IERFU Phoenix Program by NCEO

2025 Annual Conference

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR MAKING THIS EVENT POSSIBLE!

ESOP TRAINING PROGRAMS

The NCEO offers live remote training programs for boards and fiduciaries. The programs are presented by NCEO founder Corey Rosen or NCEO executive director Loren Rodgers. Customizable training is 90 minutes long and costs $500.

We also offer an online training program on how ESOPs work Based on a series of recorded webinars, it uses adult learning model-based quizzes to turn test takers into knowledgeable ESOP committee members and fiduciaries. This training costs $100.

PUBLICATIONS

Beyond Engagement

ESOPs and Corporate Governance

Executive Compensation in ESOP Companies

Selling Your Business to an ESOP

The ESOP Company Board Handbook

Understanding ESOPs

LIVE WEBINARS & REPLAYS

Stay up to date on ESOPs and equity compensation with online presentations on legal, governance, HR, communications, and financial topics from our Compass online learning series. Both live and recorded webinars are free for NCEO members.

We offer approximately 45 live ESOP webinars every year Each webinar is recorded and then placed into our Replay Library for you to re-watch at your convenience NCEO live webinars offer continuing education credit for CPE and SHRM Find out more information about webinars at www nceo org/live-webinars

Additional Resources

Understanding ESOPs by Corey Rosen & Scott Rodrick: A general introductory guide to ESOPs for public and private companies. 1. Who Should Own Your Business After You?: This 8-page full-color booklet answers frequent questions, describes the sale process, and features critical research findings on the impact of employee ownership. 2.

Finance Toolkit & Lender Directory: This toolkit helps NCEO member companies secure financing, either for an ESOP transaction or commercial lending, and includes guidelines to best practices when seeking funding and a directory of bank and nonbank lenders with ESOP experience. 3.

Speakers

Neil Brozen launched Ventura in July 2016 after providing ESOP trustee services for two institutional trustees since 2005 He oversees the Relationship Management Team, which serves more than 165 clients across 30 states and is responsible for an average of 30 transactions annually Neil is deeply passionate about employee-ownership, exhibited by his long-term membership in all ESOP trade groups including making more than 100 presentations at various Conferences and writing articles

Christopher Buch represents plan sponsors, ESOP trustees, selling shareholders, ESOP committees, lending institutions, private equity firms and other fiduciaries in connection with all types of ESOP matters He frequently assists clients with succession transactions, going-private transactions, management buyouts, corporate conversions, releveragings, sales and transactions involving private equity He also speaks on ESOP matters and has authored chapters and articles pertaining to various ESOP-related topics for a number of publications

Matt Dennison is a leader in Chartwell's corporate finance practice, where he consistently delivers innovative, solutions-based advice to shareholders, boards of directors, and management teams of privately held middle-market companies His areas of expertise include investment banking services, strategic alternatives analysis, employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) transactions, sell-side M&A transactions, and debt capital raises Matt has a robust track record of successfully completing transactions across a diverse range of industries This extensive experience equips him with the ability to design creative yet pragmatic strategies, uniquely tailored to enable companies to reach their specific objectives.

As a partner of The Capital ESOP Group, Nick Francia focuses on educating business owners on tax-efficient exit strategies He is committed to helping clients recognize their options, understand the pros and cons of each strategy and choose the best succession plan for themselves and their families. Nick also creates tailored cash flow models comparing the taxable sale of privately held businesses and a tax-deferred sale to an ESOP under §1042 of the Internal Revenue Code Nick earns his clients’ trust through open, transparent communication and by working with clients’ tax and legal advisors to construct an overarching strategy

Phillip Hayes has 31 years of experience within banking/finance, tax, strategic planning, executive leadership, succession and exit planning and acquisition As a long-term partner of Berman Hopkins CPA, Phillip has built an ESOP practice group that includes services for ESOP transaction, implementation and communication from a national market. Phillip is the host of an educational podcast resource called "The ESOP GuyJourney to an ESOP & Beyond that is within their 5th season of episodes

Sheryl Lewis led the development of a customized ESOP aligned with the company ’ s culture In 22 years at ROI, she has engaged with clients on strategy development, change management, leadership alignment/organizational design Prior to ROI she held a variety of roles including VP of talent, director of management/organizational development, director of business excellence and director of product marketing.

Agenda: October 21

Matt Middendorp, Business Consultant at ESOP Partners, is a dedicated ESOP advocate with a rich background in banking and consulting As an award-winning banker and entrepreneur, Matt now dedicates his expertise to educating business owners on selecting and managing ESOPs A frequent industry speaker and guest contributor, he brings depth to the conversation. Beyond work, Matt embraces musky fishing, triathlons, and fossil digs

12:30 PM

1:00 PM

1:40 PM

Registration & Refreshments

Agave & Mesquite

Welcome! What is Employee Ownership?

Loren Rodgers, NCEO

An ESOP Company Perspective - How we Built Our Unique ESOP

Sheryl Lewis, ROI Communications

Refreshment Break

Speakers

Jade Palermo is a leader in Empire Valuation Consultant’s ESOP Advisory Practice She is an experienced valuation analyst with a proven track record of providing trustworthy valuation advisory services and credible, defensible valuations across multiple industries since 2011 As a leader in Empire’s ESOP Advisory Practice, Jade provides valuation advisory services to trustees, covering both transactional matters and ongoing annual updates Jade also assists business owners in exploring ESOP feasibility and executing ESOP transactions. Jade has spoken at many ESOP events and conferences on a variety of topics impacting employee-owned companies

Loren Rodgers joined the NCEO in 2005 as its research director and became its executive director in 2010 He writes extensively on employee ownership in professional and academic publications and has spoken at events around the world Since he entered the field in 1995 as a consultant, he has worked with hundreds of companies and presented to thousands of people His expertise includes ESOPs, equity compensation, best practices for employee ownership companies, research, effective communications, employee motivation, corporate governance, ESOP transactions and operations, and business literacy.

Steve Storkan has been involved with employee stock ownership plans for over 25 years, most recently as the director of ESOP administration for Alerus Retirement and Benefits, where he worked closely with businesses in the creation of an ESOP and the technical administration and compliance required in subsequent years

Agenda: October 22 TOPIC

Breakfast Roundtables | Terrace

EO Basics - Loren Rodgers 8:00 AM 9:10 AM

ESOP Communications, Sheryl Lewis

Welcome & Recap

Loren Rodgers, NCEO 9:35 AM

Putting Together the Plan Document - What Will Work Now and in the Future

Chris Buch, Vedder Price 10:10 AM 10:30 AM

Refreshment Break