Events

November 1, 2026

ESOP Association Employee Owned 2026

Mock Board Meeting: Recruitment, Monitoring / Evaluation, and Compensation of Board Members
Facilitators: Alex Moss with Brian Ippensen (TI-Trust) and Cindy Turcot (Gardener's Supply Company)

Using a live board meeting format, attendees will examine board evaluation, composition, recruitment, and compensation through the lens of a mature 100% S-ESOP experiencing board turnover. Participants will explore how boards assess performance, identify future director needs, recruit independent directors, and develop effective compensation practices. Serving as a “fourth independent director,” attendees will contribute perspectives, questions, and practical insights throughout the discussion.

Learning Objectives:
  • Design a process to monitor and evaluate the Board of Directors.
  • Assess characteristics needed in Boards as a whole, and in individual Directors.
  • Develop an approach to recruiting and compensating independent Directors.

Meaning-Making for Employee Ownership: Aligning Messages, Leadership Behavior and Employee Experience
Speakers: Linshuang Lu and Ruta Thomas (Environmental Science Associates)

Employee ownership becomes meaningful when people connect their work to the organization’s success and the responsibilities that come with ownership. The strongest employee-owned companies reinforce that connection through leadership, organizational practices, and shared expectations that encourage accountability and commitment. Attention is given to the conditions that allow ownership to take root, including leadership capability, consistent organizational signals, and meaningful avenues for participation. Drawing from experiences across the employee ownership community, presenters will illustrate how companies foster stewardship, strengthen culture, and inspire contributions throughout the organization. The result is a closer alignment among company priorities, leadership behavior, and the everyday employee experience.

Learning Objectives:
  • Assess your ESOP’s degree of alignment on the meaning of employee ownership and its implications for employee behavior.
  • Identify specific ways to improve communication and participation structures to align with employee ownership.
  • Evaluate and determine how to enhance leadership’s skill in supporting an employee ownership culture.
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