Empowered Owners

Tough times tend to bring out people’s true colors. The same goes for tough markets and companies, where some wither and others survive or thrive. In this episode, host Chris Fredericks, CEO of Empowered Ventures , talks with Curtis Elliott , President of Paramount Plastics , to reflect on the company's journey through three years of employee ownership. Curtis shares how the transition to employee...

Change is hard . Especially when it’s brought about by new systems. For organizations in existence for a half century, change brings about a list of challenges and opportunities. In this episode, host Chris Fredericks , CEO of Empowered Ventures, reconnects with Tad Calahan , President of TVF , to explore how TVF has evolved after 50 successful years in business. They discuss TVF's recent CRM and...

Very few topics impact both our personal and professional lives. Healthcare is one of the few. Yet, for so many, it feels like a burden rather than a benefit. In this episode, host Chris Fredericks is joined by Emily Bopp , Chief of Staff at EV, and Kim Dinwiddie , VP of Human Resources at EV, to unpack the realities of healthcare today and how Empowered Ventures is tackling these challenges head-...

Purpose holds a unique meaning for each individual, and discovering it requires time for self-reflection and evaluating the alignment of your life. In this episode, Christine Webb and Casey Grisez share how they found purpose in unexpected places, leading them to Empowered Ventures. Host Chris Fredericks , CEO of Empowered Ventures, sits down with Christine and Casey to explore their unique paths...

Have you ever wondered how employee ownership can drive a culture of continuous learning and innovation within a company? Yes? Good news.  In this replay episode of Empowered Owners, Lori Atone , Learning and Development Director at TVF , shares about the importance of continuous learning, knowledge sharing, and the impact of learning and development in an employee-owned organization. In this epis...

Discovering what you are passionate about and making it a career is an incredible accomplishment.  Some people are lucky enough to experience that feeling a few times in their careers. In this replay episode of Empowered Owners, Curtis Elliott , President at Paramount Plastics , discusses his career path, from his initial goal of joining law enforcement to unexpected opportunities in manufacturing...

Switching careers can be quite an adventure, no matter how many times you've done it before. And when it comes to taking on a new role, especially in management, the challenge doubles. Suddenly, you're not just responsible for your daily tasks but also for building and nurturing relationships with your team. It's no easy feat, but it's a vital part of becoming a successful manager. Join us for an...

Embarking on a career path is a universal experience, where even the most seasoned professionals were once beginners. It's crucial to recognize that expertise is not acquired overnight. However, by implementing a few strategies, you can pave the way to success while taking those lessons into the future to help you become your best self. In this replay episode of Empowered Owners, Jack West , Vice...

Employee ownership holds the power to revolutionize workplace culture, but it's not a task for just one person. It requires a collective effort to establish and sustain a positive team culture. In this replay episode of Empowered Owners, Blake Theademan , a Customer Service Specialist at TVF , discusses the power of empathy, the value of understanding strengths, and his journey at an employee-owne...

Welcome back to Season 3 of Empowered Owners! In this episode, Chris Fredericks , host and CEO of Empowered Ventures, discusses key milestones and achievements from the past year. He highlights the acquisition of Benoure Plumbing while also celebrating the ESOP’s success in surpassing a long-term goal ahead of schedule. Looking forward, Chris outlines new multi-year goals and improved processes fo...

If part one left you wanting more, this one's for you! Have you wondered about business valuations? Or ever struggled to understand the mystery behind ESOP account values?  Are you craving a clearer concept of what influences your account value and how to maximize it? In this episode, Chris Fredericks , CEO of Empowered Ventures , and Emily Bopp , Chief of Staff at Empowered Ventures , return with...

Relationships and connections are important in your personal life and can have a positive impact on your professional life, too. In fact, nurturing meaningful connections often serves as the cornerstone for these successful ventures. In this episode of Empowered Owners, Robert Hinsch , Vice President at TVF , shares his journey of helping start the West Coast division of TVF, a story of humble beg...

Every business model has nuances, and employee ownership is no exception.  Have you ever wondered how shares are allocated and what influences their value, or how to understand the value in your ESOP account? In this episode, Chris Fredericks , CEO of Empowered Ventures , and Emily Bopp , Chief of Staff at Empowered Ventures , discuss the details of how shares are allocated, determining their valu...

Have you ever wondered how employee ownership can drive a culture of continuous learning and innovation within a company? Yes? Good news.  In this episode of Empowered Owners, Lori Atone , Learning and Development Director at TVF , shares about the importance of continuous learning, knowledge sharing, and the impact of learning and development in an employee-owned organization. In this episode, yo...

Working at Empowered Ventures is more than an average job.  In fact, because of EV being an ESOP, you are a part owner with a stake in the success of the organization you work for. In this episode of Empowered Owners, Kim Dinwiddie , Vice President of Human Resources at Empowered Ventures , shares her journey of transformation, growth, and the powerful narrative of employee ownership. Kim explains...

While you likely have a solid understanding of Empowered Ventures and its history, chances are you haven’t heard some of the exciting details that went into crafting the family of businesses we know and love. In this episode, Chris Fredericks , CEO of Empowered Ventures , and Emily Bopp , Chief of Staff at Empowered Ventures , take a trip down memory lane to discuss how Empowered Ventures came to...

Employee ownership holds the power to revolutionize workplace culture, but it's not a task for just one person.  It requires a collective effort to establish and sustain a positive team culture. And in this episode of Empowered Owners, Blake Theademan , Customer Service Specialist at TVF , shares about the power of empathy, the value of understanding strengths, and his journey at an employee-owned...

Creating a thriving employee ownership culture cannot be done alone. In fact, it takes an entire team to create a workplace environment that truly embraces the power of employee ownership. In this episode of Empowered Owners, Dawn Dilts , Customer Support Specialist at TVF , Sarah Neff , Accounts Receivable Clerk at Paramount Plastics , and Diane Bokar , Secretary/Treasurer at Firstar Precision ,...

While the notion that 'bigger and faster' may seem superior, that isn’t always the case. In this episode, Chris Fredericks , CEO of Empowered Ventures , and Emily Bopp , Chief of Staff at Empowered Ventures , discuss the growth strategy of Empowered Ventures. They share insights on how these strategies tie into the long-term goals when creating value and stability for the ESOP. Tune in to better u...

Are you curious about the impact of employee ownership and the power of transparency in driving a company's culture and success? Want to learn more about how these factors influence leadership and organizational dynamics? In this episode of Empowered Owners, Ben Haviland , Vice President at Paramount Plastics , discusses the transformative effects of employee ownership, the importance of transpare...

Can employee ownership be the secret ingredient for weathering the storms of business challenges? Let’s find out. In this episode, Chris Fredericks , CEO of Empowered Ventures , and Emily Bopp , Chief of Staff at Empowered Ventures , dive into questions about what happens if a company in the Empowered Ventures family is underperforming. The candid conversations about leadership, accountability, an...

By diving into new experiences, you’ll discover your strengths. Especially when they open the door to personal growth.  Sure, it might feel a bit daunting, but more often than not, it's a chance to uncover hidden facets of yourself. In this episode of Empowered Owners, Luke Orszag , President at Firstar Precision , shares his inspiring journey of personal growth and how dedication to trying new th...

Do you ever wonder what it takes to support a group of successful companies and help them thrive? Maybe this is something you’ve wondered about but don’t know where to start. Good news. In this episode, Chris Fredericks , CEO of Empowered Ventures , and Emily Bopp , Chief of Staff at Empowered Ventures , discuss the unique approach taken by Empowered Ventures to ensure the success of each and ever...

We all have challenges in life that we must endure, and these challenges shape us into the individuals we become.  In this episode of Empowered Owners, Jennie Rossi, Sales Forecasting and Planning Manager at TVF , takes us through her journey of personal growth and resilience while finding strength in gratitude for her accomplishments and the meaningful connections she has fostered at Empowered Ve...

Welcome back to the latest season of Empowered Owners! In this episode, Chris Fredericks , CEO of Empowered Ventures , and Emily Bopp , Chief of Staff at Empowered Ventures , delve into the exciting world of employee ownership and discover where Empowered Ventures fits into it all.  But that's not it––This episode also gives a sneak peek into the upcoming season, including special guest shoutouts...