The Succession Moment - Why Wisconsin Business Owners Should Consider Employee Ownership

Event description

Free Lunch & Learn for Wisconsin Business Owners. Registration required. 

This event if for IN-BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURS.

Wisconsin is in the middle of one of the largest generational business transitions in its history. Over the next decade, thousands of business owners across the state will face the same question: What happens to the company when I'm ready to step away?

For a growing number of them, the answer is the same people who built it — their employees.

Join us for an honest, owner-focused conversation about why employee ownership is gaining momentum in Wisconsin and how to know if it might be the right path for your business.

What You'll Take Away

• A clear-eyed look at your succession options — and where employee ownership fits among them
• The three primary employee ownership models compared: ESOP, Worker Cooperative, and Employee Ownership Trust
• How owners typically structure and finance an EO transition — and what the proceeds look like
• Real Wisconsin examples of founders who chose this path, and why
• The tax advantages most owners don't realize are on the table
• A practical first step to take if this is worth exploring further

Learning Outcomes: 

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to: 

1. Understand the Fundamentals- Define business succession planning and explain its importance for organizational continuity, as well as identify key roles and responsibilities in the succession planning process.
2. Assess Organizational Readiness- Conduct a basic SWOT analysis to evaluate leadership gaps and future needs and recognize potential risks of not having a succession plan in place.
3. Develop a Succession Framework- Outline the steps to create a clear, actionable succession plan, along with establishing criteria for identifying and developing high-potential talent to take on leadership roles.
4. Implement the Plan- Apply strategies for smooth leadership transitions and create a process for regularly reviewing and updating the succession plan.
5. Overcome Common Challenges- Identify barriers to effective succession planning and propose solutions, in addition to fostering a culture that supports leadership development and knowledge transfer.

Your Presenters

Joe Sapp, CAE · Executive Director, Wisconsin Center for Employee Ownership
Joe leads statewide efforts to expand access to employee ownership transitions for Wisconsin businesses. He brings 18+ years of association leadership and direct experience guiding owners and their advisors through the EO decision process.

Charity Schmidt · Cooperative Development Specialist, UW Center for Cooperatives
Charity supports Wisconsin businesses exploring worker-owned cooperative structures and contributes to the statewide cooperative development ecosystem.