Posts by Anne-Claire
October 16, 2025 | NCEOC Annual Employee Ownership Celebration
Celebrating Employee Ownership in North Carolina This fall, we invite you to join us in celebrating the newest wave of employee-owned companies in North Carolina. This event will be an inspiring gathering of business leaders, advocates, and community members dedicated to advancing worker ownership across the state. Come connect with businesses, advisors and employees who are transforming…
Read More2025 | NC Employee Ownership Ambassador Program Webinar Series
Our 2026 cohort will meet in February. The four meeting dates will be announced shortly. The North Carolina Employee Ownership Ambassador Program is for people that work with businesses–in economic development, as business service providers, legal professionals, financial advisors, etc.–and would like to learn about employee ownership from people with experience working with or at…
Read MoreNovember 13, 2025 | SBCN Webinar – Worker Cooperative Deep Dive
Presented by the Small Business Center Network at Forsyth Community College and NCEOC Topic: Worker Cooperative Deep Dive Description: Transitions from a single owner to a worker cooperative can be a great option for smaller companies and those with a fairly flat management structure. Come hear the experience of one company that chose this route.…
Read MoreAugust 19, 2025 | SBCN Webinar – ESOP Deep Dive 2025
Presented by the Small Business Center Network at Forsyth Community College and NCEOC Topic: ESOP Deep Dive 2025 Description: Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) can be a great option for business owners looking to retire. Come hear the basics of an ESOP as well as the experience of a business owner that went this route.…
Read MoreESOP Mergers & Acquisitions on the Rise: Key Takeaways from the 2025 National Center for Employee Ownership Conference
Representing North Carolina, NCEOC Executive Director Illa Burbank and Founder Anne-Claire Broughton attended the 2025 National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) Conference, held April 14–17 in Salt Lake City. The event marked a milestone as the largest in NCEO’s history, drawing more than 2,000 participants from across the United States and internationally. One of the…
Read MoreNCEOC Featured in WNC Business
The North Carolina Employee Ownership Center (NCEOC) was pleased to be featured in an article in the Q2 2025 print edition of WNC Business, a publication serving Western North Carolina. The article, The Silver Tsunami: Preparing for “The Largest Wealth Transfer in History,” also features the work of NCEOC partner The Industrial Commons (TIC) and…
Read More3 Proven Paths to Employee Ownership
When considering options for transitioning a business to employee ownership (EO), understanding the primary types of EO is crucial. Three distinct models have proven successful across different industries and company sizes: All successful forms of EO lead to increased productivity and profitability as employees gain a direct stake in the company’s success, especially when paired…
Read MoreMeet Illa Burbank, Our New Executive Director
We are excited to announce that Illa Burbank has joined the North Carolina Center for Employee Ownership (NCEOC) as our new Executive Director. With over three decades of extensive experience in the business world, Illa brings exceptional expertise in leading organizations and harnessing the benefits of employee ownership. Her unique blend of expertise, passion, and…
Read MoreEarn CE Credits with NCEOC’s ExitPro Workshops
Those who offer professional services to small businesses in North Carolina, such as exit planners, financial advisors, and CPAs, are invited to dive deeper into employee ownership concepts through our upcoming ExitPro Workshops. Crisis Facing North Carolina Businesses We are experiencing a “Silver Tsunami” in North Carolina: Baby Boomers (who own half of all small…
Read MoreMay 15, 2025 | SBCN Webinar – Small Business Succession Through Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs)
Presented by the Small Business Center Network at Forsyth Community College and NCEOC Topic: Small Business Succession Through Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) Description: Many companies are too small for an ESOP. Tune in to hear from a Durham company that chose a new form of employee ownership, the Employee Ownership Trust, when the founder was…
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