Posts by North Carolina Ownership Center
September 16, 2026 | NC Employee Ownership Conference 2026
Mark your calendar! NCEOC’s NC Employee Ownership Conference will be on September 16, 2026, at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh, NC. See the flyer below for a conference overview, or download it to share with your network. Registration will open in the spring of 2026. Additional details to come.
Lea másOctober 15, 2026 | NCEOC Annual Employee Ownership Celebration
Save the date! NCEOC’s 2026 Annual Employee Ownership Celebration will be on October 15 from 4-6 pm at the employee-owned O.Henry Hotel in Greensboro, NC. Registration will open in the spring of 2026. Additional details to come.
Lea másCommon Communication Pitfalls for New ESOPs
By Danny Lamastra, in collaboration with the North Carolina Employee Ownership Center Launching an ESOP is a major milestone. For founders and leadership teams, it represents years of planning, negotiation, and vision finally coming to life. It’s natural to feel a sense of pride and relief. We did it! For employees, however, the experience may…
Lea másAre You Conversion Ready?
Written by: Illa Burbank, North Carolina Employee Ownership Center (NCEOC); Gene Holland, Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) This is part 2 of our 4-part Employee Ownership Journey series, where we explore the path from founder-led to employee-owned. In part 1 of our Employee Ownership Journey series, we talked about all of the options…
Lea másThe “Aha!” Moment Leading to the Employee Ownership Decision
This is part 1 of our Employee Ownership Journey series, where we explore the path from founder-led to employee-owned. As a founder or owner of a small-to-medium-sized business, your brain is wired for strategy. You spend your days obsessing over customer needs, navigating roadblocks, and securing resources to achieve your vision. But when was the…
Lea másFebruary 5, 2026 | ExitPro: Overview of Employee Ownership Models for CPAs & Exit Planners (1 hr CE credit)
Thursday, February 5th from 1-2 pm This virtual training will review how you can support your clients selling their business at market rates to their employees through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), Worker Cooperative, or a newer model called an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). 1 hour of CE credit for NASBA, CFP, EPI-CEPA, and…
Lea másCenzontle–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…
Lea másOctober 21, 2025 | From Founder to Future: Discussing Employee Ownership with John Abrams
Join us for a panel discussion with John Abrams and leaders from local employee-owned companies, followed by a book signing and networking This event will be on Tuesday, October 21, 4:00-5:30 pm at the Center for Craft (67 Broadway St, Asheville, NC 28801) in the Explore Asheville Assembly Hall. The Industrial Commons (TIC) and the North Carolina Employee Ownership…
Lea másNovember 10, 2025 | NCEOC Exit Pro Series
Overview of Employee Ownership Models for CPAs & Exit Planners Free CE training for CPAs, financial planners & attorneys on employee ownership as an exit strategy. Earn 1hr NASBA, CFP, EPI-CEPA, BEI Next webinar takes place on Monday, November 10, 2025, from 1-2 pm EST This webinar will review how your clients can sell their…
Lea másSow 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…
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