Skip to main content
2026 Annual Employee Ownership Conference Main banner
Back

Individual Proposal

Innovative Leadership

Building Local Bridges: Facilitated Networking by State and Region (An NCEOX Initiative)

Tuesday, April 7, 2026
5:45 PM - 7:15 PM CDT
Location: Baird Ballroom AB
CE: 1
Education Level: For All Levels
This networking reception, presented as part of the NCEOX initiative, replaces traditional peer group discussions with facilitated regional networking designed to foster meaningful, localized connections. Participants will gather by state or region, guided by facilitators from EOX State Centers, to share experiences, explore resources, and strengthen regional collaboration.

Whether attendees are exploring employee ownership (EO), transitioning to an EO model, or leading an established EO company, this session offers a space to build relationships with nearby peers, identify shared challenges and opportunities, and discover how State Centers and the NCEO can support their ongoing EO journey. EO companies like to buy from and work with other EO companies, especially in their region, and this session offers a way to connect.

By grounding connections in geography, the session strengthens the EOX State Center network through local ecosystems, ensuring attendees leave with actionable relationships and a deeper understanding of their regional EO landscape. The final number of rooms/sessions will be determined by space available, state center director attendance, and regional make-up of conference attendees.

State Centers Attending:

1. Iowa Center for Employee Ownership (IA-CEO)
2. North Carolina Employee Ownership Center (NCEOC)
3. Texas Center for Employee Ownership (TXCEO)
4. Greater Washington Center for Employee Ownership (GWCEO)
5. Missouri Center for Employee Ownership (MOCEO)
6. Tennessee Center for Employee Ownership (TNCEO)
7. Connecticut Center for Employee Ownership (CTCEO)
8. Illinois Center for Employee Ownership (IL-CEO)
9. Ohio Employee Ownership Center (OEOC)
10. Alabama Center for Employee Ownership (ALCEO)
11. Florida Center for Employee Ownership (FLCEO)
12. Washington Center for Employee Ownership
13. Pennsylvania Center for Employee Ownership (PACEO)
14. Michigan Center for Employee Ownership (MICEO)
15. North Dakota Center for Employee Ownership (NDCEO)
16. Wisconsin Center for Employee Ownership (WICEO)

Learning Objectives:

  1. Identify and connect with EO peers in your state or region, fostering relationships that extend beyond the conference and surface shared challenges and opportunities
  2. Understand the role of NCEOX Initiative in supporting regional EO efforts and how to engage with the EOX and the NCEO for resources, events, and collaboration
  3. Recognize how the NCEO and state centers can serve as ongoing hubs for local engagement and support throughout a business’s EO journey.