WASHINGTON (WJLA) - On this week's edition of "Washington Business Report" with ABC 7 News National Correspondent Rebecca Cooper:
One-on-one with HonesTea Co-founder and CEO Seth Goldman
For this week's One-On-One, Cooper caught up with Seth Goldman, co-founder and TeaEO of HonestTea. Goldman spoke about the birth of HonestTea, and how the company does business and remains Washington-based.
Honest beginnings:
A beverage-based case study during a course at the Yale School of Management and the lack of a satisfying post-run drink inspired the inception of HonestTea.
Goldman believes in putting things he cares about into action.
He saw an opportunity with HonestTea to not just create a satisfying drink, but also to make changes in international agriculture systems, labor standards and people's diets.
Impact:
HonestTea acquires tea leaves from tea gardens in China and India.
Its tea is Fair Trade Certified, which fights poverty by paying a premium to communities where the ingredients are found.
Being Fair Trade Certified benefits growing communities by creating jobs, raising economic standards and improving work conditions.
Business in Washington:
Initial investors suggested Goldman set up a P.O. box in New Hampshire instead of keeping a Bethesda, Md. address, as it may seem more appropriate for a tea company.
Goldman objected, contesting that there was no reason Bethesdaone of the most educated cities in the countrycould not be an advocate for health.
Washington Business Hall of Fame
Goldman is one of this year's inductees to the Washington Business Hall of Fame. Junior Achievement of Greater Washington, the Greater Washington Board of Trade and Washingtonian magazine sponsor the initiative. JA EVP and COO Amy Marcenaro stopped by to tell us more about the ceremony and this year's laureates.
2015 Washington Business Hall of Fame laureates:
Seth GoldmanCo-founder and TeoEO, Honest Tea
Sheila C. JohnsonCEO, Salamander Hotels and Resorts
Joe RigbyChairman, president and CEO, Pepco Holdings, Inc.
John ToupsPlanning Research Corporation (retired)
J. Scott WilfongChairman and CEO, SunTrust Bank, Greater Washington/Maryland
While the selection process is confidential, Marcenaro says the committee seeks to honor those in the local business community whose contributions will benefit the next class of leaders.