Missouri Center for Employee Ownership - MOCEO

10/09/2026

🎉 It’s Employee Ownership Month!

So, what exactly does employee ownership mean?

At its core, it means giving employees a meaningful stake in the businesses they help build. And there’s more than one way to make it happen.

From ESOPs and Worker-Owned Cooperatives to Employee Ownership Trusts, different models offer different paths to shared ownership.

Throughout October, we’re celebrating the businesses, employees, advisors, and communities helping grow the employee ownership movement across Missouri.

Let’s talk ownership. 👏 https://moceo.org/contact

10/08/2026

📣 A new ESOP law could help strengthen employee ownership.

Bloomberg Law reports that the newly passed Retire Through Ownership Act clarifies valuation standards for Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), potentially reducing litigation and increasing interest in ESOPs as a retirement and ownership vehicle.

Once signed into law, the legislation would allow ESOP fiduciaries and trustees to rely on independent expert appraisers using IRS standards to determine fair market value.

Clearer valuation standards could give businesses, trustees, and employees more confidence as they navigate employee ownership.

🔗 Read the full Bloomberg Law report: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/new-esop-law-poised-to-curb-litigation-spark-ownership-boon

Newly passed legislation that clarifies valuation standards for employee stock ownership plans is expected to cut down on litigation and boost interest in the plans as a retirement vehicle, industry officials and attorneys said.

10/07/2026

Huge thank you to the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce for including us in the Talent Connect Summit! It was our pleasure to sponsor the event and present alongside our special guest, Tyler McLenon of Dimensional Innovations.

A special thank you to Andrew Weisberg, Katie Lindgren and Imani Lemon for helping make the event a great success. We appreciate the opportunity to connect with local leaders and continue the conversation around employee ownership and sustainable business growth.

10/07/2026

Employee ownership meets decades of specialized manufacturing expertise at GOAD COMPANY. 👏

Based in Independence, MO, GOAD is an employee-owned company providing process tanks, linings, liners, and critical containment solutions to industries across the country.

With state-of-the-art thermoplastic welding and bending equipment, experienced field crews, and capabilities ranging from thermoplastic, fiberglass, and metal fabrication to linings and coatings, GOAD is focused on delivering reliable solutions while helping customers minimize downtime and total costs.

That commitment to quality is backed by an employee-owned team with a stake in the company’s success.

Learn more about GOAD Company: www.goadco.com

10/06/2026

When a business explores an ESOP, one key consideration is whether to remain an S corporation or convert to a C corporation.

In the latest episode of Journey to an ESOP, Jason Miller and Makenzie Wirth break down the key differences between the two structures and how each can affect the company and its selling shareholders.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer—the right structure depends on the company’s goals, circumstances, and ownership transition strategy.

🎧 Listen to Episode 30: S Corp vs. C Corp ESOPs: Which Structure Is Right for You?

🔗

The most common question we hear may seem simple, but it can significantly change the outcome of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) transaction: Should you remain an S corporation or convert to a C corporation? In this episode, Jason Miller a...

10/05/2026

Employee ownership is transforming the way companies attract, engage, and retain talent, and we’re excited to join the conversation at the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Talent Connect Summit on Wednesday, October 7!

MOCEO will share how employee ownership gives employees a meaningful stake in company success. This helps build stronger engagement, loyalty, and long-term workforce stability.

We’ll also hear from Dimensional Innovations about how open-book management can foster transparency, engagement, and shared responsibility. Join us!

10/02/2026

🏘️ What happens when a rural business owner is ready to retire—but there’s no buyer?

A record number of U.S. business owners are approaching retirement without a clear succession plan. In rural communities, the challenge can be even greater, with older business owners, fewer potential buyers, and a limited pool of capital making ownership transitions more difficult.

When businesses can’t find a buyer, the consequences can extend far beyond the owner—businesses may close, jobs can disappear, and essential local services can be lost.

Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) offer another path. By allowing employees to become owners, ESOPs can provide business owners with a viable exit strategy while helping keep businesses, jobs, and wealth rooted in their communities.

Research has found that ESOP companies—particularly in manufacturing—can demonstrate greater resilience and productivity while supporting job preservation and worker wealth-building.

For rural communities facing a wave of business succession, employee ownership can be an important tool for keeping businesses local and communities strong. Check out the report here: https://www.lafayettesquareinstitute.org/publications/

10/01/2026

📅 What’s coming up at MOCEO? Fall is a busy season for employee ownership! We have several opportunities coming up to connect, learn, and share how employee ownership can support Missouri businesses and their employees. Here are two events to put on your calendar:

📍 October 7 – Overland Park Chamber Talent Connect Summit
MOCEO will participate as a Workforce Impact Sponsor and connect with HR professionals and business leaders focused on workforce and talent.

📍 October 27 – Grow Your Business with Employee Ownership Lunch & Learn
Join MOCEO at Lifted Logic for a conversation about how employee ownership can support business growth, long-term planning, and succession.

These are just two of the events on our calendar! Check out the full MOCEO events calendar to see what’s coming up and find an opportunity to connect with us. 👉 View Upcoming Events: https://moceo.org/events

"

09/30/2026

𝗪𝗲’𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄! 👋

We’re excited to kick off the second MOCEO Ambassador Program cohort and welcome business professionals ready to learn more about employee ownership and how it can benefit the business owners they serve.

Over the course of this 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿-𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺, participants will:

🔹 Explore the three primary employee ownership models: ESOPs, Worker Cooperatives, and Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs)
🔹 Learn how each model works and when it may be a good fit
🔹 Gain practical knowledge they can bring to conversations with business owners
🔹 Connect with other professionals interested in expanding employee ownership across Missouri

The program is designed with busy professionals in mind and requires just about one hour per week, including a weekly virtual meeting and independent learning modules.

🗓️ The next cohort begins tomorrow, October 1—𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘶𝘱!

🔗 Join us: moceo.org/employee-ownership-makes-a-difference

09/28/2026

🎉 Another exciting employee ownership story in Missouri!

MaMa Jean’s Natural Market, a Springfield-rooted, women-founded business, has officially transitioned to 100% employee ownership: https://www.facebook.com/MaMaJeansMarket/posts/women-foundednow-100-employee-owned-mama-jeans-natural-market-is-proud-to-announ/1576135064552467/! 🌱

For more than 20 years, founders Susie Kawamoto and Diana Hicks have built MaMa Jean’s into a beloved part of the Ozarks community. Now, they’re passing that legacy forward to the people who helped build it.

We’re excited to welcome MaMa Jean’s to Missouri’s growing employee ownership community and celebrate the opportunities this new chapter creates for its team, its customers, and the community they call home. The future of ownership is looking bright! 🙌