Episode Summary:

In this engaging episode of The Alternative Exit Podcast, Andy Farquharson interviews Matt Cropp, Executive Director of the Vermont Employee Ownership Center, who sheds light on the far-reaching impact of employee ownership on businesses, communities, and individual wealth.

Matt shares stories from Vermont’s leading employee-owned companies, discussing the nuances of ESOPs versus worker cooperatives, and why these models lead to stronger communities and resilient companies. Dive in to discover how employee ownership is transforming business legacies and creating sustainable economic growth.

Key Takeaways:

• How employee ownership deepens employees' connection to their work and community.
• The differences between ESOPs and worker cooperatives.
• How Vermont businesses succeed with employee ownership.
• The long-term community benefits of employee-owned businesses.
• How employee ownership builds retirement security and resilience in downturns.

Resources Mentioned:

• Carris Reels - https://carris.com/

About Matt Cropp:

Matt has been with the organization since 2014, where he has developed deep expertise in employee ownership while serving in a variety of roles before becoming Executive Director. Matt received his MA in History from UVM in 2011, where he studied economic history and the origins of cooperative finance. He's involved on a volunteer basis with a number of co-op projects, including as a board member of two real estate co-ops, as chair of an investment club, and as a member of a credit union supervisory committee.

Matt lives in the New North End of Burlington with his partner and their son, and in his free time enjoys gardening, tinkering with electronics and sustainable energy tech, and spending nice days rolling around town on his bike at a leisurely pace.

Connect with Matt Cropp:

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cropp-9b9b5137/
• Website - https://www.veoc.org/team

Connect with Andy Farquhason:

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyfarquharson/
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/andyfarq
• Website - https://abettermonday.me/
• Email - andy@abettermonday.me