Executive Bios
J. Michael Keeling, CAE
President
The ESOP Association
J. Michael Keeling, CAE, is the President and Chief Staff Officer of The ESOP Association, a national trade association promoting the growth of employee ownership in America through Employee Stock Ownership Plans, or ESOPs.
Since assuming his position in April 1991, the Association has experienced strong growth in membership and revenues, and is the largest organization in America dedicated to ensuring employee-owned companies are effective in operating their ESOP in an environment of ownership.
He is also President of the Association’s affiliated 501(c)(3) educational and research foundation, the Employee Ownership Foundation.
Prior to becoming President, Michael was General Counsel from 1984. Prior to 1984, he represented the Association on several legislative initiatives before Congress. While General Counsel, he maintained a private practice of law focused on legislative and administrative issues related to tax and retirement income policies.
During the 1970's, he was Chief of Staff for former Congressman J. J. Pickle of Austin, Texas. Prior to that, he worked as an aide in several statewide campaigns in Texas, as a private consultant to labor and farm groups, and as an employee of the Texas State Legislature.
He is a graduate of Yale University and the University of Texas Law School.
The American Society of Association Executives has certified Michael as a Certified Association Executive. He is listed in Who’s Who in American Politics and Who’s Who in America.
He is married and has two children.
Lonnie L. Peppler-Moyer
Chair
The ESOP Association
Lonnie L. Peppler-Moyer is President and Publisher at The Monroe Publishing Company (MPC) in Monroe, Michigan. The core product of MPC is The Monroe Evening News, a 22,000 circulation newspaper published seven days a week. Other publications include Bedford Now, a weekly community newspaper; Monroe Magazine, a glossy, upscale quarterly; Homes Plus, a monthly real estate guide, as well as other niche publications and commercial printing. Additionally, MPC offers a full array of design services and web site development.
The Monroe Publishing Company established its ESOP in June 1994, when 90% of the employees voted to use their existing 401(k) retirement accounts to help fund the initial stock purchase from the family shareholders. In 1999, bank loans were secured to purchase the remaining family shares, making MPC 100% employee-owned.
Ms. Peppler-Moyer joined The Monroe Publishing Company in 1995 as the Sales and Marketing Director. She subsequently was promoted to General Manager in 1997, Vice President and Publisher in 1998, and finally President and Publisher in 2000, when she was also elected to serve on the company’s Board of Directors.
Ms. Peppler-Moyer is active in the Michigan Chapter of The ESOP Association, serving as a Chapter officer and Immediate Past President. She was elected to the National ESOP Board of Directors in May 2003 and currently serves as Chairman. For the two years prior to being elected chair, she served on the Executive Committee’s State & Regional Chapter Council and has served as Vice Chair of The ESOP Association. Ms. Peppler-Moyer also was elected to the Michigan Press Association Board of Directors and is currently the Immediate Past President of their Board. In addition, Ms. Peppler-Moyer serves on Monroe County’s Industrial Development Corporation as its secretary and has served on numerous other boards and in many other volunteer positions in her community.
Ms. Peppler-Moyer was married to the late Dr. Herbert S. Moyer and the late Dwight Peppler, and has a son residing in Florida and a step-daughter and granddaughter in Dallas. Since joining The Monroe Publishing Company, she has become a stalwart advocate for employee ownership, on both a regional and national level.