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Built to Last: Business Legacy & Ownership Summit

June 18 @ 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Free
DAWN MN Presents

Built to Last: Business Legacy & Ownership Summit

A full‑day, no‑cost summit on employee ownership as a pathway to business growth, succession, and long‑term stability — for owners, employees, lenders, and advisors.

Thursday, June 18, 20269:00 AM – 4:00 PMBraham Event CenterFree · Breakfast & lunch included

RSVP — Save Your Spot

Why Attend

What You’ll Leave With

Practical guidance, real‑world examples, and clear next steps for keeping businesses local, retaining jobs, and building community wealth.

A Clear Understanding

Employee ownership and legacy transition options, explained in plain language.

Real Examples

How employee ownership supports business continuity and growth.

The Right Connections

Technical assistance providers and financing partners ready to help.

Clear Next Steps

An action path toward stable employment and stronger local economies.

Plan Your Day

Agenda

No cost to attend. Light breakfast and lunch provided. Whether you’re an owner weighing what’s next, an advisor supporting succession, or a lender exploring transition tools — there’s a track for you.

Morning Program
9:00 – 9:30 AM
Registration & Light Breakfast

Arrive early to connect with peers, speakers, and resource partners.

9:30 – 9:40 AM
Welcome & Opening Remarks

Kirsten Kennedy, Minnesota Center for Employee Ownership (MN CEO)

Setting the stage for a day focused on business legacy, continuity, and ownership.

9:40 – 9:50 AM
Introducing CoMN

Katie Marty, CoMN

A brief introduction to CoMN and Minnesota’s cooperative network.

9:50 – 10:20 AM
Broad Overview: Paths to Employee Ownership

Kirsten Kennedy (MN CEO) and Char Vrieze (Cooperative Development Services)

An accessible introduction to employee ownership:

  • What employee ownership is and why it matters
  • Common ownership models
  • When employee ownership is — and is not — a good fit
10:20 – 11:10 AM
Ownership Panel: Real Stories from the Field

Moderated by Kirsten Kennedy (MN CEO)

Hear directly from business owners and employee-owners who have lived an ownership transition — their motivations, challenges, lessons learned, and outcomes.

  • Ben Holder, Plastic Products Company (ESOP)
  • Leah Goldstein-Moses, The Improve Group (Worker-Owned Cooperative)
  • Jeremy White, CodeWeavers (Employee Ownership Trust)
  • Kathy Lindo, Lindo Farms (Family-Owned Business)
11:10 – 11:50 AM
Small Business Resource Roundup: Who to Call, When & Why

Moderated by Elissa Hansen, Northspan

Quick, practical overviews of the support ecosystem — what each organization does, how to engage, and what to bring to your first meeting.

  • Katie Heppner, SBDC
  • Nancy Hoffman, Chisago County HRA-EDA
  • Nicole Deters, LegalCorps
  • Darold Berreau, SCORE
  • Maddy LeClaire, DEED SBAO
11:50 – 12:00 PM
Morning Wrap & Afternoon Track Overview

Elissa Hansen, Northspan

How to choose the right afternoon sessions for your goals.

12:00 – 1:00 PM
Lunch — Beyond the Bank: Unlocking Capital Through Non-Traditional Lending

Moderated by Zack Filipovich, Northspan

Connect over lunch and meet organizations supporting ownership transitions and capital access:

  • Jordan Zeller, East Central Development Commission
  • Nadene Kruise, Midwest Business Finance Corporation (MBFC)
  • Shawn Wellnitz, Entrepreneur Fund
  • Doug Adams, Initiative Foundation
  • Matt Heggernes, East Central Energy
1:00 – 3:00 PM · Choose One

Afternoon Concurrent Tracks

Participants choose one track and stay with it for the afternoon.

Track A

Transactions & Succession Readiness

Room A
1:00 – 1:50 PMHow to Finance an Ownership TransitionRyan Sperling (Eide Bailly), Mark Fick (Shared Capital), Jeff Cairns (Retired ESOP CPA/Attorney), and Darren Mozenter (MCCD).
2:00 – 2:50 PMSuccession Planning & ValuationsElissa Hansen & Zack Filipovich, Northspan.
Track B

Models, Benefits & Getting Started

Room B
1:00 – 1:50 PMESOPs, EOTs & Worker-Owned Co-opsKirk Lindemann (Eide Bailly), Christina Nicholson (Nexus), Char Vrieze (Cooperative Development Services), and Leah Goldstein-Moses (The Improve Group).
2:00 – 2:50 PMGetting Started & Clearing Up MisconceptionsMark Fick (Shared Capital), Jeff Cairns (Retired ESOP CPA/Attorney), and Darren Mozenter (Common Trust).
Track C

Advisor Edge Clinic

Room C
1:00 – 1:50 PMAdvisor Edge: Supporting Ownership TransitionsFor lenders, accountants, attorneys & TA providers. Facilitated by Kirsten Kennedy (MN CEO), with Ben Holder (Plastic Products), Fred Caslavka (Retired CPA, ESOP), and Kathy Lindo (SBDC / Family Business).
2:00 – 2:50 PMContinue in Track A or Track BAdvisor Edge participants choose the second session of either track — Succession Planning & Valuations (Track A) or Getting Started & Clearing Up Misconceptions (Track B).
Closing
3:00 – 3:30 PM
Closing Remarks, Valuation Winners & Next Steps

Kirsten Kennedy, MN CEO

Key takeaways, next steps, and wrap‑up.

Ready to build something that lasts?

Seats are free but limited — reserve yours today.

RSVP Today

Co‑hosted by MN CEO, Northspan, ECRDC, and SBDC.

Details

Organizer

Venue