Vital Information. Useful Advice.

Stay current with the latest industry insights.

Building Community and Connections: Our First ESOP Social

To build excitement for October’s ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) month, we kicked things off mid-September with an ESOP social at Swing Barrel Brewing Co. for Fargo/Moorhead area ESOPs. The idea was simple: bring together local employee-owned companies to get to know each other, swap ideas, discuss challenges, and get a clearer sense of what other employee-owned companies in our community are up to. Plain ole networking at its best!

A highlight of 2024 was planning this event — it was an exciting opportunity to create a space for connection and collaboration within the ESOP community. We had a great turnout, with 10 to 15 companies coming together! While some had crossed paths before, there were plenty who did not know each other — connecting people is exactly what we envisioned when planning this social. Conversation flowed easily, with a nice mix of company stories, personal introductions, and insights into each ESOP’s unique journey. We talked about everything from how long our companies have been employee-owned to the creative ways we’re educating employees about ESOPs.

With such positive energy overflowing from the event, it’s no surprise there’s excitement and buzz about what to do for 2025. Several attendees asked how they can get involved, or help, in the planning and ideas are already flowing. Do we keep the laid-back social? Do we switch it up and have a Q&A panel? We’re already brainstorming on how we can grow this event to make it bigger and better with every passing year. The wheels are turning, and we cannot wait to see where this new tradition could lead!

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Categories