- The Hub
- Advocacy
The Employee Ownership Action Network (EOAN) is a free-to-join, grassroots advocacy movement for anyone with a stake in ensuring employee ownership continues to grow and thrive in the US.
Does that sound like you?
- Membership
What Our Members Have to Say
“Membership in The ESOP Association is vital to an ESOP owned company. The advocacy and education services are invaluable and are not duplicated by any other organization.”
-David Kelly, CFO at Acadian Ambulance Service Inc.
- Events & Meetings
Featured Event
Registration Open!
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.
Upcoming events
- Resources
The #EO Solution
The ESOP Association and Project Equity have partnered to create state -by-state data that amplifies employee ownership as a common sense way to preserve businesses, strengthen jobs and build a more resilient post-pandemic economy.
ESOP Association Resources
Forming an ESOP - A New Video Series on Business Succession Planning
Hear from ESOP companies in multiple different industries, and their seasoned advisors, about what an ESOP is and if it’s right for you.
- Store
- About TEA
What is an ESOP?
An ESOP is a retirement plan—but also a way of living and running a company. For insights on both technical and cultural aspects of these plans—which provide benefits to employee owners, the company, the community, and exiting owners—and links to additional resources, see our web page titled What is an ESOP?
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The ESOP Association
ESOP Association Resources
Jun. 21
Today, Project Equity and The ESOP Association (TEA) announced a new partnership designed to amplify employee ownership as a way to preserve businesses, strengthen jobs and build a more resilient post-pandemic economy. This partnership will use new, nationwide state-by-state data to demonstrate for lawmakers the impact of ESOPs (Employee Stock Ownership Plans) and worker cooperatives, particularly in relation to the massive generational shift in business ownership facing the nation, known as the “Silver Tsunami.” Project Equity used its data analysis to create 50 state-specific infographics which will be released as part of The ESOP Association’s 47th National Conference in Washington, DC this week. TEA has scheduled more than 220 individual meetings with Members of Congress and their staff to share the data as well as other legislative and regulatory priorities for the employee ownership community.
May. 19
The ESOP Association encourages Congress to strengthen The Endless Frontier Act (S. 1260) by supplementing it with the bipartisan Sanders/Moran WORK Act Amendment, which provides critical resources to educate business owners about the benefits of employee ownership and the economic and competitive stability that flows from it. Business longevity and succession planning for the millions of current American businesses facing the retirement of their owners is an essential element to any long-term American competitive strategy.
May. 19
Inaugural Public Policy Council Appointed
Group Will Help Lead Employee Ownership Policy at The ESOP Association
May 18, 2021, Washington, D.C. – The ESOP Association’s Board of Directors is proud to announce the inaugural members of its Public Policy Council (PPC), led by Executive Committee Chair Peter Ney of EA Engineering and eight other members of the of the Executive Committee.
May. 05
Seeking to ride a wave of retiring business owners and the rising attention being given to employee ownership as a solution for wealth and income disparities, The ESOP Association is making a multi-year, multi-million dollar investment into government relations and public awareness.
Aug. 10
Rutgers University School of Management and Labor Relations' Kelso Fellows, supported by The Employee Ownership Foundation (EOF) have released the results of their nationwide ESOP survey. To see the results please visit the EOF website: https://employeeownershipfoundation.org/foundation-research.
Resource, Press Releases
May. 23
Congratulations to all our AACE winners and runners up - we had an incredible year for the AACE program with some of the best entries we have ever received. Thank you to our judges who took two days to fly to DC to judge the countless entries. We look forward to next year!
More than 250 Employees
Air Tractor (Olney, TX)
• Winner: Video
Burns & McDonnell (Kansas City, MO)
• Runner Up: Total Communications
• Runner Up: Series of Special Events
Resource, Press Releases
May. 23
Washington, DC, May 23, 2019 - Janet Edmunson, founder of JME Insights in South Portland, ME, has been named the 2019 Life Service Award winner by The ESOP Association. The Life Service Award honors individuals who’ve made a significant, long-term contribution to employee ownership and the ESOP community.
Resource, Press Releases
May. 23
Washington, DC, May 23, 2019 - Jeff Mounts, Marketing Coordinator at ESP International based in Cedar Rapids, has been named the 2019 Employee Owner of the Year by The ESOP Association. This award recognizes a non-management employee owner who provides a positive influence in the company, and who participates in the company’s employee ownership activities and in the activities of The ESOP Association.
Resource, Press Releases
May. 23
Washington, DC, May 23, 2019 - Miklos Systems Inc. (MSI) of Fairfax, VA has won The ESOP Association’s highest corporate honor—the ESOP Company of the Year Award. The award honors a company that actively participates in the employee ownership community and that demonstrates a dedication to The ESOP Association’s vision of employee participation, wealth creation, and individual dignity and worth.
Resource, Press Releases
May. 23
Research released today by the Employee Ownership Foundation (EOF) and the Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations at The ESOP Association's 42nd National Conference in Washington, DC shows that employee owned businesses enjoy uniquely broad support among Democrats, Republicans, and Independents.