Iowa Center for Employee Ownership (IA-CEO)
Welcome
The Iowa Center for Employee Ownership (IA-CEO) is Iowa’s hub for education, resources, and support on all forms of employee ownership, including ESOPs, Worker Cooperatives, and Employee Ownership Trusts. As the 21st state center in the national EOX network, we work to expand awareness and access to employee ownership across the state.
The IA-CEO partners with the University of Northern Iowa’s Wilson College of Business (WLSN) to conduct research in the employee ownership space and to help educate tomorrow’s leaders on its value. Located within the Business and Community Services (BCS) building, we provide practical guidance, curated resources, and connections to industry professionals to support businesses exploring or adopting employee ownership.
IA-CEO Receives Support From
The Iowa Center for Employee Ownership (IA-CEO) is grateful to JPMorganChase for supporting business succession planning and employee ownership education for Iowa’s small businesses, employees, and students. This partnership underscores JPMorganChase’s commitment to strengthening local communities and preparing the next generation of business owners.
The Academic Center for Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at the Wilson College of Business hosts Employee Ownership Experts on October 24, 2025
The Wilson College of Business had the honor of hosting national experts and business leaders for a powerful discussion on employee ownership. A huge thanks to panelists — Doug Kruse, Gangaram Singh, Michael Palmieri, Melissa Hoover, Margot Brandenburg, Mike Mallaro and Jerry Ripperger — and moderators Atul Mitra, Todd Hutcheson and Stacy Mullinex for sharing how shared ownership can fuel innovation, strengthen communities and create lasting economic opportunity.
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.
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
How Ownership Can Make Work Better for Everyone
Dr. leslie k. wilson, dean of the wilson college of business at the university of Northern iowa
In this inspiring TEDx talk, Dr. Leslie Wilson explores how expanding employee ownership can transform the way we think about work, wealth, and shared success.
With decades of experience guiding one of the nation’s top business schools and advancing innovative models in business education, Dr. Wilson makes a compelling case for why ownership matters—not just to business performance, but to individuals, communities, and the future of work itself.
Watch as she shares her vision for a more inclusive and empowering economic model that builds motivation, strengthens local economies, and reimagines the workplace for the better.
IA-CEO Publications
Retaining and Transitioning Businesses in Communities: Strategies in a New Era
This book explores innovative ways to preserve local businesses and community wealth through ownership transitions. Edited by Norman Walzer, the book features experts in economic development and succession planning.
In Chapter 9, Stacy Mullinex of the Iowa Center for Employee Ownership (IA-CEO) highlights how employee ownership keeps businesses and jobs rooted locally. Using Iowa examples like Morning Bell Coffee Roasters, the chapter shows how ESOPs, worker cooperatives, and similar models strengthen both businesses and their communities—addressing needs such as childcare and housing along the way.
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 Margot Brandenburg of the Ford Foundation and Stacy Mullinex of the Iowa Center for Employee Ownership (IA-CEO), the authors explore how models like ESOPs and worker cooperatives can create meaningful opportunities for wealth-building, job stability, and economic mobility. The piece also highlights the role policymakers, investors, and community leaders can play in expanding access to these ownership models and strengthening local economies.
Events
IA-CEO Employee Ownership Annual Conference
Thu, Oct 01 2026
8:00am - 4:00pm
FFA Enrichment Center1055 SW Prairie Trail PkwyAnkeny, IA
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Phone: 319-273-6557
Email: info@IA-CEO.org
