Missouri Center for Employee Ownership - MOCEO

06/03/2026

Another Missouri company has chosen employee ownership as its path forward.

Congratulations to Branco Enterprises on its transition to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), making employees beneficial owners of the company while preserving its legacy and strengthening its future. Founded in 1933 and headquartered in Neosho, Branco’s move to employee ownership reflects a growing commitment among Missouri businesses to reward the people who help build long-term success.

As more business owners explore succession planning options, employee ownership continues to provide a powerful way to retain local jobs, create wealth for employees, and keep companies rooted in their communities.

Join us in celebrating Branco Enterprises and its employee-owners as they begin this exciting new chapter.

06/02/2026

wants to thank Christina Newbrough, the Head of Revenue at Common Trust, Courtney Whittaker, the Vice President of ACP International, and Jeff Parnell of VACUUM SYSTEMS INC, for being the featured speakers for this week's Employee Owned Ambassador Program session. The Ambassador Program is an opportunity for business professionals to better understand employee ownership and its benefits. If you'd like to join the next cohort, you can sign up here.

Here is a great resource on EOTs if you're interested in learning more:https://project-equity.org/news/employee-ownership-insider/ready-for-eot-transition/

05/27/2026

would like to thank Trevor Monnig, ESOP Trustee at Acumen Advisory Services, LLC, and Richard Wetzel, the Founder and CEO of Centric, for serving as featured speakers at last week's Employee Owned Ambassador Program session. The Ambassador Program is an opportunity for business professionals to gain a better understanding of employee ownership and its benefits.

If you'd like to join the next cohort, you can sign up here: https://moceo.org/employee-ownership-makes-a-difference

05/25/2026

Memorial Day is a reminder of what community, sacrifice, and shared purpose truly mean. 🇺🇸

We're grateful for those who served so that communities like ours could flourish. As we reflect today, we're recommitted to building an economy where everyone has a stake in their future.

Thank you to all who have served. 🙏

05/21/2026

Harvard Business School says it best — employee ownership is one of the most powerful tools we have to close the wealth gap. If all private companies became just 10% employee-owned, the wealth of Black households would more than double. This is exactly why the work of MOCEO matters. 🔗https://www.hbs.edu/bigs/employee-ownership-can-close-the-wealth-gap?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

While many solutions focus on government policy, some experts point to a business solution.

05/20/2026

Proud to introduce Ruben Alonso III, CEO of AltCap, to the MOCEO City Wide Task Force! Ruben has spent his career ensuring underserved communities and small businesses — especially minority- and women-owned — have access to the capital they need to thrive. We're grateful to have his expertise at the table. 🤝

05/14/2026

Operating a service-based or professional business is changing fast. With market shifts, new technology and long-term planning pressures, firms must rethink how they work, compete and grow.

The Small Business Council invites service-based business owners and professionals to join us for a morning roundtable focused on what is changing, what is working and how firms can stay competitive.
Thursday, May 28 – 8:30-10:00 a.m.

This session will feature small table discussions, peer-to-peer insight sharing and practical takeaways from businesses navigating similar pressures across the professional services landscape.
Moderated by Grace Ahn, Nvision KC
Special guest: Julie Leonhardt, Missouri Center for Employee Ownership - MOCEO

Best fit for businesses in legal services, logistics, accounting, bookkeeping, insurance, project management, marketing consulting, digital marketing, content marketing, event management and other professional service industries.
Chamber members only.

Register here: bit.ly/4tbxyvQ

05/12/2026

The wealth gap isn't an accident — it's a system. Those who own things build wealth. Those who do things often don't. MOCEO exists to change that equation. 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙚'𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 👇

At the root of the solution are new forms of ownership.

05/07/2026

An Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) offers employees tax incentives primarily through tax-deferred growth and special tax treatment on distributions. Employees do not pay taxes on company contributions or asset growth until they receive a payout, typically upon leaving the company.

To maintain the tax-deferred status of their payout, employees can roll over the funds into an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) or a retirement plan with a new employer. This is a common way to avoid immediate taxes on a distribution.

Employees can also roll over a distribution into a Roth IRA. In this case, taxes on the distribution are paid upfront, and future withdrawals in retirement will be tax-free as long as Roth IRA rules are followed.

💡 Understanding your ESOP tax options can make a significant difference in your long-term financial picture — make sure you know your choices before making any decisions.

Learn more: https://www.nceo.org/articles/esop-tax-incentives-contribution-limits