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Panel Proposals

Growth Strategies

Growing Good Through Acquisition: Lessons From Building a Diversified ESOP

Wednesday, April 8, 2026
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM CDT
Location: 104
CE: 1
CE Type: CPE, SHRM
Education Level: Intermediate
Acquisitions are a proven path to growth for ESOP companies, but they come with unique challenges: finding the right fit, structuring deals, and preparing employee-owners for change. 3LS has grown from a single behavioral health provider into a family of 18 employee-owned companies across multiple sectors through intentional acquisition and diversification.
Leaders and partners from across the 3LS ecosystem will share lessons from executive, board, investment, and trust perspectives, offering real-world insights into evaluating opportunities, structuring deals, and protecting ownership culture through integration. Participants will leave with practical tools to assess acquisition fit, mitigate risk, and ensure every expansion strengthens both the company and its employee-owners.

NCEO Publication: Acquisition Strategies for ESOP Companies

Learning Objectives:

  1. Understand key considerations for evaluating and structuring acquisitions in an ESOP context.
  2. Explore strategies to preserve and strengthen ownership culture through growth and integration.
  3. Identify practical tools and success metrics for assessing acquisition fit and outcomes.