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.
Employee Ownership Annual Conference
Mark your calendar now for the IA-CEO 2025 Employee Ownership Annual Conference! Enjoy the benefits of becoming an event sponsor.
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.
Employee Ownership at TEA National Conference 2025
We’re proud to share that Stacy Mullinex of the Iowa Center for Employee Ownership (IA-CEO), was in Washington, D.C., May 13–16 for the ESOP Association's National Conference (TEA).
During the event, Stacy joined fellow employee ownership advocates from across the country in meetings on Capitol Hill, engaging lawmakers in conversations about the power and potential of employee ownership. This national advocacy effort helps ensure that the voices of employee-owned businesses — and those considering the transition — are heard at the highest levels.
Employee Ownership Annual Conference
At the conference, you will take a deeper dive into these topics:
- Employee Ownership for Business Succession
- Sustaining an Employee-Owned Business
- Maximizing Your Role as an Employee Owner
October 23, 2025 - FFA Enrichment Center, Ankeny IA
IA-CEO recognizes, promotes vital role of ESOPs across the state
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. ADVANCE IOWA manages IA-CEO operations.
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
IA-CEO receives Ford Foundation Grant
IA-CEO awarded 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
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Let's Talk
8120 Jennings Drive | Cedar Falls, IA 50614
Phone: 319-273-6557
Email: info@IA-CEO.org
Stacy.Mullinex@uni.edu 
| Deborah.Giarusso@uni.edu 
| Judy.Butler@uni.edu 