Company News
-
Cenzontle–Building Bridges and Uplifting Voices, Cooperatively
The conversation around employee ownership often centers on business conversions, where a retiring owner sells their company to their employees. This is a powerful model for succession and honoring a workforce. But what if a business starts with employee ownership from day one? The story of Cenzontle, a language justice cooperative based in Asheville, shows…
-
Columbia Forest Products: From Humble Beginnings to Expanding Success
In the world of manufacturing, there are companies that simply produce goods, and then there are companies that build a legacy, not just with their products, but with their people. Columbia Forest Products, North America’s leading manufacturer of hardwood plywood and veneer, is a shining example of the latter. Their story is one of resilience,…
-
Sow True Seed Thrives as a Worker-Owned Cooperative
Founded in 2009 by Carol Koury, Sow True Seed of Asheville, NC has long been dedicated to providing gardeners with open-pollinated and heirloom seeds. In early 2022, the company transitioned to a worker-owned cooperative, enabling Carol to retire and pass the torch to the passionate employees who deeply believed in the company’s mission. Four years…
-
Blythe Development: Celebrating One Year of Employee Ownership
Congratulations to Blythe Development Corp. on celebrating its first anniversary as an employee-owned company! Founded in 1921 in Charlotte, North Carolina, Blythe has a long and storied history. Originally established to build roads and highways, the company quickly took on ambitious projects, including the construction of Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base, airfields in North Africa,…
-
Salem Fabrication Technologies Group: 2024 Employee-Owned Company of the Year
Stories from experience are one of the most powerful ways to understand the impact of employee ownership models. Let’s explore the story of the North Carolina Employee Ownership Center’s 2024 Employee-Owned Company of the Year, Salem Fabrication Technologies Group, located in Winston-Salem, NC. About Salem Salem Fabrication Technologies Group was founded in 1934 and incorporated…
-
Sow True Seed Transitions to Worker Cooperative
Well-known supplier of open-pollinated seeds is now worker-owned, setting the stage for long term success for the company, the workers, and the community. Asheville, NC — Founded in 2008 by lifelong gardener and food activist Carol Koury, Sow True Seed provides gardeners with open-pollinated and heirloom seeds while actively working to create better access to healthy food in…
-
Hallam ICS
So I Know We’re Employee Owned And That’s Great But…What Does That Actually Mean? Read more on Hallam ICS’s blog…
-
Shopbot Tools becomes NC’s first Employee Owned Trust
CNC machinery specialist ShopBot Tools announced it has recently restructured as an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). Read more
-
Under New Ownership EVS Converts to a Worker Owned Cooperative
May 16th, 2016 looked like any normal busy Monday at Electric Violin Shop. Our small staff worked in concert to address email inquiries and ship e-commerce orders taken over the weekend in between answering the usual barrage of customer phone calls. This group of employees has the day-to-day of running our small company, which does a global business,…
-
Quaintance-Weaver now an employee-owned company
Quaintance-Weaver Restaurants and Hotels has become employee-owned, a move that company founders believe will prove advantageous for staff members. Read More Here…
English 
Spanish