Succession Planning + Employee Ownership

Employee ownership is gaining traction around the nation as an innovative way to attract and retain staff, but it can be hard for business owners to know whether it’s the right choice for their business. In this webinar, we’ll discuss the different types of employee ownership arrangements, how business owners can evaluate which option is best for them, and what resources businesses and communities have available to learn more about this trend.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the urgency of succession planning and its impact on small and rural communities.

• Explain what employee ownership is and how it differs from profit sharing or traditional ownership models.

• Identify succession options for existing businesses, including employee ownership, third-party sales, and internal transitions.

• Evaluate whether employee ownership is an appropriate strategy based on business size, workforce readiness, and community context.

• Explore how employee-owned businesses can be created from the beginning, including governance, decision-making, and equity structures.

• Compare the major types of employee ownership models—ESOPs, employee ownership trusts, cooperatives, and alternative equity structures.

• Recognize common challenges, costs, and technical considerations involved in employee ownership transitions.

• Identify resources and professional support needed to successfully plan and implement employee ownership.

This course provides both a strategic and practical foundation for using employee ownership to support business continuity, retain local jobs, and create more resilient, community-rooted economies.

Speaker Bios

• Jessi Burg: Jessi Burg knows that community support is vital for successful business owners. She launched her first business, a landscaping company, by spending her evenings researching in the public library and enrolling in a business boot camp for low income entrepreneurs. As the business grew, she joined networking and industry groups, with a focus on learning additional skills from more experienced entrepreneurs. With her current company, Outgrow Your Garage, Jessi focuses on using these skills to support business communities across the United States. By working with public institutions, local governments, non-profits, lending institutions and more, she is helping to create a more equitable economy and stronger communities in rural and urban areas. Jessi lives in western Colorado and spends her free time working on her small farm with her spouse and dog.
• Marion Champoux-Pellegrin: Marion Champoux-Pellegrin is with the Rocky Mountain Employee Ownership Center. They are a nonprofit that works across the state and helps businesses and their support networks (Chambers of Commerce, SBDCs, economic development backgrounds, etc.). They offer support by making employee ownership more attractive and adaptable to communities.
• Colorado Employee Ownership Office - The Colorado Employee Ownership Office establishes a network of training, support, education, and consulting for businesses considering employee ownership structures. The office brings together partners including employee-owned businesses, attorneys, financial and accounting professionals, and other employee ownership organizations. Employee-owned businesses promote a higher quality of life for employee-owners including higher wages, less turnover, access to better benefits, and job security. For the business owner, they get the benefit of a more engaged workforce, a guaranteed succession plan, and a way to attract and retain top talent.