Whitney Brothers President Scott Kroeger sits down with Chris Fredericks for our first-ever in-person podcast at Keene State College's beautiful Media Arts Center. Scott reflects on his first eight months leading a 122-year-old company, and shares his unexpected journey from global public companies to starting his own business during Covid in search of purpose and meaning, eventually discovering he'd "found his people" in the employee ownership world. He unpacks his REAL leadership framework—Respect, Empathy, Accountability, and Learning—and what surprised him most about Whitney Brothers. He celebrates the company's resilience through a challenging first year, the impressive speed at which the TWO (Together We Own) committee launched, and the hunger from engineers and floor leads alike to innovate and improve. Scott shares what he's excited about for 2026, and wraps up with his cycling Mount Rushmore, which includes a ride with (an insane) 11,000 feet of climbing.

Edited by Mateusz Złakowski

Chris Fredericks hosts the biggest group conversation yet on Empowered Owners, bringing together four employee ownership committee members from four different companies to debrief the annual EV Employee Ownership Summit. Erica Roudebush (TVF, fifth Summit), Travis Adams (Benoure, first-timer), Amanda Smith (Paramount, second Summit), and Dennis Casey (Firstar, rookie) share their raw first impressions: nerves at the beginning, re-energized by the end, and amazed by what they learned from each other. They dig into the Summit's theme, from a storytelling workshop with Sally Perkins that helped each company craft their origin story and identify the pivotal moment when employee ownership changed everything, to a stand-up magician who actually knew each company's history. The group celebrates favorite moments including the TVF warehouse tour, late-night go-karting, card games in the hotel lobby, and a surprise visit to the Indy 500 museum. They close with what they wish everyone in their companies knew—and what they say will make you a believer.

Edited by Mateusz Złakowski

Chris Fredericks and Casey Grisez reunite for another EV update episode, announcing new hires at EV, explaining the shift to self-funded healthcare and what it means to own your health, and sharing updates on fiscal 2026 financials. They break down what Ownership in Action looks like through growth, innovation, service, and enjoyment, and why the best advice might just be Bill Belichick's "do your job". Chris dives into a real example of a service mindset, then shares meaningful wins from across the operating companies. Finally, they zoom out to employee ownership wins: Oregon creating procurement preferences for ESOPs, federal legislation creating an Office of Employee Ownership Advocate, and bipartisan confirmation (67-32!) of a pro-ESOP Secretary of Labor. The message? There's momentum building, politically and culturally, and EV is part of something bigger.

Edited by Mateusz Złakowski

Rachel Wolf, Director of Finance and Strategy at Paramount Plastics, joins Empowered Owners to share her remarkable origin story. She started working in her parents' carpet cleaning franchise at age 12, cleaning up to six houses a day, doing pro-bono work for families facing eviction, and learning empathy the hard way. She explains how those eight years taught her work ethic, customer service, and a we-don't-quit attitude—lessons that carried her through paying her own way through college, becoming an accounting assistant at an e-commerce company, and eventually discovering her passion for strategic finance. Rachel reveals why she needs work to feel like family, why every hour she puts into Paramount "benefits 50 other people", why she leads from the factory floor, and her initial skepticism about employee ownership. Plus, hear how Rachel's Mount Rushmore of video games that taught her actual life skills. 

Edited by Mateusz Złakowski

How many leaders retain their entire staff in the face of an industry-wide downturn? We’re lucky that Curtis Elliott, President of Paramount Plastics, is one of them. Curtis takes us inside the RV and marine market, where many companies resorted to deep layoffs after Covid, and reveals why Paramount took the harder path of investing in their people. That decision—avoiding “violent change”—built unshakeable loyalty and set them up for a strong rebound. Curtis also shares how a focus on safety became a core value, and why their legendary holiday party, complete with his role as auctioneer, is a testament to their authentic atmosphere. Finally, he draws a fascinating parallel between rebuilding a company’s culture and rebuilding a football program, breaking down his Mount Rushmore of transformative coaches and what their leadership styles teach us about perseverance.

Edited by Mateusz Złakowski

Eric Lothrop, VP at Benoure Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, takes us through his 17-year journey from roughing in houses to overseeing custom residential construction. Eric opens up about finding his passion for mechanicals, climbing inside 2.5 million BTU boilers before transitioning to small residential systems, and discovering his true calling: building something from nothing using just blueprints and 2x4s. He explains the four pillars of sustainable success in the trades—quality, accountability, honesty, and dependability—and shares his advice for young people entering the field and what it takes to be a good student in the skilled trades (willingness to be uncomfortable tops the list). Plus, learn why Eric loves to coach, something he learned from his incredible parents, who are still volunteering as adaptive skiing coaches in their late-70s.

Edited by Mateusz Złakowski

Not many people have stewarded century-old companies. We're lucky that Mike Jablonski, former owner-operator of Whitney Brothers, is one of them. He takes us through 121 years of American manufacturing—from making wooden toys with hydro-powered equipment to today's manufacturing methods. Mike shares the remarkable story of how Whitney Brothers survived the Great Depression, world wars, devastating fires, and the declaration of pine as a "strategic wartime material" that forced a permanent pivot to hardwoods. He opens up about the weight of stewarding a century-old legacy and the influence of technical tours to Germany and Italy. Mike reveals how Whitney Brothers reinvented itself from commodity toys to institutional-grade furniture, explains the company's unique "Whitney-ize it" product development process, and shares an emotional moment with a founder's descendent. Whether you're interested in manufacturing, family business succession, or what it really takes to make a company last over a century, Mike's insights on teamwork, innovation, and pride in workmanship offer timeless lessons.

Edited by Mateusz Złakowski

Meet Grace Talamini, the multi-talented coordinator at Benoure Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning. She manages social media, schedules service, and is one of Benoure's leading ESOP enthusiasts. After realizing she wasn't "a school person," Grace moved from Massachusetts to Vermont, landing at Benoure, where she found a company with better benefits than most in the trades. From being so nervous she couldn't order pizza to confidently leading biweekly ESOP meetings, Grace opens up about the challenges and rewards of stewarding employee ownership in year one, why high standards in craftsmanship naturally translate to ownership mindset, and how she's using TikTok to recruit the next generation of technicians. Plus, hear about the ESOP barbecue featuring ax throwing, the power of that second annual statement, dressage (think: horse ballet meets Roman cavalry), and Grace's Mount Rushmore of Taylor Swift albums.

Edited by Mateusz Złakowski

Kim Dinwiddie, EV's VP of Human Resources, returns to break down what's happening in the world of healthcare. Many companies are facing the highest cost increases in 15 years, and Kim explains why and what EV is doing to fight back. Instead of just accepting whatever healthcare "happens to us," EV has spent the past year finding partners and innovative tools to help employee owners get better care at lower costs. Kim introduces Optavise, a new healthcare advocate service launching in 2026, and shares tips for open enrollment season, explains why preventive care matters, and reveals how one employee owner saved $70 on a single prescription. This episode is essential listening for anyone who wants to start making informed decisions that benefit both their wallet and their wellbeing.

Edited by Mateusz Złakowski

Show notes and transcripts on our website at empowered.ventures. Questions? Comments? Leave us a message at (317) 643-2383.

Sam Marion, Sales Director for Apparel & Home Décor at TVF, shares her unexpected journey into the textile industry—starting with her mom's women's biker apparel company and childhood travels to fabric mills in Cambodia and Taiwan. From being a picky eater who learned to embrace new experiences at age 13, to learning from legends at TVF, Sam's story is one of learning and seizing opportunities. She opens up about the mentors who shaped her career, her transition to leadership, and how becoming a mom shifted her perspective on work and fulfillment. Sam also digs into what makes TVF's ownership culture work—including how the company keeps its core values alive through constant recognition, positive reinforcement, and trying to keep things light.

Edited by Mateusz Złakowski

Show notes and transcripts on our website at empowered.ventures. Questions? Comments? Leave us a message at (317) 643-2383.