A quick look at the 22nd Annual Vermont Employee Ownership Conference
The 2024 Vermont Employee Ownership Conference brought out over 250 people to UVM’s Davis Center on May 31 for a full day that included an excellent keynote address plus 24 workshops led by presenters and panelists from 23 different employee-owned companies from around Vermont and New England.
Many of those present were from worker-owned cooperatives and companies with Employee Stock Ownership Plans, while others were interested in learning about common employee ownership models as a potential fit for their business. Still others wanted to discuss relatively younger models in the US, such as the Employee Ownership Trust. And throughout the day, from the morning reception over coffee and pastries to the after party at Switchback Brewing, the VEOC conference provided the space for connections to be made, both personal and conceptual, and for lightbulbs to turn on for newcomers and seasoned employee owners alike.
What attendees are saying:
“I learned that there are many types of employee-owned companies and that working to improve the employee culture is imperative to the success of the company. I also learned that employees (the workers) are a vital part of the company for their ideas and contributions and should be valued as such.”
“It boosted my confidence in the knowledge I already had and helped me understand some strategies for a mature ESOP like ours.”
“My favorite part of conferences is meeting people I usually only see on a computer screen and getting a chance to meet new people generally. This conference allowed many opportunities to do both of these things. I walked away tired but energized and reinvigorated to do the work that I do.”
“Our ESOP is our future and everyone needs to work together into building their own company. We would be crazy not to continue gaining education and getting advice from other individuals who are succeeding at building their business and making it better.”
Snapshots from VEOC 2024
Melissa Hoover, Director of Special Projects at the Democracy at Work Institute, delivers a funny, relatable, and timely speech for our keynote address.
Mellisa Cain of Iceberg Consulting does a live interpretation of the keynote speech, translating the key themes and highlights into a stunning graphic recording.
Members of co-ops practice teambuilding games and activities to bring back to their workplaces.
Thank you to our numerous presenters, panelists, sponsors, vendors, and participants for bringing their skills, resources, humor, and questions to make this event a powerful moment for the employee ownership movement in Vermont and the region. We hope to see you again around the same time next year!
Platinum Sponsors: Devine Millimet, PC Construction, and The Vermont Community Foundation
Thank you to Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee, a worker-owned cooperative in Orange, MA, for donating coffee and chocolate-covered coffee beans to keep attendees energized throughout the day.
This event was artfully captured through photographs by digital storyteller Dylan Kelley.
