certification
Scope 2: Direct Emissions
Our Scope 2 emissions come from electricity usage for our office. Ways in which we reduced our electricity usage in 2022 included the recent purchase of more energy efficient computers and the replacement of doors and windows designed to meet ENERGY STAR® qualifications.
Scope 3: Business Travel
The majority of our greenhouse gas emissions is from business travel. Wherever lower emissions method of air and ground transportation, for example selecting hybrid vehicles for car rentals.
eWaste
Our commitment to protecting the environment includes the proper handing e-waste, where things like computers, cell phones, laptops and ink cartridges are returned to their manufacturer or other entity for repurposing, recycling, or otherwise responsible disposal.
Our Impact: Customers
Capacity Building & Social Impact
We are honored to have helped many clients build a plan for sustainable growth and greater impact. Our capacity building engagements represented 48% of our total business in 2022. (Capacity Building: % of revenue from services that help build the financial and social viability of purpose-driven enterprise clients, which in turns helps them continue to serve their stakeholders.)
Our social impact engagements represented 37% of our total business in 2022. (Social Impact: % of revenue from services that directly improve the social and environmental performance of our clients.)
In 2022 we changed they way we plan and facilitate meetings and retreats. We began utilizing a digital facilitation and meeting tool to enhance the overall client experience, increase engagement, and produce higher-quality meeting or retreat outcomes for our clients, while eliminating the use of flip charts, post-it notes and printing.
Vetting Clients
Since the company’s founding in 2005, our business development practices have focused on working with mission-aligned organizations. Helping social enterprises, Certified B Corps, nonprofits, and other purpose-fueled organizations achieve their missions is key to how we achieve our own.
Certified LGBT Business Enterprise
Vianova renewed its LGBT Business Enterprise certification through the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. This is an important part of our identity as a company that prioritizes equity and inclusion and encourages employees, clients, and other stakeholders to fully engage in the work we’re doing.
Looking Ahead to 2023
In 2023 VIANOVA will continue to build on and improve upon its efforts in 2022. As a small consulting business, our greatest impact will come from helping other purpose-driven companies and nonprofits improve theirs. In addition we will continue our efforts to grow the B Corp community here in San Diego and beyond.
In addition to maintaining the progress we have made, these are the goals we’ve identified for Vianova in 2023:
- Re-certify as a B Corp: We plan to rectify for the seventh time and hope to earn a minimum of 95 points.
- Launch our Pro Bono Grant Program: We pledge to donate a minimum of two facilitation engagements by the end of 2023.
- Support B Local San Diego: Continue to champion the B Corp movement in the San Diego region through public speaking, meeting with various business groups and collaborating with fellow B Corps to introduce the B Corp certification to local businesses.
- Encourage sustainable meeting practices: We will continue to encourage our clients to explore ways to reduce the environmental impact of the meetings and retreats we facilitate.
WE INVITE YOU TO SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK ON OUR SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT PERFORMANCE.