SHAPING THE FUTURE OF WORK,
ONE EMPLOYEE-OWNED SUCCESS STORY AT A TIME
Our Voice, Your Source for Employee Ownership
in Minnesota
Welcome to Our Voice—your go-to source for everything employee ownership!
Whether you're a journalist, business leader, or advocate, explore insightful articles, expert white papers, and inspiring blogs.
Tune in to our podcast for thought-provoking discussions,
or dive into engaging videos that highlight the real-world impact of shared ownership.
Stay ahead of the curve with breaking news, media coverage, and industry insights that shape the future of employee ownership in Minnesota and beyond. Journalists can also access our comprehensive media kit, filled with key facts, expert contacts,
and high-quality visuals to support their coverage.
Join the movement and discover how employee ownership is driving stronger businesses, empowering workers,
and building a more inclusive economy across our state!
The Employee Ownership Blog
Inspiring and educational stories that empower employee ownership.
The Pros and Cons of ESOPs: Weighing Your Options
Learn the advantages and disadvantages of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) for business succession. ...more
advisors
April 14, 2025•1 min read
Who Runs a Company Owned by an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)?
Explore the roles of management, board of directors, and trustees in companies owned by Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). ...more
ESOP
April 14, 2025•0 min read
Discover the Worker Co. Podcast: Your Gateway to Employee Ownership Stories in Minnesota
The Worker Co. Podcast shares inspiring stories of employee ownership across Minnesota. ...more
employee ownership
April 14, 2025•2 min read
The Employee Ownership Podcast
MNCEO Talks:
Worker Co Podcast
Are you a business owner looking to retire or transition and unsure who will buy your business? Are you an employee worried that your wages aren’t enough to build generational wealth?
The Worker Co. Podcast tells stories about the transforming power of employee ownership.
Our goal is to shed light on the benefits and process of becoming employee-owned, because we believe this business model is a powerful tool to stabilize businesses, lift people out of poverty, and create generational wealth for all workers.
Listen on Your Favorite App
MNCEO in the News
Press Releases
Articles & Analysis
White Papers
The latest news and updates on MNCEO that highlight our impact on employee ownership across Minnesota.
MINNEAPOLIS—Oct. 2, 2023–The Minnesota Center for Employee Ownership (MNCEO) is excited to join the nationwide celebration of Employee Ownership Month this October, highlighting the numerous benefits of employee ownership and the significant contributions it makes to the Minnesota business landscape.
MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 19, 2022—The Minnesota Center for Employee Ownership (MNCEO) today announced former North Branch Mayor Kirsten Kennedy has joined the organization as its new executive director to help further its mission to promote the use of employee ownership as a tool to retain jobs in communities, reduce income and wealth disparities, and create a more participatory economy for all residents across the state.
MINNEAPOLIS, July 5, 2022—The Minnesota Center for Employee Ownership (MNCEO) has received a $15,00 grant from the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation’s LaBounty Family Fund to continue its work to raise awareness of the benefits of business-owner succession planning and employee ownership in Northern Minnesota.
MINNEAPOLIS, April 26, 2022—The Minnesota Center for Employee Ownership (MNCEO) has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the McKnight Foundation to expand the capacity building in marginalized communities and greater Minnesota.
Minneapolis, MN - December 21, 2021 – The Minnesota Center for Employee Ownership (MNCEO) has been awarded a $30,000 grant from the Otto Bremer Trust (OBT), one of the nation’s largest philanthropic organizations.
Articles and reports on employee ownership. Media coverage that informs the public about shared ownership.
Forward-thinking business owners want to create a succession plan that preserves their legacy and benefits the organization. Understanding employee stock ownership plans, ESOPs, and how they can impact a business, the employees and a community
can be a perfect option for savvy leaders to explore.
Looking for a quick bird’s eye view of Employee Ownership resources throughout Minnesota? Check out this article written by Minnesota Chamber of Commerce business owners
looking for business succession support.
Featured in the Minnesota Society of CPA's September Footnote magazine, Sue Crockett explains the upcoming fate
for many baby boomer owned businesses.
While many businesses in the next two decades may pass to the next generation, a large portion of them will be sold — many of them to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, or ESOP. How do you know if an ESOP is a good option for your company?
An Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) exists to benefit both current
and future employees. With looser ties to the Internal Revenue Code
and U.S. Department of Labor regulations,
forming an EOT is likely to be less costly than an ESOP.
MNCEO in the News
Press Releases
The latest news and updates on MNCEO that highlight our impact on employee ownership across Minnesota.
MINNEAPOLIS—Oct. 2, 2023–The Minnesota Center for Employee Ownership (MNCEO) is excited to join the nationwide celebration of Employee Ownership Month this October, highlighting the numerous benefits of employee ownership and the significant contributions it makes to the Minnesota business landscape.
MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 19, 2022—The Minnesota Center for Employee Ownership (MNCEO) today announced former North Branch Mayor Kirsten Kennedy has joined the organization as its new executive director to help further its mission to promote the use of employee ownership as a tool to retain jobs in communities, reduce income and wealth disparities, and create a more participatory economy for all residents across the state.
MINNEAPOLIS, July 5, 2022—The Minnesota Center for Employee Ownership (MNCEO) has received a $15,00 grant from the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation’s LaBounty Family Fund to continue its work to raise awareness of the benefits of business-owner succession planning and employee ownership in Northern Minnesota.
MINNEAPOLIS, April 26, 2022—The Minnesota Center for Employee Ownership (MNCEO) has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the McKnight Foundation to expand the capacity building in marginalized communities and greater Minnesota.
Minneapolis, MN - December 21, 2021 – The Minnesota Center for Employee Ownership (MNCEO) has been awarded a $30,000 grant from the Otto Bremer Trust (OBT), one of the nation’s largest philanthropic organizations.
Articles & Analysis
White Papers
Articles and reports on employee ownership. Media coverage that informs the public about shared ownership.
Forward-thinking business owners want to create a succession plan that preserves their legacy and benefits the organization. Understanding employee stock ownership plans, ESOPs, and how they can impact a business, the employees and a community
can be a perfect option for savvy leaders to explore.
Looking for a quick bird’s eye view of Employee Ownership resources throughout Minnesota? Check out this article written by Minnesota Chamber of Commerce business owners
looking for business succession support.
Featured in the Minnesota Society of CPA's September Footnote magazine, Sue Crockett explains the upcoming fate
for many baby boomer owned businesses.
While many businesses in the next two decades may pass to the next generation, a large portion of them will be sold — many of them to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, or ESOP. How do you know if an ESOP is a good option for your company?
An Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) exists to benefit both current and future employees. With looser ties to the Internal Revenue Code and U.S. Department of Labor regulations, forming an EOT is likely to be less costly than an ESOP. Read on to read more.
Media Spotlight On Employee Ownership
Employee ownership in the news— articles, reports, and videos that inform the public
on the future of shared ownership.
Interview With Heather Braimbridge-Cox CEO of Windings
October 31, 2023
MNCEO joins Freddie Bell and Chantel SinGs on the morning show
October 23, 2023
Watch & Learn
Employee ownership in action—real stories and inspiring transformations.
Code Weavers Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) Transaction
Split Rock Studios:
An Employee-Owned Company
Why an ESOP was right
for Windings, Inc.
Why Nina Hale chose employee ownership
Why Happy Earth Cleaning Service is now 100% worker-owned
Media Kit
Our comprehensive media kit provides journalists with easy access to story ideas, background information,
multimedia assets, and answers to frequently asked questions about MNCEO and employee ownership.
• Company History
• Logos & Branding Guidelines
•Executive Director Bio & Headshot
•Employee Stock Ownership Plan FAQs
•Employee Ownership Trust FAQs
•Worker-Owned Cooperatives FAQs
•2021 MNCEO Annual Report
Kirsten Kennedy
Executive Director
Kirsten Kennedy is the executive director of the Minnesota Center for Employee Ownership, a free and unbiased hub for information and resources on all forms of employee ownership, including employee stock ownership plans, employee ownership trusts, and worker-owned cooperatives.
As executive director, Kirsten is responsible for leading MNCEO’s networking, fundraising, and programming initiatives to educate business owners, their employees and financial advisors, and elected officials across Minnesota on the prospect of and long-term benefits of employee ownership. Prior to joining MNCEO, Kirsten served as the mayor of North Branch, a city in Central Minnesota with more than 10,500 residents.
During Kirsten’s tenure as mayor, her public policy initiatives were focused on economic development, affordable housing, infrastructure repair and development, and supporting housing for people with chronic mental health challenges and homelessness.
Read More...
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