In this episode of Finish Big the Podcast, Host Mark Dorman is joined by Corey Rosen, founder of the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) and one of the world’s leading experts on employee ownership.

Corey shares his decades-long journey—from drafting the original ESOP legislation on Capitol Hill to helping thousands of business owners implement employee stock ownership plans. He and Mark explore the massive impact ESOPs can have on succession, company culture, employee wealth, and long-term legacy.

• From Policy to Practice: How Corey transitioned from political science professor to Capitol Hill staffer, eventually founding the NCEO in 1981.
• ESOP Growth & Tax Advantages: The rise of employee ownership, how ESOPs work, and why their tax advantages make them a powerful tool for succession.
• Bipartisan Appeal: Why ESOPs remain one of the rare ideas with support across political lines—from Elizabeth Warren to Tommy Tuberville.
• Succession Planning Realities: Why ESOPs offer flexible exit options for baby boomer business owners, while preserving legacy and rewarding employees.
• Section 1042 & Tax Deferral: A deep dive into how sellers can defer capital gains taxes through reinvestment, and the lesser-known wealth-building benefits of ESOPs.
• Who Should Consider an ESOP?: The financial, managerial, and structural conditions that make a company ideal for employee ownership.
• Culture and Engagement: Why communication, open-book management, and employee involvement are the key to successful ESOP-driven transformation.

Connect with Mark Dorman:

• Succession Plus US
• LinkedIn: Mark Dorman
• LinkedIn: Succession Plus
• Facebook: Succession Plus
• (330)-416-9271
• mdorman@succession.plus

Corey Rosen is the founder of the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO). A former Capitol Hill staffer and political science professor, Corey helped draft early ESOP legislation in the 1970s and has since authored numerous books and research papers on employee ownership. Today, he leads NCEO’s mission to educate and support businesses considering employee ownership as a sustainable, wealth-building alternative to traditional exits.