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Monday, April 6, 2026
8:15 AM - 9:00 AM
CDT
Preconference Registration Open
8:15 AM - 9:00 AM
CDT
Preconference Registration Open
Location: Baird Ballroom Prefunction- 4th Floor
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
CDT
AM Preconference Sessions
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
CDT
Are You Running Your Business, or Is Your Business Running You?
Location: 204
Jacqueline Kibler, n/a
– EOS Worldwide
Growth Strategies
Sponsored By
CE: 3
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
CDT
Building a High-Involvement Culture: Your Playbook for Engaging Employee-Owners and Driving a Winning Culture
Location: 104
Steve Baker, n/a (he/him/his)
– The Great Game of Business
Rich Armstrong (he/him/his)
– The Great Game of Business
Jarrett Payne
– The Great Game of Business
Innovative Leadership
Sponsored By
CE: 3
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
CDT
The ESOP Journey From Implementation to Maturity
Location: 106
Scott Freund, QPA, QKC
– Blue Ridge Associates
Barbara M. Clough, QPA, QKC, QKA (she/her/hers)
– Blue Ridge Associates
Markus Dahl, CPA
– Eide Bailly LLP
Operational Excellence
Sponsored By
CE: 3
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
CDT
Feasibility Preconference
9:00 AM - 9:25 AM
CDT
Welcome to the ESOP Feasibility Preconference Session
Location: 206
Matt M. Licina (he/him/his)
– NCEO
Francesca Santos (She/They/Ella)
– National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO)
Operational Excellence
CE: 1
9:30 AM - 10:25 AM
CDT
Using Employee Ownership as a Business Succession and Exit Planning Tool
Location: 206
Craig West, B.Bus(Mgmt), M. Tax Law, M.Bus(Acct/Finance), DBA, CEPA
– Succession Plus
Innovative Leadership
CE: 1
10:45 AM - 11:25 AM
CDT
Building Your ESOP Dream Team: A Guide to Who Does What
Location: 206
Anlai Jiao, JD, CPA
– Prudent Fiduciary Services
Bryan Boeck, CPFA, QKC, QKA (he/him/his)
– Merit Financial Advisors dba Fiduciary Services
Eric Strebe
– ESOP Partners
Operational Excellence
CE: 1
11:30 AM - 12:10 PM
CDT
ESOPs and Estate Planning
Location: 206
Sarah Bothner, n/a
– The Capital ESOP Group, UBS
Rick Jaye
– Business Transition Advisors
Operational Excellence
CE: 1
1:30 PM - 2:25 PM
CDT
What Does It All Mean? Demystifying the Financing Process for ESOPs
Location: 206
Jamie M. Walrack, n/a
– First American Bank
Matthew Nels
– The Menke Group, Inc.
Growth Strategies
CE: 1
2:45 PM - 3:30 PM
CDT
Valuation and Administration: Insights for Early-Stage and Prospective ESOPs
Location: 206
Jake Helwick, ASA
– Adamy Valuation
Wilson T. Denari, CPA/ABV
– CBIZ
Scott Freund, QPA, QKC
– Blue Ridge Associates
Operational Excellence
CE: 1
3:35 PM - 4:25 PM
CDT
The Ownership Mindset: Choosing and Leading Employee Ownership
Location: 206
Louis Grassi, CPA, CFE
– Grassi Advisory Group, Inc.
Keith Apton, CEPA
– UBS Financial Services Inc
Innovative Leadership
CE: 1
4:30 PM - 5:00 PM
CDT
Group Discussion and Plotting Your AC Experience
Location: 206
Matt M. Licina (he/him/his)
– NCEO
Francesca Santos (She/They/Ella)
– National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO)
Operational Excellence
CE: 1
9:30 AM - 9:45 AM
CDT
Coffee Break
9:30 AM - 9:45 AM
CDT
Coffee Break
Location: Baird Ballroom Prefunction
1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
CDT
PM Preconference Sessions
1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
CDT
AI Today and Tomorrow: Becoming AI Native in Your Company
Location: 106
Turja Chowdhury
– Village Labs
Charlie R. Ney (he/him/his)
– Village Labs
Nicholas Jones
– Village Labs
Mohamed Ahmed (he/him/his)
– Village Labs
Workforce Development
Sponsored By
CE: 3
1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
CDT
Sustainability Workshop: How Do You Compare?
Location: 204
Matt Keene
– Chartwell Financial Advisory
Ryan Graham, n/a
– Chartwell Financial Advisory
Amanda Strickler
– Chartwell Financial Advisory
Operational Excellence
Presented By
CE: 1
1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
CDT
The GRITT Stress Test Every ESOP Needs: Are Your People, Culture, and Numbers Ready?
Location: 104
Tom J. Bagwell, n/a
– GRITT Business Coaching
Alexa Lott, SHRM-SCP (she/her/hers)
– GRITT Business Coaching
Operational Excellence
Sponsored By
CE: 3
2:30 PM - 2:45 PM
CDT
Coffee Break
2:30 PM - 2:45 PM
CDT
Coffee Break
Location: Baird Ballroom Prefunction
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
CDT
Main Conference Registration Open
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
CDT
Main Conference Registration Open
Location: Baird Ballroom Prefunction- 4th Floor
4:30 PM - 6:25 PM
CDT
Opening Cocktail Reception
4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
CDT
Opening Cocktail Reception
Location: Baird Ballroom
Sponsored By