The ESOP Association
Public Policy Council
The ESOP Association was envisioned and formed first and foremost as an advocacy organization to protect, defend, and expand government policies that promote the establishment and ongoing operations of ESOPs. To this end, the advocacy function of the Association is one of the paramount activities and functions of TEA.
The ESOP Association's Public Policy Council is a volunteer group of advocacy champions representing the most highly engaged TEA Member companies, professionals, and individual employee owner volunteers and is charged with the responsibility of helping to shape and guide the public policy initiatives and advocacy activities of TEA.
When Congress is in session, members of the Policy Council join monthly conference calls with TEA Public Policy staff for an in-depth discussion on TEA’s advocacy efforts and the most recent developments. During these calls, council members will have the opportunity to participate in the overall programming, positions, and plan of execution for advocacy.
Members of the Council are the most politically engaged members in TEA, maintain well-established relationships with policy makers, and possess a deep knowledge of The ESOP Association and issues affecting employee ownership. Advocacy experience preferred but not required.
The members of the inaugural Public Policy Council were appointed by the Board of Directors on April 30, 2021. Thanks to the following individuals for volunteering their time and energy to help our public policy efforts.
Executive Committee of the Public Policy Council
Peter A. Ney | Daniel Goldstein | Brian Bowers |
Ben Holder | Barbara Clough | Renee Lewis |
Eric Tober | Sean-Tamba Matthew | Allison Wilkerson |
Members of the Public Policy Council
| Aaron Moberger Harpoon Brewery | Ali Jamshidi CTL Engineering Inc. | Amy Kirby DCS Corporation | Andy Daly Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr |
| Castles Hollis Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP | Chris Buch Polsinelli PC | Chris Hicks Gemini Industries | Christopher Thiel Alterman, Inc. |
| Clifford Canavera Canavera Financial Group, LLC | Danielle Montesano Duff & Phelps | David H. Williams Argent Trust Company | Derrick Vick Freedom Industries, Inc. |
| Edward Weisto First Midwest Bank | Elizabeth Di Cola First Midwest Bank | Gary Shorman Eagle Communications, Inc. | James Steiker SES ESOP Strategies LLC |
| John Penewitt LJA Engineering, Inc. | Karen Ellis Superior Farms/ Transhumance Holding | Kim Abello Wells Fargo Bank, NA | Kris Carlson Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories |
| Laura Ruzicka SRC Holding Corporation | Marcus Piquet Ambrose Advisors | Maria Prado Rex-Cut Abrasives | Michael Willard Salem Fabrication Technologies Group |
| Mike Shuey Avail Technology | Nancy Love Anderson Insurance Associates | Peter Jones Tucker Ellis LLP | Ramon A. Gaanderse Tucson Asphalt Contracting |
| Richard Pearl McDermott, Will & Emery | Robert Ebling Merrill Lynch | Ryan Ball VGM Group Inc | Sara Driscoll Wiley|Wilson |
| Sarah Bothner The Capital ESOP Group at UBS | Scott Drake PFS Corporation dba PFS TECO | Scott Miller Enterprise Opportunities, LLC | Steve Earle Mid South Building Supply, Inc. |
| Ted Becker McDermott, Will & Emery LLP | Tim Jochim Walter Halverfield | Brian Ippensen TI-TRUST Inc. |
The next council will be appointed in 2023. To express your interest in future council membership, click here.