The ESOP Podcast

It's time for our annual EO/ESOP Podcast Summer School series. We've selected some of our favorite episodes over the past year for your enjoyment over the summer break. Today we're sharing an episode of the "Owner to Owner" podcast. Host Jesse Tyler was joined by three great employee owners at 100% ESOP King Arthur Baking Company, Michael Scanlon, Manager, Workforce Acquisition and Growth, David Turner, Recipe Developer, and Ana Gallo, Fulfillment Operations Manager. Each guest shares personal insights on what ownership means to them; how they describe ownership when talking to family, friends, and strangers; the three words they use to describe ownership; their EO A-ha moments; and why anyone seeking work should consider a career at King Arthur. This episode was originally published on October 11, 2023, as Episode 52 of the "Owner to Owner" podcast.

It's time for our annual EO/ESOP Podcast Summer School series. We've selected some of our favorite episodes over the past year for your enjoyment over the summer break. Bret Keisling was joined by Peter Newman, founder of Peak Wealth Planning [www.peakwealthplanning.com/], a boutique financial advisory firm specializing in high net-worth individuals with an emphasis on employee ownership. In this episode, Peter discusses the various considerations someone should make as they begin planning for a successful retirement. Many employee owners may retire with a nest egg that generates more income than the salary. Peter describes how a mindset shift can be necessary to focus on designing and funding a retirement lifestyle, and why making and implementing financial decisions during the career can have a huge impact on retirement. This episode was originally published on January 10, 2023, as the first in a three-part series, which is now available in its entirety on our website. The show notes for this episode also include a helpful PDF called "The Employee Owner's Guide to Diversification and Retirement Planning." https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/esop-summer-school-43-peter-newman-successful-retirement-planning

As the US begins to celebrate the July 4th holiday, we're resharing this classic episode in which Bret Keisling reflects on what the holiday means to him and how employee ownership can address what he sees as our most vexing problem in the US, our inability to work together to benefit us all. Shoutouts to NCEO co-founder Corey Rosen, the Employee Ownership News, and the "Owner to Owner" podcast with Jesse Tyler. The full transcript of this episode, which includes links to all of the topics mentioned, is available on our website https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/esop-summer-school-42-from-independence-to-interdependence

It's time for our annual EO/ESOP Podcast Summer School series. We've selected some of our favorite episodes over the past year for your enjoyment over the summer break. In part 1, Bret Keisling was joined by Keith Butcher, managing partner and co-founder of ButcherJoseph & Co., a national investment banking firm focused on middle market M&A and ESOP advisory. Keith shares his view that when mature ESOPs run into trouble, it is not because the ESOP structure is flawed, but that the company and leadership team has lost its entrepreneurial and strategic spirit. He discusses the positive interplay between private equity and employee ownership and why it's a good thing, and why companies should act like they're going to sell in 3 years, whether they intend to or not. This episode was originally published as the first in a two-part series, which is now available in its entirety on our website at: https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/esop-summer-school-41-keith-butcher-of-butcherjoseph-part-1

It's time for our annual EO/ESOP Podcast Summer School series. We've selected some of our favorite episodes over the past year for your enjoyment over the summer break. In this episode, Bret Keisling shared EO A-ha Moments from five previous podcast guests who, besides sharing a passion for employee ownership, all presented or moderated at the 2024 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, sponsored by the Aspen Institute and the Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing, that was held in Washington DC on April 9-10, 2024. If you missed it, you can still catch selected video from the Forum on their website. In this EO A-ha moment compilation you'll hear from Maureen Conway (Aspen Institute), Adria Scharf (Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing), Corey Rosen (the National Center for Employee Ownership), Evan Edwards (Project Equity), and Jenny Levy (Hypertherm). Links to the full interviews and more are available on our website at https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/esop-summer-school-40-eo-a-ha-moments-volume-vii

Bret Keisling is joined by Gina Schaefer, founder, board chair, and retired CEO of A Few Cool Hardware Stores, which was founded in 2003 in Washington D.C. It has since expanded to 15 locations in the Washington D.C. and Baltimore, MD metro areas. In 2021 it became a partial ESOP with plans to eventually become majority and then 100% employee owned. Gina shares the origin story of A Few Cool Hardware Stores and its journey to employee ownership.  Starting with her EO A-ha Moment, which is directly related to the civil protests that took place in Washington D.C. in 2020, Gina discusses how small businesses can support their employees and communities.  She touches on the challenges and rewards of transitioning to employee ownership, emphasizing the importance of community and connection. Gina shares the inspiring story of how her neighborhood hardware store hired a number of people who were in treatment at a nearby addiction center, and how the hardware store came to be known in the community as "Recovery Hardware," which became the title of her book.   For more information on Gina, A Few Good Hardware Stores, and a link to where you can buy “Recovery Hardware” while also supporting independent booksellers, visit our webpage for this episode here: https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/283-gina-schaefer-on-business-community-eo

Bret Keisling is joined by Gina Schaefer, founder, board chair, and retired CEO of A Few Cool Hardware Stores, which was founded in 2003 in Washington D.C. It has since expanded to locations in the Washington D.C. and Baltimore, MD metro areas. In 2021 it became a partial ESOP with plans to eventually become majority and then 100% employee owned. Gina shares the inspiring story of how her neighborhood hardware store hired a number of people who were in treatment at a nearby addiction center, and how the hardware store came to be known in the community as "Recovery Hardware," which became the title of her book.   This episode is excerpted from next week's EsOp Podcast, which is a full conversation about Gina's path to employee ownership and so much more. For more information on Gina, A Few Good Hardware Stores, and a link to where you can buy “Recovery Hardware” while also supporting independent booksellers, visit our webpage for this episode here: https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/mini-cast-265-gina-schaefer-and-recovery-hardware

Part 2. Bret Keisling is joined again by Campbell McDonald, chief executive of Ownership at Work [www.ownershipatwork.org/], a UK-based charitable think tank, and a research fellow at the Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing. They discuss the interplay between employee ownership and company “best practices;” the international growth of employee ownership; and Campbell gives a shout out to the Oxford Symposium on Employee Ownership, and the work performed by Graeme Nuttal in growing EO internationally. They also discuss board of director differences between EO and non-EO companies, and how many EO boards need to get better equipped on addressing business challenges of their companies. Listeners may want to listen to part 1 of the conversation (Ep. 281) for context before listening to this episode. A link to that episode, and all our show notes, are available on this episode's webpage at https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/282-ownership-at-work-s-campbell-mcdonald-part-2

Bret Keisling is joined by Campbell McDonald, chief executive of Ownership at Work [https://ownershipatwork.org/], a UK-based charitable think tank, and a research fellow at the Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing. They delve into the impact of employee ownership on businesses and communities, the importance of employee voice, sharing rewards, and leadership in employee-owned businesses. They also discuss the similarities in EO results, regardless of the form of EO or what country the employee-owned businesses operate in.  Campbell shares findings from Ownership at Work's EO Knowledge Programme, which was commissioned in 2022 by the Employee Ownership Association (EOA) and set out to establish a new baseline in understanding the scale and impact of employee ownership in the UK. The EO Knowledge Programme is the sector's most ambitious research project to date, consisting of three vital research strands: The EO Performance Project, The Good EO Project, and the EO Integrated Impact Project. Check out the photo of the "light switch moment" mentioned in this episode, as well as additional resources, on our webpage for this episode at https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/281-ownership-at-work-s-campbell-mcdonald-part-1

From July 2022: Bret Keisling is joined by Anne-Claire Broughton of Broughton Consulting [www.broughton-consulting.com] and founder of the North Carolina Employee Ownership Center (NCEOC), who discusses small business transitions to employee ownership, open book management, and The Great Game of Business, B-corporations, and how employee ownership improves urban and rural areas and members of the BIPOC communities. Further show notes are available on our website at https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/280-icymi-anne-claire-broughton-of-broughton-consulting

Bret Keisling is joined by Jesse Tyler, Hypertherm Associate and host of the "Owner to Owner" podcast, to share brief highlights from the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO)'s 2024 Annual Conference, held April 29-May 1 in Tampa Florida. Jesse describes two panels he presented on, one on inspiring newer employee owners and another with Sargent Corp of Maine about EO podcasting. Jesse notes how employee ownership conferences have evolved in the last decade by including more forms of employee ownerships than just ESOPs and worker co-ops to include EOTs, ESOP acquisition and holding companies, and even private equity.  Jesse also applauds two inspiring quotes Jennifer Briggs made at the conference. Head to our website for the video, full transcript, and links to further information for this episode: https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/264-jesse-tyler-s-reflections-on-the-nceo-2024-annual-conference

Bret Keisling is joined by Brian Taussig-Lux, retired CEO of UnTours, which holds the distinction of being the first company to become a Certified B Corp, which means a business that meets high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials. Brian shares UnTours fascinating story, from its unique origins to its innovative business model centered on social and environmental responsibility. Founded by Hal Taussig in the 1970s, UnTours has never been employee owned, but very much shares the same vibe as successful EO businesses. Brian also describes the evolution of B Corp certification, the impact of Benefit Corporations on business practices, and the interconnectedness between employee ownership and Certified B Corps. For the video version of this episode, along with links to the topics mentioned and related podcasts, head to our website for this episode at https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/279-the-first-ever-certified-b-corp

From April 2023. To celebrate the NCEO's 2024 Annual Conference, Bret Keisling reshares an exciting announcement made at The National Center for Employee Ownership's Annual Conference last year by Loren Rodgers (NCEO) and Steve Storkan (EOX) about the formation of the NCEOX Initiative. This collaboration will combine the excellent messaging of the NCEO with the amazing messengers at Employee Ownership Expansion Network and their state employee ownership centers, which currently cover 70% of the US. At a time when EO is ascending in the US (and around the world), the NCEOX Initiative could drive a dramatic increase in ESOPs, worker co-ops, and employee ownership trusts (EOTs). The full transcript of this episode including a link to the NCEOX press release is available on our website at https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/mini-cast-263-icymi-the-nceox-initiative

Bret Keisling is joined by Daniel Goldstein, one of the leading voices in ESOPs and employee ownership today, who shares his insights on the transformative impact of ESOPs, fostering employee ownership, enhancing community welfare, and promoting business sustainability. Daniel addresses challenges faced by ESOPs, the significance of education and communication within organizations, and the role of employee ownership in addressing racial wealth disparities. Daniel emphasizes the importance of implementing EO across diverse industries and communities and its importance in rural areas for driving long-term employee wealth, business resilience, and economic stability. For more information, visit our website for this episode at https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/278-daniel-goldstein-from-esop-ceo-to-advocate

Bret Keisling celebrates Project Equity's 10th Anniversary [https://project-equity.org/].  On April 1, 2014, Hilary Abell and Alison Lingane began working part-time with a goal of scaling employee ownership.  In its first year, they created a feasibility study for different strategies to grow EO, created a worker coop academy pilot project with partners based out of Oakland, and articulated its initial organizational mission and values. Included in the Mini-cast is an excerpt from 2020 in which Alison Lingane briefly shares Project Equity's origin story. Today Project Equity operates primarily as a virtual organization of thirty team members. They have led the way with national partner collaborations, educated approximately 15,000 people about EO, and support 30-40 companies each year with technical assistance for their EO transition journeys. Congratulations and thank you to Project Equity's present and past team members. We have no doubt the best is yet to come. The video, full transcript, and show notes with links to previous Project Equity episodes are all available on our website for this episode at https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/mini-cast-262-celebrating-project-equity-s-10th-anniversary

Bret Keisling is joined by Maureen Conway, Aspen Institute Vice President and Executive Director of the Economic Opportunities Program, and Adria Scharf, Associate Director of the Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing, who discuss their takeaways and reflections on the recent Employee Ownership Ideas Forum. The Employee Ownership Ideas Forum was presented by the Aspen Institute Economics Opportunities Program and the Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing on April 9-10, 2024, in Washington D.C. Further details and links are in our show notes on our website at https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/277-maureen-conway-and-adria-scharf-on-the-eo-ideas-forum

Bret Keisling is joined by Daniel Goldstein, retired president and CEO of Folience, Inc. [https://www.folience.com/], an ESOP holding company. Daniel was on a panel at this week's Employee Ownership Ideas Forum in a session called "Hometown Ownership: The Impact of Employee Ownership in Rural Communities."  In this excerpt from an upcoming EsOp Podcast episode, Daniel discusses how ESOPs in rural areas provide economic opportunities, support multi-generational employment, and use innovative technology to upskill employees.  The Employee Ownership Ideas Forum was presented by the Aspen Institute and the Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing on April 9-10, 2024, in Washington D.C. Head to our website for the transcript and video for this episode, with links to all the resources mentioned: https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/mini-cast-261-daniel-goldstein-on-eo-and-rural-america

Bret Keisling shares EO A-ha Moments from five previous podcast guests who, besides sharing a passion for employee ownership, are all presenting or moderating at the 2024 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, sponsored by the Aspen Institute and the Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing taking place this week in Washington DC.  In this episode, we share EO A-ha Moments from Maureen Conway (Aspen Institute), Adria Scharf (Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing), Corey Rosen (the National Center for Employee Ownership), Evan Edwards (Project Equity), and Jenny Levy (Hypertherm). Bret Keisling and Jesse Tyler have been collecting EO A-ha Moments from all of their guests on The EsOp Podcast and Owner to Owner podcast. It's not the first time they heard about employee ownership or thought they liked it, but rather the moment they realized that EO could be transformative to their jobs, lives, families, and companies. Links to the full interviews and more are available on our website at https://soundcloud.com/theesoppodcast/episode-276-eo-a-ha-moments-volume-vii

Bret Keisling wants to work with employee-owned companies to create more EO A-ha Moments for employee owners.  It's that moment when someone realizes that EO can be transformative. Employee owners experience these moments in different ways: at EO conferences; interacting with other employee-owned companies; or when an employee owner recognizes that they actually have a voice at their company. Feeling valued, heard, and respected can have a dramatic effect on culture and profitability.   The most mentioned EO A-ha Moment among owners is when they received their annual statements and saw an increase in the company value and in their personal account.  The increase in value and improvements to culture don't happen in a vacuum. It takes mindfulness, repetition, and dedication to create a great EO workplace, which we know helps make EO companies more profitable and dramatically improve recruitment and retention. If you're not sure where to start, Bret Keisling can help. Head to our website to schedule a no obligation conversation about how he can help create EO A-ha Moments for your employee owners: https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/mini-cast-260-creating-eo-a-ha-moments-for-your-employee-owners The full transcript and video are also published on our website.

Bret Keisling shares a recent episode of the "Owner to Owner" podcast featuring Jesse Tyler and three great employee owners at 100% ESOP PC Construction, Kaitlyn Keenan, Sr. Job Cost Engineer, Brady Fox, LDP (Leadership Development Program) Engineer, and Mike Delia Jr., Staff Estimator. PC Construction is a 100% employee-owned construction firm providing integrated construction services through a full range of delivery methods. They excel at projects of all sizes – from a single office fit-up to water supply programs valued at over $300 million. Formed in 1958, PC created its Employee Stock Ownership Plan in 2002 and became 100% employee-owned 7 years later. Subscribe to the "Owner to Owner" podcast for more owner-centric content: https://www.ownertoownerpodcast.com/ Show notes for this episode are available on our website at https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/275-jesse-tyler-and-pc-construction

Bret Keisling shares a brief clip from the "Owner to Owner" podcast. Host Jesse Tyler is joined by Matt Cropp, the executive director of the Vermont Employee Ownership Center (https://veoc.org/), to discuss the VEOC 22nd Annual Conference which will take place on May 31, 2024, at the University of Vermont's Dudley H. Davis Center in Burlington, Vermont and will feature keynote speaker Melissa Hoover from the Democracy at Work Institute.   Attendees will gain invaluable knowledge from industry experts, thought leaders, and pioneers in the field of employee ownership. They will learn about the latest trends, best practices, and innovative strategies shaping the landscape of shared ownership, and create relationships with experts, advocates, and employee-owners at Vermont-based EO Companies. Head to our website for the transcript of this episode, with links to the VEOC 22 registration and more: https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/mini-cast-259-the-veoc-22nd-annual-conference

From April 2023: Bret Keisling was joined by Dani Green, ESOP Business Development Manager for ProAct Pharmacy Benefit Management and primary host of the vlog Sweet Chats and Salty Snacks: The ESOP Exploration. Dani and a colleague visit employee-owned companies, tour the facility, and talk about building and enhancing the employee-owned culture. Following the visit, Dani and team record a video blog that shares highlights of their visit to each company. Dani shared how the vlog came to be, what she's learned at each visit, the importance of building culture, and why employee-owned companies are a great fit for young people just entering the workforce. Vlog links and further show notes are on our website at https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/274-icymi-proact-s-dani-green-esop-vlogger

From October 2023: Bret Keisling was joined by Maureen Conway, vice president of the Aspen Institute and executive director of its Economic Opportunities Program [www.aspeninstitute.org/programs/econ…ties-program/], for a deep dive on employee ownership, quality jobs, and the critical interplay between job opportunities and strong communities, young people and the workforce. Maureen shared the Aspen Institute's background and focus and an overview on the first annual EO Ideas Forum, co-sponsored by the Rutgers SMLR Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing. Held in the summer of 2023, Bret called it the most powerful program on employee ownership he's seen in fifteen years in the field. Show notes and links to the topics mentioned in the podcast are available on our website at www.EsOpPodcast.com.

Bret Keisling features "Owner to Owner" podcast host Jesse Tyler and Jaymie Oviedo and Lindsay Isaac from the National Center for Employee Ownership discussing plans for the NCEO's Annual EO Conference which will be held April 29 - May 1, 2024, in Tampa Florida. In this excerpt. Jaymie describes how the event is evolving away from speaker-centric, lecture type presentations to sessions that will be more collaborative and workshop-like. Lindsay talks about the brand-new learning track "Building an ESOP Education Curriculum,” which is designed to provide concrete training that employee owners can take back and implement at their companies. The transcript of this episode and a link to the full Episode 62 of the "Owner to Owner" podcast are on our website at https://www.theesoppodcast.com/

Bret Keisling is joined by Kevin Burns, co-founder and director of the Sand Mountain Cooperative Education Center and co-founder of the upcoming Alabama Center for Employee Ownership (ALCEO), part of the Employee Ownership Expansion Network (EOX). Kevin discusses their innovative work educating young people about employee ownership and the potential impact on rural Alabama. The conversation delves into the prospects and challenges of promoting employee ownership, and the importance of integrating it into academic and business settings. The episode offers valuable insights into the growing movement for employee ownership in Alabama and beyond. Watch the video or read the full show notes for this episode on our website at https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/272-kevin-burns-growing-eo-in-alabama

Bret Keisling is thrilled to announce that our podcast episodes have been listened to or downloaded over 205,632 times since 2017! Thank you to our fantastic guests, dedicated team (past and present), and most importantly, YOU - our listeners, for making this possible. The EsOp Podcast and Mini-cast are platforms for empowering conversations and inspiring stories in the world of employee ownership. Thank you for being part of our incredible journey. Let's keep amplifying and celebrating the voices of employee owners together! The only thing Bret loves more than hosting the podcasts is speaking in person with employee owners and EO companies. Use the link in our episode show notes to schedule a free, no obligation chat to see how Bret can help you grow your ESOP, co-op, and EOT: https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/mini-cast-257-celebrating-205-000-podcast-listens

We're sharing another great episode of the Owner to Owner podcast. Host Jesse Tyler is joined by three great co-owners at 100% ESOP BL Companies, Breton Boudreaux, Director of Recruitment and Talent Management, Jennifer Huffmire, P.E., Senior Engineer, Donald A. Smith, PLS, Senior Project Manager. Founded in 1986 as a small transportation planning and civil engineering firm, BL Companies has grown to become a leading multi-discipline firm sought after for its quality, creativity, and expertise in producing successful outcomes. Each guest shares personal insights on what ownership means to them; how they describe ownership when talking to family, friends, and strangers; three words they use to describe employee ownership; their EO A-ha moments; and why anyone seeking work should consider a career at BL Companies. If you'd like to learn how Bret Keisling can help grow your ESOP, or if you have cultural, communication, technical, or fiduciary questions, visit the episode show notes for a link to schedule a free no-obligation conversation, here: https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/271-the-owner-to-owner-podcast-featuring-bl-companies

Bret Keisling discusses the impact of employee ownership (EO) on creating a permanent legacy for company founders. He highlights the Silver Tsunami phenomenon, which will see many baby boomer business owners ready to retire, the rarity of successful business sales, and the benefits of transitioning to employee ownership. Keisling emphasizes the positive legacy and community impact of EO, urging business owners to consider the long-term effects of their decisions. He also offers his expertise to guide owners through ESOP transactions. If you're considering a transaction to become an ESOP, and you don't know where to turn or how to get started, or what to believe with all the myths out there, schedule a free, no obligation chat with Bret Keisling on calendy here: https://calendly.com/eo_bret/initial-consultation-no-charge The full transcript for this episode is available on our website here: https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/mini-cast-256-eo-and-the-founder-s-legacy

Bret Keisling was joined by Corey Rosen, founder of The National Center for Employee Ownership (www.nceo.org) and coauthor (with John Case) of "Ownership: Reinventing Companies, Capitalism, and Who Owns What. " Corey discusses his book, federal/state EO legislation, collaborations, and why this may be employee ownership's moment. You can purchase the book now here www.ravenbookstore.com/book/9781523000821 Further show notes, and all of our past episodes, are available on our website at https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/270-icymi-corey-rosen-the-nceo-founder-and-coauthor-of-ownership This episode originally aired on September 13, 2022, as Episode 215: Corey Rosen, The NCEO Founder and Coauthor of "Ownership."

Bret Keisling discusses the importance of educating family members of employee owners about ESOPs and suggests having a separate annual event for this purpose. He emphasizes the benefits of family education in reinforcing job satisfaction, improving retention, and reducing turnover, all of which tend to improve profitability. Additionally, he highlights the value of including ESOP account information in conversations about salary and benefit packages to demonstrate the financial advantages of employee ownership over comparable jobs at non-employee-owned companies. Not sure how to get started educating family members? For help with this or other ESOP topics, schedule a free no-obligation conversation through the link on our website for this episode. You can also watch the video version of this episode or read the transcript: https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/mini-cast-255-esop-education-for-family-members

Bret Keisling shares the "Do's and Don'ts" of planning an ESOP Statement Annual Meeting, which besides Employee Ownership Month is the best way to celebrate, educate, and motivate a company's employee owners. ESOPs are required by law to value the company annually and to provide account statements to every employee owner.   Companies should consider turning the share value announcement into an event. Besides comments from the CEO or other top management, consider inviting the trustee, valuation advisor, third party administrator, and ESOP lawyers, as well as members of the company board of directors and possibly even elected officials.  Bret also shares what to do if there's a decrease in value. Bret would love to speak at your ESOP statement annual meeting either in person or remotely. Schedule a free no-obligation conversation through the link in the show notes for this episode, here: https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/269-planning-an-esop-statement-annual-meeting

Our usual focus on the EsOp Podcast and Mini-cast is about what employee-owned companies do right. But in reality, the majority of employee-owned companies are stuck in neutral, and sometimes getting out of neutral is very challenging. For many companies, ESOPs are an economic retirement benefit only that has failed to deliver in any other aspect. There are many great options on where to turn for resources to help get out of neutral. But for some these great resources can lead to sensory overload. Where do you start if you don't know what you don't know? Bret offers his thoughts on how he can help get your employee-owned company out of neutral, and reach the next level. Check out the show notes for this episode for a link to schedule a free, no obligation conversation with Bret Keisling: https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/mini-cast-254-is-your-esop-stuck-in-neutral

This week we're sharing another recent episode of the "Owner to Owner" podcast. Host Jesse Tyler is joined by three great co-owners at 100% ESOP and B-Corp ReVision Energy [https://www.revisionenergy.com/] , Malcolm Sonnett, Solar Design Team Manager, Amy Farnham, Solar Design Specialist, and Thomas Tutor, Residential Sales Manager. Founded in 2003, ReVision Energy is a mission-driven, employee-owned solar company operating in Northern New England. Guided by its mission and 5 core values, they are rewriting the way solar business is done. Prioritizing people over profit, community over competition, and sustainable growth over rapid expansion, they're on a mission to build a better world though solar power. Each guest shares personal insights on what ownership means to them; how they describe ownership when talking to family, friends, and strangers; why being both employee-owned and a B-Corporation work so well for them, their EO A-ha moments; and why anyone seeking work should consider a career at or through ReVision Energy. The goal of the "Owner to Owner" podcast is to have actual employee owners discuss a wide range of ownership experiences and culture topics, and to bring more insight into the individual ownership experience. Listen to all of the great episodes of the "Owner to Owner" podcast here: www.ownertoownerpodcast.com/

This week we're sharing the most recent episode of the "Owner to Owner" podcast.  Host Jesse Tyler is joined by three great co-owners at 100% ESOP Northwest River Supplies, Tony Mangini, CFO/HRM, Natalie Zamora, Sales Operations Manager, and Walker Andersen, Receiving Associate. Each guest on the "Owner to Owner" podcast shares personal insights on what ownership means to them; how they describe ownership when talking to family, friends, and strangers; three words they use to describe employee ownership; their EO A-ha moments; and why anyone seeking work should consider a career at NRS: https://www.nrs.com/about/careers/ The goal of the "Owner to Owner" podcast is to have actual employee owners discuss a wide range of ownership experiences and culture topics, and to bring more insight into the individual ownership experience. Listen to all of the great episodes of the "Owner to Owner" podcast here: https://www.ownertoownerpodcast.com/

Bret Keisling shares a clip from Episode 59 of the "Owner to Owner" podcast.  Host Jesse Tyler's guests are three great employee owners from Northwest River Supplies (https://www.nrs.com/), a 100% ESOP based in Moscow, Idaho.  In this excerpt, Tony Mangini, CFO and human relations manager at NRS, shares his EO A-ha Moment.   Tony candidly explains how he attended a regional conference specifically looking for ways to shut down the company's ESOP. Instead, he learned something about ESOPs that would change his mind and change NRS into a tremendously successful 100% ESOP. The full transcript and show notes for this episode are available on our website at https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/mini-cast-253-from-nah-to-a-ha For more, check out Episode 59 of the "Owner to Owner" podcast featuring Jesse Tyler and three great employee owners at Northwest River Supplies at https://www.ownertoownerpodcast.com/post/o2o-ep-59-northwest-river-supplies

Bret Keisling is joined by Keith Davenport of Blazer Strategies LLC, [https://www.blazerstrategies.com/] which provides a variety of consulting services for businesses of all sizes.  Besides Keith, Blazer features an all-star roster of professionals who share a passion for community growth, development, and wellbeing. Blazer is mission-driven, working to transform communities into healthy places to live, work, and play, by accelerating growth for people and organizations already doing great things. Keith is a past guest on The EsOp Podcast, in his previous role as executive director of the Missouri Center for Employee Ownership (MOCEO). He discusses how his work with ESOPs and worker co-ops is reflected in Blazer Strategies' vision, and how many of the hallmarks of well-run EO companies are simply best practices, which successfully translate to any business, regardless of ownership status. Read the show notes and access all our past episodes on our website, https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/266-keith-davenport-of-blazer-strategies

Part 3 of 3.  Bret Keisling again welcomes Peter Newman of Peak Wealth Planning for a discussion on the benefits of ESOP companies providing personal financial wellness training to employee owners.  We know that ESOPs provide greater retirement wealth than non-EO companies, but too many employee owners face the same retirement uncertainties and insecurities as non-employee owners. Just as many ESOPs emphasize open book management, Peter Newman discusses why it's important to include personal financial wellness planning, which leads to higher job security and satisfaction as well as increased retention among workers.  Peak Wealth Planning works with companies to offer three tiers of education, tailoring each program to where people are in their career cycle. Peak Wealth Planning [https://www.peakwealthplanning.com/] is a boutique financial advisory firm specializing in high net-worth individuals with an emphasis on employee ownership. The show notes for this episode, including a helpful PDF called "The Employee Owner's Guide to Diversification and Retirement Planning," are available on our website at https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/265-peter-newman-part-3-esop-company-provided-personal-financial-wellness-planning

Bret Keisling shares an excerpt featuring Peter Newman of Peak Wealth Planning [https://www.peakwealthplanning.com/], discussing things to consider mid-career when looking towards a future retirement, taken from next week's episode of The EsOp Podcast. In the final episode of our three-part series with Peter Newman, he will be discussing the importance of employee-owned companies offering personal financial wellness education to employee owners, and the three training tracks offered by Peak Wealth Planning for three different career stages: early, mid-career, and close to retirement. Visit our website for the full transcript, video, and show notes for this episode, including a helpful PDF called "The Employee Owner's Guide to Diversification and Retirement Planning."

Part 2 of 3.  Bret Keisling is joined again by Peter Newman, founder of Peak Wealth Planning [www.peakwealthplanning.com/], for our deepest dive ever on Diversification and Distributions. ESOP plans allow participants to diversify, i.e., sell some of their shares back to the company, at various points prior to retirement.  Peter describes various considerations, include taxes and total portfolio management, that may lead a participant to diversify or not.  He also shares what participants should consider about post-employment life as they plan to use their ESOP distributions for a successful retirement. The show notes for this episode, including a helpful PDF called "The Employee Owner's Guide to Diversification and Retirement Planning," are available on our website at https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/264-peter-newman-part-2-diversification-and-distributions-a-deep-dive

Bret Keisling shares an excerpt featuring Peter Newman of Peak Wealth Planning [https://www.peakwealthplanning.com/], who gives a very quick look at ESOP Account Diversification taken from next week's episode of The EsOp Podcast. In that episode you'll hear our deepest dive yet on the nuts and bolts of ESOP Account Diversification and Distributions. ESOP account owners usually have the right at various times to diversify their holdings by selling their ESOP shares back to the ESOP Trust or the company, and understanding your options with Diversification and Distributions is critical for planning a successful retirement. Visit our website for the full transcript, video, and show notes for this episode, including a helpful PDF called "The Employee Owner's Guide to Diversification and Retirement Planning."

Part 1 of 3. Bret Keisling is joined by Peter Newman, founder of Peak Wealth Planning [https://www.peakwealthplanning.com/], a boutique financial advisory firm specializing in high net-worth individuals with an emphasis on employee ownership. In this episode, Peter discusses the various considerations someone should make as they begin planning for a successful retirement.  Many employee owners may retire with a nest egg that generates more income than the salary.  Peter describes how a mindset shift can be necessary to focus on designing and funding a retirement lifestyle, and why making and implementing financial decisions during the career can have a huge impact on retirement. The show notes for this episode, including a helpful PDF called "The Employee Owner's Guide to Diversification and Retirement Planning," are available on our website at https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/263-peter-newman-part-1-planning-retirement-success-with-peter-newman

Over the next three weeks, Bret Keisling is bringing you episodes featuring Peter Newman, founder of Peak Wealth Planning [https://www.peakwealthplanning.com/], a boutique financial advisory firm specializing in high net-worth individuals with an emphasis on employee ownership. Part one with Peter Newman is a general look at issues people in their forties and fifties should be considering as they approach retirement age. The second episode is the deepest dive we've ever had on The EsOp Podcast about the nuts and bolts of diversification and distributions. In the third episode, Peter talks about the importance of companies providing financial wellbeing information and even classes to their employees about personal finances.  To introduce Peter Newman to our listeners, we're sharing his EO A-ha Moment, excerpted from the third episode of our upcoming series. Show notes and the full transcript of this episode are available on our website at https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/mini-cast-250-peter-newman-s-eo-a-ha-moment

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us at the EO Podcast Network. Bret Keisling reads "A Visit from St. Nicholas," popularly credited to Clement C. Moore. Learn more about how you can support employee ownership during the season of giving - and all year round - on our website at www.EsOpPodcast.com

Bret Keisling was joined by Adria Scharf, Director of Education & Collaborations, Beyster Fellow, and Director of the Curriculum Library for Employee Ownership (CLEO) at the Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing, to discuss CLEO and the online course Our Share: EO as a Wealth Sharing Tool. Adria was a 2022 keynote speaker at The National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) Annual Conference and designed and was lead instructor (with Dr. Joseph Blasi) of Our Share, the first open online course devoted to employee ownership. She is also the director of CLEO, which is an amazing online library of resources featuring some of the best employee ownership research ever conducted. Adria discusses why employee ownership is so important to her, including how it addresses wage and wealth inequality, and shares her EO A-ha Moment. Further show notes, including a link to the course on Coursea, are on our website at https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/262-icymi-adria-scharf-beyster-fellow-cleo-director-more

Bret Keisling shares an excerpt from the "Owner to Owner" podcast with Jesse Tyler featuring a guest from employee-owned and B-Corporation ReVision Energy who discusses how the company's values align with his own, which could be a great way to engage with younger employees and potential hires. Watch the video, read the transcript, and get links to the full "Owner to Owner" episode on our website at https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/mini-cast-247-aligning-eo-with-personal-values

With the holiday season upon us, Bret Keisling discusses the importance of donating to EO organizations to help support, sustain, and grow employee ownership, build better local and national economies, and address critical issues such as wage and wealth inequality, In this episode, we highlight a few great organizations such as Project Equity, EOX, and the Fund for Employee Ownership of the Evergreen Cooperatives as particularly worthy of your charitable contributions. The show notes with the list of donation links, along with the transcript and video of this episode, can be found on our website at https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/mini-cast-247-the-importance-of-eo-giving

Bret Keisling notes that ESOPs and EO are going through a rebranding phase right now. Technically, at its core, ESOPs are a qualified retirement plan. Why? Because Congress defined it that way when they established them back in the 1970s. But we know that ESOPs are so much more. They are a great tool for wealth building and data shows that, among other things, ESOPs provide financial advantages today, including higher wages and job benefits, better company governance, and improved job security. So, please. Don't call them retirement plans. The full transcript of this episode and links to further resources are available on our website at https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/mini-cast-246-please-don-t-call-them-retirement-plans

On November 18, 2023, "Owner to Owner" podcast host Jesse Tyler and his colleagues at Hypertherm hosted a gathering of New Hampshire ESOPs. There were a series of events planned throughout the day, including a wonderful panel discussion that allowed participants to hear what employee ownership sounds like at other employee-owned companies and to share what their ESOPs do really well. The program was designed as a first step in building a local and statewide community of employee-owned companies. We're delighted to share the panel discussion with you in this episode, featuring employee owners from many companies in New Hampshire including Hypertherm, Admix, Palmer & Sicard, Systems Engineering, Polyonics, Normandeau Associates, Wallace Building Products, and Littleton Coin Co. This episode is on our website at https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/261-growing-eo-in-new-hampshire

Bret Keisling shares an excerpt from the "Owner to Owner" podcast. How do you build company culture when your team is made up primarily of scientists and introverts? This question was posed at a gathering of employee owners from throughout New Hampshire as a first step towards organizing a state center there. Loren Rodgers, executive director of The National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) provided a great answer, pointing out culture doesn't have to be fun and games. It can include events similar to shark tank or idea innovation processes. Links and the full transcript for this episode are available on our website at https://www.theesoppodcast.com/

Part 2. Bret Keisling is joined by Keith Butcher, who discusses the interplay between private equity and ESOPs, including what opportunities private equity firms see in ESOP investments, returning the entrepreneurial and strategic spirit that sometimes get lost when company founders retire, and his view that it's better for ESOPs to maintain a minority position with private equity investment than risk going out of business without it. Keith Butcher is managing partner and co-founder of ButcherJoseph & Co., a national investment banking firm focused on middle market M&A and ESOP advisory. Watch the videocast of this episode or get links to Part 1 and further resources on our website at https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/260-keith-butcher-of-butcherjoseph-part-2

Bret Keisling discusses Independent Board Members for ESOP Companies, including a definition of "independent," why it's important for the company as a best practice and fiduciarily, the number of independent board members to consider, and what criteria to consider when choosing independent board members. You can get links to the resources referenced in this episode, watch the videocast, or read the full transcript all on our website at https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/mini-cast-244-esop-companies-independent-board-members