Vermont Business Magazine The employee-owners of Heritage Aviation have formalized their commitment to using business as a force for good by converting to a Vermont Benefit Corporation, a decision that requires the company to consider not only financial responsibility to shareholders, but also social responsibility to employees, the environment, and their communities.

“Becoming a Benefit Corporation was a natural step for us,” said Dave Stiller, president of Heritage Aviation. “It aligns with our commitment to frame profitability and social impact as complementary rather than conflicting goals.”

The company’s path to becoming a Benefit Corporation began in 2016 when the company put in place an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, converting Heritage Aviation to 100% employee ownership. Located at Burlington International Airport, Heritage Aviation is a fixed-base operator providing aircraft inspection and maintenance, a pilot lounge, and heated hangars to accommodate both privately-owned and commercial aircraft. The company currently employs 65 people in its South Burlington, Vermont location.

“Making business decisions that give weight to both profit and social impact has made us a more successful company because it has made us a more meaningful organization to our customers, vendors, employees, and community,” said Stiller. “But the conversion to a Benefit Corporation is not only about what we have done, it’s also about directing our path forward.”

New Heritage Green Offsets Carbon, Supports Clean Water

To wit, the company launched Heritage Green this month, a program that allows customers to offset carbon emissions from jet fuel purchases through a partnership with Vermont-based NativeEnergy. Proceeds from the program will help fund the Honduras Clean Water Project, providing water filtration systems to families in coffee growing regions of Honduras.

“More than 600,000 people in Honduras lack access to clean water,” said John Ringer, client strategy manager at NativeEnergy. “In addition to providing basic human needs like drinking and washing, the filtration systems replace the current practice of cutting and burning wood from unsustainable sources to boil water, which has lasting and detrimental impact on the environment and global climate. We are fortunate to have industry leaders like Heritage Aviation committed to using business to make a positive impact in the world.” NativeEnergy works with organizations to develop programs that address global sustainability and strengthen business.

The B Corp Distinction

Certification as a Vermont Benefit Corporation requires third party assessment, which was conducted by B Lab , a non-profit organization that performs a rigorous evaluation of a company’s impact on employees, community, the environment, and governance. In addition to converting to a Benefit Corporation under Vermont Law, Heritage Aviation is also a Certified B Corporation and was recognized by B Corp as a 2018 ‘Best for the World’ Honoree.

Joining more than 2,700 Certified B Corporations worldwide and 34 located in Vermont, Heritage Aviation is one of only two aviation services companies in the country, and the only one in the Northeast, to earn B Corporation status. The company joins Vermont brands such as Seventh Generation, King Arthur Flour, NativeEnergy, and Gardeners Supply in their commitment to “use business as a force for good”—the B Corp motto.

About Heritage Aviation

Heritage Aviation is an employee-owned aviation services company providing fixed-base operations (FBO) and aircraft maintenance at Burlington International Airport (BTV). Located in South Burlington, Vermont, Heritage is a nationally recognized FBO providing fueling, deicing, hangaring, and ground handling at their LEED Gold Certified facility that includes U.S. Customs on site. The Diamond Award winning FAA-certified repair station, adjacent to Pratt & Whitney Canada, is a leading alternative to service center maintenance that allows aircraft operators the ability to schedule simultaneous airframe and engine maintenance. Learn more at www.flyheritage.com .