We Own It: Employee Ownership Month 2026

What a month! October was Employee Ownership Month, and Emery Sapp & Sons (ESS) employee-owners spent it the way they spend every month: showing up for each other, looking out for their crews and taking pride in the work. This year, we took a little extra time to celebrate what that means.

Being an employee-owner is a journey, and no two people are at the same point on the road. Some of us are just getting started. Others have proven themselves on the job, reached vested status, or built a career here that spans decades. This year’s celebration honored every stage: Rookie, Proven, Vested, and Veteran.

Wherever you are on that road, you’re part of what makes ESS what it is. October was another chance to say thank you to the people behind those numbers.

Safety first, ownership always 

At ESS, owning it starts with going home safe. Throughout October, every branch hosted Safety Stand-Downs that paired health and safety conversations with a quick ownership toolbox talk, so crews could talk about what keeps them safe. Field leaders were on hand with the health and safety and operations teams, and everyone left with some Employee Ownership Month swag.

Family Fun Days 

Behind every employee-owner is a family that shares in the long days, early mornings, and hard work. Family Fun Days are our way of saying thank you to them, too. 

This October, employee-owners and their families gathered in Kansas City, Columbia, Springfield, and Springdale for good food, games, and plenty of kid-friendly fun. It’s one of our longest-running traditions, and still one of our favorites.

Giveaways and good times 

The celebration spilled onto social media, too. All month long, we ran weekly giveaways and loved seeing so many employee-owners join in. Thank you to everyone who participated and shared their ESS pride. Our winners were employee-owners Nicholas Morris, Cassandra Million, Jason Million, Scott Miller, and Myron Sharp. Congrats!

Employee Ownership Month is a time to celebrate, but the ownership mindset lasts all year. Every day, ESS employee-owners show up, solve problems, look out for each other, and treat every project like it’s their own, because it is.

Thank you to every ESS employee-owner for everything you do. We own it every day.