Own It: How to Become a Leader in Your ESOP Company
Charlie Zachau – Zachau Construction; Travis Charette – Howell Labs; Dave Vasconcelos – ProSearch; Stevie Carey – Blaze Partners; Susan Howland – Allen Financial

Leadership in an employee-owned company isn't just for those with titles. This session explores what it means to step up as an ESOP leader across culture, education, and day-to-day operations — with real examples of how employee owners at all levels have made a lasting impact on their companies.

Session II — 11:15 AM

Passing the Torch: Presidential and CEO Leadership Transitions

A panel of CEOs and Presidents at different stages of leadership transition — those who have navigated it, those in the middle of it, and those just getting started. With a spotlight on women stepping into top leadership roles, panelists will share honest perspectives on timing, challenges, and the board's role in ensuring a smooth handoff.

Session III — 1:15 PM

Good Board, Bad Board: How Do You Know?

Tom Bonner – Praxis

Every ESOP company has a board, but not every board is actually doing its job, and if you're newer to employee ownership it can be hard to tell the difference. This session keeps it practical. We'll start with the basics of how a board really works in an employee-owned company, who answers to whom and what a board is genuinely there to do. Then we'll talk with a panel of leaders whose boards are at very different stages: one just getting a board off the ground, one working to make an existing board more effective, and one running a seasoned, high-functioning board. They'll talk candidly about what their board looked like early on, what forced it to get more serious, and the moments it really mattered. You'll leave able to spot the difference between a board that protects your company and one that just fills seats.

TECHNICAL TRACK

Session I — 10:00 AM

ESOPs and M&A: What Happens When You're in Play

Thomas Flynn – Bellview Associates

Private equity is knocking. So is a strategic buyer. What does that mean for an ESOP company? This session covers the mechanics of mergers and acquisitions through the lens of employee ownership — how ESOP companies navigate being acquired or acquiring others, and what leaders need to know before they're at the table.

Session II — 11:15 AM

Long-Term Sustainability: Understanding Your Repurchase Obligation

Joe Marx – Principal Financial Group

This session breaks down what ESOP companies need to know about repurchase obligations — and when they need to know it. As companies mature, managing the RO becomes increasingly critical to long-term viability. Learn what to watch for, when to act, and how plan design can give you flexibility.

Session III — 1:15 PM

The CFO Perspective: Approaching Sustainability from Every Angle

Tasha Gardner – Sargent Construction; Keith McAlary – Sebago Technics; Sam Lavallee – Revision Energy

No two ESOPs are alike — and neither are their financial strategies. This panel brings together CFOs to discuss how their companies are managing long-term financial sustainability in different ways. A practical, candid conversation about what's working, what isn't, and how to think about the road ahead.

CULTURE & COMMUNICATIONS TRACK

Session I — 10:00 AM

Launch and Sustain: Building an ESOP Committee That Lasts

Cameron Gartley – Allen Insurance and Financial; Elise Fisher – HVAC Services, Inc.; Gwen Baizley – Revision Energy; Patrick Chamberlin – Allen Insurance and Financial

Starting an ESOP committee is one thing — keeping it going is another. This panel brings together employee owners who have built and maintained active committees to share what works, what stalls momentum, and how to keep your team engaged and energized over the long haul.

Session II — 11:15 AM

Every Owner Counts: How Your Daily Work Drives the Bottom Line

Katherine Doughty – Zachau Construction; Katherine Penley – Knickerbocker Group; Kelly Samson-Rickert – Pack Edge Inc.

An interactive, high-energy session that puts employee owners in the driver's seat. Attendees will break into small groups to tackle real ESOP challenges and explore how every role — from the shop floor to the front office — contributes to company performance and individual ownership value.

Session III — 1:15 PM

From 401(k) to K-SOP: Making Sense of Your Ownership Benefits

Carlito Cabelin – ESOP One; Christopher Noyes – BPAS Workplace Retirement Plans

A plain-language guide to the financial lifecycle of an ESOP employee owner — from vesting and valuation timing to how the K-SOP intersects with your 401(k). This session cuts through the complexity and helps employees at every stage understand what they have, what it's worth, and what to expect.