We visit the archives to learn about Recology (www.recology.com), a 100-year old company and 100% ESOP since 1986. Project Equity's (www.project-equity.org) co-founder, Alison Lingane, shares how Recology is standing with its employee owners during the pandemic.

The notes and transcript for this episode are available on our website: https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/mini-cast-96-recology-revisited

Welcome to our third annual EO/ESOP Podcast Summer School series. We've selected some of our favorite episodes over the past year to bring you all summer long. We're going to spend the summer catching our breath and recharging our batteries. We're also going to be wearing masks and practicing social distancing.

In this episode, Tom Roback, CEO of Blue Ridge ESOP Associates (www.blueridgeesop.com) joined host Bret Keisling for a look at Plan administration during the pandemic. Topics discussed include distributions and other plan changes under The CARES Act, distributions, repurchase obligations, interim valuations, partial plan termination, and Plan amendments.

The show notes for this episode are on our website: https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/esop-summer-school-17-plan-administration-covid-19

Bret Keisling looks at the connection between consumer confidence and interstate travel and argues for our economy to truly recover, we need a national mask policy for now.

The transcript for this episode is available on our website: https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/mini-cast-95-we-need-masks-nationally

Welcome to our third annual EO/ESOP Podcast Summer School series. We've selected some of our favorite episodes over the past year to bring you all summer long. We're going to spend the summer catching our breath and recharging our batteries. We're also going to be wearing masks and practicing social distancing.

In this episode, Mark Kossow, Esq. of Clark Hill [www.clarkhill.com] joined host Bret Keisling to discuss many ESOP legal issues including pausing ESOP transaction closings, layoffs and furloughs and the 409(p) test, and Plan changes to manage distributions.

Bret Keisling discusses a recent $26.1 million settlement of a class action suit between convenience store company Wawa and its ESOP and former employees and ESOP participants.

The transcript for this episode is available on our website at: https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/mini-cast-94-the-wawa-esop-settlement

Welcome to our third annual EO/ESOP Podcast Summer School series. We've selected some of our favorite episodes over the past year to bring you all summer long. We're going to spend the summer catching our breath and recharging our batteries. We're also going to be wearing masks and practicing social distancing.

The full effect of the US national emergency and global crisis over the coronavirus pandemic is still ongoing. In this March 2020 episode from early in the pandemic, Bret Keisling was joined by Rob Hilton, A.S.A. of South Park Advisors for a broad discussion on how ESOP valuation advisors navigate financial uncertainties in both transactions and annual updates.

The show notes for this episode are on our website: https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/esop-summer-school-15-covid-19-the-valuation-process

Bret Keisling and Jennifer Krieger of Weaver [https://weaver.com] celebrate the proposed federal grant for ESOPs and discuss implications of some of the bill's language.

A link to the full text of the legislation along with a transcript of this episode are available on our website: https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/mini-cast-93-jennifer-krieger-the-federal-esop-grant-act

Welcome to our third annual EO/ESOP Podcast Summer School series. We've selected some of our favorite episodes over the past year to bring you all summer long. We're going to spend the summer catching our breath and recharging our batteries. We're also going to be wearing masks and practicing social distancing.

In this episode Bret Keisling sat down with Greg Zimmerman, Vice President of the Premium Cigar Association (premiumcigars.org), President of the Pennsylvania Premium Cigar Retailers Association (PAPCRA) and co-owner of The Tobacco Company cigar stores (www.tobaccocompany.com) in Central Pennsylvania to discuss the regulatory, legislative, and judicial challenges to the premium cigar industry, and how EO faces the same challenges.

During the pandemic associations have suspended their in-person conferences but advocacy work is needed more than ever.

The transcript for this episode is available on our website at: https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/esop-summer-school-14-eo-premium-cigars-and-advocacy

Bret Keisling discusses legislation proposed by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) that would provide grants to new or expanding ESOPs. Also, a heartfelt thanks to all of our guests and listeners as we celebrate surpassing 50,000 total listens to our podcast and mini-cast episodes.

The full transcript of this episode along with a link to the full text of the proposed legislation are available on our website: https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/mini-cast-92-federal-esop-legislation-proposed

Welcome to our third annual EO/ESOP Podcast Summer School series. We've selected some of our favorite episodes over the past year to bring you all summer long. We're going to spend the summer catching our breath and recharging our batteries. We're also going to be wearing masks and practicing social distancing.

New Belgium Brewing made headlines when it announced its sale and ESOP termination. In this episode, regular contributor Jennifer Krieger of Weaver CPAs joined Bret Keisling to discuss ESOP terminations, how and why they happen, and how employee owners are protected.

The full transcript of today's podcast is on our website: https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/esop-summer-school-13-is-it-okay-to-celebrate-esop-terminations-explained