A Record-Breaking ESOP Advocacy Academy Equips Champions for Employee Ownership

The ESOP Association extends our deepest thanks to the incredible volunteer advocates who joined us in Washington, D.C., for the 2025 ESOP Advocacy Academy. With a record class of over 250 participants, this year’s Academy brought together passionate employee owners and ESOP professionals from across the country. Whether seasoned veterans or first-time participants, attendees came united by a shared mission: to protect and expand the power of employee ownership.

The Academy featured two distinct tracks to meet advocates where they are in their advocacy journey. The Intro to Advocacy track was designed for those who had never participated in a Congressional meeting and offered a foundational course in Advocacy 101. Meanwhile, the Advanced Advocacy track provided a deeper dive for returning participants seeking to strengthen their skills and better understand how Congress really works. In a sign of our movement’s momentum, this was the first year participation in the advanced track was equal to the size of the Intro track, reflecting the growing experience and dedication of TEA’s grassroots network.

Participants in the Intro track learned the fundamentals of effective advocacy from Kendra Isaacson and Becca Alcorn, a bipartisan duo from Mindset, a leading public policy firm, with decades of experience on Capitol Hill. Their session gave first-time advocates the tools and context they needed to make an impact in meetings the next day. TEA members Amy Kirby and Shelby Sledge also shared strategies for how to use personal ESOP stories to connect with policymakers and expand their influence through social media.

In the Advanced track, advocates gained a behind-the-scenes view of policymaking thanks to presentations from Anna Platt and Laura Brigandi of the Public Affairs Council. Their session focused on how Congress really works and how advocates can engage in regulatory advocacy, especially as the Department of Labor considers a new adequate consideration rule. TEA President and CEO Jim Bonham followed this presentation with a presentation on how TEA and our volunteer advocates are using every available avenue to advance policies that protect and grow ESOPs.

Both tracks concluded with a policy briefing to prepare advocates for their Capitol Hill meetings the following day. Attendees then broke into their groups to rehearse their meetings and perfect their pitches to support ESOPs. The day ended with a rooftop reception celebrating their hard work, commitment, and impact.

The success of our grassroots advocacy efforts depends entirely on the dedication of our volunteers. These individuals take time out of their busy lives to train, prepare, and advocate—not just for their companies, but for the future of employee ownership nationwide. Their commitment is the reason we’re seeing meaningful momentum in both Congress and the executive branch. With their continued efforts, we are confident even greater progress lies ahead. We are excited to see how this hard work continues to impact ESOP legislation for years to come.