Program

Discover how employee-owned companies are using creative communication strategies to amplify ownership culture and connect with key audiences. This track, featuring some of this year’s AACE competition finalists and proven tactics for educating employee-owners, inspiring communities, and promoting the value of employee ownership. Whether through celebrations, campaigns, or storytelling, learn how to make your ESOP message clear, compelling, and memorable.

Come hear truly amazing stories of employee engagement, celebration of employee ownership, and more from ESOP companies and officers hailing from TEA’s nationwide network of 19 chapters. These sessions are the best of the best of Chapter sessions.

Designed to help you build a solid understanding of ESOP essentials, this track is perfect for those new to the ESOP world as well as seasoned ESOP community members. Participants will explore matters of trust and plan administration, accounting, and the overall cycle of an ESOP including fiduciary obligation, valuation considerations, repurchase obligations, and legal and regulatory matters. 

The Executive Sessions are offered exclusively to Presidents, CEOs, and CFOs of ESOP companies, or their designated successors. This track will include exclusive sessions with keynote speakers and experts, plus roundtable discussions and opportunities to network with other top ESOP executives. 

Get inspired, informed, and energized with our Employee Owned 2026 general sessions — a time when the entire conference comes together for big-picture insights, visionary keynotes, and essential updates from The ESOP Association.

Deploying talent in any organization is as exciting as it is puzzling. ESOP companies offer unique opportunities to motivate and maximize this talent. In these sessions, experienced ESOP managers and experts to share their thoughts and ideas to strengthen your employee experience and help you create and maintain the best culture and HR practices at your ESOP!

Sessions in this track are designed to assist ESOP Trustees of all experience levels in understanding your fiduciary role while also serving your role as an employee. Sessions will be led by experts in fiduciary responsibility, valuation, legal, finance and plan administration.

Leadership does not just mean top management. It means the act of leading people or a project which maximizes the efforts of others toward a common goal. Governance is the system by which an organization is controlled and operated plus the relationship between the organization’s management, board, and employee owners. How does this all tie together? Join these sessions to understand your impact as a board member, management, or employee owner from ESOP experts covering topics from management roles, succession, ESOP sustainability, valuations, and more.

These roundtables will offer an open dialogue and deeper dive into presentations from other sessions as well as hot topics now trending on The HUB. ESOP leaders and professionals will share thoughts and encourage you to share yours!