Who Will Own Your Business Next?

Employee Ownership, Succession and the Future of Canadian Business — a luncheon with Chad Friesen, CEO of Friesens Corporation. Employee Ownership, Succession and the Future of Canadian Business Featuring Chad Friesen, CEO of Friesens Corporation What happens to a successful business when its owner is ready to step away? Join Alberta Business Alliance for a buffet lunch and a timely conversation about employee ownership, succession and the future of Canadian business. Employee Ownership Trusts and Business Succession An Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) holds shares in a business for the benefit of its employees. For owners considering succession, employee ownership can offer a path to realize fair value, preserve their legacy, maintain leadership continuity and keep ownership rooted in the community. What You Will Learn Chad will share the Friesens story—from sole proprietorship to family ownership to one of Canada’s longest-standing employee-owned companies—and the role Friesens played in advancing Employee Ownership Trust legislation and tax incentives in Canada. Drawing on firsthand experience as CEO, employee-owner, board member and trustee, Chad will offer a candid look at how employee ownership works in practice: its structure, benefits, trade-offs and governance, and its impact on culture, performance, employees and communities. He will explore why EOTs remain an underused succession option for Canadian businesses, and how this model can help preserve business legacies, strengthen local economies and support Canadian economic sovereignty. Chad will also introduce the Tallgrass Employee-Owner Equity Fund and its work to remove obstacles for business owners and help more Canadian companies transition to an EOT. Panel Discussion and Audience Questions Following Chad’s keynote presentation, a panel discussion will explore employee ownership and business succession, with an opportunity for audience questions. Panel participants will be announced as they are confirmed. This luncheon brings together business owners, executives, chief financial officers, professional advisers and other Alberta business leaders to explore ownership and succession. A buffet lunch is included. Buffet service begins at 11:30 a.m. during registration. Guests are welcome to continue eating during the presentation. Event Sponsorship Opportunities Put your business in the room at Who Will Own Your Business Next? Showcase your organization to Alberta business leaders through one of our event sponsorship opportunities: Platinum ($1,000), Gold ($500) or Silver ($250). View or download the sponsorship package (PDF) For sponsorship enquiries, contact Catherine Brownlee at [email protected] or 403-861-2001.