Born and raised in Louisville, KY, Scott Koloms attended the University of Louisville to study English (BA) and Literature (MA) and Kent State University to work toward a PhD in Literacy and Rhetoric. Upon his father’s sudden death, Scott returned to Louisville to take over Facilities Management Services (FMS), the janitorial service his father purchased just eighteen months prior.
Maintaining his desire to teach and to have a positive impact on people and communities in his new role, Scott runs FMS in a way that prioritizes the wellbeing of his employees and focuses on making a difference in their lives, all while maintaining the financial bottom line. His personal growth through mindfulness and meditation has led him to incorporate new strategies into the practices at FMS. Over the course of 18 years, FMS has sustained significant growth, increasing its staff from 30 to 850 employees between 2001 and 2019. Under Scott’s leadership, employee turnover has decreased from 120% in 2014 to 69% in 2017 in an industry with an average turnover rate of 250%.
In November of 2016, this business model allowed FMS to become Kentucky’s second certified B-Corporation and the first B-Corp janitorial service in the world. The certification requires that the business meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.
In early 2017, Scott began working with others to pass legislation in Kentucky to recognize Public Benefit Corporations as legal entities, and in July of 2017 the law went into effect. FMS became Kentucky’s first Public Benefit Corporation on July 1, 2017. In May of 2017, Scott founded Canopy, a nonprofit organization aiming to make Kentucky first in good business. Its goal is to create a strong network of socially conscious and impact driven businesses that work to make lives better in Kentucky.
In late 2018, FMS was recognized in the inaugural RealLeaders 100 – a ranking of the 100 Top Impact Companies in North America. FMS became a part of an incredible set of companies – an exciting segment of the economy that is demonstrating that every transaction has the potential for prosperity and profit to manifest.
Currently, Scott performs speaking engagements in an effort to inspire others to adopt socially conscious, impact driven business models. His presentations focus on both his personal journey towards social entrepreneurialism and the concepts behind FMS’ for profit social enterprise.
Scott lives in Louisville and has three children: Oliver (13), Sophia (11), and Ellie (9).