Issue10_SpringSummer2017

WHAT WAS THE BEST SESSION THAT YOU ATTENDED? WHAT DID YOU LEARN? Cristy:

and cohort groups to provide opportunities for participation and increase communications; creating an environment of openness to feedback; and, making every effort to align our actions with our values. Mike: It was a session about the journey of two founders/ owners and their decision to become employee owned and their transition to becoming an ESOP. Although their story was much different, it reminded me of how BL became and ESOP, our transition over the years and how far we’ve come. Jess: I’m judging the best session that I attended based upon the one that I took the most notes - it was “Engaging our Great Employees”. BL is actually already ahead of the game when it comes to employee engagement (we have employee-led committees, administer employee feedback surveys and are transparent in

our communications, etc.) however, we can always be doing more and during this session I learned some small but effective strategies for doing so. Brian Gaulzetti: I benefited the most from the presentations which are focused on sharing ideas about how to help communicate and engage various groups within a company. At BL, we want to improve our ESOP communications with field staff, between offices, between generations, and up and down the corporate ladder. I heard a few specific ideas that other companies have successfully implemented which I am going to work to incorporate into the ESOP Communications Committees plans going forward. Hint- you are hopefully going to see a lot more of Guy and Alison LaBella and other blasts from the past!

I really enjoyed going to the conference/chapter meeting while at the conference. It was neat to see all the New England ESOP’s that were in attendance come together and talk about what’s happening at their state level and updates on their company’s ESOP program. I was unaware of how much we need our lawmakers to support ESOPs when they may become affected by different bills passing through the legislature. People got pretty jazzed up that they were able to speak with Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren in person and that they made the time to meet with their groups personally. Building Trust in the ESOP Company and Each Other . I learned that BL Companies is doing some great things to build trust such as having quarterly meetings to keep our Employee Owners informed; having committees Mina: I attended a session on