Success Stories
Employee Ownership Stories: Iowa Businesses in Focus
Employee ownership can make a lasting difference—not only for a company, but also for the people who work there and the communities they call home. By giving employees a stake in the business, this model can help build stronger companies, create opportunities for employees to build wealth, and keep businesses and jobs rooted in Iowa communities.
During National Employee Ownership Month, the Iowa Center for Employee Ownership (IA-CEO) celebrates Iowa companies that have made employee ownership part of their story. Each company shares its unique journey, why it chose employee ownership, and what the model means for its business and its people.
Explore the stories from 2026, 2025 and 2024 to learn how employee ownership is making a difference across Iowa. Click on a year below to read the stories and discover the impact of employee ownership firsthand.
At the IA-CEO, we believe the stories behind Iowa's employee-owned businesses are some of the most inspiring examples of resilience, innovation, and shared prosperity. Through Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), worker cooperatives, Employee Ownership Trusts (EOT), and other forms of broad-based employee ownership, these companies have not only redefined business success but have also empowered their employees as true stakeholders.
On this page, you’ll find success stories of Iowa companies that have embraced employee ownership. These businesses represent a diverse range of industries and approaches, but they all share a common commitment to fostering a culture of ownership, collaboration, and long-term growth. Whether transitioning to employee ownership, managing a business as an ESOP, or becoming an engaged employee-owner, their journeys highlight the transformative power of employee ownership in shaping strong, sustainable companies.
Explore these stories to see firsthand how employee ownership is making a difference across Iowa and beyond.
Do you have a story to tell? Share it below.
Employee Owner Story
In this inspiring story, longtime Stellar Industries employee Travis Glidden shares how employee ownership helped him build financial security, support his family, and give back to his community. His experience highlights the ripple effect of employee ownership, showing how shared ownership can create opportunities that extend far beyond the workplace.
Read the full article to see the lasting impact employee ownership can have on employees, families, and communities.
Employee Ownership by the Numbers
Updated in 2023 by NCEO
15.1 Million Participants
ESOPs cover 15.1 million participants, of whom over 10.9 million are active participants—those currently employed and covered by an ESOP.
>$2 Trillion in Assets
There were 6,609 plans identified as ESOPs in the United States, holding total assets of over $2 trillion.
$166 Billion Distributed
ESOPs paid out over $166 billion dollars to participants in 2023.
