Employee Owned

Save the Date:
November 3-5, 2025
Aria
Las Vegas, NV

The Employee Owned Conference, attended annually by more than 2,000 employee-owners, thought leaders, and professional advisors, is the largest ESOP conference in the world. Make sure to join us in Las Vegas for collaboration, networking, and multiple learning tracks designed to help you get the information you need.

The ESOP Association is extremely grateful to all the attendees, speakers, and sponsors who helped make Employee Owned 2024 the largest gathering of ESOPs, employee owners and professionals in history. 

EO24’s core theme, Transitioning to our Future, was apt on many levels as each of our Main Stage keynotes and many educational sessions focused on how ESOPs and employee owners are primed to meet the challenges of tomorrow and achieve success. In addition, EO24 was a transition for The ESOP Association as we announced a new home of the Employee Owned conference in 2025 and beyond! 

EO24’s opening Main Stage speaker, Crystal Washington, kicked off the conference on a high note. Crystal was a big hit with the audience as she shared her insights on how individuals and companies can “Future-Proof” themselves using tools they already possess. Crystal’s lively speaking style and engaging personality shone through as she explained the “Easter Eggs” of innovation we can all use to shape the most positive outcomes in our endeavors. 

On Day Two, Main Stage speaker Damon West energized the record crowd with his inspirational tale of redemption, recounting how he went from an addict serving a life sentence in prison to making the most of his second chance at life by being a Coffee Bean and dedicating himself to servant leadership. Attendees appreciated Damon’s brutal honesty and the humor he used in telling his story, as well as his uplifting message that we all have the power to create positive change in our lives.

The final Main Stage keynote of EO24 featured a surprise special guest, as Lisa Gomez, Assistant Secretary of Labor and head of EBSA, joined The ESOP Association’s CEO Jim Bonham for a candid conversation on the status of the DOL’s rule on adequate consideration and how the Department is proceeding with the Employee Ownership Initiative. The ESOP Association thanks Assistant Secretary Gomez for joining us at EO24, and for her willingness to learn about ESOPs and the economic and societal benefits of employee ownership during her tenure. Read the Advocacy article below for more details of Ms. Gomez’s conversation with Jim Bonham.

What makes Employee Owned unique among ESOP events is the diversity, quality, and quantity of options for attendees to enhance their ESOP education and grow in their jobs and careers. During EO24, attendees had their pick of more than 80 concurrent sessions, roundtables, and Executive Series programming that spanned across all ESOP roles and topics. The most extensive educational content that’s ever been offered at an Employee Owned conference ensured that ESOP beginners and long-time executives had a valuable learning experience at EO24. In addition, EO24 featured an entire learning track devoted to Canada’s new Employee Ownership Trusts and how U.S. and Canadian businesses and professional service providers can take full advantage of this exciting new opportunity.

Of course, it wouldn’t be an Employee Owned conference without the social and networking events designed to bring us all closer as a community and celebrate the spirit of employee ownership! EO24 was no different, as attendees packed the Communities and Pavilion during the opening reception to reunite with old friends and make new connections. The other highlight of opening night at EO24 was the sold-out Women in ESOPs social at the beautiful Vanderpump Cocktail Garden at Caesars Palace, honoring the women who are leading by example and helping to shape the future of employee ownership at their companies.

The festivities continued on Thursday evening with the annual Celebration of Employee Ownership, benefitting the Employee Ownership Foundation, and the Late Night With Emerging Leaders social, both held at the famous Eiffel Tower restaurant at Paris Las Vegas. The Celebration of Employee Ownership is always a crowd-pleaser, with proceeds going to support the EOF’s mission to grow employee ownership in the U.S. It was yet another fun-filled evening during EO24, especially as Foundation Chair Dave Fitz-Gerald and President Jim Bonham announced the top prize winners and another new fundraising record for this year’s ESOPATHON!

The other highly anticipated event at EO24 was the Annual Awards for Communications Excellence (AACE Awards). Judging the AACE Awards is getting more difficult each year, as ESOPs across the country are raising the bar and getting more creative and innovative with impactful strategies in their internal and external communications. The 2024 AACE Awards featured a record number of submissions, with many ESOPs entering the competition for the first time. Read on for a full summary of winners and runners-up in each AACE category!

If you were not able to attend any concurrent sessions or just want a refresher, session recording will be available until December 31st! Be sure to take advantage and catch up on anything you might have missed during EO24.

To close out EO24, TEA would like to thank our many sponsors for their generosity and support in helping us hold the largest and most comprehensive Employee Owned conference in our history! We look forward to seeing everyone at one of our many chapter and national events in 2025, and at EO25 at our all-new location at the Aria Resort

View Photos from EO24 >>

Announcing the New Home of the Employee Owned Conference!

In case you missed it, The ESOP Association has a new home for Employee Owned 2025 and beyond: the Aria Resort on the Las Vegas Strip! 

Our new location allows us to offer you a bigger, better, and more valuable conference experience. Whether you are an employee owner, sponsor, or ESOP professional, you’re going to love the new look and feel of EO25 at the Aria!