blurry image with MOCEO logo and text "Newsletter - December | 1st Edition"

December Newsletter | 1st Edition

ESOP| Employee Ownership
February 18, 2026•1 min read

December Updates from MOCEO: Advancing Employee Ownership and Strengthening Communities

The latest newsletter from the Missouri Center for Employee Ownership highlights exciting progress, impactful stories, and new initiatives shaping the future of employee ownership across the region.

In her letter, Executive Director Julie Leonhardt announces the upcoming launch of the Kansas City Citywide Task Force on Employee Ownership. This initiative will unite business leaders, economic development partners, and employee-owned companies to expand awareness, support business transitions, and strengthen opportunities for shared ownership. The task force aims to preserve local jobs, promote economic development, and help business owners explore sustainable succession solutions.

This edition also spotlights Brinkmann Constructors, a 100% employee-owned firm based in Chesterfield, Missouri. Since transitioning to an ESOP in 2013, the company has fostered a collaborative culture in which employee-owners share in the company’s success, demonstrating how ownership can drive innovation, accountability, and long-term growth.

Additionally, readers will find valuable resources and insights into employee ownership, including national efforts to expand ESOP access and research highlighting the benefits of employee-owned companies for workers and communities alike.

Together, these updates reflect MOCEO’s continued commitment to supporting business owners, empowering employees, and building stronger, more resilient local economies through shared ownership.

Read the full newsletter:
https://mailchi.mp/moceo/dec-1st-edition

employee ownershipbusiness spotlightmissouriESOP
Julie Leonhardt is the Executive Director of the Missouri Center for Employee Ownership (MOCEO), advancing employee ownership as a strategy for business sustainability, equitable wealth building, and community prosperity. With a background spanning law, real estate, technology, and nonprofit leadership, she brings a systems-level approach to economic development. Julie is a graduate of Westmont College and Fordham University School of Law and is based in Kansas City.

Julie Leonhardt

Julie Leonhardt is the Executive Director of the Missouri Center for Employee Ownership (MOCEO), advancing employee ownership as a strategy for business sustainability, equitable wealth building, and community prosperity. With a background spanning law, real estate, technology, and nonprofit leadership, she brings a systems-level approach to economic development. Julie is a graduate of Westmont College and Fordham University School of Law and is based in Kansas City.

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