In June, more than 120 ESOP CFOs and their guests gathered in Park City, Utah, for The ESOP Association’s first-ever CFO Summit. This groundbreaking experience brought together ESOP finance leaders from across the country for focused discussions, expert-led panels, and valuable networking opportunities, all designed to tackle the unique challenges faced by CFOs in the current economic climate.
One of the most memorable moments of the Summit came on opening night, when Olympic gold medalist Jim Craig delivered a powerful keynote address. Sharing stories from the legendary 1980 “Miracle on Ice” hockey team, Craig inspired attendees with messages about the value of trust in building successful teams, the courage it takes to step outside your comfort zone, and the importance of defining success on your own terms. Jim Craig’s talk helped to energize and motivate our CFOs as the Summit began in earnest the following morning.
The general sessions kicked off with a deep dive into the pressing political and economic issues affecting ESOP CFOs today, including the impact of tariffs and potential changes stemming from the recent tax reform bill, now signed into law. Roundtable sessions throughout the Summit gave attendees the opportunity to tailor their learning experience, selecting from topics that ranged from navigating mergers & acquisitions and maximizing ESOP value through releveraging, to managing repurchase obligations and ESOP valuations.
One standout session on Tuesday featured a lively discussion on private equity interest in ESOPs, with a panel featuring Ben Holder (Plastic Products Company, Leah Turnbull (BMO), Trey Winthrop (Bob’s Red Mill), and TEA CEO Jim Bonham. The panelists explored how ESOPs can maintain long-term employee ownership while navigating unsolicited offers and growing PE interest. The session drew high engagement, with thoughtful questions and real-world insights exchanged throughout.
Attendees also enjoyed focused roundtables, where small-group discussions allowed CFOs to connect over shared challenges and the latest best practices in ESOP finance. Roundtables were consistently engaging, leaving participants with actionable takeaways, new perspectives, and a growing supportive community of fellow CFOs.
Outside the meeting rooms, attendees had the chance to enjoy the best of Park City. From a tour of the local High West Distillery to thrilling bobsled runs down the Olympic track and serene hikes through the mountain trails, the Summit offered plenty of opportunities to relax, recharge, and build lasting connections. Altogether, the Summit experience helped foster deeper relationships among our CFOs that will last far beyond the event.
In fact, 93 percent of attendees said they plan to attend next year’s CFO Summit, and 98 told us they would recommend the event to other ESOP CFOs! The ESOP Association extends a sincere thank you to all our sponsors, speakers, and attendees for making the inaugural 2025 CFO Summit a resounding success.
Stay tuned, dates and location for the 2026 CFO Summit will be announced soon. We look forward to seeing you next year!
