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Tuesday, April 7, 2026
7:15 AM - 6:30 PM
CDT
Main Conference Registration Open
7:15 AM - 6:30 PM
CDT
Main Conference Registration Open
Location: Baird Ballroom Prefunction- 4th Floor
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
CDT
Opening Breakfast
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
CDT
Opening Breakfast
Location: Exhibit Hall A-B 3rd floor
Sponsored By
8:10 AM - 8:40 AM
CDT
Opening General Session
8:10 AM - 8:40 AM
CDT
Opening General Session
Location: Exhibit Hall A-B 3rd floor
Sponsored By
8:15 AM - 6:00 PM
CDT
Member Lounge
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
CDT
Member Lounge
Location: 2nd Floor
Ramona Rodriguez-Brooks, n/a (she/her/hers)
– NCEO
Grace Dawson (she/her/hers)
– NCEO
Jaymie Oviedo
– National Center for Employee Ownership
8:50 AM - 9:50 AM
CDT
Concurrent Session 1
8:50 AM - 9:50 AM
CDT
Beyond the Basics: Tailoring ESOP Education for Every Stage of Ownership
Location: 108
Kate Hamm, n/a
– Novaspect
Kelly Mutuc, n/a (she/her/hers)
– Novaspect
Culture and Engagement
CE: 1
8:50 AM - 9:50 AM
CDT
Empowering New Talent: BV's "We Own It, Let's Grow It" Approach to Financial Acumen Development
Location: 206
Amanda Clark, n/a
– Black & Veatch
Darin Olivarez
– Black & Veatch
Culture and Engagement
CE: 1
8:50 AM - 9:50 AM
CDT
Engaging ESOP Strategies: Market Dynamics and Conservative Investments
Location: Baird Ballroom D | Demo Stage
Taylor Lundstrom (she/her/hers)
– Morgan Stanley
J. Scott McCoy (he/him/his)
– Morgan Stanley
Brian D. Wurpts
– Waste Gas Fabricating Co.
Repurchase Obligation and Sustainability
Sponsored By
CE: 1
8:50 AM - 9:50 AM
CDT
Financing Considerations for New and Existing ESOPs
Location: Baird Ballroom G
Ginny Saloom, n/a
– PNC Bank
John Solimine
– Verit Advisors
Brian Roth
– Bank of America
Growth Strategies
CE: 1
8:50 AM - 9:50 AM
CDT
From the Front Lines: Employee Voices on Employee Ownership Conversions
Location: 104
Andrea Steffes-Tuttle (she/her/hers)
– Well Economy Lab
Haley Ruybal (she/her/hers)
– StoneAge Tools
Brian Comley (he/him/his)
– Worth and Company
Gabi Jones
– Brinkmann Constructors
Innovative Leadership
CE: 1
8:50 AM - 9:50 AM
CDT
Guarding the Ownership Culture: Cybersecurity Essentials for ESOPs
Location: 208
Zach Freeman, n/a
– Christensen Group
Andrew Tewksbury
– Ostra Cybersecurity Inc.
Operational Excellence
CE: 1
8:50 AM - 9:50 AM
CDT
Recruitment Advantage: Marketing What Matters in a Crowded and Competitive Talent Landscape
Location: 204
Ron Bogart, Masters of Organizational Leadership and Doctorate of Strategic Leadership
– Gold Mechanical
Workforce Development
CE: 1
8:50 AM - 9:50 AM
CDT
Taylor Guitars: Making Employee Ownership Work the Taylor Way
Location: Baird Ballroom F
Barbara Wight, MBA/CPA
– Taylor Guitars
Petros Kusmu (he/him/his)
– Alpine Vistas Capital / Harvard Business School
Dennis Campbell
– Harvard Business School
Greg Fresh, n/a
– Chartwell Financial Advisory
Culture and Engagement
CE: 1
8:50 AM - 9:50 AM
CDT
The EO Health Care Peer Network: Insights & Strategies
Location: Baird Ballroom A
Kimberly McCourtney, kmccourtney@nceo.org
– NCEO
Terry Leahy, J.D., M.B.A. (he/him/his)
– MyPath
Innovative Leadership
CE: 1
8:50 AM - 9:50 AM
CDT
The Evergreen ESOP Playbook: How to Make an ESOP That Lasts Generations
Location: Baird Ballroom B
Michael Moyer, n/a
– GreatBanc Trust Company
Matt M. Licina (he/him/his)
– NCEO
Innovative Leadership
CE: 1
8:50 AM - 9:50 AM
CDT
The Repurchase Playbook: Proven Strategies for a Predictable Future
Location: 106
Benjamin Spadt, CPA, CVA (he/him/his)
– The Menke Group
Christopher M. Silvetti, n/a
– Prairie Capital Advisors, Inc.
Repurchase Obligation and Sustainability
CE: 1
8:50 AM - 9:50 AM
CDT
What Board Members Need to Know About ESOPs
Location: Baird Ballroom E
Scott D. Miller, CPA (he/him/his)
– Enterprise Opportunities, LLC
Bill Frommelt, n/a
– Strategic Talent Partners
Effective Governance
CE: 1
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
CDT
Concurrent Session 2
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
CDT
Acquisition Strategy and Finding the Right Targets
Location: 108
Kevin Lindsey, n/a
– DVS Group LLC
Drew Larson, JD
– Brown Winnick
DJ Simmons
– ACME Group Holdings
Growth Strategies
CE: 1
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
CDT
Building an ESOP Board From Scratch
Location: Baird Ballroom E
Desa Bubnovich
– Material Motion, Inc.
Chad Bell, ASA (he/him/his)
– CBIZ
Effective Governance
CE: 1
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
CDT
CEO Peer Network: Exclusive Roundtables on Today’s Toughest Challenges: What’s Keeping You Up at Night?
Location: Baird Ballroom A
Kimberly McCourtney, kmccourtney@nceo.org
– NCEO
Innovative Leadership
CE: 1
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
CDT
Cheers to Success: Why Celebration Powers Employee-Owned Companies
Location: Baird Ballroom G
Emily Coates, n/a (she/her/hers)
– Rayser Holdings
Angie Hoover, PHR
– Rayser Holdings
Culture and Engagement
CE: 1
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
CDT
Due Diligence Demystified: CFO Insights
Location: 204
Trevor Dursky, CFA
– Prairie Capital Advisors
John Hooyman
– OwnersEdge
Julie O'Neal, CPA
– H2I Group
Operational Excellence
CE: 1
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
CDT
Effectively Communicating ESOP Amendments at Every Stage of the Employee-Owner Lifecycle
Location: 208
Cole D. Mercier, n/a
– DSG
Innovative Leadership
CE: 1
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
CDT
From Launch to Legacy: A Two-Year Journey of Engagement and Education
Location: 104
Rebecca Lechner, n/a (she/her/hers)
– Room & Board
Skye Seesz (she/her/hers)
– Room and Board
Culture and Engagement
CE: 1
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
CDT
Hiring for Ownership: Navigating the 7Cs to Strengthen Culture, Commitment, and Capability
Location: 206
Tom J. Bagwell, n/a
– GRITT Business Coaching
Marti Canida (she/her/hers)
– Gemini Industries
Workforce Development
CE: 1
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
CDT
Psychological Safety, Accountability, and Inclusivity: The Culture Every Team Needs
Location: Baird Ballroom F
DOROTHYANNA COFFEY, MS (she/her/hers)
– The Omni Family of Services
Chris Moynihan, LCSW
– The Omni Family of Services
Gina Drobnick
– 3LS Ventures
Culture and Engagement
CE: 1
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
CDT
Sustainability Simplified: Run Your Own Mini Study in an Hour
Location: Baird Ballroom D | Demo Stage
Thomas Dudley
– Butcher Joseph
Sponsored By
CE: 1.0
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
CDT
The Power of Why: Making Intentional ESOP Decisions
Location: Baird Ballroom B
Tina M. Langlois, n/a
– Chartwell Financial Advisory
Will Rice, CPA
– Vulcan, Inc.
Repurchase Obligation and Sustainability
CE: 1
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
CDT
Puppy Lounge
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
CDT
Puppy Lounge
Location: Baird Ballroom C
Sponsored By
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
CDT
Headshot Studio
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
CDT
Headshot Studio
Location: Baird Ballroom D
Sponsored By
11:00 AM - 11:20 AM
CDT
Coffee Break
11:00 AM - 11:20 AM
CDT
Coffee Break
Location: Baird Ballroom Prefunction
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
CDT
Concurrent Session 3
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
CDT
A Storytelling Workshop for Employee-Owners
Location: Baird Ballroom B
Austin Evans (he/him/his)
– 5by5, A Change Agency
Aimee Ralph, MBA
– 3LS Solutions
Mike Brady (he/him/his)
– 40 Million Owners
Culture and Engagement
CE: 1
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
CDT
Adding Financial Literacy to Your Ownership Culture
Location: 208
Todd Young, n/a
– Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP
Meredith Fiocchi (she/her/hers)
– Fiocchi McCarthy ESOP Group of Wells Fargo Advisors
Ashley Kirchner, n/a
– BMO Corporate Advisory
Culture and Engagement
CE: 1
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
CDT
Beyond the Acquisition: Lessons Learned From Integration Missteps
Location: 108
Nick Viner, n/a
– Prairie Capital Advisors
Angie Hoover, PHR
– Rayser Holdings
Kelly O'Hara
– Folience
Growth Strategies
CE: 1
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
CDT
Beyond the Hype: Practical AI Plays for ESOP Marketing and Sales Leaders
Location: Baird Ballroom F
David Kidd, n/a
– SteadyRain
Ryan Frederick, n/a
– Transform Labs
Thompson Knox, Jr. (he/him/his)
– SteadyRain
Operational Excellence
CE: 1
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
CDT
Health Plan Savings, Transparency, and Stability for ESOP Companies
Location: Baird Ballroom D | Demo Stage
Pim Jager, n/a
– Scott Insurance
Abby Zipoy
– Innovative Captive Strategies
Workforce Development
CE: 1
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
CDT
How the Stories You Tell About Yourself and Your Colleagues Build (or Undermine) Your Culture
Location: 106
Corey Rosen, n/a (he/him/his)
– NCEO
Michael Quarrey (he/him/his)
– Web Industries
Culture and Engagement
CE: 1
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
CDT
Innovative Communications Coalition (ICC) Peer Network: The Stories We Share: Building Ownership Culture One Story at a Time
Location: Baird Ballroom A
Kimberly McCourtney, kmccourtney@nceo.org
– NCEO
Kellie Torrenga, n/a (she/her/hers)
– Gardant Management Solutions Inc.
Danel Erickson, SHRM-CP (she/her/hers)
– Gardant Management Solutions Inc.
Culture and Engagement
CE: 1
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
CDT
Make Employee Ownership Attractive to Gen Z
Location: 206
Andrew Skidmore, MBA
– 4Creeks
Innovative Leadership
CE: 1
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
CDT
Making Your ESOP a Success, Now and Forever
Location: 104
Trevor J. Gilmore, CPA/ABV, MST
– The Menke Group, Inc
Repurchase Obligation and Sustainability
CE: 1
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
CDT
Ownership-Driven Rewards: Structuring Compensation and Benefits to Motivate Every Level
Location: 204
Anne Bushman, CPA (she/her/hers)
– RSM US LLP
Rachel Simon
– Chartwell Financial Advisory, Inc.
Workforce Development
CE: 1
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
CDT
Ready, Set, Own: The Amazing Race for New ESOPs
Location: Baird Ballroom E
Matthew D. Goedert, n/a (he/him/his)
– N & G Legal Group
Barbara M. Clough, QPA, QKC, QKA (she/her/hers)
– Blue Ridge Associates
Operational Excellence
CE: 1
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
CDT
Should We Do That? Best Practices for ESOP Company Boards
Location: Baird Ballroom G
Scot Storjohann, n/a
– GreatBanc Trust Company
Matt Keene
– Chartwell Financial Advisory
Keith Bennett
– ESS Companies/ Sargent Corp/ Griffith Company
Effective Governance
CE: 1
12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
CDT
3LS T-shirt Screen Printing
12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
CDT
3LS T-shirt Screen Printing
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
CDT
Opening Luncheon
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
CDT
Opening Luncheon
Location: Exhibit Hall A-B 3rd floor
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
CDT
Keynote- Adam Grant
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
CDT
Keynote by Adam Grant
Location: Exhibit Hall A-B 3rd floor
Adam Grant
Timothy Garbinsky, n/a (he/him/his)
– National Center for Employee Ownership
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
CDT
Concurrent Session 4
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
CDT
Concurrent Session 4
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
CDT
Beyond the Broker: Mission-Driven Off-Market Acquisition Strategies for Growth
Location: 206
Hannah Z. Sandmeyer, n/a (she/her/hers)
– Up & Over Advisors, LLC
Daniel J. Goldstein, n/a
– Go ESOP LLC
Growth Strategies
CE: 1
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
CDT
Beyond the Chatbot: Agentic AI Is Here and Employee-Owned Companies Can't Afford to Wait
Location: 104
Michael Zimmer, MBA
– ownAI
Trevyr Meade, MBA
– ownAI
Workforce Development
CE: 1
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
CDT
Building Trust: Driving Engagement, Performance and Ownership in a New ESOP
Location: Baird Ballroom B
Beth Krieck, bkrieck@esoppartners.com (she/her/hers)
– ESOP Partners
Alison Lawlor (she/her/hers)
– Becht Engineering BT
James W. Anderson, Jr., PE (he/him/his)
– Becht Engineering BT
Culture and Engagement
CE: 1
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
CDT
ESOP Trivia Challenge: Turning Obligations Into Opportunities
Location: 106
Joshua M. Young, CFP, CEPA
– UBS Financial Services Inc.
Thomas L. Totten, FSA, PhD
– Stokastique LLC
Brian A. Eagle, J.D.
– Eagle & Fein, P.C.
Ian Holloman
– HDH Advisors
Repurchase Obligation and Sustainability
CE: 1
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
CDT
How to Engage New Employees and a Younger Workforce in Ownership Culture
Location: Baird Ballroom D | Demo Stage
Joe Belstering
– Certified EO
Operational Excellence
Sponsored By
CE: 1
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
CDT
Leading with Your Whole Self: How Leader Well-Being Drives Organizational Health in Employee-Owned Companies
Location: 204
Kelly Chewning, ICF ACC (she/her/hers)
– Elevate Coaching & Consulting
Keith Davenport, n/a (he/him/his)
– 030 Holding Company
Mike Lenda
– 5by5, A Change Agency
Innovative Leadership
CE: 1
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
CDT
Managing a Mature ESOP
Location: 208
Natasha S. Fedder, JD (she/her/hers)
– Foundation Law Group LLP
Julie A. Govreau, M.S., J.D., Ll.M (she/her/hers)
– GreatBanc Trust Company
Sheryl C. Bayani-Alzona, J.D. (she/her/hers)
– Employee Benefits Law Group
Operational Excellence
CE: 1
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
CDT
Off to a Strong Start: Tips for New ESOPs to Ensure Long-Term Success
Location: Baird Ballroom E
Jason Wellman, n/a
– ESOP Partners
Culture and Engagement
CE: 1
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
CDT
Play, Learn, Own: Making ESOP and Financial Literacy Education Engaging
Location: Baird Ballroom F
Betsy Kilmer, n/a
– Windings
Culture and Engagement
CE: 1
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
CDT
Service Provider Peer Network: Bridging Expertise and Elevating the Employee Ownership Support Ecosystem
Location: Baird Ballroom A
Kimberly McCourtney, kmccourtney@nceo.org
– NCEO
Dan Markowitz, CPA
– Boulay
Innovative Leadership
CE: 1
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
CDT
Show Me the Money: Distribution Rules for ESOPs
Location: 108
Kevin J. Spaeth, n/a (he/him/his)
– PenChecks Trust
Operational Excellence
CE: 1
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
CDT
The Next Chapter: Critical Steps to Ensure a Smooth CEO Transition
Location: Baird Ballroom G
Mike P. Frommelt, n/a
– Strategic Talent Partners
Terry Leahy, J.D., M.B.A. (he/him/his)
– MyPath
Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson
– MyPath
Effective Governance
CE: 1
3:30 PM - 5:30 PM
CDT
Headshot Studio
3:30 PM - 5:30 PM
CDT
Headshot Studio
Location: Baird Ballroom D
Sponsored By
3:45 PM - 4:10 PM
CDT
Ballpark Break
3:45 PM - 4:10 PM
CDT
Ballpark Break
Location: Baird Ballroom Prefunction
Sponsored By
4:15 PM - 5:15 PM
CDT
Concurrent Session 5
4:15 PM - 5:15 PM
CDT
Achieving Growth Through a Coaching Culture
Location: Baird Ballroom F
Dave Williams, n/a
– ISG
Culture and Engagement
CE: 1
4:15 PM - 5:15 PM
CDT
After the Close: Cool Hardware’s First 24 Months as an ESOP
Location: 208
Matt Middendorp, n/a
– Vision Point Capital
Gina Schaefer (she/her/hers)
– A Cool Hardware Co.
Innovative Leadership
CE: 1
4:15 PM - 5:15 PM
CDT
Case Study: Ideas App for a Quickly Growing EO Company
Location: 106
Michelle Page, SPHR
– HFA-AE, Ltd
Lindsay Isaac, n/a (she/her/hers)
– NCEO
Culture and Engagement
CE: 1
4:15 PM - 5:15 PM
CDT
ESOP Finance Leadership Peer Network Roundtables
Location: Baird Ballroom A
Kimberly McCourtney, kmccourtney@nceo.org
– NCEO
Repurchase Obligation and Sustainability
CE: 1
4:15 PM - 5:15 PM
CDT
ESOP Litigation Update
Location: Baird Ballroom E
Lindsey R. Camp, Esq
– Holland & Knight LLP
Clifford G. Canavera, CFP®, MBA, CFP®, MBA
– Canavera Financial Group, LLC
Matt M. Licina (he/him/his)
– NCEO
Laurence Goldberg, n/a
– ESOP Law Group, LLP
Effective Governance
CE: 1
4:15 PM - 5:15 PM
CDT
From Communication to Culture: Building Ownership From the Inside Out
Location: Baird Ballroom B
Andrew Bulluck, n/a (he/him/his)
– Nobis Group
Culture and Engagement
CE: 1
4:15 PM - 5:15 PM
CDT
Future-Proofing Your Workforce Amid Uncertainty
Location: 104
Ryan Festerling, n/a (he/him/his)
– QPS Employment Group
Workforce Development
CE: 1
4:15 PM - 5:15 PM
CDT
How Smart ESOPs Link Repurchase Planning with Acquisition-Driven Growth
Location: 206
Mike Brady (he/him/his)
– 40 Million Owners
Ryan J. Kuchta, n/a (he/him/his)
– ESOP Partners, Inc.
Growth Strategies
CE: 1
4:15 PM - 5:15 PM
CDT
Policy to Practice: What Washington Decisions Mean for Employee Ownership
Location: Baird Ballroom D | Demo Stage
Lisa M. Gomez, Esq. (she/her/hers)
– LMG Collaborative Consulting Solutions
Operational Excellence
CE: 1
4:15 PM - 5:15 PM
CDT
Stardate 2026: Charting Your Course Through the NCEO Galaxy
Location: Baird Ballroom G
Ramona Rodriguez-Brooks, n/a (she/her/hers)
– NCEO
Grace Dawson (she/her/hers)
– NCEO
Operational Excellence
CE: 1
4:15 PM - 5:15 PM
CDT
Understanding Post-Transaction ESOP Trustee Roles and Decisions
Location: 108
Wendy L. Gilligan, J.D., LL.M. in Tax (she/her/hers)
– Gilligan Benefits Law, P.C.
Nikita Agarwal, CVA
– Ventura Trust Company
Effective Governance
CE: 1
4:15 PM - 5:15 PM
CDT
Valuation in Uncertain Times
Location: 204
Michael A. Lovett, ASA (he/him/his)
– Ventura Trust Company
Chase Hoover, CFA
– Acuity Advisors
Michael C. Yi, ASA, CPA, MBA, TEP
– Newport Valuations, Inc.
Operational Excellence
CE: 1
5:15 PM - 7:15 PM
CDT
Sip & Social Cocktail Reception
5:15 PM - 7:15 PM
CDT
Sip & Social Cocktail Reception
Location: Baird Ballroom
Sponsored By
5:45 PM - 7:15 PM
CDT
Building Local Bridges: Facilitated Networking by State &Region (An NCEOX Initiative)
5:45 PM - 7:15 PM
CDT
Building Local Bridges: Facilitated Networking by State and Region (An NCEOX Initiative)
Location: Baird Ballroom AB
Noelle Carne, n/a
– Employee Ownership Expansion Network
Innovative Leadership
CE: 1