NCEO Staff Directory

Loren Rodgers joined the NCEO in 2005 as its research director and became its executive director in 2011. He writes extensively on employee ownership in professional and academic publications and has spoken at events around the world. Since he entered the field in 1995 as a consultant, he has worked with hundreds of companies and presented to tens of thousands of people. His expertise includes all forms of employee ownership, best practices for employee ownership companies, research, effective communications, employee motivation, corporate governance, ESOP transactions and operations, and business literacy.

Loren has a master's degree in public policy from the University of Michigan. He is currently a visiting executive fellow for the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University, and he serves on the boards of nonprofit organizations and employee-owned companies.

Corey Rosen is the founder of the NCEO. He co-authored, along with John Case, Ownership: Reinventing Companies, Capitalism, and Who Owns What (Berrett Kohler, 2023). Over the years, he has written, edited, or contributed to dozens of books, articles and research papers on employee ownership. He has been called the leading expert on employee ownership in the world. He has been interviewed widely by major media and spoken around the world.

Corey received his Ph.D. in political science from Cornell University in 1973, after which he taught politics at Ripon College in Wisconsin before being named an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow in 1975. He worked on Capitol Hill for the next five years, where he helped initiate and draft legislation on ESOPs and employee ownership. In 1981, he formed the NCEO. He serves on several ESOP company boards.

Megan Bonwell is the NCEO's events director. In this role, Megan works hand in hand with our Senior Director of Events to oversee and execute event strategy, timelines, and logistics. Megan has her bachelor's from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration and her master's in Project Management from the University of Southern California. She is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) through the Project Management Institute (PMI).

In her free time, Megan enjoys spending time at home with her family, walking her dog, woodworking, and cooking and baking for her family and colleagues. 

Jessica Castro has worked in the equity administration industry for over a decade on the issuer side in both private and public companies. She got her start in this industry by sheer luck and a company willing to take a chance on her. Thanks to the training provided by NCEO while she obtained her CEP designation, she developed a healthy understanding of the concepts and topics associated with administering equity. One of her passions is helping internal stakeholders within a corporation understand the connections that accounting, legal, and HR departments contribute to equity, and she firmly believes the training provided by the NCEO has helped her to explain these concepts. In her spare time (what little there seems to be), she enjoys spending time riding her horse Jameson, gardening in her newly rebuilt expansive greenhouse, and spending time winning board games with her husband and daughter. She resides in Tracy, CA.

As the director of finance and operations at he NCEO, Michelle is responsible for the overall financial management of the organization as well as managing human resources, office management and general business operations.  She earned her BA from Ferris State University and brings over twenty-two years of Finance and Operations experience. Michelle enjoys contributing to her Northern Michigan community in various volunteer capacities.  And as a life-long learner, Michelle enjoys reading and researching multiple topics for fun.  When she is not burying her head into a book or internet, she can be found attending the many sporting and musical events of her two teen daughters, traveling, boating, and golfing with her friends.

Grace Dawson is the membership associate at the NCEO, ensuring the continued success of the members by supporting the membership director in member communication, digital and print communication, and handling member orders. In addition, she supplements the customer service role, keeping the member experience at the heart of the process. Grace was born and raised on the East Coast and graduated summa cum laude with her BA in Communications from Plymouth State University after transferring from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. In her free time, Grace is equally content to travel the US and abroad or stay at home and try out new recipes. She enjoys skiing, tennis, interior design, cooking, and coexisting with any and all animals.

Nan joined NCEO in 2022 as executive assistant, bringing with her several years of experience as both administrative support staff and in a management capacity involving myriad administrative responsibilities. Nan’s educational and work background is primarily in the fitness industry where she coordinated multiple programs and managed fitness professionals, both of which required her special skills in organizing. Besides having a clear talent for it, she derives great satisfaction from creating order out of chaos. When Nan is not at work, she can be found out on a trail in her hometown of Asheville, NC, in the kitchen cooking up something delicious, spending time with friends and family, out listening to (and/or dancing to) live music, or traveling somewhere–preferably abroad.

Timothy Garbinsky is the communications director at the NCEO. In his role, Tim works with volunteers, allied organizations, and the press to creatively and effectively disseminate information about employee ownership and advance the NCEO's mission. He earned his BA from Duke University in 2009 and has since worked as a content creator and an educator, skills which he transfers to the NCEO. Originally from the D.C. metropolitan area, Tim now lives in California's Central Valley with his wife and son.

Nick Gehring is NCEO's web development manager. He is responsible for building and improving NCEO's online presence. For more than 15 years, Nick has worked in a variety of roles as a marketer and web developer. He earned a bachelor's degree from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio.  When not toiling away on the web, Nick enjoys taking in a movie, tending to his cats and dog, and finding new restaurants or spots to explore with friends and family.

As the marketing manager at the NCEO, Madelyn works closely with the communications director to raise awareness about employee ownership and further the NCEO’s mission. She earned her BA and MA from DePaul University in 2018 and 2020, respectively, and has since garnered marketing experience in a wide variety of industries, from investment banking to e-mobility. A Midwesterner at heart, Madelyn has lived in the Chicagoland area for almost her entire life. In her free time, Madelyn enjoys reading, watching horror films with her husband, practicing her makeup application skills, and running around the dog park with her poodle/husky mix, Koda.

Lindsay Isaac is the director of education at the NCEO. In her role, she supports the development and improvement of employee ownership communication and education as well as ownership culture and employee engagement.  She earned her BA from New York University. Her passion for employee ownership stemmed from her nine years of experience in the EO space, working on both the company and service provider side.   When she’s not working, you’ll find Lindsay exploring all the beauty and quirks that Vermont has to offer. She also enjoys making jewelry, painting, traveling, and baking banana bread and other delicious treats with her young daughter.

As an event manager, Eva works with our senior director of events and director of events to plan and execute each event’s vision, timeline, and onsite logistics. She also facilitates relationships with hotel and venue operations associates. Eva has her bachelor's degree from Purdue University in hospitality and tourism management with a concentration in marketing and sales. When she isn’t working, Eva enjoys walking her dog all over Michigan, cooking, reading, and traveling with family and friends. She is an avid lover of all things Detroit and attends as many community and sporting events as possible.

Jennifer joined the NCEO in 2023 as a member of the customer service & operations team. Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, her bilingual background has helped her overcome language barriers and communicate effectively with a wide range of customers. She is known for driving customer satisfaction, fostering long-term client relationships, and achieving business growth. With expertise in account management, customer service, and partner support, Jennifer excels in optimizing operations and delivering innovative solutions. Her dedication to delivering exceptional service and collaborating with cross-functional teams makes her a valuable asset to the NCEO team. In her free time, Jennifer enjoys traveling, learning about new cultures, and trying local dishes. She is also the proud mother of a French Bulldog named Oreo, who is way too spoiled for his own good.

Kimberly holds a degree from Michigan State University and brings a wealth of diverse experience to her role as peer network manager at the NCEO. With a career that spans non-profit organizations, animal-related fields, manufacturing, distribution, sales, retail, and business management, she has developed a versatile skill set that allows her to navigate complex networks and build meaningful connections.

Having spent over a decade working in employee-owned organizations, Kimberly is passionate about fostering collaboration, building relationships, and adding value to the employee-owned community. She is excited to leverage her unique experiences to support the NCEO’s mission and strengthen its peer network for all employee-owned companies and their partners.

Recently relocated from Alaska to Tennessee with her husband, Kimberly enjoys the great outdoors, from hiking and fishing to scuba diving and travel. She shares her home with two wonderful dogs, who are always up for an adventure. With a mix of professional expertise and a love for exploration, she’s ready to contribute to the NCEO’s continued success.

Nathan Nicholson leads the NCEO's CRM and website development, data management and analytics, and other technical projects. Nathan's past professional background includes policy work, nonprofit development, research, and data analysis, and he is coauthor of a number of the NCEO's books and research studies. Originally from Ithaca, NY, he received his BA from Cornell University in 2012 and is now based in Oakland, CA. Nathan is the father of a young daughter and enjoys making music, writing and reading, and the woods.

As the senior director of events for the NCEO, Jaymie Oviedo manages meetings and events that encourage thriving employee ownership. Jaymie is an experienced event operation and marketing professional serving across a multitude of industries. You’ll see her volunteering and modeling service to her family and friends.   She was born in the Pacific Northwest but has lived in San Diego, Phoenix, and Denver, and recently moved to the East Coast with her husband, two young children, and a family rescue dog. She is an avid Ironman triathlete, runner, hiker, and golfer.

As the NCEO's director of publishing and information technology, Scott is in charge of all publications except the newsletter for members (the Employee Ownership Report). He designed and created the NCEO's present line of books and is the author or coauthor of several books himself, including the best-selling An Introduction to ESOPs (20th ed. 2023) and Understanding ESOPs (2020). He is an attorney and served at the U.S. Department of Labor as an attorney-advisor from 1991 to 1993 before coming to the NCEO. After obtaining bachelor's and master's degrees in music from UC Davis and UCLA respectively, he earned his J.D. from California Western School of Law, where he graduated magna cum laude. Scott created the NCEO's first website in 1994 and has been involved with maintaining the NCEO's presence on the internet since then. Twice a month, he prepares the NCEO's email bulletin and sends it to over 15,000 subscribers. As the NCEO's director of publishing, Scott does everything from gathering the material to laying it out and getting it printed.

NCEO members are the heart of the employee ownership community. As Membership Director, Ramona supports the success of thousands of employee-owned companies and employee ownership experts. Ramona leads member communication, account management, and new member initiatives. She creates content and curates educational resources for members. Ramona also manages the NCEO’s peer networking programs, including year-round peer matching and special gatherings at NCEO events. Ramona earned a BA in Sociology and a BA in Theatre from the University of California, San Diego.

A member of the NCEO customer service & operations team, Francesca brings a wealth of community management experience and a deep passion for employee ownership. Drawing on her sales and worker cooperative expertise, Francesca excels at building meaningful connections, cultivating trust, and championing the benefits of employee ownership. In her role, she acts as a resource connector, streamlining access to NCEO services, and guiding members in navigating the wealth of tools and opportunities at their disposal. A national park enthusiast with a love for dancing, disco music, and dogs, she lives in Los Angeles with her longtime partner. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Anthropology and Social Change, where she conducts research on employee ownership as a driver for sustainable development.

As the NCEO’s senior researcher & data analyst, Liza is responsible for planning, designing, and executing research projects that benefit our members. She earned her MA in sociology from San Diego State University and a PhD in Sociology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Liza brings extensive experience in labor and work-related research, and her previous work was focused on labor precarity, wage theft, and how digital technology is reshaping the boundaries and meaning of work.

In her free time, Liza loves going to the gym and traveling to new and exciting places.

Suzanne joined the NCEO in February 2018. She has spent the majority of her years in California and is now in the PNW. She has a diverse background, including culinary teaching, UX design, quality control and compliance, investments, fundraising and event management, website editing, and animal care and training. Suzanne is avid advocate for volunteering, fundraising and community building, almost anything outdoors, and talking up EO.

As research director at the NCEO, Nancy Wiefek manages ongoing research projects and explores new ways to make the research relevant to our members. She brings experience studying broad trends in politics and the economy and brings that to bear in placing the research in context. 

Nancy graduated summa cum laude from Temple University with a B.A. in political science and a minor in Russian. She earned an M.A. and Ph.D. at Penn State University in political science with a focus on survey methods. Her book The Impact of Economic Anxiety in Postindustrial America, published in 2003 by Greenwood Publishing, used original survey data to examine the impact of emotions and economic anxiety on political beliefs and opinions. She is a Joseph Cabral and Robert W. Edwards Fellow through the Rutgers Institute of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing.

In her free time, she loves to be around animals and the ocean, and catch up on the latest scientific findings on the role of emotions in human and animals.