Family Business Program Announces Series Exploring Employee Ownership

The St. John Fisher University Family Business Program will offer a three-part series open to all business owners and leaders, Built to Last: Exploring Employee Ownership as a Business & Succession Strategy, that will explore employee ownership as a growth-focused succession strategy, including what Employee Ownership (EO) means and the benefits of staying independent.

Attendees will hear from national EO experts, founders, and successor leaders who have chosen this path, along with Fisher alumni and local advisors who have helped businesses put it into practice. They will also learn what EO is; why it may be a strong alternative to transitioning to a family member, a sale, or private equity (PE) firm; or in the event that there is not an “obvious” next leader within a founder or family-owned firm. 

The series will examine the facts, financial considerations, the path to transition readiness, and practical realities of shared equity, including how leaders and employees embrace the model and use it to support long-term growth for their firm and their communities. Sessions include: 

Part 1:  What Owners, Leaders, and Business Advisors Should Know About Employee Ownership – The Basics
4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 18
Cleary Family Auditorium at St. John Fisher University

Keynote Speaker: Kevin McPhillips - Employee Ownership Fundamentals
Kevin McPhillips, a nationally recognized advocate for employee ownership and representative of The Baker Project at Rutgers University and the PA Center of Employee Ownership, will draw from his more than 30 years of leadership experience in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. McPhillips will provide an overview of employee ownership models, explore the business case for EO, and discuss how ownership structures can help companies address succession planning, employee engagement, and long-term sustainability. As a former business owner, CEO, and entrepreneur, he brings practical insight into why employee ownership can be a powerful strategy for preserving and growing successful companies.

Employee Ownership Leadership & Advisor Panel
A distinguished panel of employee ownership practitioners, company leaders, and advisors moderated by Fisher alumnus Ray Isaac, executive vice president of industry relations for Northwinds Services Group, will discuss the practical realities of employee ownership, including implementation, governance, valuation, legal considerations, succession planning, and the impact of employee ownership on company culture and performance. Through their diverse experiences, attendees will gain firsthand insight into the opportunities and challenges associated with employee-owned enterprises.

The panel will feature perspectives from:

• Ryanne Close, financial controller and ESOP administrator, G.W. Lisk Company, Inc. (St. John Fisher University alumna)
• Mark Esposito, president, Campus Construction Management Group
• Robyn Brookhart, president and CEO, Liberty Pumps
• Pat Farrington, president, Vance Metals
• Paul Fusco, employee ownership attorney and shareholder, Stevens & Lee
• Dr. Hugh Lambert, CPA, PhD, assistant professor, St. John Fisher University and expert in valuation, succession planning, and privately held business continuity

Together, these two sessions will provide attendees with both a foundational understanding of employee ownership and practical perspectives from leaders and advisors who have successfully navigated the employee ownership journey.

Part 2: Performance and People – Leading and Innovating in an Employee-Owned Business
4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 8
Elaine Wilson Formal Lounge (Ward-Haffey Hall) at St. John Fisher University

Part 3:  From Interest to Action – Employee Ownership Seems of Interest – Let’s Talk About the Process and Roadmap
4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 21
Nixon Peabody, 211 High Point Drive, Victor, NY 14564

Tickets are available online and are $50 per person, per session or $100 for all three sessions. 

The events are made possible through the support of Cardinal Sponsor Key Private Bank and series sponsors Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations, the NJ/NY Center for Employee Ownership, The Baker Project, EO/ROC, and Nixon Peabody, LLP.

Launched in 2018, Fisher’s Family Business Program supports the unique needs of family businesses in the region by offering innovative, engaging programs related to leadership transitions, succession planning, family governance, and next generation training, among other topics.

For more information, visit the Family Business website or call the Office of the Dean of the School of Business at (585) 385-8446.