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2026 Conference Keynote
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Tim Rettig, Intrust IT

Tim Rettig is a second-generation serial ESOPentrepreneur.  Tim started Intrust IT in 1992 while in college at theUniversity of Cincinnati, selling the company four short years later, butstaying on to run the division for the parent company. Eleven years afterselling he bought the division back and continued to grow the company, winningnumerous awards, including being recognized as a Best Place to Work inCincinnati for a total of fourteen years through 2025, a Best Workplace in Ohioin 2018 through 2025, Best IT Services Company in Cincinnati in 2018, named toInc. Magazine's Best Workplaces in 2023, and was listed on the Inc. 500|5000six times. Tim has built a unique company culture that hasdrastically reduced employee turnover and improved employee engagement.

In 2019 Tim began transitioning his company to beemployee owned via an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), just like hisfather Jay Rettig did with his company Software Solutions in 2004. Tim's vision of having Intrust IT be 100% employee owned was realized in2025 when Intrust IT joined 3LS, an ESOP holding company.  Now all ofIntrust's employees have ownership in not only Intrust, but in all of the 100%employee-owned companies that 3LS owns and operates.

Tim is now a champion for employee ownership; speaking,writing, and advocating for it so that more business owners are aware of thebenefits, and so that government agencies can make it an easier path to follow. By being an advocate for employee ownership, Tim has a lifegoal to create 10,000 employee-owners.

In addition to employee-ownership, Tim alsoregularly speaks at universities and conferences about entrepreneurship, cybersecurity, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence.

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