I thought I had a really strong work ethic and then I jumped over to the nonprofit sector

Power Station

A conversation with Steve Storkan is an education in the potential of employee ownership to build community, family, and intergenerational wealth. His passion for building a better future for workers was shaped by seeing his own father work multiple jobs to cover a mortgage. He knew that a strong work ethic is not a substitute for the assets needed to ensure a secure life and a viable retirement. When Steve became a certified financial planner, he introduced business owners whose families were not prepared to continue their legacy to the Employee Stock Ownership Plan, a retirement plan that allows employees to purchase a company from the selling shareholders. As founder and Executive Director of the Employee Ownership Expansion Network, Steve advances the mission of worker ownership through the creation of state-based centers. They are a resource for business owners to learn about this formula for wealth transfer and for new businesses to begin their journey as worker owned cooperatives. This episode of Power Station explores the power of profit-sharing and worker voices in wealth creation. The call to action is for national funders to fund centers everywhere, an investment in a more equitable national economy.