CELEBRATING OUR EMPLOYEE OWNERS October is Employee Ownership Month Every October more than 10 million employee owners nationwide celebrate the businesses where they work and share ownership Employee owned businesses contribute significantly to the US economy, but even more so to our local economies through job protection, community engagement, better wages and benefits and increased wealth that is kept local What does Employee Ownership Mean? Through what is called an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) employees gain a stake in the business in addition to their normal wages and benefits. This ownership stake is earned, but the employees don't have to buy it Uke a stock option or other plan that requires money from the employee. This allows employees, not just investors, to share in the value of the business as it grows over time How does Employee Ownership Benefit the Community? ESOPS promote local economic prosperity ESOPs allow local business owners to sell to their employees. keeping the business and its contributions to the community local In fact, ESOP companies have been proven to be two-times as key to make an effort to provide job opportunities in their communities ESOPS fare better during economic downturns ESOPS were four times more likely to retain jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic Employee owners have greater retirement benefits with ESOP participants having about double the retirement wealth of otherwise similar non-ESOP Individuals. They feel more financially prepared and secure Employee-owned companies produce at a higher quality ESOP company employees ensure the success of their companies by delivering better products and services to their customers. They know customer satisfaction is essential and affects their own ownership value they "think like owners North and South Carolina have over 168 ESOP companies which supports thousands of employee owners. Do your part by supporting ESOPS in your community. PROUD EMPLOYEE-OWNED COMPANIES IN YOUR COMMUNITY BDO BLACK AVEATCH CPI COMSONICS CARRISFEELS bdo.com bv.com carris.com chatsworth.com/en-us comsonics.com CORNERSTONE Keedom GEMINI imtra MIDSOUTH ogagroup.com freedomind us gemini-coatings.com intra.com PALMERDONAVIN SALEM Taylor Wiley Wilson SEH palmerdonavin.com SalemFTG.com sesesop.com taylorguitars.com wileywilson.com PROFESSIONAL FIRMS SUPPORTING AN OWNERSHIP ECONOMY BUTCHER JOSEPH & Co. CHARTWELL HDH KAUFMAN & CANOLES BLUE RIDGE ASSOCIATES blueridgeesop.com butcherjoseph.com chartwelta.com hdhadvisorsic.com kaufcan.com THE BUSINESS EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP FOUNDATION & EXIT PLANNING SES RAYMOND JAMES welovesop.com WANT TO LEARN MORE? Strategies sesesop.com Visit Employee OwnershipFoundation.org to learn more about employee ownership This ad was sponsored by the Employee Ownership Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization in pursuit of a single overarching goal: to help more individuals become employee owners. PROUD TO BE EMPLOYEE-OWNED CELEBRATING OUR EMPLOYEE OWNERS October is Employee Ownership Month Every October more than 10 million employee owners nationwide celebrate the businesses where they work and share ownership Employee owned businesses contribute significantly to the US economy , but even more so to our local economies through job protection , community engagement , better wages and benefits and increased wealth that is kept local What does Employee Ownership Mean ? Through what is called an Employee Stock Ownership Plan ( ESOP ) employees gain a stake in the business in addition to their normal wages and benefits . This ownership stake is earned , but the employees don't have to buy it Uke a stock option or other plan that requires money from the employee . This allows employees , not just investors , to share in the value of the business as it grows over time How does Employee Ownership Benefit the Community ? ESOPS promote local economic prosperity ESOPs allow local business owners to sell to their employees . keeping the business and its contributions to the community local In fact , ESOP companies have been proven to be two - times as key to make an effort to provide job opportunities in their communities ESOPS fare better during economic downturns ESOPS were four times more likely to retain jobs during the COVID - 19 pandemic Employee owners have greater retirement benefits with ESOP participants having about double the retirement wealth of otherwise similar non - ESOP Individuals . They feel more financially prepared and secure Employee - owned companies produce at a higher quality ESOP company employees ensure the success of their companies by delivering better products and services to their customers . They know customer satisfaction is essential and affects their own ownership value they " think like owners North and South Carolina have over 168 ESOP companies which supports thousands of employee owners . Do your part by supporting ESOPS in your community . PROUD EMPLOYEE - OWNED COMPANIES IN YOUR COMMUNITY BDO BLACK AVEATCH CPI COMSONICS CARRISFEELS bdo.com bv.com carris.com chatsworth.com/en-us comsonics.com CORNERSTONE Keedom GEMINI imtra MIDSOUTH ogagroup.com freedomind us gemini-coatings.com intra.com PALMERDONAVIN SALEM Taylor Wiley Wilson SEH palmerdonavin.com SalemFTG.com sesesop.com taylorguitars.com wileywilson.com PROFESSIONAL FIRMS SUPPORTING AN OWNERSHIP ECONOMY BUTCHER JOSEPH & Co. CHARTWELL HDH KAUFMAN & CANOLES BLUE RIDGE ASSOCIATES blueridgeesop.com butcherjoseph.com chartwelta.com hdhadvisorsic.com kaufcan.com THE BUSINESS EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP FOUNDATION & EXIT PLANNING SES RAYMOND JAMES welovesop.com WANT TO LEARN MORE ? Strategies sesesop.com Visit Employee OwnershipFoundation.org to learn more about employee ownership This ad was sponsored by the Employee Ownership Foundation , a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) organization in pursuit of a single overarching goal : to help more individuals become employee owners . PROUD TO BE EMPLOYEE - OWNED