EMPLOYEE BLOG, NEWSLETTERS

Employee Newsletter 7/3/2023

Posted on by Val Newhouse

CoCo Reflections from Kyle Ryan:

Meet Kyle: Hey! I’m Kyle, I’ve been a part of Stone Creek Coffee’s Production Team for two and a half years. I’m originally from the Twin Cities, then moved to Milwaukee for UWM’s Film Production program, and now I live with my girlfriend and our dog, a big collie named Reno! When I’m not at the factory, you can find me at home writing screenplays for the films I work on in my spare time, or lately, trying to keep our houseplants alive.

This Week’s CoCo: Keep Your Commitments

In the ever-changing and customer-centric world of coffee, there is a key element that sets the best apart from the rest: keeping our commitment to our customers and our craft. From bean to cup, every stage of the coffee journey demands dedication, reliability, and a deep devotion to quality. In the realm of coffee, one invisible aspect reigns supreme– consistency. Each sip is an opportunity to immerse oneself in history and new cultures. By embracing the spirit of keeping commitments, true coffee geeks ensure a consistently high standard in the beans they source and the meticulous brewing process, all culminating in one remarkable cup of coffee. Our customers rely on the promised quality that is consistently delivered, paving the way for unparalleled satisfaction and loyalty. By adhering to deadlines, fulfilling orders promptly, and offering exceptional customer service, we can become leaders in reliability. Building trust not only cultivates long-lasting relationships but also sets the stage for us to expand and try new ideas.

The coffee industry is waking up to smell the power of sustainable practices and ethical commitments. It’s no longer just about the perfect brew; it’s about the larger impact we leave on the world. By prioritizing fair trade co-ops, environmentally friendly practices, and responsible sourcing, we’re able to keep intact our commitments to sustainability and social responsibility. These commitments lay the foundation for an industry that not only creates a product for all to enjoy, but also enables us to brew positive change and support the well-being of farmers and communities. Our industry relies on a web of partnerships and collaborations that bring our favorite cherry seed to its full potential. From the dedicated farmers nurturing the beans to the skilled baristas crafting each cup, these partnerships are built on trust and mutual respect. Keeping commitments within these relationships fuels a culture of collaboration, where knowledge-sharing, innovation, and continuous improvement flourish. The result? An industry that remains dynamic, adaptive, and committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

In our corner of the coffee world, keeping commitments is the secret ingredient that elevates the ordinary to the extraordinary. It encompasses consistency, reliability, sustainability, collaboration, and personal growth. By upholding these commitments, we’re more ready to deliver unforgettable experiences, foster trust, and contribute to the continuous improvement of the industry. So, thank you all for keeping your commitments to our customers, farmers, and employees who make this possible!

Next Week’s CoCo: Think Hard

We work in a fast-paced and competitive industry, and the ability to think hard is a vital skill that can make all the difference in reaching success. Whether it’s a barista crafting the perfect cup or a manager making strategic decisions, critical thinking plays a central role in driving innovation, improving processes, and keeping customer satisfaction. Thinking hard involves adopting an analytical approach to various aspects of working in a coffee company. From sourcing the finest beans to creating enticing menus, critical thinking guides us to evaluate alternatives, consider potential outcomes, and make informed decisions. When faced with challenges such as unexpected supply chain disruptions or changing consumer preferences, the ability to think critically allows for impactful problem-solving. When analyzing what we do from different perspectives and exploring innovative solutions, we can overcome obstacles and drive the company forward. Critical thinking encourages exploring new brewing techniques, the evolution of roasting for unique flavors, and implementing sustainable practices. Embracing a mindset of constant curiosity and inquiry enables us to stay ahead of the curve and meet the ever-evolving demands of customers, but we’ll get more into that in the weeks ahead.

Thinking hard in the coffee industry involves putting our customers and farmers at the center of every decision. Critical thinking allows for the development of customized offerings, personalized recommendations, and truly unique coffee experiences we think about for years to come. The coffee industry is its own ecosystem, influenced by factors like global trends, economic fluctuations, and environmental challenges. Thinking hard equips us with adaptability and resilience, so that we’re confident in navigating uncertainty and seizing the right opportunities. It also promotes a proactive mindset, encouraging individuals to anticipate shifts in consumer preferences and adapt their strategies accordingly. It also facilitates agility in responding to unforeseen circumstances, such as supply chain disruptions or new market entrants. By thinking hard, coffee professionals can embrace change, pivot when necessary, and emerge stronger in the end.

In the coffee industry, thinking hard is more than just an intellectual exercise; it is a transformative approach that drives success. By applying critical thinking, we can better solve complex problems, drive innovation, enhance the customer experience, and navigate the challenges that come with such a dynamic industry. It empowers all of us to make informed decisions, embrace change, and continuously improve their craft. Let’s pause to recognize the power of thinking hard and the effort it requires as we strive to elevate our coffee community, one thought-provoking cup at a time.

CoCo Heroes:

  • Keep Your Commitments: This Core Commitment Hero comes from the Downer Cafe Team – Erik N.! Erik is always here ready for his shifts and ALWAYS lets us know when he can not make a commitment early enough to be able to adjust properly. He puts his Navy days in super early so that we can make the schedule with no problems. When he is on the floor he gives his all to the customers and the team
  • Think Hard: This Core Commitment Hero comes from the Downer Kitchen Team – Cameron M.! He’s grown a TON in his first few months with us. He’s also incredible at applying new processes in the moment and is always comfortable asking valuable and specific questions. 

Going-Ons: 

  • Join the Whitefish Bay Opening Team: We are so excited for the opportunity to Create Remarkable Care in a new Whitefish Bay Cafe & Kitchen, with a target opening date this summer! We are in the early stages of building a team of Baristas, Line Cooks, and Cafe & Kitchen Team Leaders. If you are interested in joining the Whitefish Bay opening team, either as a permanent transfer or a temporary transfer, reach out to teams@stonecreekcoffee.com!
  • Company Update: Did you miss the latest Company Update? Check it out here.

  • Mythos Grinder Update: Please see the following note from Joshua James, Director of Coffee Culture.

    Good Afternoon y’all,

    I wanted to provide an update on the reported issues with the Mythos Clima Pro grinders in cafes. We have seen and understand there are a few challenges we are experiencing with these grinders, the main one being that the grinding will randomly continue no matter what and the only way to stop this is to cut the power. This is not remarkable and we are eager to resolve this as quickly as possible. We have found that there is a relay in the machine that fails to do its job and that is what is causing most, if not all, of the issues that have been popping up.

    I have reached out to the technical team at Nuova Simonelli to try and get to the bottom of this. They have, unfortunately, been less than helpful. The next step was to replace all the relays that were bad and to request that we get a refund for those relays that we had to swap out.

    Next steps after that? Well, we are hoping that the relays that we originally got were lemons and that the new batch we have received and installed is going to work for us. Fingers crossed. In the meantime, Johnny and I are looking into other grinder options should we continue these issues remain unresolved, but as of right now, we are working on getting this sorted with Nuova Simonelli so that we can keep on trucking. 

    If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grinder’s functionality, please share this with your Cafe Coach and/or email education@stonecreekcoffee.com so that we can work together to track and resolve. 

  • NSL Workshop Thank You & Follow-Up: Thank you again to each of our teams for their participation and to Delafield, Factory, Glendale and Downer for hosting our most recent round of NSL Workshops! As a result of this time together we were able to identify main themes and priorities to work through over the next few months:
    • App/Mobile Order feedback. Together we compiled a wishlist of items that our teams would like to see improved in our mobile ordering app. While we are not able to implement these changes through our current platform, this feedback is helpful as we review different options for how to move forward, including the possibility/feasibility of creating our own app in the future.
    • Team Workflow, Displays & Operations. We received several speak ups regarding workflow improvement opportunities, pride flag requests, and tool replacement/addition requests.  As we move through the summer months, team leaders will partner with their teams to address workflow improvements. Teams that spoke up with pride flag requests have received/will receive these in the coming days to display in their space year round. Team Leaders have commitments to place MRs, order requests etc for tool replacement and/or additional tools as needed.
    • Summer seasonal offerings. Thanks to all who shared feedback and observations regarding our current products (drinks, food, beans, merch), and for sharing your ideas and feedback via our Merch & Design Survey! Please keep sharing what you’re experiencing & hearing from customers about our products – we will continue to incorporate product feedback into future seasonal planning.
    A number of other commitments were taken during our time together and are in progress. As always, if you have a question or are curious about the status of something you spoke up about in our workshops, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Teams & People; teams@stonecreekcoffee.com. 
  • SCC Transportation Grant Now Open: Hey Coffee Geeks! In striving to be equitable, inclusive, and environmentally conscious, SCC offers a transportation grant opportunity to a handful of team members each quarter. This grant is awarded based on need. Team members who receive this grant will receive a monthly reimbursement towards a bus pass, bike, etc. If your primary method of transportation to work is something other than a personal vehicle and you are interested in participating, please email teams@stonecreekcoffee.com to request an application. All current and previous recipients should reach out to Teams to request a new application to reapply for the upcoming quarter. We will be accepting applications Monday, July 3rd through the end of the day Monday, July 10th, 2023. Q3 grant recipients will be selected by the end of the day on Monday, July 17th.
  • July 19th Professional Development Opportunity: We are thrilled to share another SCC Professional Development workshop with our teams! On Wednesday, July 19th, SCC team members are eligible to participate in Building and Maintaining Professional Relationships. This class focuses on the value and impact of building authentic connections in a professional environment with an emphasis on communication strategies, goal alignment, and strategic partnerships in the workplace. Together, we’ll build up our toolkit with strategies for successful interactions with team members, team leaders, and other folks we’re likely to encounter on our professional path (such as prospective employers, would-be coworkers, and vendors). Part-Time and Full-Time team members are invited to use their Paid Professional Development Time to attend from 3-6pm in the Factory Meeting Room on Wednesday 7/19. Click here to sign up for our July Professional Development opportunity. See you there!
  • October 21st MKE Barista League: The Barista League holds unique coffee competitions all over the world, and this fall they’re coming to Milwaukee! Interested team members can choose to compete (free – compete in pairs; competitors are limited so sign up early!), volunteer (eligible for paid volunteer time), or just attend the event (tickets available for purchase). While SCC is not formally involved in the event, we are a community of #CoffeeGeeks and wanted to share this info with you! For more info, as well as competitor applications, volunteer applications, and ticket pricing, check out their website. 

Wins & Shout-outs:

If you’d like to recognize or celebrate a teammate, we would love to hear about it! By clicking here, you can fill out a form to nominate a hero and choose how you would like them to be celebrated.

Birthdays:

  • 7/3 – Matthew Wilkins
  • 7/6 – Hailey Barsch
  • 7/6 – William Thiemann
  • 7/7 – Jenna Knapp
  • 7/7 – Olivia O’Neill
  • 7/11 – Margaret Bigler
  • 7/11 – Bryan Bach
  • 7/15 – Selina Domenech
  • 7/21 – Meghan Gross
  • 7/24 – Arcadia Schmid
  • 7/29 – Olivia Aponte
  • 7/30 – Amy Balestrieri

Anniversaries:

  • Patricia Kovochich – 6 years!
  • Brian Koznarek – 2 years!
  • Bryan Kraft – 16 years!!!
  • Andy Kubash – 2 years!
  • Molly Persin – 2 years!
  • Marie Redding – 2 years!
  • Domenic Serena – 2 years!
  • Mitch Stewart – 3 years!
  • Karen Strange – 7 years!
  • Margaret Tews – 4 years!
  • Johnny Zei – 1 year!

Welcomes:

  • Lauren Glomski – Delafield
  • Molly Gibbons – Delafield
NSL

Employee Discount Codes:
Please don’t share these with non-employees

  • 20% Employee-Only Website Coupon Code
    • July: Jul2023sccemp
  • 40% Employee-Only Mobile App Coupon Code
    • July: Jul2023sccemp

Catch up on all of our newsletters, company updates, recipes, and more in our Employee Blog here.

Ways to Speak Up:

Do you want to speak up about ideas, thoughts, and more? Send an email to Teams & People (teams@stonecreekcoffee.com) or use the button below to send a note anonymously.

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At Stone Creek Coffee, social responsibility is a foundational element of our identity. We believe that a commitment to the environment must coexist with other elements of social responsibility for a holistic approach to doing our best for the world and others.

Stone Creek Coffee will regularly audit and identify areas of environmental strength and weakness within the overall operations of the organization.  We will attempt to reduce any negative impacts to air, surface water, ground water, public health, community quality of life, and employee health while producing coffee that is sweet, clean, and juicy. Stone Creek Coffee will strive for continual improvement in pollution prevention while meeting or exceeding all regulations.

Eric Resch, Managing Director
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As a mission-driven company, at Stone Creek Coffee, we believe in serving and enhancing the local communities we live and work in.

We believe that the socially responsible practices we apply daily in our internal operations can proliferate with the involvement of our stakeholders, customers, and our communities. In each community where our employees work and live, we — as Stone Creek Coffee and individual members of the community — actively create opportunities to play a positive role through various initiatives. These initiatives include support of important charitable organizations through monetary and/or material donations, promoting volunteerism, and more.

In line with our mission to be socially responsible, we also commit to the following: 

Serving Local Customers
  • We commit to serve at least 75% local and independent clients or customers. 
  • Local Hiring - As a company that is committed to its local community, at Stone Creek Coffee, we are also committed to local hiring.
  • Local Suppliers - We are committed to using local suppliers when possible.

Eric Resch, Managing Director
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SUPPLIER CODE OF CONDUCT

At Stone Creek Coffee, social responsibility is a foundational aspect of our identity. As such, we expect our partners and suppliers to conduct themselves and their business in an ethical, legal, and socially responsible manner including, but not limited to, their commitment to the environment, their employees, and the community. 

Legal Requirements

We expect that all suppliers know and follow the laws that apply to them and their business, as well as to treat the law as the minimum standard. 

Ethical Requirements - Integrity

At Stone Creek Coffee, we believe in conducting business with integrity and as a force for good. We expect our suppliers to operate fairly and ethically. Bribes, kickbacks, inappropriate gifts or hospitality, or other improper incentives in connection with Stone Creek Coffee are not tolerated. Suppliers are expected to avoid any conflict of interest relating to financial interests or other arrangements with our employees that may be considered inappropriate, and are to work with their own suppliers to promote business conduct consistent with the principles in this Code.

Labor Requirements 

Child Labor and Slavery - We do not tolerate child labor or slavery in our supply chain. Consistent with the United Nations Global compact principles, suppliers should avoid any sort of child labor in the business operations. 

Identification of Concerns - Suppliers are required to provide means for their employees to report concerns or potentially unlawful activities in the workplace. Any report should be treated in a confidential manner. Suppliers will investigate such reports and take corrective action if needed.

Wages and Working Conditions

Working Hours, Wages and Benefits - Working hours for suppliers’ employees will not exceed the maximum set by the applicable national law. Compensation paid to employees will comply with applicable national wage laws and ensure an adequate standard of living. Suppliers are expected to provide their employees with fair and competitive compensation and benefits. Compensation and benefits should aim at providing an adequate standard of living for employees and their families. Suppliers’ employees will be paid in a timely manner. It is recommended that suppliers offer their employees ample training and educational opportunities.

Diversity and Inclusion - Fair and equal treatment of all employees is expected to be a fundamental principle of all of our supplier’s corporate policies. Typical discriminatory treatment takes into consideration – consciously or unconsciously – irrelevant characteristics of an employee such as race, national origin, gender, age, physical characteristics, social origin, disability, religion, family status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or any unlawful criterion under applicable law. Suppliers will ensure that their employees are not harassed in any way. Stone Creek Coffee encourages its suppliers to provide an inclusive and supportive working environment while exercising diversity when it comes to their employees as well as in their decisions to select subcontractors.

Health, Safety, Quality, and Security

Health and Safety - In order to provide dignity and respect, we expect all of our suppliers to protect workers’ rights and provide safe and healthy working conditions. We encourage our supplier partners to foster an environment that is inclusive, and free of harassment and discrimination. 

Emergency Preparedness, Risk Information, and Training - Suppliers will make available safety information on identified workplace risks and suppliers’ employees will be correspondingly trained to ensure they are adequately protected. Suppliers will identify and assess likely and potential emergency situations in the workplace and minimize their impact by implementing emergency plans and response procedures.

Quality and Security - Suppliers are expected to have good security practices across their supply chains. Suppliers will maintain processes and standards that are designed to assure the integrity of each shipment to Stone Creek Coffee from its origin through to its destination and all points in between. Suppliers are expected to implement the necessary and appropriate measures in their area of responsibility to ensure that Stone Creek Coffee products, their workable components or raw materials as well as the corresponding know-how do not end up in the hands of counterfeiters or third parties and do not leave the legal supply chain.

Environmental Awareness 

Waste and Emissions - Suppliers will have systems in place to ensure the safe handling, movement, storage, recycling, reuse and management of waste, air emissions and wastewater discharges. Any of these activities that have the potential to adversely impact human or environmental health will be appropriately managed, measured, controlled and handled prior to release of any substance into the environment. Suppliers will have systems in place to prevent or mitigate accidental spills and releases into the environment.

Resource Conservation and Climate Protection - Suppliers are expected to use natural resources (e.g. water, sources of energy, raw materials) n an economical way. Negative impacts on the environment and climate will be minimized or eliminated at their source or by practices such as the modification of production, maintenance and facility processes, material substitution, conservation, recycling and material reutilization. Suppliers will engage in the development and use of climate-friendly products and processes to reduce power consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Preference to Purchase from Local Suppliers and Suppliers with Ownership from Underrepresented Populations - At Stone Creek Coffee, we are committed to our community and the environment. As such, we have a preference to purchase from local suppliers when possible, as well as to purchase from suppliers who support other local suppliers. We also give preferences to suppliers with ownership from underrepresented populations.

Supplier Audits and Record Keeping - In order to make responsible, well-informed business decisions and disclose truthful and timely information to our stakeholders, we expect our supplier partners to maintain accurate and honest records.  In line with this, we expect our supplier partners to do the following: maintain books and records that reflect all transactions in an accurate, honest, and timely way; employ appropriate quality audit and compliance processes for matters such as product and food safety, worker health and safety, and labor and employment; to enable traceability, disclose the location of facilities and known origins of materials upon request/audit.

When screening potential suppliers, we screen for the following:
  1. Compliance with all local laws and regulations, including those related to social and environmental performance
  2. Good governance, including policies related to ethics and corruption, as well as diversity and inclusion
  3. Positive practices beyond what is required by regulations (e.g. environmentally-friendly manufacturing process, excellent labor practices, performance to the Core Commitments, etc.)
  4. Third-party certifications related to positive social and/or environmental performance (B Corp certification, Bird Friendly, etc.)
  5. Local suppliers should be given preference (within 250 miles of Factory)
  6. Suppliers owned by underrepresented populations should be given preference

Jessica Sheridan, Director of Coffee 

SUPPLIER LIST:
Aeropress
Ally Coffee
Alto Cold Brew
Amazon Business
American Solutions for Business
Ascentives
Atlas Coffee
AUI Fine Foods
Badger Distributing of Milwaukee LLC
Bodum USA
Boelter Companies
Britevision Media
BUNN
Cafe Imports
Caravela Coffee
Carmo Coffee
Champaign Coffee Company
Chemex Corporation
Clover Distribution
Complete Office of WIsconsin
Component Design
DWC Specialties
Economy Lamp Co
Englehardt Dairy
Espresso Parts
Evolve Snacking
Exclusive Coffees
FETCO
Flair Flexible Packaging Corp
Genuine Origin Coffee
Good Land Supply Co
Gordon Food Service
Grandstand
Gravity Marketing
Great American Spice Company
Greco & Sons
Green Bay Packaging
Halo Soap LLC
InterAmerican Coffee
Kallas Honey Farm
La Marzocco USA
Long Miles Coffee Int Ltd
Magellan Promotions, LLC
Marich Confectionery
Meadowlark Organics
Milwaukee Candle Company
Natures Flavors
NKG (Neumann Kaffee Gruppe)
notNuetral
Occhetti Foods
Olam Specialty Coffee
Omanhene Cocoa Bean Co.
Online Labels
Orchard Street Press
PBFY Flexible Packaging
Plant Guru
Polaris Specialty Coffee
Premium Water
Rishi Tea
Rockline
Royal Coffee
San Miguel Single Origin Coffees (Green Power Trade Inc.)
Sassy Cow Creamery
Shared Source Coffee
Sleeve A Message
Spice House
Sysco East Wisconsin
Tapped Maple Syrup
Terra Spice
The Chai Company
The Chef's Warehouse
Tony Machi Fruits & Vegetables
Uline
UNFI
V. Marchese
Valley Bakers
Volcafe
 
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ANNUAL BENEFIT REPORT 
Fiscal Year 2020
1/1/20-12/31/20
  Benefit Director - Eric Resch

Owners (owning >= 5% of the shares of the benefit corporation): Melissa Perez, Eric Resch

Letter from Benefit Director

Social obligation is a founding principle of Stone Creek Coffee and acts as an ethos for our business. With this obligation comes responsibilities and commitments. At Stone Creek Coffee, we are committed to keeping those commitments. In line with this, this past year, we became a benefit corporation with the state of Wisconsin by amending our articles of incorporation in order to further promote and uphold this commitment. 

As a benefit corporation, we are required to share a Benefit Report at the end of each fiscal year that outlines the work we have done, as well as any potential drawbacks or challenges we have faced, to work towards the specific benefits we have committed to serve. Though 2020 was full of challenges as we all lived and worked through an unprecedented time, we are humbled by the progress we made and continue to make towards creating benefit for our community, the environment, and beyond. We are profoundly moved by the continued work and assistance of our stakeholders to achieve these goals, as well as to create new ones. We look forward to the work that lies ahead of us in 2021. Together, we are better.

On we Go.

- Eric Resch, Benefit Director, Managing Director and Co-owner

Introduction
Stone Creek Coffee officially became a benefit corporation with the State of Wisconsin on June 5th, 2020. A benefit corporation is a legal entity that formally commits to serving general and specific benefit(s) to the public and the environment by writing social and environmental values into their articles of incorporation. At the end of each fiscal year, benefit corporations publish an annual report that outlines what they have done to serve these benefits, as well as any challenges we have faced in the course of doing so.

Specific Benefit Purposes in Our Bylaws

The purposes for which Stone Creek Coffee’s benefit corporation are formed are as follows:
  1. To create a general public benefit.
  2. To create the specific public benefits of: 
    1. Providing individuals or communities with beneficial products or services.
    2. Preserving the environment.
  3. To do any and all other lawful activities or business permitted under the laws of the United States, Wisconsin, or any other state, territory, or nation.
    
Major accomplishments:
  1. Became a benefit corporation with the State of Wisconsin.
  2. Officially kicked off our ‘Brewing Change’ initiative, which speaks directly to our commitments to provide stakeholders with beneficial products or services and to preserve the environment. 
  3. Implemented formal policies across the company that benefit our stakeholders (employees, customers, suppliers, community) and the environment. These policies are listed more specifically in the section, Stone Creek Coffee’s Efforts to Create Public Benefit.
  4. Completed the B Impact Assessment as our third-party standard to assess our performance to our commitments, as well as to guide our work. The B Impact Assessment is a free, comprehensive, and transparent tool for assessing overall corporate social and environmental performance. 
     
Challenges:
By and large, the COVID-19 pandemic was a challenge for us as a company and as individuals. However, rather than allowing the pandemic to become a hindrance to our mission to create benefit, we used this difficult time as an opportunity to pivot our business, as well as take on more projects that seek to benefit our stakeholders, the community, and the environment, which is clearly outlined in the following sections. 

Stone Creek Coffee’s Efforts to Create Public Benefit:

Governance
We updated our Articles of Incorporation with the State of WI and officially became a benefit corporation. Being a Benefit Corporation formally demonstrates our commitment to the public and the environment.
 
Workers
  1. Drafted and shared formal SCC Breastfeeding Policy to support lactating employees across teams, no matter their position, location, or employment status. (Officially added to the Employee Handbook in 2021.)
  2. Maintained insurance costs for hourly employees, keeping in line with our commitment to make healthcare accessible for our employees.
  3. Formed our Employee Council. This group consists of one representative from each of our cafes, bakery, and production teams at Stone Creek Coffee. This representative is nominated by their team to meet with Eric, Managing Director and Co-Owner, every other month to discuss items that can be improved within their work spaces or the company as a whole as it relates to day-to-day operations. Specific work items generated through the Employee Council include but are not limited to: requesting mental health days as an added benefit, exploring expression of personalities through more flexible dress code and music choice in work spaces, updating shift drink benefits to include non-dairy products, increasing our vegan and gluten-friendly food menu, greater access to coffee equipment for cafe teams, such as a third espresso grinder, improvements to employee training and access to online HR and benefits tools, and added opportunities to celebrate employees, such as on their birthday.
  4. Employees paid in full during COVID-19 shutdown in order to guarantee wage security. 
  5. Social Justice Donation Matching: Over the course of Summer of 2020 and in line with Stone Creek Coffee’s social obligation to our community, all employee donations made to social justice organizations were matched by Stone Creek Coffee. Employees were encouraged to make donations to local social justice organizations making change in our community such as Wisconsin Voices and MKE LGBT Community Center.  Over the course of the summer, 21 employees donated $5,077.46 to different social justice organizations across Milwaukee and the US that were matched by Stone Creek Coffee. Together, with our employees, we have donated $10,154.92.
  6. Increased amount of paid sick time for all employees (16 hours/year)
     
Community 
  1. Donated food and beverage items to employees during COVID-19 shut-down.
  2. Supplier Screening Topics implemented across the company. This premade list of screening topics serves to better screen our potential suppliers to ensure that they do things such as: follow all laws, possess good governance practices, gives preference to local suppliers, and more.
  3. Supplier Code of Conduct implemented across the company. This document outlines how we expect our partners and suppliers to conduct themselves and their business in an ethical, legal, and socially responsible manner including, but not limited to, their commitment to the environment, their employees, and the community. 
  4. We made a formal commitment to our local community and hiring. In doing so, we have committed to serving our local community by making a commitment to serve local customers, hire locally, and choose local suppliers when possible.
  5. We made available a list of our significant suppliers on our website.

Environment
  1. We began monitoring and recording our energy use via a master spreadsheet.
  2. We began monitoring and recording our waste production via a master spreadsheet.
  3. We made the switch to renewable, wind-powered electrical energy at all of our facilities. 
  4. We implemented a Hazardous Waste Disposal Policy across the company.
  5. We implemented an Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Policy. 
  6. We implemented a Travel Policy Addendum which limits corporate travel.
  7. We made a formal policy statement about our commitment to the environment.

Customers
  1. COVID-19 Shut-down Donations: To keep all of our employees and customers safe, we shut down our cafes in mid-March due to the spread of Coronavirus. Since we weren’t going to be serving customers and our cafes held perishable products, we donated them to local food pantries and shelters around Milwaukee and Lake Country. Donations included hundreds of gallons of milk, fresh bakery items, bottled beverages, and more.
  2. Social Justice Donations: In the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement happening across our country and the tragic murder of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and countless other innocent people around our country, Stone Creek Coffee donated $2,000 to the Equal Justice Initiative and Radio Milwaukee and their ‘Community Stories’ initiative to help them tell our history.
  3. 10,000 Thank You’s for Teachers and Staff: The 2020 school year looked different for many of us. We understand the challenges that regularly come with teaching, but 2020 came along with more barriers to overcome. To show our appreciation for those members of our community, we committed to make this donation. By the end of 2020, we donated 5,724 pounds, although this project is continuing into 2021 until it is seen through completion. As of March 4th, 2021, we have donated 6,726lbs. 
  4. 1,000 Pounds of Coffee: Stone Creek Coffee partnered with local food banks in March and April 2020 to donate 1,000 pounds of coffee to those in need in our community. In addition, Stone Creek Coffee highlighted community resources and food banks on our social media platforms to spread awareness of assistance available to those in need and to potential volunteers that were willing to help out. 1,000 pounds of coffee was donated to five Milwaukee area food banks including Hunger Task Force and UW-Milwaukee Food Center and Pantry.
  5. Neighbor Loaves: Stone Creek Coffee utilized its unused oven time and our many talented bakers to give back to our community via the Neighbor Loaves program. By purchasing Neighbor Loaves, freshly baked bread was donated directly to the Riverwest Food Pantry. We partnered with the Artisan Grain Collaborative, Meadowlark Organics, and Lonesome Stone Milling to make this program happen. We sold, baked, and donated 711 loaves of bread for the Riverwest Food Pantry. In 2021, we are continuing and expanding this project to a “Buy a Loaf, Give a Loaf” program in our cafes.
  6. Community Fridge Milwaukee: Stone Creek believes that a cup of coffee has the power to heal. In this spirit, we are now supporting the Milwaukee Community Fridge. Each month, a donation of 30, 2.25oz fractional packs of coffee is donated to the Community Fridge. This is an ongoing project.
  7. Community Coffee Donation Boxes: Stone Creek Coffee takes pride in supporting organizations that make our community a better place to live, work, and play. Our goal is to extend deeper within communities in which we operate, by partnering with and supporting organizations that share our values and goals. Stone Creek Coffee offers donations of brewed coffee and gift boxes for raffles. We do not make cash donations unless we are closely involved with an organization. Groups that take priority are non-profit 501c3 organizations, local schools, youth organizations, and businesses we regularly work with. Stone Creek donates a minimum of 9 gift boxes (valued at $40) each month. 
  8. Bake the Vote: Bake the Vote is an international bake sale effort under the Bakers Against Racism banner to raise money for organizations working for fair elections. Our Bakery team made and donated pastries to this citywide bake sale, and proceeds from the sale were donated to Wisconsin Voices, an organization “supporting creative ways to mobilize and empower people across the state.” Our Bakery team made 100 fruit galettes that were donated.
  9. Love your Parks: To support Milwaukee County Parks and their ‘Love Your Parks’ campaign, Stone Creek Coffee teamed up with our friends at Milwaukee County Parks to create a half pound bag of coffee called Love Your Parks. $2 of every purchase of this short run coffee was donated to Milwaukee County Parks. We sold 1,706 bags of Love Your Parks and were able to donate $3,413 to the Milwaukee Parks Department as part of this Brewing Change collaboration. Our goal was to sell 500 bags of Love Your Parks coffee and donate over $1,000 to our County Park system, but with our customers’ support, we surpassed that goal. 
  10. Rally for Ally: For each half-pound of the short-run coffee Rally for Ally sold, Stone Creek would make a donation to the Alyssa Anna Pape Endowment Fund. We were able to donate $956 to this fund, which helps support the Herma Heart Institute at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.
  11. Participated in Dressember: Human trafficking is a global problem, which doesn’t exclude Milwaukee. Dressember is now a global event where you commit to wearing a dress or tie everyday in the month of December. For every pound of coffee sold on December 4th, 2020, Stone Creek donated $1. In total, we raised awareness for human trafficking as well as donated $397 to the Dressember movement.
     
We look forward to continuing to benefit those around us in 2021! 
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