Why Do I Need a Repurchase Obligation Study?

Ashton Ellis is a Senior ESOP Strategy Consultant at Blue Ridge Associates, where she partners with business owners and plan fiduciaries to design and implement long term strategies for employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs).  With over 17 years of experience in the retirement and employee benefits industry, Ashton specializes in repurchase obligation forecasting and the financial mechanics that drive successful ESOP outcomes.  Working remotely, Ashton serves clients nationwide, offering strategic insight grounded in both technical knowledge and practical application.  She earned her bachelor's degree in applied mathematics from Auburn University.

Josh Goldbeck is a Senior ESOP Strategy Consultant with Blue Ridge Associates. He has 18 years of experience working with ESOPs, with extensive knowledge and experience in ESOP administration, loan modeling, plan design, and repurchase obligation analysis. He focuses on developing a proactive strategy that focuses on meeting the goals of the plan sponsor. Josh is an active member of The ESOP Association (TEA), the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO), and the American Society for Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA). He has been a speaker at conferences and authored ESOP industry articles on a variety of ESOP-related topics.

Josh earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Quantitative Economics and Applied Mathematics, and a Master of Business Administration degree from University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh. He also earned his QKA (Qualified 401(k) Administrator) and QPA (Qualified Pension Administrator) through ASPPA’s designation program.