During the 2019 Employee Ownership Conference, 15 CEOs convened in a conference room (imagine that!) in the Pittsburgh Convention Center for an interest meeting that spawned the first cohort of the ESOP CEO Network.

In hindsight, you could say we formed the Network just in time. The COVID-19 pandemic launched our companies into a new era of work. Participants formed a consistent community with an emphasis on employee ownership. Our group-led discussions covered the culture of remote work in split workforces, changing labor laws, PPP loans, cash management, communicating uncertainty, board development, succession planning, health and safety guidelines, cyber security concerns, and more.

The NCEO’s ESOP CEO Network is different because the only participants are CEOs of ESOP companies, and instead of one-and-done meetings, the members meet periodically in small groups so they know and trust each other and can share candidly. No one other than the CEOs and NCEO staff is present, and we choose our agendas together. Participants share directly usable ideas with each other, and the result is stronger companies.

We intentionally keep it simple: there’s no focus other than CEOs helping each other make the most of employee ownership for the benefit of their companies and co-owners. One core principle of the group is confidentiality, and in that spirit of anonymity, one participant called it “The best peer group I’ve been involved in,” while another said, “I’d be sad if I lost the feedback from this group! I talk with my executive team after every one of this group’s meetings.”

And speaking for myself, although the NCEO cannot have an ESOP itself, I am a CEO, and I have found myself furiously scribbling down ideas for the NCEO during this group’s meetings. As I look back on all that we have covered, I am incredibly grateful for the group and the time and commitment the members showed to their ESOPs and the employee ownership community. 

I am excited to announce that the ESOP CEO Network is actively recruiting for our next cohort, launching in March 2022.

2022 Schedule

The ESOP CEO Network will meet online at regular intervals. We currently have a calendar for one cohort and will set up other cohorts based on interest.

The first official meeting of the first group will take place on March 2nd from 8 - 10 am PST / 11 am - 1 pm EST.

All meetings will be 8 - 10 am PST / 11 am - 1 pm EST 

• Wednesday, May 4th
• Wednesday, July 13th
• Wednesday, September 14th
• Wednesday, November 2nd 

Plug Into the Network

With what we hope is the worst of the pandemic behind us, we look to 2022 with hope. Whether your company is in growth mode or if you’re in a rebuilding year, the Network is a great place for you to explore ideas and practices on the topics that matter most to you and get the information you need to unlock your company's employee ownership potential.

Join the ESOP CEO Network for the annual fee of $900.

Due to the size of this group, enrollment is limited. An active NCEO membership is required for participation. Please complete this form to express interest in joining future cohorts.