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Catalyzing worker co-ops & the solidarity economy

28th Annual Ohio Employee Ownership Conference

[Editor's Note: we are passing along this email notice from the Ohio Employee Ownership Conferece.  The conference will take place on April 24th, with pre-conference events on April 23rd.]

A Wealth of Opportunity: Employee Ownership Fuels Growth

We have a few updates for you:

  1. Although a number of you have responded already, the OEOC is still looking for additional  Employee Owned Companies who are willing to share their stories at the Conference. Are you doing something innovative and engaging at your company in the areas of ESOP Committees and Teams, Planning for Growth, and ESOP Communications and would like to share them with your peers? Let us know at oeoc@kent.edu.
  2. Hotel rooms at the Hilton are going fast, and as of today there are only a few left. If you need a hotel room, the DoubleTree next door to the Hilton (they share a parking lot) has rooms available, and there are a number of other hotels less than two miles away in Montrose (west of the Hilton).
  3. Now is the time to register for the OEOC's Pre-Conference Events on April 23rd (see info below). Join us for an exciting conference kick-off that includes a showing of the film "We The Owners."
  4. Our online payment system for conference registrations is online. Visit our conference webpage to use the system.

This year’s keynote speakers will be Karl Warnke, Davey Tree Expert Company, a 100% employee-owned company.  Davey Tree is located in Kent, Ohio and has operations in 45 U.S. states and five Canadian provinces. Davey became employee-owned in 1979 and has more than 7,000 employees.

Also speaking this year will be Jordana Barrack, New Belgium Brewing Company, a 100% employee-owned company. New Belgium Brewing is located in Fort Collins, Colorado with 480 employees and has been an ESOP since 2000; the company became 100% employee-owned in January 2013.

Registrations received before April 6, qualify for our early bird rate of $125 ($150 after April 6; $195 at the door). You can find our registration forms and more information on the topics to be presented and pre-conference activities on our website. If you have any questions regarding the conference, please contact Chris Cooper (at 330-672-0338 or ccooper1@kent.edu) or Kelley Fitts (at kfitts@kent.edu or 330-672-0336).

April 23rd Pre-Conference Events

Contact Kelly Fitts by email or call 330-672-3028 to register for pre-conference events.

2014 Employee Ownership Reception - 5pm-6pm – Fairlawn Ballroom - Hors-douvres, desserts, and refreshments.
Cost: Free for registrants of the 28th Annual Ohio Employee Ownership Conference or any pre-conference session; $40 for registrants of reception and movie only. Conference registrants must also register for the Reception and Movie (so please let us know that you are coming!).

“We The Owners“ Movie Showing - 6pm-7:30pm Fairlawn Ballroom - Followed by a Q & A with Mary Ann Beyster, Executive Producer of the movie and President of the Foundation for Enterprise Development.

ESOP CEO/CFO Forum – 3 pm-5 pm – Board Room - Join your peers in an open and honest dialogue about issues and opportunities for your company. Session facilitated by Roy Messing, Director, Ohio Employee Ownership Center.  Cost: $35 for members of Ohio’s Employee-Owned Network; $70 for non-members – includes the reception and movie (see above).

ESOP Communications Roundtable – 3 pm-5 pm – Conference Room A - Join your fellow ESOP communicators in a discussion on best practices and new ideas on unlocking the ESOP advantage. Session facilitated by Jim Bado, Workplace Development Inc.  Cost: $35 for members of Ohio’s Employee-Owned Network; $70 for non-members – includes the reception and movie (see above).

We look forward to seeing you in April! Chris Cooper, Network Program Coordinator
Kelley Fitts, Office Manager P.S. Please visit our website to learn more about the conference and to see the trailer from the movie We the Owners

Remember, the OEOC is looking for Employee Owned Companies who are willing to share their stories at the Conference. Are you doing something innovative and engaging at your company in the areas of ESOP Committees and Teams, Planning for Growth, and ESOP Communications and would like to share them with your peers? Let us know at oeoc@kent.edu.

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