At LALO, one thing we work at every day to preserve is quality. Whether that be in our footwear design, or the people we work with, we always strive for the highest quality.

With that in mind, we wanted to take the time to highlight an organization that exemplifies the word quality to the fullest extent. The organization is Coronado DC, a distributing powerhouse based out of San Diego specializing in shipboard supplies, office supplies, MRO Tools, and tactical gear.

Coronado DC’s main client is the DOD and Navy, with a majority of their workforce being Veterans. Their brand ethos is built upon good ethics, employee empowerment and charitable practice. That commitment includes: hiring veterans and their spouses, donating to charities, and helping the less fortunate.

Recently the company got together to vote on a charity they wanted to sponsor. What they came up with was to fund a school in Uganda which is now called Rhiley Blayne Acton Elementary. It was important for them to have a lasting impact, and with this the children in Uganda will be able to get an education for years to come.

Employee empowerment is also a huge part of their ethos, where incentives are in place for employees to choose their own charities, and donate their own time to giving back.

We recently sat down with Carlos Flores, CEO of Coronado DC, to get a deeper look into this amazing company – Enjoy!

LALO: Since you are a Military supplier and a Veteran employer, is there a sense of pride in the work that you do?
CDC: Of course, you definitely take pride in what you do because you know it makes a difference. Not only does it make a difference in the lives of our customers, but also our community of veterans and their families.

LALO: It’s part of your Business’ ethos to give back to the community; when was this put into place, and what inspired the company to believe this way?
CDC: I think it has always been that way since the beginning. It's just as the years have gone by and we become more profitable, we are now able to do more and have a bigger reach if you will.  I think this ethos has always been embedded within the company.  As far as where is the drive from -  I think it is my personal upbringing and just knowing how people and services and all kind of things played a role in my being able to survive and grow. I think it's only fair that you pay it forward.

LALO: Your company donated money to a school in Uganda, what was the story behind that?
CDC: I know that we want to have a lasting impact. A lot of times when we do some of our charity events they might be a one-time thing, like donating backpacks or school supplies, but those tend to run out. They have a finite usage. What we did with the school is more of an infinite, it's going to be there for a while. No matter what we do, whether we go out of business, or we continue to grow the business, there are going to be kids in a different part of the world who are going to have a positive effect because of the work we did during a certain period of time.

LALO: Can you highlight a few of the Charities your employees work with?
CDC: Children’s Heritage Foundation, SDCCU stuff the bus, the YMCA, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society,  Dancing Around the Oak Tree, YWCA of San Diego, San Ysidro School District Backpack & School Supply Drive, Clearview Elementry After School Programs and more.

LALO: What do you think the impacts would be if more companies gave back to their community?
CDC: Obviously, there's a positive impact - within society as a whole, because you get people that are more conscious about their surroundings and their environment and their fellow humans if you will. I think companies are starting to do that anyway. There are companies that do it without saying anything, there are companies that are very public about what they do. I think as a whole, people are becoming more conscious of the world via social media, news outlets, and more. They are taking more of an interest. So I think whether it is businesses that are doing it or there's a consumer demand, they feel the money they spend should go further than just enriching a business. 

Coronado DC now has a entire store dedicated to tactical and tactical athletic gear, so if you are local to San Diego, or just visiting, be sure to stop by at 1200 Harbor Dr, National City, CA 91950, meet the team and try on some LALO’s!