2026 Speaker Biographies

Holly Adams is the Human Resources Director at Timberline Manufacturing, where she is proudly serving at the second employee-owned (ESOP) company in her career and continuing to learn the many nuances of employee ownership. Holly brings 30 years of HR experience — and a few good stories — to her current role. Holly earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin–Platteville and a master’s degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Rachel Adams is Executive Vice President at Two Rivers Marketing, which she joined in 2001, and which became part of VGM Group in 2022. As EVP, Rachel helps guide the agency's vision while working with clients on business and marketing strategy, drives architecture and development of channel marketing programs, works with brand planning and research, and collaborates with internal agency leaders. She has built a reputation for helping clients move their marketing efforts forward with a strategic approach and a passion for understanding complex products and technical subjects. Rachel uses a wealth of business-to-business experience in a wide range of industries to help clients thrive.

A native of Garner, Iowa, and graduate of Iowa State University, Rachel serves on the board of directors for Junior Achievement of Central Iowa and Rayser Holdings and is a member of the National Agri-Marketing Association.

Avner Ben-Ner is a professor in the Center for Human Resources and Labor Studies in the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota and an affiliated professor, Law School and in Applied Economics. He is Senior Fellow, Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University. Avner studies the comparative structure and performance of different types of organizations: for-profit, nonprofit, employee-owned, and government owned. He has also conducted studies of collaboration, cooperation, trust, reciprocity and other behaviors in diverse teams. His current research focuses on the effects of technological change, particularly automation, on organization of work, demand for skills, and jobs in U.S. manufacturing firms. He also studies polarization in the U.S. during the past 30 years. His research has been published in many journals and books. 

Neil Brozen co-founded Ventura with Mary Wertz in July of 2016 after providing ESOP trustee services for two institutional trustees for 11 years. He received his CPA license in 1981 and has more than 30 years’ experience with non-ESOP M&A transactions. Neil has been responsible for more than 500 ESOP transactions including new formations, 2nd stage purchases, third-party sales and others. He is a nationally recognized speaker and writer on various ESOP issues because of his vast experience. 

The key to Neil’s success is his dedication to providing outstanding service, his intentional and sincere building of relationships, and his common-sense approach to problem solving. He is known for solving problems, not creating them. Neil is extremely passionate about employee-ownership and has been a member of The ESOP Association, National Center for Employee Ownership for 20 years and served on the Board for both organizations. He also is a member of the ESCA Advisory Board. These connections and experiences ensure clients are informed of current issues in the ESOP world.  A strong advocate of increasing the number of employee-owned companies, Neil joined the Board of the Employee Ownership Expansion Network (EOX) in 2019 to help them achieve their goal to add 1 million new employee-owners by 2025 through their state centers. He recently received one of the inaugural EOXcellence Awards.  

Neil lives with his wife, Mary Wertz, and their adorable dogs, Rocky and Charlie in Minneapolis. He loves to golf and travel.

Judy Butler is a Program Manager with the Iowa Center for Employee Ownership at Advance Iowa. She brings a strong background in entrepreneurship, having owned and operated several small businesses, both online and brick-and-mortar. For over 15 years, Judy has worked in higher education, often serving as a liaison between academia and the business community.

Passionate about preserving Iowa’s small towns and rural businesses, Judy is dedicated to supporting sustainable growth through employee ownership and succession planning. She is a graduate of Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, where she studied business management and political science.

Regina Carls is Managing Director of the ESOP Advisory Group. She is dedicated to helping bankers and their privately held clients evaluate the benefits of selling stock to an ESOP and therefore creating liquidity for the owners in the transaction. Regina was responsible for the initial development of the ESOP Advisory Group. She quickly became a liaison with all areas of the firm assisting in the analysis and structuring of complex ESOP financings. Regina has been with J.P. Morgan for 30 years. Prior to spearheading the ESOP Advisory Group, she was a division manager within Middle Market Banking. She has gained broad experience during her career within the firm.

Regina received a Bachelor of Business degree in Finance from the University of Iowa and holds a Master of Business Administration from DePaul University. She is licensed by FINRA with a Series 24, Series 63 and Series 79.

Regina is a recognized expert and frequent speaker in the ESOP Community. In 2014, she was appointed to the Advisory Committee of ESCA (Employee-Owned S Corporations of America). She is a member of the ESOP Association headquartered in Washington, D.C and serves on their Banking and Finance Committee. Additionally, Regina is an active member of the National Center for Employee Ownership and Ohio Employee Ownership Center.

Emily Coats is a storyteller, adventurer, and “magic maker” known for her ability to “Make Scrappy Pretty”—turning limited time, resources, and ideas into meaningful, polished results. As Marketing Coordinator for Rayser Holdings, she helps businesses share their stories in creative, accessible ways. A passionate advocate for employee ownership, Emily regularly speaks at ESOP conferences and serves as Vice President of Communications for the TEA IA/NE Chapter. She also produces and hosts two podcasts and supports community impact as Vice President of Helping Hungry Hands. An alum of the University of Iowa, she lives near her hometown of Monticello, Iowa with her husband and three pets.

Chris Cournoyer is the 48th Lieutenant Governor of Iowa, appointed by Governor Kim Reynolds in December 2024. Before taking on this role, she served in the Iowa State Senate, representing Clinton, Jackson, and Scott counties. Elected in 2018, she chaired the newly formed Technology Committee, where she played a key role in crafting legislation that made Iowa the sixth state in the country to establish consumer data protection laws.

Lt. Governor Cournoyer has a strong background in technology, particularly in artificial intelligence, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science from the University of Texas. She began her professional career as a senior consultant in the Technology Division at Andersen Consulting, a Fortune 500 company that eventually became Accenture. Deeply committed to advancing STEM education, Lt. Governor Cournoyer has worked to create opportunities for underserved children through work-based learning initiatives. She has served on the Governor's STEM Advisory Council and was previously a member of the Quad Cities Engineering and Science Council. Raised by an engineer and a teacher, she is passionate about expanding access to STEM opportunities for young people across Iowa.

Kaly Etten is Vice President of People & Culture at Crystal Group, a 100% employee-owned technology company headquartered in Iowa. She is responsible for leading the company's people strategy, including talent acquisition, leadership development, total rewards, employee engagement, performance management, workforce planning, and organizational effectiveness.

With more than 20 years of experience in human resources and business leadership, Kaly partners closely with executive teams to build high-performing cultures that align people, performance, and business results. Her work focuses on creating scalable systems and processes that support growth while preserving the employee-owner experience.

As a leader within an ESOP organization, Kaly is passionate about helping employee-owners understand the connection between ownership, engagement, accountability, and long-term company success. She has led initiatives focused on compensation strategy, career architecture, leadership development, succession planning, and strengthening ownership culture across the organization.

Kaly is a recognized community leader, speaker, and advocate for workplace cultures that empower employees to grow, contribute, and share in the success they help create. She was honored as a Women of Influence recipient and is committed to advancing leadership development and employee ownership throughout Iowa and beyond.

Nathan Ettleman is Supply Chain Lead at Engineered Seal Products in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Ken Feldman is the CFO of Employee Owned Brands, Inc. (formerly known as Dexter Apache Holdings, Inc.), a 100% employee-owned holding company headquartered in Fairfield, Iowa. With a career spanning decades in accounting and corporate financial leadership, Feldmann directs the financial strategy, regulatory compliance, and fiscal operations of a highly diversified portfolio. His executive oversight supports multiple operational subsidiaries, including Apache Stainless, Crystal Group, Dexter Laundry, and Leer. These entities cross critical economic sectors such as industrial food processing, ruggedized technology, manufacturing, and commercial laundry distribution.  His executive experience includes his current role at Employee Owned Brands, Inc. and general manager at Nypro Kanaak Iowa. Ken has an MBA from the Tippie College of Business at the University of Iowa.

Dr. Ellen G. Frank-Miller is the Founder and CEO of WORC, the Workforce & Organizational Research Center, and an Executive Fellow at the Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing. Ellen collaborates with stakeholders to drive business impact by improving jobs and ownership cultures. She founded WORC in 2021 to build a thriving economy where every worker has a job worth having.

An organizational scholar by training, Ellen leverages known strong correlations between ownership cultures, better jobs, and business results to develop rigorously validated workforce diagnostics that identify actions employee-owned companies can take to strengthen their ownership cultures and achieve goals. WORC's Ownership Impact Index gives companies two index scores developed from advanced mathematical models to track progress with 1-day turnaround on their survey report. Each report includes three ROI scenarios based on actual company data from WORC's sophisticated model that demonstrate the bottom line impact of ownership culture improvement.

Ellen spent 15 years in HR consulting and was a professor at Washington University in St. Louis. She taught research methods there and at the University of Chicago, where she earned her PhD. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Center for Employee Ownership and the Advisory Board of the Campaign for Equitable Funding.

Greg Fresh has been with Chartwell since 2010 and leads the firm’s corporate finance practice. During the course of his 25+ year investment banking career, he has been involved in hundreds of transactions including both M&A and capital markets, in public and private markets. Greg is a member of the Association for Corporate Growth, The ESOP Association, and the National Center for Employee Ownership. Greg is a frequent speaker on variety of corporate finance topics involving ESOPs. Greg is a registered representative with Chartwell affiliate CCS Transactions, LLC and holds FINRA Series 7, 62, 63, and 79 licenses. 

Prior to Chartwell, Greg was Managing Director of Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s M&A advisory group, where he was responsible for covering diversified industrial clients, as well as ESOP advisory for the investment bank. Prior to Bank of America, Greg was Managing Director at ABN AMRO where he was responsible for M&A advisory and a member of the coverage team for the consumer sector. In addition, he established and led the ESOP Advisory practice for the investment bank, as well as co-led the middle market public to private practice. Prior to his large cap investment banking experience, Greg was a Managing Director at Lazard Middle Market (Goldsmith, Agio, Helms) where he represented private business owners, corporations, and private equity in a variety of middle-market M&A transactions.

In addition, Greg has held positions of increasing responsibility with Fortune 100 companies Diageo, plc and Invensys plc in corporate development, planning, and finance director positions. Greg began his M&A career in private equity with the Jordan Industries, Inc., the holding company strategy of the Jordan Company. He began his career in public accounting.

Bob Gaffney is President and CEO at Rinderknecht Associates, Inc., a 100% Employee-Owned ESOP General Contractor in Cedar Rapids, IA. He started his career in public accounting, worked in the finance department of another ESOP company, and then came to Rinderknecht as their CFO where he spent 6 years before being promoted to his current role. Through his time at both ESOP companies, his responsibilities included ESOP administration, ESOP education, plan design, sustainability, forecasting, and many other ESOP functions. In his current role, he manages an ESOP with 60 participants as well as a field workforce including union laborers and carpenters who do not participate in the ESOP.

Stephanie Gott is a people-centered human resources executive, coach and consultant. In her field for more than two decades, experiencing multiple disciplines and industries, she has developed an expertise in partnering with business leaders to provide strategic guidance on human capital formation, engagement and culture development throughout the organizations she has served.

Angie Hoover joined the ESOP world in 2015 when she began work at CarePro Health Services as their Chief HR Officer. After the transition of CarePro to a holding company, she became the Chief Operating Officer of Rayser Holdings, Inc. in 2018. She manages human resources, marketing, compliance, and information technology for a shared support services model for Rayser’s portfolio of companies. Rayser Holdings was named the 2024 National Employee Owned Company of the year. 

Angie currently serves as the Iowa/Nebraska ESOP Chapter President and is passionate about employee ownership and what it can do for employees and company culture in any industry.

Melissa Hoover is the Managing Director of Ownership Culture at Apis & Heritage Capital Partners, where she oversees all employee engagement work at A&H's portfolio companies, from the discovery process to program design to implementation and impact assessment. She helps build effective teams that steward growing ownership cultures, resulting in more resilient and profitable companies with more satisfied employees.

She is also an Executive Fellow and Senior Director at the Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing, where she convenes the University Consortium and contributes to the Applied Research Lab.

The author of Employee Ownership: A Pathway to Economic Resilience and a leader in the field for over twenty years, Melissa is the former founding Executive Director of the Democracy at Work Institute, the think-and-do-tank that expands worker ownership as a strategy to address inequality. Melissa helped start and grow the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives, the national grassroots membership organization for worker-owned businesses. She was a cooperative business developer for many years with the Arizmendi Association of Cooperatives in the Bay Area, helping launch two successful cooperative bakery businesses. She has consulted with dozens of companies seeking to broaden their ownership and participation.

Melissa regularly speaks and presents on ownership strategies and has served as a strategic advisor to foundations, investors, nonprofits, local governments and other organizations seeking to incorporate ownership into their economic development and community wealth-building work. She proudly serves on the Iowa Center for Employee Ownership advisory council and the Board of Directors of Safe Passages of Oakland. 

Eric Hoyt is an economist with research and teaching interests in labor economics, institutional economics, and economic history. His dissertation focuses on the impact of state adoption and restriction of wrongful discharge laws, a court-based form of employment protection in the U.S., on wages, union density, job tenure, and on-the-job training. He received a Louis O. Kelso Fellowship for his research on the impact of employee ownership on racial and gender employment diversity and earnings. In this work, he examined the largest to date establishment level data set on employee ownership using confidential Census microdata. He received his BA in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and PhD in economics from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He enjoys playing guitar, soccer, and bicycling.

Hillary Hughes joined Prairie Capital Advisors in 2011 and is a shareholder in the firm. She leads Prairie’s ESOP Trust-Side Practice. Hillary’s work focuses on advising ESOP trustees, boards of directors and business owners on ESOP structuring, valuation matters and ownership transition planning.

Hillary is actively involved in the employee ownership community and frequently speaks at conferences and industry events, including programs hosted by The ESOP Association (TEA), the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) and other industry forums. Thought leadership topics include valuation, ESOP transactions, board governance, and ownership transition planning. In addition, Hillary serves as Chair of The ESOP Association Valuation Advisory Committee and is a past President of the Iowa/Nebraska Chapter. She also serves on the Board of Directors of two private companies and is an advisory member of the Iowa Center for Employee Ownership.

In 2017, Hillary was recognized as a Top 40 Under Forty Honoree by the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA). She also received the Membership Recruitment Award to a Professional Member from The ESOP Association (TEA). In 2018, she received the HER Women of Achievement Award presented by HER Magazine. In 2020, she received the Americas Rising Dealmakers Award from M&A Atlas. In 2022, she received the Emerging Leaders Award from M&A Advisors. In 2024, she was recognized as a Top Woman Leader & Dealmaker of the Year by M&A Atlas.

Ben Janssen is President of Cimarron Trailers in East Chickasha, OK.

Chris Kollasch - As the Sales Enablement Lead Chris has exploratory conversations with companies as they look to learn more about equity compensation and employee ownership. He facilitates educational conversations that help organizations understand employee ownership models and evaluate solutions offered by Principal.

Jon Landon takes a collaborative approach to advising clients, focusing on becoming a trusted partner by understanding both their near-term and long-term goals. With this insight, he develops tailored, business-minded and tax-efficient solutions that support ongoing growth and success. Whether navigating complex transactions or optimizing tax strategies, Jon ensures that each client’s unique needs are met with effective and practical solutions.

With extensive experience representing ESOP companies, Jon helps businesses implement and manage ESOP structures that provide significant tax benefits while supporting employee ownership and long-term sustainability. Additionally, he works closely with high-net-worth families and business owners, guiding them through sophisticated estate and succession planning strategies that protect their wealth, minimize taxes and ensure a smooth transition of assets across generations.

Jon has a strong track record in forming and advising nonprofit organizations and foundations, as well as high profile public-private projects and sports organizations, helping them navigate complex regulatory and tax issues while achieving their missions.

Before joining Fredrikson, Jon was with a leading Iowa law firm, where he served as the chair of the business law and tax law practice groups. He also gained invaluable experience as a law clerk to the Honorable David Gustafson at the United States Tax Court in Washington, D.C., where he worked for two years.

Drew Larson - As a transaction attorney, Drew believes that his fundamental role is to help you identify and solve the problems that you face every day and to capitalize on opportunities that come your way. He primarily serves as a general counsel role for clients. From businesses raising millions of dollars of financing, setting up an ESOP, or a business owner looking to do transition and estate planning, you need more than just someone to read and analyze the law: you need someone who can explain how the law impacts you and your goals. Having owned a family business and started an investment fund, he knows how important it is to find the right balance between formality and practicality when it comes to his client's legal needs. While every problem is different, the approach remains the same: understand the current situation, understand your goals, and find the most effective path between them.

In 2008, Drew received a J.D., with distinction, from the University of Iowa and was admitted to the Iowa bar in 2009. He graduated, magna cum laude, in 2006 from Iowa State University with a B.S. in Accounting and Political Science, and a minor in Economics. He spent 17 years practicing at a large Des Moines-based firm where he was active in leadership and business development. He has been ranked in Corporate/M&A Law and a “Band 2” attorney in High Net Worth law by Chambers and Partners. He has also been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers® in America in the area of Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law.

Drew is also involved in a number of industry organizations, being an active member of the ESOP Association (National Fiduciary Advisory Committee, Executive Committee for the Iowa/Nebraska Chapter, and numerous state chapters), the National Center for Employee Ownership, the Iowa Center for Employee Ownership (IA-CEO), the UNI Family Business Center, the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (including two terms on the board of directors and alumni of the Leadership Iowa program), and various other associations over the years.

Drew has also served in a number of roles in the community. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Skold Companies, a 100% ESOP-owned contractor based in Des Moines. He volunteers as a board member for Trivium Life Services, a community services and behavioral health provider based in Council Bluffs. Previously, he has served as President of the Board of Directors for Bethany Life Communities, a non-profit long-term care community in Story City, Iowa, and as President of the Board of Directors for Good Neighbor Emergency Assistance of Story County, a non-profit providing emergency food, housing, and utility assistance to our neighbors in need.

Louis Lenz is a Senior Application Engineer at Engineered Seal Products, where he partners with OEM customers to develop sealing solutions for demanding applications. With expertise in sealing technologies, material selection, and application engineering, Louis helps improve equipment reliability, performance, and long-term operational success. With his practical problem-solving skills and customer-focused approach, he enjoys collaborating with engineers and manufacturers to solve complex challenges and identify innovative solutions.

As an employee-owner, Louis is actively involved in helping shape the culture and future of the company. He serves on both the Charitable Foundation and the Ownership Committee. Through the Charitable Foundation, he helps support community engagement initiatives and charitable giving efforts that strengthen the company's impact throughout the communities it serves. Through the Ownership Committee, he helps promote employee ownership, educate fellow employee-owners about the benefits and responsibilities of ownership, and fosters the culture of engagement that is central to their 100% employee-owned company.

Outside of work, Louis has a passion for music, cars, and the outdoors. He was a member of the University of Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band’s Drumline and still enjoys playing drums. When he’s not behind a drum kit, Louis can often be found fishing or working on classic cars. As an automotive enthusiast he owns a 1965 Ford Mustang and a 1956 Ford Thunderbird, appreciating the craftsmanship, history, and hands-on restoration work that come with preserving iconic American automobiles.

Mike Mallaro is Executive Chair of VGM Group, Inc. Headquartered in Waterloo, Iowa, VGM has been 100% ESOP since 2008. The company provides value-add, outsourced business services, and has 1,600+ employee-owners spread across thirty-five states. Mike spent 8 years as CEO of VGM and prior to that 14 years as the company’s CFO.  Mike also serves as a director for several companies, including ESOP companies. He is active in the Cedar Valley community and in the employee ownership community. He currently serves as Chair of the IA-CEO Advisory Council. Mike holds a BBA in accounting from The University of Iowa.

Mary Jo McClain is the Director of Human Resources and Finance at Mi-T-M Corporation located in Peosta, Iowa and has been with the company for 19 years. Mi-T-M Corporation is a leading designer and manufacturer of high-quality industrial equipment.  We have been 100% employee owned since 2021 and currently have 310 employee owners. Mary Jo is passionate about ownership education, culture and engagement. 

Atul Mitra is the Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company Professor and Management Head at the Wilson College of Business at the University of Northern Iowa. He earned his Ph.D. (Management - HRM/OB) at the University of Arkansas; M.Tech. (Management and Systems), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), New Delhi, India; B.Tech. (Electrical Engineering with Honors), Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT), Jaipur, India.

Atul Mitra's research focuses on the management of compensation practices. He has twenty scholarly publications & book chapters as well as more than forty presentations and proceedings. His work has been published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of Organizational Behavior, Journal of Management, Human Resource Management, Journal of Economic Psychology, Compensation and Benefits Review, Strategic Change, and ACA Journal to name a few.

In 2012, he received Highly Commended Award Winner at the Literati Network Awards for Excellence for his work on skill-based pay. In addition, in 1990, he received the Southern Management Association's Best Paper Award for work on absence and turnover and two Citations of Excellence by ANBAR Management Intelligence (1997 & 1998). His research on the meaning of pay raises has been considered as one of the ten most important contributions in the field of reward systems by WorldatWork (the most influential association for the total rewards professionals). He has also received several awards at the University of Northern Iowa (Gaylen Miller Special Recognition Award; 2013-2014 and Faculty Scholarship Award - 2002-2003) and Lyon College (Teacher of the Year - 1993). Until 2014 he served on the panel for the Fulbright Senior Specialist program. Six years of industry experience as a senior techno-commercial engineer for a large public sector enterprise in India provides a real-world perspective to Atul's research and teaching.

Stacy Mullinex is a Senior Project Manager for the Iowa Center for Employee Ownership at Advance Iowa, bringing over twenty years of business experience to the team. Her career has included owning her own company as well as consultation work for various trades which range from small family shops to multi-million-dollar operations. Her current role follows a similar path assisting companies in identifying value drivers for business growth, providing strategic/financial valuation assessments, and offering customized succession planning with a specialization in employee ownership models. 

Stacy co-authored the textbook Retaining and Transitioning Businesses in Communities, contributing insights on using the worker cooperative model as a successful succession strategy in rural areas. She is also an adjunct instructor for the University of Northern Iowa teaching Entrepreneurship. 

Stacy holds a Master of Business Administration, Public Administration PGC, undergraduate degrees in both Business Administration and Accounting, as well as a Certified Exit Planner (CExP) designation.

Alicia Murphy After 16 incredible years at Van Meter (a 100% Employee-Owned company), Alicia Murphy is living the ESOP dream and recently retired.  While the head of all things People, Culture and Strategy at Van Meter, her programs were instrumental in multiplying business performance while propelling the company’s 80+ percent employee engagement and nationally renowned reputation for its culture.

As she enters this next chapter, Alicia is committed to helping companies elevate organizational effectiveness, alignment, and people-centered execution as an intentional business strategy.  She recently founded Amplify Advisory Group and is actively seeking either consulting or board of directors’ opportunities.

You’ll often hear Alicia say, “People plus progress to help maximize the performance of the company.”

Kelly O’Hara is an accomplished Chief Financial Officer with extensive experience in the financial sector, particularly within investment advice and consulting services. With a strong educational background from the University of Iowa, holding both an MBA and a BBA with specializations in Finance and Accounting, Kelly has developed a robust skill set that includes financial reporting, budgeting, and internal controls. She has held key financial roles at Folience, where she has progressed from Corporate Controller to CFO, demonstrating her leadership capabilities and commitment to process improvement. Prior to her tenure at Folience, she served as Controller at Berthel Fisher and Senior Accounting Manager at Aegon USA, showcasing her versatility across different organizational sizes and structures.

Mike Palmieri is Associate Director at the Ohio Employee Ownership Center (OEOC) at Kent State University. Since joining OEOC in 2019, he has helped lead programming, research, and outreach efforts focused on expanding employee ownership. His work includes developing educational resources, supporting business succession planning, and conducting applied research on employee-owned companies. Michael holds a PhD in Political Science from Kent State University, is a Fellow at the Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing, and a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA).

Celina Peerman Ph.D., SHRM-SCP, CSP is an organizational psychologist with over 30 years of experience helping leaders and teams thrive. She has worked across industries, from frontline operations to senior leadership, bringing a deep understanding of workplace behavior and organizational health. Dr. Celina is a strategist with a sense of humor and a love for building capacity in organizations. A dynamic speaker, strategist, and storyteller, Dr. Celina has presented at more than 250 events annually, engaging audiences at local, state, and national levels, as well as internationally in Asia, Canada, Central, and South America. She is a two-time TEDx presenter, podcast host, and author of three upcoming books in 2025. 

Dr. Celina holds a Ph.D. in Psychology, a master’s degree in business, and undergraduate degrees in psychology and international studies. She has earned the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation from the National Speakers Association—one of the highest honors in the field. Known for her humor, insight, and practical approach, she challenges leaders to rethink how they communicate, adapt, and lead for lasting impact.

Tom Pientok has been an executive of employee-owned companies for nearly 30 years and brings expertise in business strategy, change leadership, financial and operations management, business systems experience. After a brief retirement, Tom joined Folience, Inc. in June 2025 as the President & CEO. 

Prior to joining Folience, he served as the President & CEO at Timberline Manufacturing from 2018 until his retirement in May 2025. During his tenure, the Company expanded revenues more than 2X and constructed a new manufacturing facility in Marion, IA, all while successfully navigating through the pandemic and the ensuing supply chain crisis. 

Prior to Timberline, Tom was at Apache Hose & Belting Company, Inc. for more than 20 years, including 13 years as President & CEO.

Mr. Pientok is a member of the Folience Board of Directors. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Benchmark, Inc. and Rinderkneckt Associates, Inc. in Cedar Rapids, IA, Electrical Equipment Company in Raleigh, NC and Mi-T-M Corporation in Peosta, IA. He previously served on the Board of Directors of Timberline Manufacturing, Apache, Inc., PowerZone Equipment in Alamosa, CO and Sign Productions in Cedar Rapids, IA. Tom is a member of the Iowa Center for Employee Ownership Advisory Council and the Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa Board of Trustees. Tom is passionate about employee-ownership and is a frequent guest speaker at ESOP Association, NCEO and IA-CEO events as well as local colleges and universities.

Mr. Pientok is a 1985 graduate of Coe College where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Economics. He received an MBA in Finance and Operations Management from the University of Iowa in 1991. Tom and his wife Christine are proud parents of three (3) children and reside in Swisher, IA.

Jess Rindels began her journey with VGM in 1998 and has proudly called the company home for 27 years. She worked as a Patient Care Coordinator (PCC) for 16 years. From there, she transitioned into leadership roles, first as a Senior PCC, then Department Lead, and currently as a Supervisor of approximately 30 team members. 

Outside of work, she has been married to David, for 25 years. Together they’ve raised 5 children and share their life with their cat, Beans.

Jerry Ripperger As an advocate for owners and employees of growing businesses, Jerry tours the country educating advisors on serving their business-owner clients. Currently he focuses on implementing employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) and equity compensation plans (both long term incentive plans and employee stock purchase plans.

Jerry is an industry-recognized benefits spokesperson and author with articles published in numerous trade publications. He’s also been quoted by the Associated Press, New York Times, BusinessWeek, Forbes, CNN/Money, Dow Jones, and Wall Street Journal. For more than 30 years, Jerry has been consulting with advisors and businesses on benefit programs including consumer-driven health care, health savings accounts, health reimbursement arrangements and wellness programs. Jerry has degrees in management, economics and business from the University of Northern Iowa and Drake University.

Adria Scharf, PhD, is Associate Director of the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at the Rutgers University School of Management and Labor Relations. Her research examines how different structures of employee ownership affect employee economic security, wealth accumulation, and job quality. She directs the Curriculum Library for Employee Ownership at cleo.rutgers.edu and developed the first Coursera course on employee ownership, "Our Share" (https://www.coursera.org/learn/employee-ownership).  She teaches courses on employee ownership and equity compensation in the Rutgers University School of Management and Labor Relations.

Johnny See joined Prairie Capital Advisors in 2021. He completes financial analysis and modeling services, as well as analyzes the business dynamics and trends of publicly-traded companies. In addition, Johnny performs merger and acquisition research and prepares narrative reports in support of a wide variety of valuation projects, including ESOPs, leveraged buyouts, management buyouts and other capital structuring projects for clients nationwide.

In addition, Johnny serves as a member of Prairie’s ESOP Committee, contributing to firmwide communication, education and celebration of Prairie’s employee ownership culture.

Prior to joining Prairie, Johnny worked as a Settlement Auditor and a Customer Account Specialist at John Deere Financial. Before that, he was also a Lead Assistant at UNI Foundation Financial Services and an Appraisal Intern at Mike Lockey & Associates.  He holds a BA in Finance (with an emphasis in Investments) and Business Management from the University of Northern Iowa and has completed Level I of the CFA Exam.

Jeremy Stolz is CEO of VGM Group, Inc., a 100% employee-owned company based in Waterloo, Iowa, that provides business solutions and professional services to customers across healthcare and other industries. Since stepping into the CEO role in 2024, Stolz has focused on building a strong foundation for responsible growth, creating stability in the industries VGM Group serves while positioning the company for long-term success. 

Under Stolz’s leadership, employee ownership remains central to VGM Group’s future. He is committed to ensuring VGM Group employee owners generate life-changing wealth through the power of 100% employee ownership, while leading with a mindset that empowers people to make a meaningful impact on customers, communities, and one another. Stolz began his career with VGM in 2003 and earned both his B.A. and MBA from Upper Iowa University. 

Scot Storjohann serves as Senior Vice President at GreatBanc Trust Co., and is focused on managing client relationships & ESOP transactions. He has spent his entire career in the retirement plan & ESOP industry, giving him more than 35 years of experience across multiple facets of the business.

Prior to joining GreatBanc Trust Company in 2016, Mr. Storjohann served in a variety of roles including customer service, administration, sales, & management. This diverse background gives him a uniquely well-rounded perspective when it comes to ESOP transactions & ongoing support.

Scot sits on the TEA Fiduciary Committee, he is a Trustee for the Employee Ownership Foundation, he is the immediate past-President of the Iowa/Nebraska Chapter of the TEA, he is an advisory board member for the Iowa Center for Employee Ownership, he is an advisor to the Beyster Institute, and he is a member of the NCEO.

Brian Vickers is the CFO at Steller Industries. He is a financial management leader, a strategic advisor and a champion of inclusive growth and innovation. 

Dave Wageman is the CEO of Hometown Restyling, a 100% employee-owned remodeling company serving homeowners across Eastern Iowa. As a leader within the company’s ESOP structure, Dave is passionate about creating long-term wealth and opportunity for employee owners while continuing to build a strong culture centered on growth, accountability, and service.

Born and raised in small-town Eastern Iowa, Dave values hard work, relationships, and community involvement. Outside of work, he has spent many years coaching youth sports and investing in the development of young people both on and off the field. Above all, Dave considers his most important roles to be husband to Alyssa and father to Macie, Nolan, and Blair.

Dave joined Hometown Restyling in 2009 as a sales representative and quickly developed a passion for helping homeowners improve and take pride in their homes. In 2018, he became a minority owner in the company, and in 2020 became an equal partner as the ownership group purchased the business from its founder. At that same time, Dave was promoted to Sales Manager and helped lead a period of significant growth, including helping double the company in size from 2020 to 2022.

In recent years, Dave has helped lead several major milestones for the organization, including the company’s organizational rebrand in 2024 and its transition to a 100% employee-owned ESOP in 2025. Today, he is focused on leading the company into its next chapter by serving the team, developing future leaders, and continuing to create opportunities for both employees and customers throughout Eastern Iowa.

With more than 17 years of experience in sales, leadership, and the remodeling industry, Dave remains committed to building a company that employee owners, customers, and the community can be proud of for generations to come.

Hanna Zlotnick is a Vice President of Commercial Banking Market Insights team at JPMorganChase. She produces curated thought leadership for commercial banking clients and internal stakeholders, focusing on economic insights, industry trends, and capital markets. She holds a joint PhD in Policy and Demography from Princeton University and earned a BA in Economics and an MPP from the University of Michigan.

Dave Zrostlik is the Chief Executive Officer of Stellar Industries, Inc., a company headquartered in Garner, Iowa. Dave’s education included Garner-Hayfield Community School, the University of Northern Iowa, and the Thunderbird School of Global Management. He also spent a year abroad in Australia as a Rotary International Exchange Student. Dave is married to his wife Joan and has 4 adult children, Cole, Graham, Evan, and Ted. 

Throughout his career, Dave has served on numerous national, state, and local boards which included serving as Chairperson for the Iowa Association of Business & Industry in 2017/18 and Chairperson of the CIRAS Advisory Council of the Iowa State University Extension Service in 2010. Dave is currently serving on the board of the National Czech Slovak Museum Library in Cedar Rapids, IA and the Iowa Center for Employee Ownership Advisory Council.