How the National Employee-Owner Summit Builds on Midwest ESOP Culture

As a lifelong denizen of the Midwest, I can personally attest to the rich culture of employee ownership in the area. From the J&R Schugel trucks I see along my drive into downtown Chicago to the Woodman’s Food Market in my very own backyard, it’s clear that employee ownership is thriving across the Heartland. Alongside the employee-owned companies themselves, the region is also home to several nonprofit organizations that are doing the necessary work to further the spread of employee ownership, such as the Illinois Center for Employee Ownership (ILCEO) and the Ohio Employee Ownership Center (OEOC). Through their events and resources, these organizations are ensuring that everyone from EO-curious business owners to employee-owners themselves can connect with peers and receive valuable education about employee ownership models.

One of these events is the OEOC’s National Employee-Owner Summit, the premier gathering of employee-owners in the Midwest year after year. Hosted and staffed by the OEOC with support from the NCEO, the Summit is a two-day, off-site training program where employee-owners learn from and interact with their peers from other ESOP companies. In small groups, structured exercises, and informal discussions, employee-owners develop new skills and a new perspective on employee ownership at their respective companies.

This year, the National Employee-Owner Summit will be happening on September 14–15, 2026, in the Chicagoland area. Capped at 40 participants, the Summit offers the perfect combination of intimate learning and high-engagement activities, allowing participants to grow in their understanding of ESOPs and ownership culture. As a 2023 attendee of the Summit, I had a chance to see firsthand just how beneficial the program is for non-managerial employee-owners—I was more of an ESOP novice at the time, and I walked away with a much better idea of how an ESOP works and what it means to have an ownership mindset.

If you’re already a member of the NCEO or the OEOC’s Employee-Owned Network, you automatically receive a discount on Summit registrations, and the benefits compound when multiple employee-owners from your company attend. With only a few weeks left until the Summit kicks off, I encourage you to register soon—and consider bringing your team to join in on the learning and connection!