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Panel Proposals

Operational Excellence

From Founder to Employees Owners: Inside the iSpace ESOP Transition

Thursday, April 9, 2026
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM CDT
Location: Baird Ballroom F
CE: 1
CE Type: SHRM
Education Level: Novice
This panel discussion will include considerations by the founder/selling shareholder and management, a review of the transaction process, and a view of how the company looks two years post-transaction.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Understand the motivations and decision-making process that led the business owners to explore and ultimately choose an ESOP.
  2. Gain insight into the transition journey, including the planning, valuation, financing, and legal steps involved in converting to an ESOP. Identify common challenges and lessons learned from real-world experiences, including what owners would do differently.
  3. Learn about the cultural and operational impacts of employee ownership—how the transition affected company performance, employee engagement, and leadership structure. Explore post-transaction outcomes, such as governance changes, communication strategies, and long-term succession planning in an ESOP model.