Thursday-Friday
October 15-16, 2026
Overview
The Ohio Employee Owner Retreat is a two-day, off-site training program staffed by the Ohio Employee Ownership Center, where employee-owners learn from and interact with their peers from other ESOP companies. In small groups, structured exercises, and informal discussions, employee-owners develop new skills and a new perspective on employee ownership at their respective companies.
Who Should Attend
The program is designed primarily for hourly and salaried non-managerial employees and provides them with an opportunity to learn with and from their peers. Typically, attendees come from ESOP companies where developing a culture of ownership is considered an important aspect of corporate success.
* Non-managerial employees interested in becoming leaders
* Members of your ESOP Communications Committee
* Those responsible for educating others at your company about your ESOP
* New and mature ESOP companies looking to reenergize their EO culture
Retreat components include:
* The ABCs of ESOPs
* The ESOP Game
* How Can I Impact the Bottom Line?
* ESOP Communications and Problem-Solving
* Information sharing and networking with employee owners from different companies
Registration and breakfast will start at 8:30 am on the first day and wrap up at 5:00 pm on the second day.
Roundtables
Legal and Technical Track
Communications, Culture, Committees Track
Employee Ownership Year-End Reception with appetizers and beverages
Download AgendaOEOC NETWORK MEMBERS
$395 per attendee (early bird rate prior to 9/30/2026)
$450 per attendee (regular rate)
NON-NETWORK MEMBERS / GENERAL PUBLIC
$695 per attendee (early bird rate prior to 9/30/2026)
$775 per attendee (regular rate)
You can register and pay via check by emailing Kelley Fitts at kfitts@kent.edu. You can register and pay electronically by clicking “REGISTER”.
Please select the category that applies to you. Not sure? Contact Kelley Fitts at kfitts@kent.edu
Members of Ohio’s Employee Owned Network receive discounts on registrations. Contact Chris Cooper at ccooper1@kent.edu or 330-672-3028 for more info on joining the Network to receive program registration discounts.
We are happy to accept last-minute registrations; please be aware however that reserved sleeping rooms are finite. We encourage you to reserve your room as soon as possible.
Refund Policy
100% - 7 days (or more) prior to the event
50% - 6-4 days prior to the event
0% - 3 days (or less) prior to the event
Accommodations
Sleeping rooms can be reserved online at this link
Or call Hueston Woods Lodge and Conference Center at (513) 664-3500 and identifying that you are with the 'Kent State - Ohio Employee Ownership Center' Retreat group to receive the $155/night rate.
Group Room Rates:
Two Queens - $155.00
Standard King - $185.00
"WOW – such a great experience!! We sent five employees to the Retreatin the fall of 2021 and all came back with useful information. It was a smaller setting than the annual conferences which made it a great way to network with other employee owned companies and share ideas. The instructors from the OEOC gave us great insight on how to “Think like Owners” and share this information with our fellow team members. The 2-day course was broken down into several instructional sessions, from the basics to business financials. I would highly recommend this to any of your employee owners from – everyone can benefit from this!!"
- Lori Robinson, Parallel Technologies, Columbus OH
“The Retreat was the opportunity we needed to step away from the business and “re-energize” our Employee Owned spirit.”
- Nancy van Ginkel & Diane Kruis, Mantaline Corporation, Mantua OH
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