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From the Capitol to Columbia: Celebrating Ownership
Employee Ownership Month continues to bring exciting opportunities to highlight our people and their ownership mindset. Each October, we take celebrate Employee Ownership Month, shining a spotlight on the people and culture that make employee ownership so impactful.
Championing Ownership: Visit from Rep. Bob Onder
Last week, United States House Representative Bob Onder visited the Emery Sapp & Sons (ESS) Columbia office to talk with our employee-owners and hear their stories firsthand.
During the visit, Rep. Onder joined a roundtable conversation with several employee-owners. The discussion focused on what ownership looks like in action — how it shapes our culture, drives accountability, and strengthens our communities.
Executive Vice President Josh Doerhoff summed it up best, “A lot of people talk about family, but ESS is tight knit. We really work for the employee-owners in the field. Everyone holds each other accountable, and has a vested interest in our success.”
Rep. Onder’s visit reinforces the importance of connecting with legislators to help them better understand and support employee ownership. As recent legislation continues to expand the rights and benefits of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), visits like this help ensure our voice is part of that conversation.
We are reminded of the real impact employee ownership has on our people every day. Executive Vice President Chip Jones shared, “As our employee-owner base has grown and new generations have joined, you begin to see the ripple effect of what we do each day — how our work impacts one another, our company, and the communities we serve.”
Continuing the Conversation: Missouri ESOP Proclamation
Earlier this month, that same message of ownership echoed at the Missouri State Capitol, where Governor Mike Kehoe signed an official ESOP Proclamation celebrating employee-owned companies in Missouri.
The proclamation recognizes how ESOPs help build stronger businesses, better jobs, and tighter-knit communities across Missouri. The signing event brought together employee-owned companies from across the state — folks who believe in rolling up their sleeves, working hard, and owning the results.
Chip Jones represented ESS and stood with these companies to represent the voice of employee ownership and celebrate the power of an ownership mindset.
“Participating in the ESOP Proclamation signing with Governor Kehoe was a powerful reminder of how meaningful employee ownership truly is,” said Chip. “Our employee-owners take great pride in creating something that lasts — strengthening both our company and our communities.”
Owning the Future
We’re not just building infrastructure — we’re joining in the conversations that help to shape the policies that protect and empower employee ownership across Missouri and beyond.
As we celebrate Employee Ownership Month, both Rep. Onder’s visit and the signing of the ESOP Proclamation serve as reminders that the work we do every day matters, not just for our projects, but for the future of employee ownership.
From our Columbia office to the State Capitol, October has been a month to celebrate what makes our people stand apart — shared ownership, advocacy, and the drive to build something that lasts.
Community Comunidad | ESOP ESOP (Plan de Propiedad de Empleados)