The story of OwnersEdge’s growth and development as a diversified ESOP holding company began in 2008 when the economy was in free fall.
As companies across the country were cutting back or shutting down, CC&N, an employee-owned business in Wisconsin, was thriving. It had maxed out its market share, offered a strong ESOP benefit to employees, and fostered a healthy culture rooted in employee ownership.
But CC&N’s success presented a new challenge: how does a company keep growing when it's already captured a large share of the market?
Lisa Reardon, a young CEO who had developed deep insight into both the operational and cultural foundations of a successful ESOP, faced what she calls the “ESOP eggs in one basket” dilemma.
“We had this great benefit in place, but we grew as much as we possibly could. I felt a real challenge, and a responsibility, to find a way to continue expanding that benefit for our employees.” — Lisa Reardon
As a forward-focused CEO, Reardon wasn’t just looking at the current state of the business, she was also considering the steps required for the company’s future success and growth.
The breakthrough came on a sidewalk in Seattle outside an ESOP conference. At the time, only three ESOP holding companies existed. Reardon just happened to strike up a conversation with a fellow attendee who ran an ESOP holding company and she was intrigued by the model. Although his model was focused on satisfying private equity objectives, Lisa realized that the model could be flipped to provide long-term support to employees.
“I knew at that moment that whatever he was doing was special, but I wanted to do something different.” — Lisa Reardon
A chance encounter planted the seed for a new kind of employee-ownership structure designed to keep the ESOP strong while opening doors for continued growth.
From her initial meeting on the streets of Seattle, the spark of an idea became a compelling strategy. Reardon presented the concept of a diversified ESOP holding company to the board at CC&N. She pitched a vision that pushed beyond traditional ESOP thinking—the goal wasn’t just to preserve employee ownership—it was to structure the business so the ESOP could remain viable indefinitely. It was an entirely new concept: ESOP forever.
“A lot of companies talk about ESOP forever, but really figuring out how to make sure you have a growth strategy and profitability that can fuel an ESOP forever is a huge challenge.” — Lisa Reardon
Reardon’s vision resonated. Leadership and employees alike rallied behind the idea. With an ESOP forever mentality, the ESOP holding company model would allow for diversification and long-term stability, giving employees a growing benefit that could withstand economic downturns.
The momentum and enthusiasm fueling the diversified ESOP holding company strategy started to build. Reardon started the OwnersEdge holding company and moved the ESOP under the corporation. From there came the inevitable reality check. Even though Reardon had outlined a strong plan to establish the firm as a diversified ESOP holding company, she had personally never acquired a company before.
“I shut the door and looked at my whiteboard and thought, ‘I have never acquired a company before.’” — Lisa Reardon
With this realization, Reardon knew she needed the support of a diverse team of experts: merger and acquisition advisors, legal counsel, ESOP administrators, and an experienced trustee.
With an experienced council of experts in place, the payoff created immediate momentum. OwnersEdge’s first acquisition wasn’t just a baby step—it was a leap: three companies in a single transaction. Baycom, Baycom Cellular, and TourGuide, joined CC&N under the OwnersEdge diversified ESOP holding company banner and the rest is history.
Since that first deal, OwnersEdge has acquired nine additional businesses, with a tenth in process. While some companies have remained standalone, others have merged or been integrated into existing business segments, all with employee-owners at the heart of every decision.
OwnersEdge's goal now is less about numbers and more about creating the right portfolio of operating companies to create an ecosystem where diversity is balanced and growth is progressive.
“Lisa built more than a company; she set a standard for what great looks like. Today, that standard lives on in every one of our employee-owners. Our people work hard, take pride in their craft, and understand that the way we grow is just as important as the results we achieve.”- Rob Dillon, CEO, OwnersEdge
Curious about OwnersEdge? Learn more about the company’s inspiration and company history.
As OwnersEdge evolved over the years, growth remained grounded in creating long-term value for employees through shared ownership and a culture rooted in trust and purpose.
With this success, OwnersEdge began to share the value of employee ownership with other business leaders. In the process, it became clear that OwnersEdge had an advantage—the ready-made ESOP advantage.
For business owners looking to transition to an ESOP or sell to an ESOP, it often entails a decade-long transition. But selling to OwnersEdge presents a new opportunity—all the benefits of ESOP ownership for employees, without the hassle.
“With a ready-made ESOP, sellers get the benefit of selling to an ESOP ... but they don’t have to be the one to go through the complexity of setting it up on their own.” — Lisa Reardon
OwnersEdge’s ready-made ESOP approach lets sellers exit on their timeline while securing long-term employee ownership. This model has resulted in a strong track record of successful acquisitions and our shared services model is a key reason why.
At OwnersEdge, our shared services model is more than just back-office support—it’s a strategic growth engine. Each portfolio company operates independently, while gaining access to a team of functional experts across marketing, IT, HR, finance, ESOP management and enterprise strategy. What sets us apart is our ability to identify and fill operational gaps with precision, providing the right support at the right time to accelerate growth. It’s a flexible model that meets each business where it is, delivering a competitive advantage without compromising the company’s unique culture.
This unique, collaborative approach also allows for greater responsiveness and a feeling of collective support with a clear vision for the future. These are the critical elements that help OwnersEdge stand out in a growing field of ESOP holding companies.
Learn more: What is a ready-made ESOP and how can it support the future of your company?
Selling a business is not just a financial decision; it’s often emotional and deeply personal. That’s because the value of the company goes far beyond what shows up on paper—it lives in the employees, the relationships, and the legacy built over decades. That’s why the OwnersEdge model resonates so strongly with sellers who care about what happens after the sale.
OwnersEdge does not offer a buy-and-flip strategy to scale quickly and sell to the highest bidder. Instead, OwnersEdge offers a different path based on long-term stewardship. Reardon often describes the model with three simple words: invest, grow, and hold.
“Most of the sellers that we talk to are drawn to this statement— we’re not just buying businesses, we’re holding them.”- Lisa Reardon
Unlike traditional buyers who extract value and move on, OwnersEdge is a long-term partner who believes in building enduring success. As a 100% employee-owned ESOP holding company, our focus is on helping companies, and their employees, thrive for the long haul.
Here’s what that commitment looks like in action:
At OwnersEdge, we’re not looking for a quick win. We’re here to invest, grow, and hold together.
“What we’re creating here at OwnersEdge is special. We’re doing this for the next generation of employees, the next generation of leaders.” — Lisa Reardon
This promise sets OwnersEdge apart. As a diversified ESOP holding company, OwnersEdge is building a foundation strong enough to support businesses for decades to come.
When sellers hand over what they built, they are not letting go; they are simply passing it forward to grow and flourish. From the seller’s perspective, employees remain cared for, the culture endures, and the business continues to thrive long after the sale.
Here is the story of one business owner and his decision to join OwnersEdge.
Success isn’t just measured in financial gains or completed deals. Success often comes with a feeling, like when a seller feels at ease. That’s the moment when they realize their business isn’t being lost, it’s being welcomed. That feeling is hard to define, but unmistakable.
“There’s a feeling here that OwnersEdge feels like home … your business is going to feel like it found its forever home.” - Lisa Reardon
That sense of home doesn’t come from paperwork and finances. It comes from conversations with real people that ensure an existing company’s values will remain intact, and its people will be looked after. OwnersEdge takes pride in making sellers feel comfortable from the start.
Transitions can be unsettling. But when things feel grounded and the required steps feel natural, it changes everything. OwnersEdge creates this environment by putting relationships first and avoiding the impersonal nature of bidding wars and fast-track sales.
Reardon notes that the goal isn’t to grow for growth’s sake; it’s to remain the top choice for sellers who care about what happens next.
As the market expands, so does the opportunity for business owners to lead with clarity and purpose, and follow the feeling that comes with OwnersEdge: this is where your business belongs.
With nine acquisitions complete and another in process, OwnersEdge remains focused on smart, sustainable growth. OwnersEdge will continue to evolve and grow, but its north star remains the same—being the best ESOP holding company in the country.
Because in the end, it's not just about ownership. It’s about building something that endures.
Curious about employee-ownership and wondering if ESOP and OwnersEdge is the right choice for your business? We buy and hold healthy businesses and we’d love to start a conversation with you. Confidentially contact us at any time.
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