Nancy Wiefek
Research Associate Matt Mazewski from the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers has completed an analysis of US Census data on how many privately held firms in the US are “good candidates” for conversion to employee ownership through an ESOP or worker cooperative. He draws upon the US Census Bureau’s Annual Business Survey, County Business Patterns, and Economic Census.
Loren Rodgers
The Senate’s HELP (Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions) Committee will hold hearings on employee ownership at 10am Eastern on Thursday, July 24. The hearing’s title is "Empowering Workers by Expanding Employee Ownership," and the public can livestream it at the hearing’s landing page.
Matthew Licina
For each employee it touches, employee ownership is more than just a succession planning structure—it’s a catalyst for growth and long-term success. As your business moves through the ESOP life cycle, it is important to leverage the ESOP in a strategic way to promote growth, innovation, employee engagement, and more.
Corey Rosen
Emprise, a 100% ESOP-owned holding company that acquires and invests in middle-market consumer product companies, has acquired Nice-Pak Products through its portfolio company Vivos Holdings, LLC, creating one of the largest companies in its field. Emprise, which the company says stands for "employee" and "enterprise," includes a number of personal care companies, including Consumer Product Partners, Surefil, UpLift Brands, and Vi-Jon, as well as INSPR Labs, which provides research and analytical services for the personal care industry. Nice-Pak is a manufacturer of sanitizing wipes for personal care, babies and toddlers, homes, hospitals, and other users.
Matthew Licina
The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity has launched a $500,000 pilot program to help business owners consider employee ownership as a transition option. The program will be run in conjunction with the Michigan Employee Ownership Center (MICEO), which will administer the program.
Corey Rosen
Patricia Hetter Kelso, a leading voice in the promotion of employee ownership and universal capitalism, died yesterday at 98. She was the intellectual and business partner, wife, and coauthor of numerous books on expanding capitalism with her husband, Louis Kelso. Louis Kelso developed the idea of the employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) in 1956. Patricia met Louis in 1963, and they married in 1980.
Timothy Garbinsky
Dr. Joseph Blasi, one of the driving forces of academic interest and research on employee ownership, has stepped down from his role as the director of the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University. He will continue his work as both a researcher and mentor at the university's School of Management and Labor Relations.
Matthew Licina
On June 11, 2025, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek signed House Bill 3646 (HB 3646) into law, marking a key development for the employee ownership movement in the state. This legislation, which we discussed previously in a previous blog post, aims to provide a substantial boost to employee-owned businesses in securing public contracts.
Matthew Licina
Employee ownership trusts (EOTs) offer a powerful and flexible model for business succession. Yet, despite growing support programs and clear benefits, only about 60 EOTs currently operate in the US. This unique employee ownership structure requires practical knowledge and clear strategies to implement successfully.
