The ESOP Association

ESOP Association Resources

Feb. 27
During a ceremony on December 19th at DVL Group’s Bristol headquarters, Gerald “Jerry” Mullery (Deputy Secretary, Compensation & Insurance, PA Department of Labor & Industry) presented Tony O’Hare (DVL’s Safety and Compliance Manager) with the 2023 Governor’s Award for Safety Excellence (GASE), on behalf of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. O’Hare accepted the award on behalf of DVL.
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Feb. 22
Communication is incredibly important to help employee owners understand both the financial benefit of the ESOP and shared ownership culture. But when you look around at your company, you may see a multigenerational workforce with varying degrees of knowledge – and comfort – with the ESOP and financial terms.

So how can you effectively communicate the value of the ESOP, and ultimately strengthen your company’s ownership culture, when you have a multi-generational workforce? Here are a few key steps that we’ve seen work in a variety of industries.
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Feb. 20
Advisors have seen a dramatic uptick in the number of conversations ESOP clients are having around mergers and acquisitions (“M&A”) in the past few years.

You might ask what is meant by M&A. The concept is broad and the meaning may be different depending on each company’s situation and needs. Experience shows that ESOP companies historically think of M&A in terms of others acquiring their company either by solicitation or responding to bids from potential acquirers.
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Feb. 16
In 1986 The ESOP Association’s Board of Directors adopted a change to the bylaws allowing for the organization of subgroups under its legal charter and non-profit recognition.  Article VIII, Section 1 of The ESOP Association by-laws provide for groups organized in state or regional areas that are known as “State” or “Regional” Chapters of The ESOP Association. This change allowed for the development of our current structure of 19 chapters across the United States.
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Feb. 13
As the new year kicked off, The ESOP Association’s State and Regional Chapter Council (SRCC) joined our Public Policy Council (PPC) Executive Committee in Washington, DC for an annual meeting. In addition to the business conducted by the SRCC and PPC executive committees, the more than 70 volunteer leaders went to Capitol Hill with information in hand to lay the groundwork for the Association’s advocacy efforts this year on several key fronts. They planted the seeds the Association is working to nurture and grow in 2024. But the next step needs your help.  
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Feb. 08
Product is the Result of Two-Year Professional Working Group Effort

Nearly two years ago, at the 2022 ESOP Association Professionals’ Forum, an important group of professionals was organized to find ways to leverage the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) into finally drafting and publishing actual rules to guide ESOP Trustees in fulfilling their valuation responsibilities.  This working group represented all the major professional stakeholders including ESOP Trustees, valuation firms, defense counsels, and lenders.
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Feb. 06
For many years, The ESOP Association’s National Conference in Washington, DC has served two essential roles for our community. It has been an opportunity for members to upskill their ESOP educations and hear from world-class speakers from the highest levels of business and government. And just as importantly, National Conference has played a key role in ESOP
advocacy as members meet with their Congresspeople and Senators to educate them about our most pressing issues.

In 2024, your participation is more important than ever.
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Dec. 01
Written in partnership with the Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade. Originally published in the September 2021 ESOP Report. 

Colorado’s economic development organizations and government are coming together to further employee ownership across the state through new legislation.
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Dec. 01
The ESOP Association and Employee Ownership Foundation have launched a new video series aimed at shedding light on why companies decide to become employee owned, how they initiate their search for information, and the impacts employee ownership has on a business. 
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Sep. 30
During a Congressional hearing held today by the U.S. House Small Business Committee, TEA Immediate Past Chair and Chairman of Eagle Communications, Gary Shorman, discussed the importance of Employee Ownership, the need for quick access to Small Business Administration loans, and the chilling effect of the Department of Labor’s lack of guidance on ESOP formation.

During Shorman’s testimony he asked Congress to:
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