The NCEO conference brings together leaders across the employee ownership community to share practical experience from inside ESOP companies.
This year, OwnersEdge speakers will contribute insights on ESOP due diligence, ESOP trustee responsibilities, and the broader role of ESOP fiduciary responsibility.
Here’s your quick preview of the OwnersEdge sessions on the schedule for this year’s NCEO Conference in Milwaukee.
As one of the industry's top annual forums, the NCEO Annual Conference brings together leaders from across the employee-ownership community to share perspectives and knowledge.
OwnersEdge is proud to bring unique voices to this year's conversation, including what we've learned as a 100% employee-owned ESOP holding company with six operating companies.
Our speakers will bring practical insight from working inside an ESOP company every day. This year, key OwnersEdge executives will take part in three sessions exploring aspects of employee ownership — from due diligence to governance and culture.
Here’s a look at what we’ll be sharing in April at the Baird Center in downtown Milwaukee.
This session brings together OwnersEdge CFO John Hooyman, a valuation specialist, and fellow ESOP CFOs to walk through the due diligence required for an ESOP valuation.
Rather than focusing only on theory, the discussion will draw on the practical realities leadership teams face when preparing company data, answering valuation questions, and supporting a transparent review of the business. For many ESOP companies, these meetings are a key moment to demonstrate both financial performance and operational stability.
Attendees will hear how experienced finance leaders approach preparation, what valuation professionals typically look for, and how companies can organize financial and operational information to make the process smoother for everyone involved. The session also explores how productive dialogue between management teams, trustees, and valuation advisors can strengthen trust and improve the overall diligence experience.
Session takeaways will include:
The financial and operational information in the due diligence spotlight during an ESOP valuation
Best practices for organizing company data and prepping leadership teams for valuation discussions
Ways to foster clear communication among CFOs, trustees, and valuation professionals to support a transparent process
Session Information: Due Diligence Demystified: CFO Insights: Tuesday, April 7, 2026, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
OwnersEdge CEO Christine Adee joins the NCEO conversation for a session exploring what distinguishes effective ESOP trustees and how their decisions shape the long-term stability of employee-owned companies.
Trustees play a pivotal role in ESOP governance, balancing fiduciary responsibility with the complex financial and strategic decisions that shape a company’s future. In this dynamic session, OwnersEdge CEO Christine Adee will share insights from her more than 25 years of leadership experience in finance, operations, and ESOP strategy.
The session will also examine what qualities set standout trustees apart. Independence and objectivity are essential, particularly when evaluating major transactions or company strategy. When governance is handled well, trustees help create the stability and accountability that allow employee-owned companies to grow and sustain value over time.
Session takeaways will include:
How ESOP trustee responsibilities support effective governance and protect employee-owner interests
The role of trustee independence, objectivity, and informed decision making in ESOP oversight
How trustees and leadership teams can work together to support long-term company sustainability
Session Information: What Do Standout Trustees Do Differently in Governance?, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
What happens when brand strategy becomes a driver of growth in an employee-owned company? As OwnersEdge Chief Marketing Officer, my session with Chelsea Drusch from Weidert Group will explore how brand visibility and employee-owner storytelling are closely connected in ESOP companies.
In ESOP organizations, the company’s identity is not just shaped by marketing. It grows from the everyday experiences of employee owners, and the digital footprint that your company is intentionally (or accidentally) creating. The session will examine how brand visibility and employee-ownership storytelling influence the company’s perception by customers, partners, and prospective employees.
Session takeaways include:
Session Information: Brand is Culture, Culture is Brand: Why Strategic Marketing Builds ESOP Value, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
If you’re attending NCEO, held this year in Milwaukee from April 6-9, we’d welcome the chance to connect.
Stop by a session, introduce yourself, or find time to talk with a member of the OwnersEdge team during the conference.
For those curious about how OwnersEdge approaches ownership transitions and long-term stewardship, NCEO is a great place to start the conversation. And if schedules are tight during the conference, we’re always happy to continue a confidential discussion afterward.
Interested in learning more about OwnersEdge or continuing the conversation after NCEO? Confidentially connect with our team.