Iowa Center for Employee Ownership (IA-CEO)

Welcome
The Iowa Center for Employee Ownership (IA-CEO) is the state's premier resource hub dedicated to promoting and expanding employee ownership across Iowa. As a central point of connection, we provide education, resources, and support for businesses interested in exploring employee ownership models, particularly Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), Worker Cooperatives and Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs). Our goal is to empower Iowa businesses, employees, and communities with the knowledge and tools to transition to, or strengthen, broad-based employee ownership.

IA-CEO is proud to be the 21st state center in the Employee Ownership Expansion Network (EOX), a national initiative committed to increasing awareness of the benefits of employee ownership. We operate under the leadership of the University of Northern Iowa's (UNI) Advance Iowa, a program with a strong history of supporting Iowa businesses to achieve their goals.
At the heart of our mission is a commitment to enhancing economic prosperity throughout the state. We believe that by expanding employee ownership, we can help secure the future of Iowa businesses, preserve jobs, and create wealth-building opportunities for workers, all while keeping local economies vibrant and competitive. Through educational programming, expert guidance, and a network of industry professionals, IA-CEO is here to support businesses every step of the way as they explore and implement employee ownership solutions.

Join us for the IA-CEO Employee Ownership Annual Conference—where business owners, employee owners, service providers, and community leaders come together to explore the power of employee ownership. Whether you're considering a transition or looking to strengthen your employee-owned company, this event offers expert insights, practical resources, and real-world stories from companies that have made the leap. Learn how employee ownership can drive succession success, boost engagement, and build a stronger future for your business and community.
IA-CEO's Stacy Mullinex adds Chapter to Book on Succession Planning in Rural Communities

Retaining and Transitioning Businesses in Communities: Strategies in a New Era
This timely book explores innovative strategies for preserving local businesses and sustaining community wealth through ownership transitions. Edited by Norman Walzer, it brings together thought leaders and practitioners working at the intersection of economic development and business succession.
Don’t miss Chapter 9, authored by Stacy Mullinex of the Iowa Center for Employee Ownership. In this compelling chapter, Mullinex outlines how employee ownership can be a powerful tool for retaining local businesses and keeping jobs rooted in their communities. Drawing from Iowa’s growing experience with ESOPs, worker cooperatives, and other models, she provides practical insights and real-world examples that community leaders and economic developers won’t want to miss.
One featured example is Morning Bell Coffee Roasters in Ankeny, Iowa—a worker cooperative that exemplifies the values of democratic ownership and long-term local commitment. As a business owned and operated by its workers, Morning Bell highlights how cooperative models can foster strong employee engagement and resilience in a competitive market.
The chapter also explores how employee ownership can play a role in addressing broader community challenges, such as Iowa’s child care and housing crises. By anchoring businesses locally and empowering workers economically, employee ownership models can be a vital part of place-based development strategies that strengthen both businesses and the communities they serve.
IA-CEO Receives Recognition
IA-CEO, Wilson College of Business joins the Consortium on Employee Share Ownership

“We recognize growing interest and new generations of scholars, policymakers and practitioners interested in employee share ownership,” said Joseph Blasi, Director of the Rutgers Institute.
IA-CEO Recognizes, Promotes Vital Role of ESOPs Across the State - Steve Gravelle, The Gazette

Recognizing the role employee ownership can play in the vitality of Iowa communities led to the launch of the IA-CEO, aimed to support and promote employee ownership among Iowa businesses.

Employee Ownership: A Path to Upward Mobility
By Margot Brandenburg & Stacy Mullinex
We are proud to partner with the Ford Foundation to elevate the conversation around employee ownership. In this article for RealClearPolitics, co-authored by Stacy Mullinex of the Iowa Center for Employee Ownership and Margot Brandenburg of the Ford Foundation, the authors explore how models like ESOPs and worker cooperatives can create meaningful opportunities for wealth-building, job stability, and economic mobility.
Five Big Ideas for Employee Ownership
We’re proud to see Iowa leadership shaping the future of business education and employee ownership on a national stage!
Dr. Leslie K. Wilson, Dean of the Wilson College of Business at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), presented one of the "Five Big Ideas for Employee Ownership" at the Employee Ownership Ideas Forum in April—hosted by The Aspen Institute and the Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing.
Her big idea? Incorporating employee ownership into the business college curriculum—reflecting UNI's commitment to teaching, research, and outreach that prepares students to lead in inclusive, sustainable business models.
We’re thrilled to see this kind of vision coming from Iowa and contributing to a growing national movement.
What's your LEGACY?
Legacy isn’t just about the name on the building — it’s about the values you leave behind.
For many business owners, the dream is to pass the company on to the next generation — maybe even to your grandchildren. But what happens when that’s not the path they choose?
Employee ownership offers a powerful solution. It ensures the company you built — its mission, culture, and impact — stays intact. It keeps the jobs in your community. It protects what you've worked so hard to create.
Whether through an ESOP, a worker cooperative, or an employee ownership trust, transitioning ownership to your employees allows your legacy to live on — not just in name, but in purpose.
Your business can continue to grow, thrive, and support the people who helped build it.
That’s a legacy worth leaving!
If you have questions about where to start, reach out through the contact info below.
Employee Ownership Impact
In this video, learn about the powerful benefits of employee ownership. Discover how employee ownership not only serves as an effective succession plan for business owners but also strengthens local communities by promoting economic resilience. The Iowa Center for Employee Ownership (IA-CEO) is a key resource, providing expert guidance for companies considering the transition to employee ownership. Explore how this model can secure your business's future while empowering employees and contributing to a stronger economy in Iowa.
Video credits: Weicks Media

Ford Foundation Grant
The Ford Foundation has approved a grant of $315,000 to the University of Northern Iowa Foundation to support the Iowa Center for Employee Ownership (IA-CEO) program.

USDA Rural Cooperative Development Grant
We are excited to announce that the IA-CEO has been awarded a one-year grant from the USDA through the Rural Cooperative Development Grant program. The project funds will be used to:
- Expand employee ownership awareness & educational initiative
- Build an informational network resource hub
- Provide basic technical services for worker cooperatives

Employee Ownership - By the Numbers
The average employee at a 100% ESOP-owned S corporation stays with the company for 7.1 years.
According to a 2023 report published by the NCEO (National Center for Employee Ownership)
Upcoming Events
Exit with Impact: Selling your Business through Employee Ownership
Wed, Oct 22 2025
5:00pm - 6:30pm
DMACC Urban Campus, 1100 7th Street, Room 171, Des Moines, IA
Advisors’ Edge: Unlocking Employee Ownership for Your Clients
Wed, Oct 22 2025
5:00pm - 6:30pm
DMACC Urban Campus, 1100 7th Street, Room 170, Des Moines, IA
2025 IA-CEO Employee Ownership Annual Conference
Thu, Oct 23 2025
8:00am - 4:00pm
FFA Enrichment Center, DMACC Campus, 1055 SW Prairie Trail Pkwy, Ankeny, IA
We're Here to Help YOU as You Explore EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP

Deb Giarusso
Senior Program Manager

Stacy Mullinex
Senior Project Manager

Judy Butler
Program Manager
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