Take Your Career to the Next Level
EO25 brings together the nation’s top ESOP minds for the most comprehensive and inspiring employee ownership event of the year. With targeted sessions across multiple learning tracks, dynamic keynotes, hands-on learning and unmatched peer connections, you'll be better informed, energized, and ready to lead!
From governance and compliance to culture-building and communication, EO25 goes beyond the basics—delivering the skills and insights employee owners need to drive your ESOP forward.
NEW in 2025: Hands-On Workshops to Build Your Skills & Knowledge
We're excited to announce two brand-new workshops at EO25, designed to captivate and empower adult learners. These highly interactive sessions go beyond traditional presentations, offering a hands-on experience with discussions, exercises, and proven adult learning techniques. The workshops offer both a financial and an HR/Communications track, giving employee owners and ESOP professionals the opportunity to dive deep into critical topics such as repurchase obligation and employee recruitment and retention. The best part: there’s no additional cost, as workshops are included in your registration fee!
Workshop 1: Building a Thriving ESOP Culture: HR & Communication Strategies for Success
This interactive workshop is designed for HR and Communications professionals in ESOP companies who are passionate about fostering a strong employee ownership culture. We’ll dive deep into three critical areas: Recruiting & Retention, Onboarding, and Communications & Employee Ownership Month Activities. Through practical exercises and collaborative discussions, you’ll gain actionable strategies to attract top talent, create a seamless onboarding experience, and effectively communicate the value of employee ownership. Join us to learn how to empower your employees, strengthen your ESOP, and build a thriving workplace where everyone feels invested in the company’s success.
- Explore creative strategies to recruit and retain engaged employee-owners.
- Design impactful onboarding experiences that highlight employee ownership.
- Discover effective communication methods and plan engaging activities for Employee Ownership Month.
Workshop 2: Maximizing ESOP Value: A Deep Dive into Repurchase, Valuation, and M&A
This intensive workshop is designed for ESOP companies and professionals seeking to optimize the financial performance and sustainability of their plans. We’ll delve into the critical aspects of repurchase obligation, valuation, and mergers & acquisitions, providing you with the knowledge and tools to navigate these complex areas and maximize the value of your ESOP.
- Examine how participant demographics affect future repurchase obligations.
- Understand key drivers of stock value and the right questions to ask your valuation appraiser.
- Analyze potential M&A deals and practice making informed recommendations.
EO25 attendees may sign up to participate in either workshop during the online registration process.
Opening Keynote Speaker: Boxing Legend Sugar Ray Leonard
You'll want to be up early on Monday morning, November 3rd, when boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard takes the stage as our opening keynote speaker!
One of the most accomplished athletes in history, Sugar Ray Leonard is an Olympic Gold Medalist and the first boxer to win world titles in five different weight classes. His battles with the greatest champions of his era cemented his place among the all-time greats.
Join us at the Main Stage as Sugar Ray shares his insights on the principles that fuel success: discipline, focus, determination, preparation, and the courage to face the unknown. His story of perseverance and triumph is sure to resonate deeply with employee owners striving for excellence, and will leave you inspired and empowered to chase your dreams.
How to Win at Anything, With Stefanie Couch
This keynote isn't about inspiration, it's about impact. Whether you’re building a company or building your career, you’ll walk away with tools to lead faster, grow stronger, and turn pressure into performance.
Stefanie Couch is a trailblazer in the building materials and construction industry, with over three decades of experience. She is also the Founder & CEO of GRIT Blueprint, a company dedicated to helping businesses stay ahead of the curve, leverage new technologies, and create enduring success through strategic branding and innovation. Her keynote, How to Win at Anything, will provide an actionable framework and mindset for employee owners to gain new skills and feel empowered.
At EO25, Stefanie will challenge and inspire you with real-world lessons on adaptability, grit, and the mindset needed to thrive in today’s rapidly changing landscape.
Bestselling Author Michael Easter Delivers Keynote at EO25
While concurrent sessions at EO25 are designed to develop new skills and learn best practices to help you grow in your career, keynotes are geared toward helping you become your best self and fulfill your potential.
We are thrilled that New York Times bestselling author and highly sought speaker Michael Easter is set to deliver the closing keynote at EO25!
Michael Easter has made a career of traveling the world to uncover practical ideas that help people live healthier, happier, and more remarkable lives. His research has taken him everywhere from war zones to the Arctic to the Bolivian jungle. He's interviewed thousands of experts, from Nobel laureates to world-class athletes, and pored over countless studies to find the best science-backed tactics you can use to optimize your life.
Michael Easter has a powerful, inspiring, and uniquely relevant message that reinforces the core tenets of sustainable success and personal well-being to help empower you and your ESOP to pursue bigger goals with focus and clarity. You’ll learn strategies to optimize energy, enhance well-being, and build a resilient, high-performing culture driven by confidence rather than scarcity.
New & Reimagined Events, With A Dose of Hollywood Flair
You’ve seen him play big roles in iconic movies like Casino, The Usual Suspects, and A Few Good Men, and he is also one of Comedy Central’s Top 100 Comedians of All Time. On Sunday, November 2nd, join us for the combined Celebration of Employee Ownership & the AACE Awards, hosted by our very special guest, Kevin Pollak! You won't want to miss the excitement!
On Monday, women take center stage at the Women in ESOPs Luncheon. Get inspired by the women playing major leadership roles in ESOPs and employee ownership, build meaningful relationships, and hear their strategies for success. Join us for an inspiring and insightful panel discussion featuring successful women leaders from the ESOP community. This session is dedicated to amplifying the invaluable voices and contributions of women, offering firsthand accounts of their unique journeys, the challenges they've faced, and their remarkable triumphs in leadership.
Discover how empowering women leads to BIGGER success and innovation for your ESOP. Hear BOLDER perspectives that challenge the status quo and inspire decisive action. This panel highlights a TRANSFORMATIVE path towards a more inclusive, equitable, and dynamic future within employee ownership, ensuring every voice contributes to collective growth.
On Monday evening, it's the new Around the World Sponsor Showcase & Reception. Explore uniquely themed hospitality rooms, each designed and decorated by our generous sponsors, and indulge in delicious lite bites inspired by each destination. Make new friends and get to know our sponsors while experiencing a global culinary and cultural adventure.
Also new this year is the Chapter Celebration: End Zone Extravaganza happening on Tuesday, November 4. And because it's football season, it's a tailgate theme! Enjoy a feast featuring regional favorites from each of The ESOP Association’s 19 nationwide chapters. Think mouthwatering BBQ from the South, savory seafood from the Northeast and everything in between.
And for our golf fanatics, we didn't forget about you. Bring your A-game and tee it up at The ESOP Invitational Golf Outing! Limited to the first 20 foursomes who register, with a sponsorship cost of $1,100 per foursome, enjoy a round at the stunning Angel Park Golf Course. Sponsorship includes greens fees, practice area access, golf carts, a special gift, exciting prizes, and convenient transportation to and from the Aria.
