ESOP Radio
ESOP Radio is the official ESOP podcast—where real stories of growth, succession, and long-term wealth building are told.
Hosted by Trevor Gilmore, CEO of Menke, and Ben Spadt, ESOP Investment Banking Consultant at Menke, the show features conversations with business owners, executives, and advisors who have navigated employee ownership as a strategic path forward. Episodes explore why companies choose ESOPs, how those decisions shape culture and continuity, and what it takes to build durable, long-term ownership structures.
Alongside real-world stories, ESOP Radio examines the practical realities behind successful ESOPs, including fiduciary responsibilities, valuation, transaction structure, and regulatory considerations.
ESOP Radio is educational in nature and designed for listeners seeking a clear, grounded understanding of employee ownership and long-term succession planning.
ESOP Radio
Latest Episodes
40 Years of Employee Ownership: How CCI Systems Grew from a 1985 ESOP to a National Infrastructure Company
What does an ESOP look like after 40 years? CCI Systems became employee owned in 1985, when its founders sold 75% of the company into an ESOP at $24 per share. Since then, the network infrastructure firm has grown to more than 1,000 employees, ...
ESOP Legislation, Lending, and the 2026 Outlook: A Mid-Year Update
Business owners considering an ESOP are operating in a noticeably different environment than they were a year ago. This episode covers three developments reshaping the ESOP landscape in 2026: a major shift in Department of Labor enforcement, se...
What to Do With Your ESOP Wealth: Diversification, Retirement Income, and Protecting What You've Built
Many ESOP participants spend years accumulating meaningful wealth inside a retirement plan they cannot easily access or sell. When the time comes to diversify or retire, the decisions made in that window can have significant tax consequences an...
ESOPs Gain Momentum: DC Advocacy, New Legislation & a Strong Lending Market
In Episode 23 of ESOP Radio, Trevor Gilmore and Ben Spadt discuss encouraging developments for employee ownership coming out of Washington, D.C. Ben shares insights from the ESOP Association's advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill, including propose...
Do ESOPs Really Increase Productivity? New Research Says Yes.
Do ESOPs actually improve company performance — or is it just theory?In Episode 22 of ESOP Radio, Trevor Gilmore and Ben Spadt break down new research from Rutgers University showing a measurable connection between employee ownership and...