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The 2008 Employee Ownership Annual Conference:
Something for Everyone
 By Emily Meyertholen, Beyster Institute Staff

With the 2008 Employee Ownership Annual Conference just a few months away, we wanted to remind our readers of just how much territory this event covers.  The conference is not only for entrepreneurs and business owners. It’s not just for managers and accountants.  And it’s not just for attorneys and other service providers. It’s for all of them, as well as employee-owners, academics, and anyone interested in the idea of employee ownership.  It’s where all of these people need to be to keep up with the latest thoughts and practices in the field.

For the seventh year in a row, the Beyster Institute is partnering with the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) to present this event April 2-4 in Chicago. 

The conference kicks off with a lively and informative panel discussion featuring leaders from prominent employee-owned companies, keynote presenter Dean Schroeder will share his insights on employee involvement, and attendees have ample opportunities to network. These highlighted events are fantastic, but it’s during the 57 topic-specific breakout sessions when you can really get face-to-face with experienced leaders and experts to gain knowledge in the areas most important to you and your organization.

A business owner new to employee ownership might be drawn to sessions like “Overview of the World of ESOPs” or “Using Incentive Plans and Education to Build a Company of Owners.”  A leader from a well-established employee-owned company might choose “Finding Ways to Keep Employees Involved at Owners,” or “What to Do With an ‘Offer You Can’t Refuse.’”  A professional service provider might want to keep his or her expertise up-to-date by attending “Advanced S Corporation Issues for ESOPs” or “Using an ESOP to Go From Public to Private: The Tribune Story.”

All of the sessions are organized into five learning tracks, each containing a variety of sub-topics and levels of complexity:

  • ESOP Basics – These introductory sessions will cover the basics of employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). Topics include stock valuation, tax advantages, financing strategies, accounting, plan design, and more.
  • ESOPs: Beyond the Basics – These sessions cover finer points and emerging issues for those who already know the basics of ESOPs.  Sessions will address new financing strategies, administrative challenges, legislative and regulatory updates, S corporation issues, creative transaction structures, and more.  Also included in this track are five sessions dedicated to advanced technical and operational aspects of ESOPs intended for experts.
  • Equity Compensation – Learn about the many ways to put equity into employee hands such as stock options, stock purchase plans, restricted stock awards, and more. These sessions cover everything from the basics of equity sharing methods to specific issues regarding their design, structure, and operation.
  • Communications and Culture – Research shows that employee stock ownership boosts company performance if employee owners are empowered with information, education, and increased involvement in continually improving operations. In these sessions, learn how dynamic companies involve and engage their employees.
  • Leading the Employee-Owned Company – As in any company, effective leadership is crucial to the success of an employee-owned venture. These sessions are designed to give leaders practical skills and insight into effective management in an employee ownership environment.

Of course, attendees cannot ignore the multitude of activities and sights that extend beyond the walls of the conference hotel and into the vibrant city of Chicago.  Stay an extra day or two to explore the city’s world-class restaurants, exquisite museums, blues and jazz clubs and spectacular shops. 

Whatever your position in the world of employee ownership, consider attending this year’s Employee Ownership Conference.  You will take away new ideas and knowledge that can have a big impact on you and your organization. 

Click here to register – the early registration discount rate ends March 3. 

 

©2008 The Beyster Institute and its authors and their entities. All rights reserved.

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