Mighty Measure - Stories and strategies of meaningful impacts in business and beyond... 💚

Building a Business for Good: Community Business Law, Benefit Corporations, and Strengthening Small Businesses and Nonprofits with Michael Jonas

Michael Jonas, a JD/MBA licensed attorney and community advocate, joins Kim Allchurch Flick to discuss building values-aligned businesses for good. Michael shares his path to law, including financial hardship, losing housing twice, struggling to find employment after graduating law school in 2009, and taking nine bar exams before becoming an attorney in 2017. He explains why he created a values-based practice and the meaning behind his former firm Rational Unicorn Legal Services and his current firm Narwhal Law and Business Strategy, emphasizing accessible, practical legal help, flat-fee transparency, and business formation as economic justice and community building. Michael discusses challenges facing small businesses and nonprofits in Oregon, including confusion about navigating the business ecosystem, limited resource coordination, staffing issues, tariffs, low profit margins compounded by pandemic-era SBA loans and commercial lease debt, and high small business taxes. For nonprofits, he highlights risks from shrinking government funding for contracted social services, the need for hard decisions about narrowing focus, consolidating, or closing, and the lack of a nonprofit equivalent to the Small Business Administration, leaving nonprofits without sufficient technical assistance. He describes common nonprofit needs such as managing restricted vs. unrestricted funds, creating partnership agreements, scaling responsibly, clarifying board vs. staff authority, resolving governance conflict, and updating outdated, non-operational bylaws. They explore how Oregon’s economy depends on small businesses and a large nonprofit sector, and Michael argues for shifting emphasis from “startup and exit” toward sustainability, incubation, and helping local businesses grow into long-term anchors. He suggests encouraging shared use of commercial spaces to reduce lease burdens and address empty downtown buildings, improving triage support for organizations at immediate risk of closing, and modernizing public systems to reflect contractor, remote-work, and e-commerce realities learned during the pandemic (including unemployment coverage gaps, digital access, and childcare). Michael explains why he pursues Benefit Company certification, focusing on the triple bottom line of profit, people, and planet, and how Narwhal supports community through pro bono/low bono work and extensive education and presentations. He notes Narwhal operates in Oregon and Washington for business and nonprofit services, and can serve clients nationwide for federal matters like intellectual property and certain nonprofit work. They discuss how policy shifts affect clients, including DEI-related funding pressures, guidance for farmers markets on responding to ICE presence, the instability of changing or unenforced rules, and concern about Medicaid cuts affecting health organizations. Asked what makes him optimistic, Michael points to everyday community support and mutual aid, and he encourages people to ask “why,” check on neighbors—especially those who feel unsafe, including trans people, immigrants, and others—and lean into empathy as resistance. He shares ways to reach him via NarwhalStrategy.com, Instagram (Narwhal Law and Biz Strategy), LinkedIn, and mentions a new podcast, “All American Why,” plus an upcoming values-based directory project, Narwhal Pods (narwhalpod.com), supported by a Portland State University MBA capstone team. Kim closes by inviting listeners to explore Narwhal’s educational offerings and resources.

Operational Excellence, Change, and Community: Turning Big Ideas into Action with Ozzy Gonzalez

Ozzy Gonzalez - an architect, educator, facilitator, and performing artist - about “operational excellence,” joins Kim Allchurch Flick to discuss his career path, and community leadership. Ozzy describes his Mexican upbringing as shaping his resourcefulness, agility, and commitment to constant improvement. He discusses founding P3 in 2019, a private consulting practice that helps clients turn big ideas into structured strategies, policies, and operational roadmaps; P3 has supported initiatives such as supplier diversity programs, zero-carbon and zero-waste goals, and respectful workplace programs on construction sites. Ozzy explains how his board service and policy involvement (including chairing the Oregon Governor’s Commission on Hispanic Affairs) both serve the community and sharpen his focus on mission, measurement, and knowing what to say no to. He connects architecture to systems thinking, project delivery, and facilitation, and credits theater with empathy, storytelling, and helping groups bring their “whole selves” into strategic planning, including using playfulness and early failure to support learning and change. The conversation addresses heightened divisiveness in January 2026, Ozzy’s layered concept of community, and his frustration that state-level work cannot fully address federal immigration enforcement impacts that are increasing fear and anxiety in the Hispanic community. He also notes Oregon’s economic and political challenges and their effects on opportunities and small businesses. Ozzy shares optimism based on human adaptability and describes change as often occurring only when staying the same becomes more painful than changing. He advises people to study how systems work - follow decision-making, incentives, jurisdiction, and history - so actions are precise and effective.

From the Streets to the Stage: Amplifying Voices & Building Community with Charles Shambry

Charles Edward Shambry Jr. shares his journey from a struggling student surrounded by violence in 1990s Portland to becoming a motivational speaker, media producer, nonprofit founder, author, and community leader. Charles reflects on the pivotal mentorship that changed the trajectory of his life, igniting a passion for education, emotional intelligence, and public speaking. From teaching HR and self-development seminars across the country to building his own media platform, Interviews with Charles Shambry, he has dedicated his work to amplifying underrepresented voices and strengthening community through storytelling, live events, radio, and television. You’ll hear about: * The power of mentorship and belief in shaping identity * How emotional intelligence transforms lives * Why community radio still matters in a digital world * Building a nonprofit media platform focused on visibility and impact * Creating spaces for diverse communities to be seen and heard * Empowering others to speak, write, and share their stories Charles also shares his vision for the future, including expanding his nonprofit, producing quarterly fashion shows and galas, mentoring new speakers and authors, and continuing to build platforms that inspire and empower. This conversation is a reminder that voices matter. Stories matter. And when we

Championing Sustainability and Empowerment with Pallavi Pande

Pallavi Pande, the CEO and Chief Dishwashing Officer of DTOCS, a company known for its classy, compostable tableware, joins Kim Allchurch Flick. They discuss Pallavi's journey from noticing waste at social events to creating a successful business that promotes environmental sustainability and social empowerment. Pallavi shares her insights on overcoming business challenges, the importance of people in driving success, and her company's commitment to ethical manufacturing and social impact in India. The conversation highlights how DTOCS tackles issues like FDA compliance and tariffs while championing eco-conscious products and supporting women workers and children's education.

Building the Infrastructure for an Equitable Economy with Paul Lovejoy, founder of Stakeholder Enterprise

Paul Lovejoy, founder of Stakeholder Enterprise and a member of the Social Enterprise Alliance committee, joins Kim Allchurch Flick to talk about his journey toward creating a more ethical and sustainable financial system. Paul shares his transformative experiences during the 2008 financial crisis, the importance of building an economy based on nature's principles, and his innovative ideas for standardizing reporting in investment crowdfunding. The discussion also explores the need for universal access to capital, the role of regenerative investments, and the potential for using digital currency to create equitable economic infrastructures. The episode closes with reflections on the importance of collaboration, self-sufficiency, and visionary leadership.