Corey Rosen
Barbados’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Indar Weir announced that more than 11,000 workers at the two state-owned sugar companies will become owners of 20% of the stock as the companies transition to private ownership.
Jaymie Oviedo
It's official: as of last night, our 2024 Annual Employee Ownership Conference, taking place from April 29 to May 1, has officially sold out! We are overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and reception from our community. This event has grown nearly every year and continues to exceed its already high expectations in quality, but nothing could have prepared us for the event to sell out a full month and a half before we descend on the Tampa Convention Center.
Madelyn Hammack
We're delighted to announce the launch of the Tandem Center for Shared Business Success. A nonprofit initiative founded in November 2023 by Chip Cargas, founder and chair emeritus of the employee-owned company Cargas, and created in partnership with the Lancaster Chamber, the Pennsylvania Center for Employee Ownership (PaCEO), and the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO), Tandem offers pathways for business success through two proven programs: profit sharing and direct employee ownership. The Center provides education and technical assistance to businesses, enabling them to thrive in ways that benefit owners, employees, and other stakeholders.
Corey Rosen
Bob Moore, the familiar face on the growing line of Bob’s Red Mill products, passed away at age 94. His death received national news coverage, including in the New York Times, USA Today, People, and many others. Moore sold the company to an ESOP in 2010, with the ESOP reaching 100% ownership in 2020. It has grown spectacularly since becoming ESOP-owned, with over 700 employees and over $100 million in sales from 200-plus products in over 70 countries. Many stores have Bob’s Red Mill sections. Along with equally iconic King Arthur Baking, the two 100% ESOP companies have become major players in their markets, with loyal customer bases.
Loren Rodgers
The NCEO is delighted to announce three new members of its board of directors: Daniel Goldstein, Howard Kaplan, and Kerry Siggins; their biographies are below. The three-year terms of the new directors will begin on April 1, 2024. Congratulations and thanks to our new directors!
Lindsay Isaac
In case you missed it, The Download is a monthly resource designed for members to use to increase education and engagement at their companies. This month’s resource is something that many companies have already adopted (and something that we have heard is a need for many others): ownership rights and responsibilities.
NCEO
The Department of Labor (DOL) has posted the latest Form 5500 filing data, which covers plan year 2021 (the most recent available year). The data includes 6,533 ESOPs filing for 2021, covering 14.7 million participants holding over $2.1 trillion in total assets.
Corey Rosen
A new bill in Colorado, HB24-1157, would provide statutory authority for the Colorado Employee Ownership Office, which Governor Jared Polis created in 2020 through an executive order. The bill would make the office permanent. The office provides technical assistance, coordinates with other agencies, and conducts outreach.
Loren Rodgers
At the NCEO, we talk with a lot of people from a lot of creative companies. Here are two of the thought-provoking ideas we’ve heard in the last few weeks. Please borrow and adapt these ideas – and let us know what you do with them!
