Archive of press releases and postings on employee ownership transitions 2017 – 2020

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Dec 31, 2020, A M  King, A M King transitions to Employee ownership via an ESOP.  Brian T King – Founder/President   First, it allowed me to sell the company to an entity that I believed would best protect our future success and sustainability: our employees. Secondly, it would ultimately provide every employee with a personal stake in the company, gifting each of them shares over future years, which they could grow in value through their own hard work and success. Third, it gave us the best opportunity to maintain our company culture, how we operate, and who we are as an organization. This would mean little to no discernable impact to our customers, our suppliers, and our communities.

Dec 28, 2020, 2e-volve, Craig Lemmon founder of IT provider 2e-volve, first explored employee ownership three years ago amid a spate of approaches from similar sized firms. He said he did not want to sell the business “because it would have thrown our people and clients into uncertainty. “This option means they have the reins and with my input for the years ahead, they can take the business where they want to.”

Dec 26, 2020, Woodruff Construction, “All of our employees now own Woodruff Construction,” said Don Woodruff. “Through their hard work, dedication, and focus on improving our company, this has earned us the ability to own it together. Moving forward, we’re going to make it an even better company by creating a stable foundation to build up our existing employees and hire others of like mind who will want to work for a company that they own a part of and can impact the outcomes.”

Dec 22, 2020, Allan Murry Architects, Managing director Connor Pitman said: “Unlike many firms entering employee-ownership, for us it is all about continuity and showing the market that – while we are evolving – we are as well placed as ever before to deliver the cutting-edge and landmark projects we’re known. “Employee ownership will help us grow and develop – and take on new tests with increased ingenuity and accountability. It will ensure our team is fully rewarded for its brilliant work too.”

Dec 11, 2020, Life IT, Ms Sherratt said: “We have an extremely hard-working, committed team at Life IT and it’s fantastic to be able to give our people a share in the business’ future success. “2020 is our 20th year in business and it felt like the right time to transform the ownership structure of the company. “Employee ownership is a perfect fit with our culture, ethos and our plans for the future and the swift process meant we were best placed to focus on growth.”

Dec 4, 2020, Safer Sphere, Safer Sphere transition to an employee owned company (EOT).  Safer Sphere managing director Mike Forsyth said “Today marks the eighth anniversary of the inception of Safer Sphere as a construction health and safety consultancy, a milestone I never conceived when I set out on this journey and testament to the brilliant staff, project teams and clients we work with. It is therefore very fitting on the same day I also celebrate and welcome every employee of Safer Sphere as a partner within the business. Safer Sphere has converted 49% of its ownership to an employee benefit trust, meaning all of our superb team now have a stake in the company. This provision has been put in place to align with our business growth plan, reward our team for their substantial efforts and to enable them to share in the future successes that we hope to see in the coming years and beyond.”

Dev 4, 2020, Claremont, Claremont transitioned to an employee owned company (EOT).  Tim Frankland, managing director at Claremont, said: “Throughout our history, we have always been a people-orientated organisation, so becoming an EOT now is the perfect way to embody our values and recognise the contribution of our talented team.  “The decision was also borne out of considering how to protect the stability and longevity of the organisation as some directors plan their exits, without the need for a management buyout (MBO) or the possibility of being acquired by a bigger player. This way, Claremont remains in the hands of the staff that have helped make it what it is today.”

Dec 1. 2020, Leeds Architects, The practice has been transferred to the existing team via an employee benefit trust agreement, with two thirds ownership now in the hands of the employees.  “The employee ownership model was an important part of the transition for Bauman Lyons and it means the team now has full ownership of its future direction and ambitions. There is a lot of energy and passion in the business and that is being channelled into the new generation of architects that are coming through the practice. We have two architects that qualified during lockdown so even the present situation hasn’t dampened our enthusiasm or stopped progression in any way.”

Nov 25, 2020 Tapestry Compliance, The Tapestry founders have transferred 100% of their shares to an employee-ownership trust, but industry leading experts Janet Cooper OBE and Bob Grayson will remain involved with the business as advisers to the Board and as trustees of the employee-ownership trust. Business will be very much as usual, but the next generation are incentivised and empowered to move Tapestry Compliance forward to even greater success. Chris Fallon and Carla Walsham, senior lawyers in the Tapestry Compliance team, have been appointed directors, with senior lawyers Hannah Needle and Matthew Hunter joining the trustee board.

Nov 24, 2020, Shore, Foley said: “In due course I will want to exit the business, however having founded and developed it into a market leading company over the past 17 years, I didn’t want to sell to a third party and see the team’s hard work absorbed into another organisation with different values or a long-term strategy that might not match ours.  “We have developed a strong team ethic and a culture based on collaboration, support and respect. We’re not a group of individuals sharing an office – we are a team. Our people are hand-picked for the skills, creativity, experience and spirit they bring to our company, so it was important to me to give the company, the jobs and the brand the best chance of continued independent existence following my exit. The business should work for the employees, rather than the other way around, so employee ownership was the perfect fit for us.”

Nov 24, 2020, Parallel Technologies, VP of Major Accounts Jamie Baird says pursuing an employee-owned model was about promoting Parallel Technologies’ legacy. “We could have explored selling it to an outside organization. Well, we all know what happens when that happens. Jobs get cut. We’re looking to actually grow the business,” he said. “We have key employees that we want to be here, and we want to reward them for all the hard work that they’ve done. The younger generation is going to take over this and make a go at it.”

Nov 20, 2020, The Nursery, Brand and communications research agency The Nursery Research & Planning has announced it has moved to employee ownership with immediate effect.  Peter Dann, chief executive, The Nursery, said: “The people that work here have always been what makes this business so special, delivering expert insight to a wide range of great clients. Handing ownership over to them feels like the right thing to do; it also makes good business sense as we have a brilliant leadership team and a great group of researchers who’ll be even more engaged in the success of their business as well as their clients’.”

Nov 13, 2020, Wavehill, Founder Director of Wavehill, Mark Willis, said: “We have clear company values, an extremely strong ethic and a culture based on collaboration and respect, so when it came to continuity and succession planning, becoming employee owned was a natural progression for Wavehill. “For us, it’s a commitment to our team, a number of whom have been with us for many years and have been instrumental to our success. We want to empower them; share in the success that we’ve built and make our employees feel invested in our continued growth.”

Nov 12, 2020, ITWORX, “It’s easy to talk up your company’s values in these areas, but being employee-owned demonstrates that commitment.” Noting that she and Mr Mowatt have no plans to step back from the business, Ms Ross added: “Our staff are key to our success and some of the senior employees have been with us for a very long time, so handing the company over to them shows them they are valued. It also offers peace of mind about the company’s future as there is no risk of the company being absorbed by a competitor further down the line. “We also hope the structure will help attract and retain new talent,” she said. “Young talent is so important, especially in an ever-evolving industry like IT. There is a wide range of expertise at all ages and levels within the company that we listen to and learn from, and by giving the team a say in how the business is run, they know their skills and contributions are appreciated.

Nov 4, 2020, Tangram Furnishers,  Mr Darwell-Stone said: “When I started to think about the future of the business and my eventual retirement, I knew I didn’t want to simply shut up shop and end something I’ve worked extremely hard to build. I also knew I had a long-serving and incredibly loyal team and I wanted the business to continue in its current form for them.  I didn’t want to sell to a third party and see the business absorbed into another organisation with different values or a strategy that might not match ours.  “We have developed a very successful business together and have created a strong team ethic, so it was important to me to give the company, the jobs and the brand the best chance of continued independent existence following my exit. Employee ownership is the perfect fit for us.”

Oct 30 2020, E.B. Horsman & Son, Tim Horsman President & CEO stated: “Our [ESOP] is the natural evolution of our organizational culture,” added Horsman, “We have always benefitted from encouraging an ownership mindset with our employees, so it only made sense that we have an ESOP that engages our team in an ownership program that rewards long-term enterprise value creation.”

Oct 22, 2020, Hunter-Davisson, Jeff Davisson, President of Hunter-Davisson, said, “Our company culture aligns perfectly with our decision to become an ESOP. In addition to enhancing our growth potential, this transaction provides our employee-owners with an ongoing financial interest in the business and rewards them for the invaluable contributions they have made toward our success.

Oct 13, 2020 ADLIB, Nick Dean “Over recent years we’ve been considering the future of ADLIB. We’ve always felt it would be a challenge to find a suitable buyer who would retain ADLIB’s ethos, substantiated by our B Corp certification in 2019, and the drive to balance profit and purpose. The most important factor was retaining our independence and the flexibility to invest in our growth, whilst ensuring we retain our B Corp certification. By far the best solution to ensure ADLIB has a long-standing future, was to hand over the business to the people we know and have helped create it into what it is today, whilst adding an additional layer of employee attraction for those who will help spearhead our next phase of growth.”

Oct 13, 2020 Cambridge Pixel, Litlington-based radar technology company Cambridge Pixel has moved into employee ownership, which co-founder and CEO Dr David Johnson says “will secure the long-term future of the firm… and will benefit the founders, the employees, and the company’s customers”.

October 12, 2020 First Affirmative Financial Network, First Affirmative Financial Network, a Colorado Springs-based investment advisory firm that specializes in social, responsible and impact (SRI) investing, has been sold to its employees by financial giant Goldman Sachs. Under employee ownership, the company is now is certified B corporation, a type of business that balances profit with a social purpose — in this case using “the power of capital to bring about lasting beneficial change, including stewardship of the environment and promoting social change” the release said.

Oct 5, 2020, Northern Tree, “With the history of our employees’ dedication to the company comes personal responsibility for me to develop a succession plan that will help ensure its continued success, further strengthen its legacy, and reward all employees dedicated to the future of Northern Tree,” CEO Philip Cambo said. “While there were many succession plans available to Northern Tree, only one was the perfect fit to address my responsibility to the company. I’m proud to say that Northern is now 100% employee-owned through this newly formed ESOP.”

August 26, 2020, Midwest Mole, Midwest Mole says going to an ESOP model provides “advantages for growth and employee retention without alteration of the management structure.” “The change of ownership is expected to be a seamless transition for clients and vendors, as the company continues to focus on providing cost-effective and environmentally friendly trenchless solutions, working safely and creating a welcoming work environment,” the company said in a news release.

August 24, 2020, Onex, “Being 100 percent employee-owned rewards our hard-working employees, excites our clients, keeps the business headquartered in Erie, ensures we have the same strong management team and leverages the benefits of tax-free status,” said Ashleigh Walters, President of Onex. “When we considered all these positives, it made sense to make this transition now.” “With this ESOP, our families, our community and Onex are stronger and ready for a bright future,” said Asleigh.

August 21, 2020, Damia, “Employee ownership allows us to give our people a bigger stake in the business,” explains Chris Bardoe, founder of Damia Group. “Many of our team have worked for us for a long time, and some of them have been with us since the business was established. Employee ownership roots these jobs in the region for the longer term.”

August 20, Applewood Seed Company, “We believe our company is the strongest when our employees feel valued, empowered and are given the tools to be successful in their professional and personal lives,” says Gene Milstein regarding the transition to the ESOP. “The employees’ financial interest in the company provided by the ESOP is a confirmation of our appreciation for their many years of hard work and the trust we have in Applewood Seed’s future success.”

August 19, 2020, Brands2Life, Fraser told PRovoke: “We’re delighted and we think it’s really good news for Brands2Life. It’s a lovely way of recognising all the brilliant work has done, and moving the business on to collective ownership in a way that means we can stay founder-led – because Sarah and I love running the business – and independent.”  He added: “We were already set up much like an EOT, with extensive staff feedback mechanisms and a very employee-centric culture, so nothing will change in terms of how the business is run.”  Scales said: “At a time when agencies are being challenged more than ever, we think that collective ownership gives us the best possible platform to grow and thrive in the years ahead. In our 20^th year we’re really pleased that we’re able to take this next step.”

August 17, 2020, SimVentions, “The plan has several objectives,” said Larry Root, CEO of SimVentions. “First, to provide ownership of the company to those that build and execute the work of the company; second, to provide a significant retirement benefit and a reason to want to make the company more successful; third, to provide a tool to motivate, retain, and attract employees; and finally, to create a market for the transition of equity from the current shareholders without a sale to outside interests.”

August 14, 2020, Healics, “Over the years, we’ve investigated different ownership models and the employee stock ownership plan is the one that appealed to us because it rewarded all of our employees who have helped Healics grow,” says Patti Plough, LPN, CWC, who recently retired as president and CEO of operations for Healics. “Since establishing this company, we’ve been blessed so we wanted to share the blessings with our employees and give them the opportunity to become employee owners of Healics.”

August 4, 2020, Avion Solutions, Since we became an ESOP company in 2007 our goal has always been to be a 100% employee-owned ESOP,” said Chad Donald, President of Avion Solutions. “I’m proud of our employee owners who invest themselves in the success of our company by consistently providing extraordinary service in the communities we serve. This is an historic step for Avion Solutions, and I’m excited to see what the future brings.”

July 30, 2020 MHB Consultants, Founder Hendrie Barbour stated “All of us have been involved in building MHB, and we are proud of the successful business that it has become and the team of employees that we have. We don’t want any exit plans to impact what we’ve all built or change the way the business operates and our way of doing things.” He continued “Goodwill from employees is important right now as we must all pull together in the right direction. What better way to do this than with all of us as owners?”

June 26, 2020, Alexir Partnership, “The establishment of the Alexir Partnership EOT has enabled us to achieve the three key values we all feel strongly about. Firstly, a fair return over time for the shareholders of Alexir, without putting undue financial stress on the business. Secondly, the Alexir Partnership EOT will enable our Partners, many of whom have helped build the business over many years, to participate in the ownership of the company. Thirdly, it will help to ensure Alexir remains proudly independent.”

June 26., 2020. Knowles Associates., “Establishing an EOT means Knowles Associates can maintain its all-important independence and therefore, its impartiality and strong values, whilst creating the opportunity to pass the company on to the next generation of business talent. “We will continue to provide exceptional client servicing, which has always been at the heart of what we do, so it’s business as usual in that respect – only with the promise of even better.”

June 23, 2020, Caesar Creek Software, “Rewarding employees for their contributions to Caesar Creek has always been a priority for me,” says Kevin Hoffer, Founder and President of Caesar Creek Software. “Transitioning ownership to our employees was the right solution for our company. Prairie’s team demonstrated the expertise and guidance needed in structuring the right ESOP transaction for all of us.”

“After considering various ownership transition structures for Caesar Creek, it became clear that the ESOP met nearly all of Kevin’s near and long-term objectives,” commented Tom DeSimone, Director at Prairie. “Having employees share in the value created at Caesar Creek is extremely important to the company culture created over 20 years ago. It was a pleasure working with the Caesar Creek team throughout the entire transaction process.”

June 2, 2020, Schuber Mitchell Homes PBC, Inc, “We are excited to establish an ESOP which will allow our team to benefit from the future growth of the company,” says Daman Schuber, one of the selling shareholders of Schuber Mitchell Homes.

May 13, 2020, McGee Group,  Chairman Brian McGee said that handing the company to employee ownership was a natural step. “It would have been relatively easy for us to sell McGee Group to a third party, but we did not want to do that, he said. “Michael, John and I, similar to our father, have always recognised the contribution of our employees, which is why the move to employee ownership in many ways, was the obvious next phase of the McGee journey.” “For us, it’s a move designed to secure the future of the business, continue the legacy that our father started in 1959 and reward the people who have made the business the success it is today – its employees,” he said.

May 11, 2020, Design Workshop, “With the move to a 100% employee-owned company, Design Workshop now has a framework for ownership transition that provides a substantial long-term benefit for employees and positions the firm for continued success in our next 50 years,” said Kurt Culbertson, CEO of Design Workshop. “The ESOP is a direct application of the firm’s Legacy Design principle of “community” – extending ownership of our practice to include every employee.”

Apr 29, 2020, Simon Morray-Jones Architects, Simon Morray-Jones, who thanked the Castle team for their pragmatic, helpful and supportive advice, said: “We are so pleased to leave our business in the hands of our very capable team. I will of course remain as a consultant for as long as they want me, but the future is now in their hands, which is really inspiring.” Berni added: “We have a great team, and even in the midst of this current environment, they have been very enthusiastic about this opportunity, as we had imagined they would be.

Apr 28, 2920, EHC Energy Limited, Mr Walters, managing director, said: “The directors of EHC have actively been looking for a suitable exit strategy for a number of years that would provide a solution which safeguards all parties concerned.  “Various schemes were promoted to us however we operate a transparent management style and when we discussed the options with the key staff it was agreed the employee share scheme would deliver the best long term solution to meet our future aspirations. We are delighted that the transaction is now complete and provides stability across the company in these challenging times.”

March 16, EllisDon, “EllisDon’s share structure and independent governance will ensure that we continue to strive together for complete fairness in equity of ownership across all employees, both present and future,” said Smith. “Shares will continue to be offered to employees every year and loans will still be offered on an interest-free basis. Shares will always be purchased and sold at book value, ensuring the ability of every employee shareholder to participate fully in the share value created while they are at EllisDon, and then to pass that opportunity on to future employees.”

March 11, 2020, Georgia Theatre Company, “The benefit of an ESOP,” Chambliss says, “is that you get to keep your current management team in place and you get to keep all of your employees in place. From an employee standpoint, it’s seamless—they don’t even know that it’s happening immediately. And the benefit to Bill and his family is they get paid the value of the company. Bill is a very, very loyal person—he has always taken care of his employees. Selling out to one of the big three or four or bringing in a private equity [firm] he knew was not the best thing for his employees. So when the idea of an ESOP was brought up, he thought it was a fantastic idea, and assuming the money was around the same, he was all in.”

Feb 28, 2020 Trinity Products, President Robert Griggs, who had been the company’s sole owner, said in a statement that he made the transition “to truly reward everyone who has helped build this organization over the years.” He said the ESOP would be “a great way to continue to improve on our culture” and should help Trinity recruit employees.

Feb 17, 2020, SCS Engineers. Jim Walsh, President and CEO of SCS Engineers stated “Our success and growth is a direct result of our employees thinking and acting like owners to deliver the best service for our customers. We believe employee ownership is a formidable advantage in recruiting and retaining top talent. Employee ownership provides an opportunity for them to share directly in the success they are helping to create.  This transaction delivers the flexibility to pursue sustainable growth for SCS Engineers and the opportunity to spread the wealth among our employee-owners”

Feb 6, 2020, Altec & Victoria. “Firstly, I didn’t like the idea of selling the business to a competitor. I’ve seen many times the negative effect this can have on a business and its staff. It was also important for me to create a personal legacy. I’ve spent 35 years building up this business which my Dad started and I wanted to find a way to preserve that for the benefit of everyone who works here.”

Feb 5, 2020, GreenScapes Landscape Co. “I’ve been looking for a way to pass the company along to the people here,” Gerhardt said. “I’ve been approached by buyers over the years, but it didn’t seem like a good fit for the employees, or I was worried they’d want to change the culture here. This way the employees will be able to take the ball, and they can run with it.”

Jan 29, 2020 Bluefruit Software. Paul Massey, Director and Founder of Bluefruit Software said: “This move to employee ownership will ensure that no matter how much Bluefruit grows, we will never lose sight of the positive, supportive culture that made us so successful in the first place. Bluefruit’s future is brighter than ever before because each and every member of our team is now invested in our collective success.

Jan 29, 2020 Midland Trust. Dave Owens, President and CEO of Midland, said, “Becoming an employee-owned company was a major decision for me. Midland has been in business for over 26 years and I’ve owned Midland for over 18 years. I am very proud of the business our employees helped to create, and I believe this is a great opportunity to plan for the future and give the next generation the opportunity to expand the business.”

Jan 26, 2020 Kovatch Castings.  Transitioning to an ESOP “… allowed me to keep in place my managers, who share my vision for our future, keep the Kovatch name and hopefully have it continue for many more generations to come,” he said.

Jan 21, 2020 Emperor.Emperor CEO Steve Kemp said: “Our decision to move towards employee ownership is rooted in our deep appreciation for the contribution our employees have made over our 24-year history. “Emperor has built a collaborative culture that promotes the best talent and innovation. “This move will only strengthen it by emphasising our shared purpose and reinforcing the inclusive nature of our business. “I believe this will put us in the best possible position to achieve our future aspirations as an independent agency.”

Jan 11, 2020 True North Networks.  Rather than choosing to “walk away with a big paycheck, thank everybody and walk out the door” at his retirement, he wanted to share the wealth with the team that built the company since its founding in 2002. So Ryder began researching employee ownership.

Jan 10, 2020 Palmer Holland. “The conversion to an ESOP allows Palmer Holland to benefit employees and principals, live up to our core values in excellence, and evolve and grow,” CEO Bryn Irvine said. “It has always been our goal to remain independent even in this climate where others are selling. Our ESOP allows us to retain our culture and unparalleled way of doing business.”

Jan 9, 2020, Tricore, We had to come up with an ownership solution that allowed equity to be released to Greg’s estate and Bill to retire but also ensured the future security of the company and safeguarded jobs. Many options were considered but when our accountants suggested employee ownership we soon realised it ticked all of our boxes. It protects the ethos of the company and the existing team as well as providing a satisfactory solution for the previous owners. “Protecting jobs was an extremely important factor in our decision. Many employees have been with us for over 20 years and have played a vital role in the growth and success of Tricore. Moving into employee ownership gives job certainty to everyone who works here and enables them to have control of their future.  “Although they were initially surprised, the staff are very excited about the opportunities it will bring and have very much embraced the concept of employee ownership. Our new structure will also provide clarity over roles and the opportunity for the team to improve current working practices.”

Jan 7, 2020 PAQ Inc. “Since we’ve announced this internally, across the board, employees are excited about this opportunity,” added Cote. “We’re going to feel fresh energy from everybody.”

Jan 4, 2020 Georgia Theatre Company. “Our employees are the foundation of Georgia Theatre Company,” Stembler said. “By transitioning to an employee-owned company, we are empowering them to play an integral role in the company’s future. My family and I are grateful for this opportunity to reward our employees for their hard work, loyalty and contributions by creating the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).”

Jan 2, 2020 Vectric Ltd. Edward Powell added: “We believe employee ownership is the right model for a forward-thinking company like ours, where so much is dependent on our people as individuals and the way they work together as a team. This is an opportunity to increase engagement by giving staff more potential to collaborate and lead within the business. The team have fully embraced the concept of employee ownership and are delighted that Vectric’s legacy will be protected.”

Jan 1, 2020 MetroConnections. “This new ownership plan has several benefits,” says David Graves, president and CEO of metroConnections. “First, it puts business ownership into the hands of those who grow the company; second, it will provide a significant retirement benefit and motivation to continue to grow the business; third, it provides a tool to motivate, retain and attract employees.”

Jan 1, 2020 Loftness Specialized Equipment. Loftness owner Dave Nelson stated “Each person gains more stock as they work. Nobody pays into it. The guys who are going to be here 15 or 20 years, it’s going to be pretty good for them.” “In addition to the retirement plan, it guarantees the company stays in Hector and doesn’t get bought up by some bigger firm. We’re a small manufacturing town and we’ve lost enough companies already. Our family is committed to keeping this plant here in Hector.”

Jan 1, 2020, Spark Power, “We are very pleased to be rolling out the next version of our ESOP program,” said Eric Waxman , Co-Founder & Chief Investment Officer, Spark Power Corp. “The Plan was designed to allow employees to benefit from the Company’s long-term growth, to attract and retain the best talent in the industry, and to support a culture of ownership, performance, and engagement. Through the gift share component of the Plan, every employee becomes a shareholder in the Company—We Are All Owners!” added Waxman.

Dec 31, 2019 Bergen Plumbing, Heating & Cooling. “Our employees have been highly effective in building a strong business and outstanding reputation in the community we serve. I’ve always wanted our employees to be more than just employees and have the ability to share in the success of the company,” said Matthew Gardner owner and president of Bergen. “This ESOP provides employees with a stake in the company’s long-term success and further enhances its growth potential.”

Dec 26, 2019 Pride & Service Elevator.  According to Christopher Todd, President, “Each employee of Pride & Service Elevator is a trusted team member. We want our employees to feel that they ‘own and operate’ their own business, which fosters tremendous pride resulting from owning a stake in the Company. We also want our hard-working and loyal employees to benefit beyond their wages alone if they continue to help grow Pride & Service Elevator. Together, we strive to be more efficient, safe and responsive to our customers’ needs.”

Dec 25, 2019 Easling Construction. Marty Easling said  “I love Leelanau County and want the best for my team, my clients and the economic health of the region …”

Dec 16, 2019 Barrio Brewing Company, “Barrio Brewing started as, and will continue to be, a family affair as our employees are family and have put their hearts and souls into making Barrio what it is today,” said Dennis Arnold, Barrio’s soon-to-be brewmaster emeritus, in a release announcing the decision. “Nearly 30 years after our humble beginnings, the decision on our exit strategy was easy for both of us, either sell the business or simply give the business to those who’ve made it what it is, our employees, leaving them with their destinies in their own hands.

Dec 14, 2019 SJC Alliance President/CEO Jean Carr “Being a 100% employee-owned company is a way for our founders and previous owners to reward our employees for their dedication and commitment, as well as preserve our unique culture.”

Dec 8, 2019 Metro Sales Inc Jerry Mathwig, founder and president of Metro Sales, Inc “The employees built the company with the help of our customers, and I wanted to further reward them for their contribution. This ESOP allows employees the opportunity to share in the profits they helped create. I am confident that it will provide many additional benefits to the almost 300 employees of Metro Sales, Inc., well into the future.”

Dec 6, 2019 Bluefruit Paul Massey, Bluefruit founder and director “We’ve found time and time again, that by empowering our people to make the right decisions for themselves and their work that we get a better result for our clients than if we didn’t.  “It was important that we found a way to preserve this and ensure the business would be around ten, 20 or even 30 years from now. Something that your typical Silicon Valley or London-based tech start-up doesn’t care about.”

October 15, 2019 Aveka Group. Dr. Willie Hendrickson, CEO and Founder of AVEKA, said, “It’s amazing to see the company after 25 years and what better than to reward the employees with a larger stake in the company. At the end of the day, the employees are what has made AVEKA the place to go for powder processing.”

Sep 26, 2019 Safedem Managing director William Sinclair, stated “The move to employee ownership will allow the business to develop and plan for the future and is due recognition of Safedem’s excellent employees.”

Aug 29, 2019 Crafton Tull & Associates, Crafton Tull President and CEO Matt Crafton, “We and those who went before us worked long and hard to build this business, and we want to see it continue far into the future.  We want our workforce and the communities that have supported us all these years to continue to do well by us in the future. “Transitioning ownership to the ESOP allows us to continue moving forward based on the core values that have always guided our business — integrity, respect, excellence, responsiveness, teamwork and safety.”

2017, Graham Company on why they decided to become an ESOP: We wanted to stay privately held and we were fiercely committed to our independence, so we knew that becoming employee-owned was a way to make sure this was able to happen. We were [also] really committed to making sure we kept our unique culture, so the employee ownership component helped us stay independent and also stay dedicated to strengthening and perpetuating our unique culture.

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