Activating the Future of Employee Ownership
EO Equals is an initiative of Project Equity
Chicago, IL | Tuesday, Sept. 1 – Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026
Become a changemaker—join the movement.
JUMP TO
Join 200 senior catalysts at the EO Equals Summit
Chicago, IL | Tuesday, Sept. 1 – Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026
Move beyond conversation to action. Secure your place in a curated leadership cohort designed to leverage the $15 trillion wealth transfer and scale employee ownership nationwide.
Project Equity’s fourth national event, the EO Equals Summit, is more than a convening—it is a strategic engine for economic resilience.
We are gathering a select group of 200 decision-makers from across the capital, policy, nonprofit, and advisory sectors to bridge the gap between proven models and national scale.
Join Us in Chicago
Be part of an exclusive gathering of leaders in business, finance, policy, and philanthropy.
Request your invitation to the EOE Summit below.
Keynote
Felipe Witchger
Executive Director
Francesco Collaborative
Felipe Witchger bridges institutional finance and impact capital markets, organizing communities of investors representing over $134 billion in assets. His experience advising Fortune 100 energy companies and operating successful businesses informs how he creates pathways for investments that build community wealth.
PRICE
Early Bird Discount-
Use coupon code EOES26EB2 to get a discounted price of $494 ($155+ savings)
Location
Chicago Athletic Association
12 S Michigan Avenue
Discounted room blocks are limited.
Agenda
OPTIONAL PRE-EVENT EXCURSIONS
More details to come on opportunities to explore Chicago before the event
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm: KICK-OFF RECEPTION & DINNER BUFFET
Network with fellow attendees and get excited for the days ahead at our Summit at the Chicago Athletic Association’s Game Room.
6:30 – 7:45 am: OPTIONAL EARLY RISERS QUIET COFFEE & INTENTION SETTING
Start your day with a quiet moment at Cindy’s, situated atop the 13th floor of the Chicago Athletic Association with sweeping views of Millennium Park and Lake Michigan.
7:30 – 8:45 am: BREAKFAST BUFFET
9:00 – 9:15 am: WELCOME ADDRESS
From Evan Edwards, Project Equity CEO
9:15 – 10:00 am: WHY EO NOW?
A message from our keynote speaker
10:15 – 11:15 am: STORIES OF IMPACT: SELLING OWNERS
Hear directly from a panel of owners who chose to sell their business to their employees.
11:30 am- 12:30 pm: LUNCH & LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
1:00 – 2:00 PM: BREAKOUTS: EO FOUNDATIONS
- Unlocking Value for Clients: Hear from a panel of business advisors on how they are offering clients a practical, profitable path forward with an EO succession solution.
- EO for Wealth Building & Economic Equity: Understand the power of EO as a strategy to build wealth and shared prosperity.
- Awareness: Driving Normalization & Scale: Explore national and local strategies to overcome one of the greatest barriers to scale: awareness.
2:15 – 3:15 pm: BREAKOUTS: INNOVATION FOR IMPACT
- Innovation in EO Forms: Explore exciting new EO structures that are making EO even more accessible to businesses.
- Innovation in Capital: From fund development to deal financing, dig into how capital serves EO.
- Innovation in EO Education & Activation: Learn about innovative educational courses and technology allowing business professionals to bring EO and its benefits into their practices and communities.
3:30 – 4:30 pm: BREAKOUTS: LEVERS FOR SCALE
- Levers for Scale: Public Policy: Explore how public policy has been used across the country to bring sustainable EO awareness, technical assistance, and capital to business owners.
- Levers for Scale: Higher Ed: Hear examples of higher ed institutions that are scaling EO through their curriculum, research, engagement, and more.
- Anatomy of a Transition: Dive into the nuts and bolts of a business’s journey through the EO transition process.
4:30 – 6:00 pm: NETWORKING RECEPTION
Network with fellow attendings and hear some exciting announcements from Project Equity.
6:30 pm & BEYOND: DINE-ABOUTS
For a chance to experience the city’s cuisine, join Project Equity staff and choose from several smaller table reservations we’ve made at restaurants around Chicago.
7:30 – 8:45 am: BREAKFAST BUFFET
9:00 – 10:00 AM: STORIES OF IMPACT: COMMUNITIES
Hear how stakeholders within regions are working together to unlock the power of EO.
10:15 – 11:15 am: STORIES OF IMPACT: WORKER-OWNERS
Hear stories from worker-owners about the impact of employee ownership on job quality and beyond.
11:15 am – 12:15 pm: REFLECTIONS, TAKEAWAYS & WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE NEXT
Be part of a defining moment for EO as you and your fellow attendees discuss what you’ve learned and what you’re excited to see and do next.
12:15 – 1:15 pm: LUNCH
Closing remarks.
1:45 – 2:45 pm: AFTERNOON OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION
- ExitPro 101: 1.0 CFP Board CE | 1.0 NASBA CPE. This foundational session introduces small business advisors to the ExitPro framework — a structured, advisor-led methodology for guiding business owners through the exit planning and ownership transition process. ExitPro 101 equips participants with the language, tools, and conceptual model needed to open meaningful conversations with clients about succession, liquidity, and legacy. The session explores how employee ownership fits within a broader exit planning toolkit and how advisors can position themselves as trusted guides in the transition journey. Participants gain a working knowledge of the ExitPro process and leave prepared to apply it immediately in their advisory practices. Upon completion of the session, participants will be able to:
- Recognize the features, benefits, advantages, and limitations of each type of broad-based employee ownership, including employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), worker cooperatives, or employee ownership trusts (EOTs).
- Select the most appropriate form of broad-based employee ownership for each small business owner client considering their retirement, exit, or succession goals.
- Identify the small business advisor specialist role types and timelines required to facilitate an employee ownership transition for their small business owner clients.
- Employee Ownership ROI & Case Studies: 1.0 CFP Board CE | 1.0 NASBA CPE. In this session, small business advisors will gain the necessary expertise to effectively support client employee ownership implementation. Participants will explore key topics such as the fundamental principles of employee ownership, strategies for successful implementation, post-implementation support, and analyzing return on investment (ROI) through case studies. Learning objectives include understanding the basics of employee ownership, developing tailored implementation plans, providing ongoing support to ensure sustainability, and evaluating the financial impact through real-world ROI examples. By the end of this course, advisors will be equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to guide small businesses through the transition to employee ownership successfully. Upon successful completion of the session, participants will be able to:
- Understand the core principles of employee ownership
- Develop and implement employee ownership transition strategies
- Evaluate the financial impact using ROI analysis
- Provide ongoing support and sustain employee engagement
Project Equity's Summit brought together an incredible group of practitioners from all sectors working to advance opportunities for employee ownership.
It's clear that there's a lot of momentum building in the space and we're proud to be a partner in this work.
David Estrada
President,
eBay Foundation
Sponsorship Opportunities
Sponsoring the EO Equals Summit advances a national movement to expand wealth-building through business ownership—from individual business owners to the broader workforce. If you are interested in learning more, contact Sarah Carter, Vice President of Advancement & Partnerships, at [email protected].
2026 Sponsors
The EO Equals Summit is made possible by the following partners.
