Business owners considering succession planning and long-term transition strategies will have an opportunity to learn more about employee ownership models during a conference hosted by Rutgers and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.
Rutgers’ NJ/NY Center for Employee Ownership, in partnership with the NJEDA, will host a free Business Exit Planning Conference on Friday, May 15, from noon to 6 p.m. at the Heldrich Hotel and Conference Center, 10 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick.
The event will include food, business sessions, and a networking reception.
The program will focus on business exit planning and employee ownership strategies, including Employee Stock Ownership Plans, or ESOPs, which allow employees to gain an ownership stake in a company.
According to event materials, the conference is designed to help business owners better understand how employee ownership can support succession planning while potentially preserving jobs, company culture, and long-term business stability.
The conference will include sessions examining the steps involved in developing a business exit strategy, evaluating whether an ESOP is the right fit for a company, understanding valuation methods, and structuring transitions to maximize return on investment.
A session titled “Selling Your Business Tax Free” will examine tax advantages associated with ESOP transition strategies, while another will focus on how businesses can structure ownership transitions to enhance long-term value.
Participants will also learn about a new NJEDA assistance program intended to help business owners explore transitioning to an ESOP model.
Event materials describe the program as a limited pilot initiative aimed at helping businesses evaluate employee ownership opportunities and navigate the planning process.
The conference agenda will begin with lunch and welcoming remarks before a series of presentations and panel discussions throughout the afternoon, followed by the networking reception from 5 to 6 p.m.
Speakers will include: Bill Castellano, executive director of the Rutgers NJ/NY Center for Employee Ownership; Ashley Sarokhan, managing director and NY/NJ market leader at Lazear Capital; Brian Turner, director of ESOP advisory at Stout; Gerry Spitzer, founding partner of Questar Capital Partners; John Vitucci, partner in employee benefit services at PKF O’Connor Davies; and Michelle Bodden, chief equity and inclusive culture officer at NJEDA.
Event materials describe employee ownership as a strategy that can help owners maximize return on investment while also creating opportunities for employees to share in the future success of a business.
The conference is free to attend, but advanced registration is required. Register at smlr.rutgers.edu.
