July Newsletter | 1st Edition

St. Louis Employee Ownership Initiative

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

I'm excited to share the launch of the St. Louis Employee Ownership Initiative – a new partnership between MOCEO and WEPOWER dedicated to growing employee ownership throughout the St. Louis region.

The St. Louis Employee Ownership Initiative is building a coordinated regional ecosystem to expand employee ownership and governance. Our first focus is business conversions: helping more succession-ready businesses explore pathways to become employee-owned. With nearly 70% of business owners approaching retirement and relatively few with a transition plan, this work has never been more timely. We must respond strategically, boldly, and urgently.

If you are in the St. Louis area, we invite you to join MOCEO, WEPOWER, and the Olin Business School’s Koch Center for Family Enterprise for the “Owning Our Future” business luncheon:

When: July 23, 2026, 11:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Where: Olin Business School, 1 Snow Way Dr, Saint Louis, MO 63130

More info/Register: STLEO Luncheon Registration

The “Owning Our Future” luncheon is focused on employee ownership, succession, and the future of locally rooted businesses in St. Louis. I hope to see you there!

To learn more about the initiative and the resources available in St. Louis, click here.

Sincerely,