EO Bret Keisling

Curious about #EmployeeOwnership? Listen to The EsOp Podcast at theEsOpPodcast.com and join the conversation about why employee ownership is so important and valuable. Need more information? Schedule a free, no obligation chat with @EO_Bret on his calendar here 📅👉 calendly.com/eo_bret/initia… -------------- The EsOp Podcast episodes featured in this clip compilation: 🎧 Employee Owners & Their Communities; Mini-cast 212 - Published on December 3, 2022 🎧 EO Culture Doesn't Need to Be Fun; Mini-cast 245 - Published on November 25, 2023 🎧 Transitioning to an ESOP Part 1; Episode 238 - Published on May 28, 2023 🎧 From Nah to A-ha; Mini-cast 253 - Published February 2, 2024 🎧 Is Your ESOP Stuck in Neutral?; Mini-cast 254 - Published on February 17, 2024 All of these episodes and more are available at EsOpPodcast.com or on Google/YouTube, iHeart, Spotify, Amazon, or Apple Podcasts. #ownership #business #podcast

"Please... don't call them retirement plans!" - @EO_Bret Yes, technically, at its core, an Employee Stock Ownership Plan is a qualified retirement plan. But an #ESOP is so much MORE. Learn why here 👉 theesoppodcast.com/post/mini-cast…

The #EsOp Podcast Episode 283: Gina Schaefer on Business, Community & EO 🎧 theesoppodcast.com/post/283-gina-… @EO_Bret is joined by @Hardware_Gina, founder, board chair, and retired CEO of A Few Cool Hardware Stores, which was founded in 2003 in Washington D.C. It has since expanded to 15 locations in the Washington D.C. and Baltimore, MD metro areas. In 2021 it became a partial ESOP with plans to eventually become majority and then 100% #employeeowned. Gina shares the origin story of A Few Cool Hardware Stores and its journey to employee ownership. Starting with her EO A-ha Moment, which is directly related to the civil protests that took place in Washington D.C. in 2020, Gina discusses how #smallbusinesses can support their employees and communities. She touches on the challenges and rewards of transitioning to employee ownership, emphasizing the importance of community and connection. Gina shares the inspiring story of how her neighborhood hardware store hired a number of people who were in treatment at a nearby addiction center, and how the hardware store came to be known in the community as "Recovery Hardware," which became the title of her book. To listen to this episode and for a link to where you can buy “Recovery Hardware” while also supporting independent booksellers, visit our webpage for this episode here: theesoppodcast.com/post/283-gina-…

The #EsOp Mini-cast Ep. 265: Gina Schaefer and Recovery Hardware @EO_Bret is joined by @Hardware_Gina, founder, board chair, and retired CEO of A Few Cool Hardware Stores, which was founded in 2003 in Washington D.C. It has since expanded to locations in the #Washington D.C. and #Baltimore, MD metro areas. In 2021 it became a partial ESOP with plans to eventually become majority and then 100% #employeeowned. Gina shares the inspiring story of how her neighborhood hardware store hired a number of people who were in treatment at a nearby addiction center, and how the hardware store came to be known in the community as #RecoveryHardware, which became the title of her book. This episode is excerpted from next week's EsOp Podcast, which is a full conversation about Gina's path to #employeeownership and so much more. For more information on Gina, A Few Good Hardware Stores, and a link to where you can buy “Recovery Hardware” while also supporting independent booksellers, visit our webpage for this episode here 📖👉 theesoppodcast.com/post/mini-cast… #authorinterview #bookcast #business #recovery

The #EsOp Podcast Ep. 282: Ownership at Work's Campbell McDonald, Part 2 theesoppodcast.com/post/282-owner… @EO_Bret is joined again by Campbell McDonald, chief executive of Ownership at Work, a UK-based charitable think tank, and a research fellow at the Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations - SMLR Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing. They discuss the interplay between #employeeownership and company “best practices;” the international growth of employee ownership; and Campbell gives a shout out to the Oxford Symposium on Employee Ownership, and the work performed by Graeme Nuttall in growing EO internationally. They also discuss board of director differences between EO and non-EO companies, and how many EO boards need to get better equipped on addressing business challenges of their companies.

The #EsOp Mini-cast 244: ESOP Companies Independent Board Members @EO_Bret discusses Independent Board Members for ESOP Companies, including a definition of "independent," why it's important for the company as a best practice and fiduciarily, the number of independent board members to consider, and what criteria to consider when choosing independent board members. Looking for a fresh voice at your next #employeowned event? Head to the web page for this episode to schedule a free, no obligation conversation about having Bret speak to your board or employee owners 👉 theesoppodcast.com/post/mini-cast…

The Vermont Employee Ownership Center is hosting its 22nd annual conference on May 31, featuring a keynote from Melissa Hoover of the Democracy at Work Institute. ow.ly/Tz1I50RHLTz

The #EsOp Podcast Ep. 281: Ownership at Work's Campbell McDonald, Part 1 🎧 theesoppodcast.com/post/281-owner… @EO_Bret is joined by Campbell McDonald, chief executive of Ownership at Work, a UK-based charitable think tank, and a research fellow at the @RU_SMLR Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing. They delve into the impact of #employeeownership on businesses and communities, the importance of employee voice, sharing rewards, and leadership in employee-owned businesses. They also discuss the similarities in EO results, regardless of the form of EO or what country the employee-owned businesses operate in. Campbell shares findings from Ownership at Work's EO Knowledge Programme, which was commissioned in 2022 by the Employee Ownership Association (EOA) and set out to establish a new baseline in understanding the scale and impact of employee ownership in the UK. The EO Knowledge Programme is the sector’s most ambitious research project to date, consisting of three vital research strands: The EO Performance Project, The Good EO Project, and the EO Integrated Impact Project. Check out the photo of the "light switch moment" mentioned in this episode, as well as additional resources, on our #podcast webpage at theesoppodcast.com/post/281-owner…

Should Companies Be Owned by Their Workers? - Freakonomics freakonomics.com/podcast/should…

This Friday, we're focusing on talking to young workers about #employeeownership (#EsOp Mini-cast 240). Interested in getting your own conversation started? Schedule a free, no obligation conversation with @EO_Bret here: calendly.com/eo_bret/initia…

.@Freakonomics invites Corey Rosen of .@theNCEO & Pete Stavros of .@KKR_Co to talk #employeeownership & kick around the +'s & -'s. I like they mention my 1790s story of the US Founders: .@ESOPAssociation .@RU_SMLR smlr.rutgers.edu/sites/smlr/fil… Solid discussion: freakonomics.com/podcast/should…

A great episode from the archives. Orig air date July 2022.

How Federal Agencies Are Supporting Employee Ownership t.ly/lxyvb @akapczynski @glastris @j_e_brandt @PolReformNA @LPEblog @mkazin @LPE_Project @bd_highsmith @RichardAlbert @dorianwarren @geoff9cow @EricLevitz @mtomasky @erikbryn @HilaryCottam

Hometown Ownership: The Impact Of Employee Ownership In Rural Communities tinyurl.com/4kar2958 #ESOP #ESOPs @MRBImpact @TheRuralImpact @JonahFurman @TeamsterSOB @thehousered @JeffSchuhrke @brianoshepherd @sndrsndh @JimboStanford @dbhargava68 @EO_Bret @ilsr

Thank you for supporting #employeeownership @NaquettaR

The #EsOp Mini-cast 264: Jesse Tyler's Reflections on The NCEO 2024 Annual Conference @EO_Bret is joined by Jesse Tyler, #Hypertherm Associate and host of the "Owner to Owner" podcast, to share brief highlights from @theNCEO's 2024 Annual Conference, held April 29-May 1 in Tampa Florida. Jesse describes two panels he presented on, one on inspiring newer #employeeowners and another with #Sargent of Maine about EO #podcasting. Jesse notes how #employeeownership conferences have evolved in the last decade by including more forms of employee ownerships than just ESOPs and worker co-ops to include EOTs, ESOP acquisition and holding companies, and even private equity. Jesse also applauds two inspiring quotes Jennifer Briggs made at the conference. Head to our website for the full transcript for this episode, with links to further information: theesoppodcast.com/post/264-jesse… #NCEO24 #OwnIt

This is VERY exciting!!

The 1st-ever #BCorp: @EO_Bret of @ESOPPodcast is joined by Brian Taussig-Lux, retired CEO @untours, the 1st company to become a #BCorp (since May 2007). #Untours was founded by his uncle, Hal Taussig in 1975 theesoppodcast.com/post/279-the-f… #ESOP #employeeownership share.descript.com/view/zWFXBIyjd…

#EsOp Podcast Ep. 279: The First Ever Certified B Corp 🎧/📺 theesoppodcast.com/post/279-the-f… @EO_Bret is joined by Brian Taussig-Lux, retired CEO of @untours, which holds the distinction of being the first company to become a Certified #BCorp, which means a business that meets high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials. Brian shares UnTours fascinating story, from its unique origins to its innovative business model centered on social and environmental responsibility. Founded by Hal Taussig in the 1970s, UnTours has never been employee owned, but very much shares the same vibe as successful EO businesses. Brian also describes the evolution of B Corp certification, the impact of Benefit Corporations on business practices, and the interconnectedness between #employeeownership and Certified B Corps.