SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine – Maine Employee-Owned companies gathered in Augusta for their fourth annual Education and Networking Event on September 26th, 2019 at the Augusta Civic Center.
It was evident that employee-owned businesses in Maine continue to grow as approximately 30 Maine ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plans) companies gathered to learn more about both the cultural and technical aspects of ESOPs, share ideas and discuss opportunities for supporting the continued progress of employee-ownership in Maine. The conference also provided a great forum to interact and learn from and about other ESOP companies. The agenda included six educational sessions including ESOP 201, Internal Training Programs, Safety in the Workplace, and Nifty Fifty, a fast-paced panel of ESOP companies at various stages in their life cycle listing their top 50 ideas for employee engagement, ownership culture and ESOP communications.
Over 110 employee-owners, CEOs, CFOs and HR professionals representing more than 7,500 employees statewide were in attendance. Mark Adams of Sebago Technics and Shawn Moody of Moody’s Co-Worker Owned moderated the event. The event was sponsored by Moody’s Co-Worker Owned, Sebago Technics, Woodex Bearing, Inc., Atlantic Management Company, Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Spinnaker Trust, Landry/French Construction, Johnson & Jordan, ABM Mechanical, Inc., Maine Commercial Tire, Daigle Oil Co., Maine Drilling & Blasting, Dennis Paper & Food Service, and Cianbro.
Adams noted “Employee Ownership in Maine is growing and thereby providing opportunities for Maine businesses and their employees to keep ownership local, to be engaged in their futures and to collectively benefit from their success.” At the conclusion of the event, attendees supported the exploration and development of a formal organization whose purpose would be to support and advocate for employee-ownership in Maine. For a listing of Maine ESOPs and more information go to www.maine-esops.org.
