From Communication to Culture: Building Ownership From the Inside Out
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
4:15 PM - 5:15 PM CDT
Location: Baird Ballroom B
CE: 1
CE Type: SHRM Education Level: For All Levels
In this dynamic session, we’ll share how Nobis transformed its approach to employee ownership by reimagining its ESOP Communication Team (ECT) into the Ownership Culture Crew (OCC)—a strategic evolution from simply delivering information to actively cultivating a culture of ownership. This initiative was guided by a clear mission: to encourage and foster an employee ownership culture at Nobis, where every employee-owner feels valued, important, and empowered to impact company performance.
A unique aspect of the OCC is its composition: the current team is made up entirely of non-managers. This structure creates meaningful leadership opportunities for individuals across departments, empowering them to take initiative, lead culture-building efforts, and directly influence engagement and performance—regardless of formal title or role.
Attendees will gain practical insights into how the OCC: • Serves as visible advocates for ownership in daily operations • Promotes open communication and education around ESOP fundamentals • Builds awareness of what it truly means to be an owner at Nobis
We’ll explore how this transformation led to: • A rebranded annual employee-owners meeting, now a vibrant celebration of ownership • Year-round engagement activities that sustain enthusiasm and connection • Enhanced recognition programs, including milestone celebrations and an Employee-Owner of the Month initiative
This session will be highly interactive, featuring real-world examples, lessons learned, and tangible tools attendees can adapt to their own organizations. We’ll also share how our efforts earned external recognition—including an award for communication excellence and a nomination for another—demonstrating the impact of shifting from communication to culture.
Whether you're just beginning your ESOP journey or looking to deepen engagement, this session offers a fresh, innovative model for cultivating ownership culture that lasts.
Describe the process and key steps of transitioning from an ESOP communication team to a culture-focused ownership initiative within 12 months.
Analyze the effectiveness of year-round engagement strategies—such as recognition programs and celebratory events—in strengthening employee-owner participation and morale.
Create a customized action plan to implement or enhance ownership culture initiatives in your own organization using tools and examples shared during the session.
