Call for Speakers

Apply to Speak in Milwaukee by October 10!

Apply to Speak

Welcome to the speaker proposal guidelines for the 2026 NCEO Annual Employee Ownership Conference happening in Milwaukee April 6-9, 2026. We are looking for passionate speakers to share their expertise, innovative strategies, and real-world solutions to empower employee-owners and leaders within the NCEO community.

With a solutions-focused agenda and over 120 breakout sessions planned, we are proud to present reliable, objective information and valuable resources that help companies from new to mature ESOPs thrive. Both new and experienced speakers are encouraged to apply.

Please review the following information in full before beginning your submission to ensure your content is aligned with the goals for the event.

Important Dates

Submissions Open: August 18, 2025

Submission Deadline: October 10, 2025

Speaker Notification: Mid-December 2025

Why Speak at the NCEO Annual Conference?

Conference presentation with attendees

Speaking at our conference is a great way to engage with the employee ownership community and share your unique insights from the perspective of an employee-owner or a service provider professional.

  • Share Your Expertise: Showcase your knowledge and experience with employee-owners, enhancing their understanding and engagement.
  • Boost Your Visibility: Increase brand awareness and establish yourself or your organization as a leading expert in the field.
  • Share Your Story: Inspire employee-owners by leveraging your company’s best practices while offering practical solutions drawn from real-world experience.

What Makes a Session Stand Out?

We are looking for sessions that are innovative, engaging, and solutions-oriented. We want attendees to be active participants, not just passive listeners. A successful session:

  • Is Innovative and Original: We are looking for creativity and will prioritize new abstracts that have not yet been presented at any employee ownership conference. For evergreen topics, we encourage you to find a fresh, creative way to present it.
  • Encourages Robust Discussion: The goal is high-level audience engagement where participants have robust discussions and leave with tangible tools and real solutions.
  • Presents Real-World Experience: We especially encourage company speakers to share their innovations, what they are doing well, and lessons learned along the way. This is a chance for you to help make the event fantastic by sharing your direct experiences.
  • Focuses on Learning, Not Sales: Content must be educational with no product or service pitches.
Attendees engaged at an event

How We Evaluate Your Submission

Your submission will be evaluated on the following criteria to ensure a high-quality and relevant conference program.

Innovation and Originality: The creativity, freshness, and uniqueness of your topic and approach.

Audience Engagement and Interaction: The degree to which your session actively engages participants.

Content Value and Relevance: How valuable and relevant the content is for NCEO members and attendees.

Topic Appeal: The overall appeal and compelling nature of your topic for the target audience.

Speaker Experience and Credibility: Your expertise and credibility on the topic.

Track Alignment: How well your submission aligns with the selected track. Be sure to review all tracks and focus areas below before submitting.

A Few Guidelines

Panels: We welcome panels with up to four speakers. The most impactful sessions often feature a diverse set of perspectives, including company speakers and service providers from different firms. 

Service Providers: To ensure this diversity, only one service provider from the same firm is permitted per submission. We highly encourage you to partner with other service providers and companies to bring a unique and well-rounded perspective to your session.

No Repeat Presentations: We are looking for new content, fresh perspectives, and creative delivery.

Session Topics: Tracks and Focus Areas

Our 2026 conference curriculum has seven topic tracks, shown below. In selecting our content for each track, we are looking for sessions that address one of several specific focus areas within that track. When submitting your proposal, you'll be prompted to select the focus area that best aligns with your presentation's primary theme.

Please take some time to review the tracks and focus areas shown below in preparation for submitting your proposal. Click a track to expand.

Sessions focusing on how to successfully expand an employee-owned business.

When submitting your proposal, you'll be prompted to choose one of the following focus areas:

Acquisitions

Strategies for successfully acquiring and integrating other companies.

Holding Company Strategy

Examining the structure and benefits of a holding company model.

Scaling an ESOP Company

Practical advice for managing growth and scaling operations.

Accessing Capital

Exploring different methods for financing business expansion and operations.

Culture Preservation through Growth

Methods to maintain a strong ownership culture while the company expands.

Content dedicated to the foundational principles and best practices for governing an ESOP company.

When submitting your proposal, you'll be prompted to choose one of the following focus areas:

ESOP Governance Basics

The fundamental rules and responsibilities of ESOP governance.

Fiduciary Responsibilities and Legal Issues

Understanding the legal obligations and duties of fiduciaries.

Composition, Recruiting and Board Succession

Building and developing a high-performing board.

Board Development and Training

Training and ongoing education for board members.

Board Responsibilities

Clarifying the roles and responsibilities of the board of directors.

Sessions exploring how to build and maintain a strong, high-performance culture of ownership.

When submitting your proposal, you'll be prompted to choose one of the following focus areas:

Foundations of Ownership Culture

Building the core elements of a successful ownership culture.

Financial Literacy for EO

Educating employee-owners on the financial aspects of the company.

Building Momentum Year Round

Strategies for maintaining enthusiasm and engagement throughout the year.

Employee Engagement & Shared Responsibilities

Fostering a sense of shared responsibility among all employees.

Accountability & High Performance Culture

Creating a culture of accountability to drive high performance.

Storytelling & Communicating Success

Communicating the value and success of employee ownership.

Content focused on improving business efficiency, managing risk, and leveraging technology within an ESOP.

When submitting your proposal, you'll be prompted to choose one of the following focus areas:

Valuation and Accounting

Understanding the key principles of ESOP valuation and accounting.

ESOP Administration

Best practices for managing the day-to-day administration of an ESOP.

Leveraging Technology for Operational Efficiency

Using technology to improve business processes and efficiency.

Risk Mitigation and Resilience

Strategies for identifying, managing, and mitigating business risks.

Plan Design Implications & Iterations

Analyzing and adapting ESOP plan design to meet evolving needs.

Second Stage Transactions

Planning for and executing a second-stage ESOP transaction.

Regulatory Updates

Staying current with the latest legal and regulatory changes.

Market Uncertainty

Strategies for navigating economic and market volatility.

Discussions on ensuring the long-term financial stability and sustainability of an ESOP.

When submitting your proposal, you'll be prompted to choose one of the following focus areas:

Sustainable ESOP Operations

Ensuring the long-term viability of the company and the ESOP.

Long-Term Financial Stability

Strategies for maintaining financial health over the long term.

Advanced ESOP Plan Design

In-depth exploration of complex ESOP plan design topics.

Repurchase Obligation Strategies

Developing effective strategies to manage the repurchase obligation.

Mature ESOP Issues

Addressing the unique challenges faced by mature ESOP companies.

Cash Management Strategies

Optimizing cash flow and managing company liquidity.

Sessions on strategic planning, empowering leaders, and navigating change within an employee-owned culture.

When submitting your proposal, you'll be prompted to choose one of the following focus areas:

Strategic Planning / High Involvement Planning

Involving employees in the company's strategic planning process.

Innovative Company Practices

Showcasing creative and effective approaches to running a business.

Leading in an Employee-Owned Culture

Developing leadership skills specific to an employee-owned environment.

Empowering ESOP Leaders & Champions

Cultivating and supporting leaders and champions at all levels.

Succession Development at all Levels

Planning for leadership and talent succession throughout the organization.

Navigating Change

Guiding a company and its employee-owners through periods of change.

Content centered on recruiting, training, and retaining talent in an ESOP environment.

When submitting your proposal, you'll be prompted to choose one of the following focus areas:

Talent Acquisition

Strategies for attracting and hiring the best talent.

Recruiting and Onboarding Strategies

Best practices for integrating new employees into the company culture.

Compensation & Benefits Planning

Designing fair and competitive compensation and benefits packages.

Performance Management & Reviews

Effective systems for managing and evaluating employee performance.

Conflict Resolution & Employee Relations

Tools and techniques for resolving workplace conflicts.

Leveraging Technology

Utilizing technology to enhance workforce development and HR functions.

Legal Compliance & HR Policies

Understanding the legal landscape for HR policies and compliance.

Session Formats

Our educational approach is evolving to emphasize solutions-oriented sessions that encourage active participation. We've moved beyond traditional presenter-led sessions in favor of more interactive formats, including:

  • Workshops: Hands-on sessions with interactive exercises and expert guidance focused on building practical tools and solving real challenges. 
  • Small Group Breakouts: Sessions centered on collaborative discussions in focused, small groups. 
  • Coaching/Facilitation: One-on-one or small group support led by an expert facilitator. 
  • Other: If your session doesn't fit into one of the above categories, select the "Other" format option.

When developing your proposal, consider how your content can create a compelling and engaging learning experience. This could include interactive polls, hands-on activities, a robust Q&A session, or small-group discussions. Be sure to describe your proposed interactive elements in your submission.

Roundtable session

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the guidelines for presenting?

Panels work best with diverse voices. We welcome up to four speakers, but they must include members or clients from different firms or companies. Only one service provider per firm will be permitted per submission. We encourage you to partner with other service providers and companies to bring a unique and well-rounded perspective. 

Can I present more than one time at the event?

While you are welcome to submit multiple proposals if you have more than one idea, speakers may only present one session per event. Some exceptions may apply.

What if I've presented this topic before?

We prioritize new abstracts not yet presented at any employee ownership conference. If your topic has been presented before, please explain how you will be presenting it in a new, innovative way.

What if I am unsure of the correct track or focus area?

Be sure to review all tracks and focus areas above to ensure your content is reviewed correctly. Choose a focus area that represents at least 70% of your presentation content. Reach out to education@nceo.org with any questions on how to select the correct track or if you would like help refining your proposal idea. 

What happens if I am not selected?

We do our best to accept as many speakers as possible. In some cases, we receive multiple submissions on a similar topic and combine sessions to create one panel. In other cases, the submission may not align with the session content goals, may be duplicative, or may be incomplete. We encourage any speakers that aren’t selected to reapply for our next event!

Do I have to be an NCEO member to present?

Yes, you must have an active NCEO membership at the time of your presentation. Contact membership@nceo.org with any questions. 

How much does it cost to present at the conference?

An accepted speaker from an employee-owned company with active NCEO membership will receive one free conference registration. If selected to speak, service providers will have access to a discounted speaker registration rate for the conference.

What happened to the old PDF with speaker guidelines?

We have moved away from that deliverable and now have this page to guide you. We are here to help! Please let us know if you have any questions about your submission.

Need help?

For questions about the Call for Speakers or the submission process, please contact us at: eventhelp@nceo.org. 

 

Ready to apply?

Before applying, please make sure you've fully reviewed the guidelines on this page.

We've made it easy to submit your proposal. You will submit on a brand new site, so all speakers—new and returning—must create a login and profile to begin.