BECOME AN AMBASSADOR

Most business owners in North Carolina have never heard employee ownership presented as a real option. The Ambassador Program exists to change that — by teaching the people those owners already trust.

Over four weeks you will learn employee ownership well enough to raise it credibly with the businesses you serve, spot which companies are good candidates, and know who to call when one is ready.

Who becomes an ambassador

Business owners, economic developers, bankers, wealth advisors, attorneys, chamber of commerce leaders, and anyone invested in keeping North Carolina businesses viable. No prior knowledge is needed.

What you will learn

  • The three models. Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), worker cooperatives, and Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) — how each works and what each costs.
  • Which fits which company. Matching structure to revenue, employee count, sector, and what the founder actually wants out of the sale.
  • Real conversions. National and local speakers from employee-owned businesses on what worked, what was harder than expected, and what they would do differently.
  • How to raise it. Bringing employee ownership into a succession conversation without overselling it.
Three professionals seated around a table with laptops, talking together
Cohorts are small on purpose — you learn as much from the other participants as from us.

The commitment

Four weeks. One virtual meeting a week, plus independent learning modules between sessions — about 7.5 to 8 hours in total.

Cohort dates are announced here and by email. You can register now to be notified when the next dates are set.

What happens after

Ambassadors leave able to advise businesses on employee ownership transitions, and some go on to explore the models inside their own organizations. The cohort itself tends to stick — participants stay connected well past the four weeks, which is part of the point.

Register

Correo electrónico info@nceoc.org or call (919) 339-1611 to ask about the next cohort.