Blue Ridge Associates at Employee Owned 2026

Blue Ridge Associates was proud to return as a Strategic Partner at Employee Owned 2026, held November 1-4 at the Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. The event brought together ESOP companies, industry leaders, and professionals from across the country for several days of learning, collaboration, and connection. The conference gave our team meaningful opportunities to engage with clients, share expertise, and strengthen relationships across the employee ownership community.

Throughout the event, we welcomed attendees to our suite in Copperleaf 2, where conversations focused on building connections and supporting the long-term success of employee-owned companies.

Leading Conversations Across the Conference

Seven members of our team led 10 educational sessions, offering practical guidance for employee-owned companies. Topics ranged from what to expect when becoming an ESOP-owned company and navigating plan administration to distribution policy, legal and tax considerations, and building an ownership culture. We also hosted a hands-on workshop on culture, alignment, and engagement.

We were also glad to take part in the Women in ESOPs Luncheon on November 3rd. Barbara Clough joined “Lunch & Leadership: Perspectives from Women Leaders in the ESOP Community,” sharing her perspective alongside other leaders in the field.

We’re grateful for the thoughtful questions, active participation, and collaborative spirit that made each session meaningful.

Around the World: A Taste of the Amalfi Coast

At the Around the World event, Blue Ridge represented Italy with an Amalfi theme. Visitors to our suite enjoyed arancini, ravioli, and caprese, and many stopped for a photo in our Amalfi photo booth. We enjoyed connecting with attendees in the fun setting and appreciated everyone who stopped by to stamp their passport in Italy!

Chapter Celebration: End Zone Extravaganza

The Chapter Celebration: End Zone Extravaganza honored this year’s Chapter of the Year. Congratulations to the Iowa/Nebraska Chapter on the win! With classic tailgate food and a lively crowd, it was a relaxed evening to unwind and connect.

Our team showed up in their Blue Ridge jerseys to show off a little team pride.

Conference Fun: The Lucky Key Challenge

All week, attendees stopped by Copperleaf 2 to try their luck at the Lucky Key challenge. Winners went home with an iPad, Meta glasses, Bose headphones, and a Nintendo Switch. Congratulations to our winners! Every key turn was a chance to win, and every conversation was a chance to unlock more with Blue Ridge.

Thank You for Joining Us

A big thank you to The ESOP Association for putting on such a well-run event. Employee Owned 2026 reminded us what makes the employee-owned community so special, and we’re grateful to everyone who attended our sessions or stopped by Copperleaf 2.

At Blue Ridge, we help employee-owned companies unlock more through experienced guidance and a people-first approach. We look forward to continuing the conversations and seeing everyone at chapter events throughout the year and at Employee Owned 2027, October 31-November 3, at the Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.