Ten years ago, OwnersEdge was founded on a simple but powerful belief: that employee ownership could redefine what it means to build wealth, culture, and legacy in American business.
As we celebrate our 10-year anniversary during National Employee Ownership Month, we are reflecting on a decade of progress, growth, and purpose. This milestone honors the hundreds of employee owners whose dedication, ideas, and passion have shaped our success.
OwnersEdge began with a vision to make employee ownership accessible to more businesses. Today, that vision has grown into a thriving reality that continues to
The unique story of OwnersEdge started long before 2015. In 1992, our first operating company, CC&N, became employee-owned. That experience demonstrated how powerful employee ownership could be. When employees have a stake in the outcome, they think differently, collaborate better, and build stronger companies.
In 2015, we officially launched OwnersEdge as an ESOP holding company model to scale and protect the sustainability of wealth creation for employee owners. Founder and Executive Chair Lisa Reardon envisioned a structure that allows each business to grow while maintaining its unique culture and legacy.
You can read more about that origin story in our earlier post, Why We Built OwnersEdge.
At OwnersEdge, our purpose has remained the same from the very beginning:
To provide employee owners a pathway to their American Dream.
We are a 100% employee-owned ESOP holding company focused on acquiring and growing healthy mid-market businesses. Every decision we make supports our employee owners and strengthens the portfolio of companies that make up our family of brands.
For business owners who are thinking about succession planning, OwnersEdge offers a ready-made ESOP model that minimizes complexity, provides liquidity, and preserves company culture. Sellers can leave their businesses in the hands of the people who helped them build it, ensuring continuity for employees, customers, and communities.
If you would like to explore how an ESOP can work as a succession strategy, visit our ESOP Succession Planning Guide.
In just ten years, OwnersEdge has evolved into a nationally recognized ESOP holding company with a strong track record of sustainable growth.
Each acquisition has strengthened our foundation and demonstrated the power of employee ownership. When a new company joins OwnersEdge, it gains access to shared services in areas such as finance, HR, marketing, IT, legal, and risk management. These resources allow each company to focus on growth and innovation while maintaining its independence and identity.
At the center of every OwnersEdge company is a culture built on trust, respect, and the power of ownership.
We celebrate the diversity of our people and industries, knowing that our strength lies in what we share—a commitment to growth, progress, and each other.
Our EDGE reminds us how to live those values every day:
Embrace the ESOP.
Drive the future.
Generate growth.
Engage your spirit.
Different companies. Same dream. That’s who we are.
October is National Employee Ownership Month, a nationwide celebration of companies that empower employees to share in success.
Employee ownership helps:
At OwnersEdge, we see these benefits in action every day. Our employee owners not only build value for themselves but also create opportunities for future generations. Every employee owner plays a role in advancing our mission and shaping the next chapter of our growth.
Learn more about the impact of employee ownership in our ESOP Knowledge Base.
As we celebrate our past, we are also looking forward to the future of OwnersEdge and the next evolution of employee ownership. Our mission for the next decade is clear and ambitious:
To become a nationally known, innovative leader in the ESOP community with a portfolio of profitable companies and a workplace where top talent wants to work.
OwnersEdge will continue to acquire healthy, culture-focused businesses and help them thrive. Our focus on leadership development, technology, and community engagement will strengthen every company in our portfolio. Most importantly, we will keep championing the employee ownership model that has been the foundation of our success.
The next ten years are about legacy, growth, and impact. When employee ownership thrives, everyone wins — sellers, employees, customers, and communities.
Thank you to our employee owners, operating company leaders, and strategic partners for helping us reach this milestone. Your commitment to the OwnersEdge mission and belief in our ready-made ESOP model have made our success possible.
As we begin our next decade, we invite you to celebrate with us and continue learning about the power of employee ownership.
Together, we’ll continue growing, innovating, and showing what’s possible when employees own their collective success.