If you’re interested in employee ownership, one of the very best places you can be is Burlington Vermont on June 10th for the Ninth Annual Vermont Employee Ownership Conference.
Over the years I’ve been part of many of these gatherings. I’ve always learned a lot, always enjoyed myself, and always appreciated the fine work of the Vermont Employee Ownership Center, the organization responsible (and one of only two statewide employee ownership centers I know of – the other being in Ohio). Full conference details and online registration are available at http://www.veoc.org. For more information, call 802-861-6611 or email info@veoc.org.
This year’s opening plenary will feature the stories of some of the latest companies in Vermont to choose employee ownership, including Vermont Aerospace, a manufacturing business based in Lyndonville that recently become 100% employee-owned through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, and PT360, a new physical therapy practice that is organized as a worker cooperative.
It’s a great opportunity to hear what led company leaders to choose employee ownership and what differences they expect it to make to their business and to their employees.
I can’t make it this year – wish I could. I hope you can.
Rodney North
June 3, 2011 at 9:46 amI second John’s plug for the VT conf. I’ve spoken there and its a great event.
Folks should also know that there is a conf coming up in Baltimore specifically for worker co-op’s, and anyone interested in starting/joining/or growing a worker-owned cooperative.
It runs from July 8-10 but the bulk is on Sat & Sun, and is called:
The Eastern Conference for Workplace Democracy.
http://east.usworker.coop/
I and about 6 of my colleagues will be there.
Jabari
September 17, 2011 at 2:00 pmHi! Just wanted to mention that there’s an employee ownership center in California call the California Center for Cooperative Development (www.cccd.coop). Thanks for the blogging! I am a worker-owner at the Arizmendi Bakery and Pizzeria in Emeryville, CA, a worker coop since 2003. I’ve been there for three years and am striving to expand my knowledge of cooperative history, theory and practice, and have added your book, Companies We Keep, to my reading list.
jabrams
September 19, 2011 at 7:25 amJabari,
Thanks so much – i didn’t know about CCCD. . . will check it out. Hope you enjoy the book. . .