Preforum Sessions
Wednesday, September 18 | 9:00–11:30 AM

An additional $150 fee applies to attend a Preforum session in addition to the main Forum. Register

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ESOP Ownership: The Great Balancing Act Presented by Chartwell

Running an ESOP-owned company requires balancing the interests of many stakeholders (board of directors, ESOP trustee, executives, and employee owners) while pursuing the company's strategic objectives. Decisions around compensation and ownership affect the company's cash flow, the ESOP share price, and the value allocation across employee-owners.

Each year, short-term decisions need to be made, such as:

  • How much should we pay out via annual bonus and how much should we retain in the company?
  • Should we recycle or redeem the ESOP shares we repurchase this year?
  • How many SARs or phantom shares should we grant this year?
  • Periodically, it's important to revisit the long-term compensation and ownership frameworks and assess whether changes are needed.

Sample issues include:

  • Should we releverage the ESOP?
  • How should our LTIP approach change as the ESOP matures?
  • Is 100% ESOP still the right model for us?

This session will alternate between panel presentation and small group discussion. Parksite's CEO will share how his company's ESOP and compensation practices have evolved over time and why. Come prepared to share your story and ask your questions!

Panelists:

Ashleigh Newlin | Managing Director, Chartwell Financial Advisory
Matt Keene | Managing Director, Chartwell Financial Advisory
Ron Heitzman | CEO, Parksite

Learning Objectives:

  • Describe how a larger employee bonus affects cash flow and share price.
  • Explain the different impacts of recycling with contributions versus redeeming versus releveraging on the value allocated to new versus long-term participants.
  • Explain one approach ESOP companies use to determine the number of SAR units to give out each year.
  • Give an example of how private equity investment can help sustain an ESOP.
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Get in the Game: Creating a High-Involvement Ownership Culture Sponsored by The Great Game of Business

"If I could wave a magic wand, I would have every ESOP company make this its playbook"
—Corey Rosen, NCEO founder

Though technology has evolved at hyperspeed over the past hundred years, management styles have mostly stayed the same. The higher-ups make the decisions, and the employees grind it out, often without knowing the endgame. In 1983, Jack Stack created a new game: The Great Game of Business.

Get in the Game explains the rules of The Game: to win, you must get everyone at all levels of the buisness as informed, involved and engaged as the owner.

The authors of Get in the Game will walk you through a step-by-step guide on how to educate your team about the business, involve them in setting goals, have them hold one another accountable, and provide a stake in the company's success.

Organizations in every industry around the world have benefited from The Game...is yours ready?

Panelists:

Session Leader: Steve Baker | Vice President, The Great Game of Business
Speaker: John Williams | President/Founder, Elucidate Resources

Learning Objectives:

  • Upon completion, participants will be able to educate their team about the business.
  • Upon completion, participants will learn how to involve employee owners in setting goals.
  • Upon completion, participants will have an understanding of a rewards and recognition program that drives company success.