The ESOP Association

ESOP Association Resources

Jan. 29
A unique thing about ESOP companies is that the trustee is the shareholder of record for the corporation, not the ESOP participants, who are beneficial owners. The trustee is a critical player, but the concept of a trustee can be confusing and unfamiliar to employee-owners. At most ESOP companies, a small group of employees, such as the CEO and CFO, regularly interact with the trustee through their functional roles, but otherwise employees don’t naturally interact with or get to know the trustee in the normal course of business.
Jan. 29
The ESOP Association’s 19 chapters offer events throughout the year, providing essential learning and networking opportunities for ESOPs, employee owners, and professionals. Whether you’re looking to expand your knowledge, connect with peers, or gain insights from industry experts, the Association’s chapter events offer something for everyone. 
Jan. 29
Highly Engaged Chapter Leadership Teams Helping Drive Innovation & Growth at TEA
The ESOP Association's chapter structure, established in 1986, is a key element of our organization's strength.  Comprised of 19 chapters across all states and regions of the U.S., TEA’s chapters are led by dedicated volunteers who play a vital role in advancing employee ownership.
Jan. 29
The ESOP Association’s National Conference, held in Washington, DC each May, is not just a great opportunity to bolster your ESOP education, it’s also a vitally important opportunity to share your voice with Congress. While advocacy is important year-round, the stakes for ESOPs couldn’t be higher in 2025. The federal government, including both the U.S. Department of Labor and Congress, are working on issues that will affect ESOPs for years to come, and your voice has never been more important.
Jan. 29
Washington, DC is a town with a lot of sayings borne from the hard-earned political wisdom one acquires working here.  Recently, with the release and withdrawal of the Biden Administration’s ideas of what constitutes Adequate Consideration for ESOPs, two of those sayings come to the top of my mind.
First, if you like laws or sausages, don’t watch either being made.  
And, another favorite: How do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time.
Dec. 19
In a “fireside chat” at the final general session of the Employee Owned 2024 Conference, Jim Bonham, President and CEO of The ESOP Association (TEA), talked with Lisa Gomez, Assistant Secretary for the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) at the Department of Labor (DOL), for a rare behind-the-scenes look into her journey of understanding employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) and her role in shaping their future. The conversation underscored EBSA’s evolving perspective on ESOPs and provided a detailed update on the Adequate Consideration Rule.
Dec. 11
A few weeks ago, during Employee Owned 2024, The ESOP Association announced several major changes that are underway for the future of the Employee Owned conference in Las Vegas. 
Perhaps the biggest of these changes is an all-new location starting with EO25. After a long and very successful run at Caesars Palace, the growth of the conference in recent years meant that we had outgrown the space available to us there. However, this problem quickly bloomed into an opportunity, as it allowed us to set a new direction for the conference going forward
Dec. 10
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.