IA-CEO @ the Iowa Capitol
Employee Owners Share Their Stories at the Iowa State Capitol
March 24, 2026
Employee owners and advocates from across Iowa came together at the Iowa State Capitol to share the real-world impact of employee ownership with state legislators.
The Iowa Center for Employee Ownership (IA-CEO) was proud to invite representatives from employee-owned companies to help tell the story — not just about business succession strategies and performance outcomes, but about people. Through personal experiences, they spoke about how employee ownership creates meaningful opportunities to build wealth, strengthen workplace culture, and invest in local communities.
These conversations matter. When policymakers hear directly from employee owners about how ownership changes lives — increasing engagement, stability, and long-term commitment — it helps build broader understanding of why employee ownership is an important tool for Iowa’s economic future.
A HUGE thank you to the employee-owned companies who showed up, shared their stories, and represented the power of ownership so well. You were truly the stars of the day.
CarePro Health / Michelle Jensen / Angie Hoover
Des Moines-Winterset Memorials / Michelle Jensen / Angie Hoover
Dexter Express Laundry Services / Russ Cooper
Folience / Tom Pientok
J-Tec Associates / Michelle Jensen / Angie Hoover
Life Line Emergency Vehicles / Tom Pientok
Plastic Products Company Inc / Jane Molony
Positech / Brenda Braun
Rayser Holdings / Michelle Jensen / Angie Hoover
Skunk River Block & Pallet / Michelle Jensen / Angie Hoover
Stellar Industries / Nick Anderson
Two Rivers Marketing / Amber Brauner / Adam Miller
VGM Group, Inc. / Amber Brauner / Adam Miller
Thank you as well to Lt. Gov Chris Cournoyer, the state legislators (Rep. Barb Kniff-McCulla, Rep. Shannon Latham, Rep. Wendy Larson, and Rep. Ryan Weldon) who so graciously took time to attend and engage in meaningful conversation.
If your employee-owned business would like to be involved in events like this, reach out to info@ia-ceo.org for more information.
Employee ownership is more than a business model—it’s a story of shared success and personal impact. Throughout the day, employee owners shared how having a stake in their company has created meaningful opportunities to build personal wealth, along with a deeper sense of pride and engagement in their work. These moments reflect the growing momentum of employee ownership across Iowa and the real financial and cultural difference it makes in people’s lives.
IA-CEO
