Past eventHeld October 1, 2026, 8:00am - 4:00pm
Employee Ownership Annual Conference 2026
The Iowa Center for Employee Ownership hosts its 4th annual conference bringing together business leaders, employee owners, service providers, researchers, students, and advocates to explore employee ownership models and transitions.
FFA Enrichment Center, Ankeny, IA
- Held
- October 1, 2026, 8:00am - 4:00pm
- Venue
- FFA Enrichment Center, Ankeny, IA
TL;DR
Written before the event took place.
- Employee Ownership Annual Conference 2026 convenes on October 1st at FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny, Iowa.
- The event gathers business owners, employee-owned companies, advisors, researchers, policymakers, and advocates to examine ownership models and transitions.
- Four breakout tracks cover ownership transition, growth strategies, academic research, and culture and engagement.
About
The Iowa Center for Employee Ownership (IA-CEO) hosts the 4th annual Employee Ownership Conference to advance employee ownership as a vehicle for business succession and economic resilience. Sessions focus on ownership transition, employee engagement and culture, financing growth through employee ownership, academic research, macroeconomic trends, and leadership development.
Who was in the room
Business Owners
Owners considering succession planning or ownership transition
Employee-Owned Companies
Companies at any stage of their ownership journey
Professional Advisors
Service providers and consultants supporting business transition
Academics
Faculty, researchers, and students interested in employee ownership and workforce development
Policymakers
Leaders of philanthropic foundations focused on business sustainability and economic resilience
Featured speakers
2 listedChris Cournoyer
Lieutenant Governor of Iowa · State of Iowa
Celina Peerman
Organizational Psychologist
Partners on record
3 listedVenue & travel
Venue
FFA Enrichment Center, 1055 SW Prairie Trail Pkwy, Ankeny, IAGetting there
Nearby accommodation available at Tru by Hilton, Ankeny, located at 1230 SW District Drive.
Questions people ask
7 answeredThe conference runs on Thursday, October 1st, 2026, from 8:00am to 4:00pm.
The conference takes place at FFA Enrichment Center, 1055 SW Prairie Trail Pkwy, Ankeny, Iowa.
Attendees include business owners considering succession, employee-owned companies, professional advisors, researchers and academics, and policymakers focused on business sustainability and economic resilience.
Attendees gain practical insights about ESOPs, worker cooperatives, and other employee ownership models from experts and companies experienced in employee ownership.
The conference features four focused breakout tracks: Exploring Employee Ownership, Growth Strategies, Academic Research, and Culture and Engagement.
It is most useful for Iowa business owners weighing succession or an ownership transition, and for employee-owned companies and advisors, since the four breakout tracks cover exploring employee ownership, growth strategies, academic research, and culture and engagement, with keynotes from Lieutenant Governor Chris Cournoyer and organizational psychologist Celina Peerman. As a one-day regional event, it offers less to national ESOP specialists seeking deep technical or legal detail, but it gives newcomers practical exposure to ESOPs and worker cooperatives.
Attendees at small-business and advisory conferences in Iowa usually wear business casual, with slacks and a collared shirt or blazer being common.
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