WASHINGTON —The ESOP Association represents the interests of millions of Employee Owners and their companies across the nation.
On May 18, the organization honored Eagle Communications Chairman Gary Shorman for a career spent helping to grow employee ownership in America, with the Michael Keeling Founder’s Award.
The award honors an individual for their contributions to the founding of Employee Stock Ownership Programs (ESOP) and for working to elevate awareness of the benefit and value of ESOPs. Eagle Communications has been an employee-owned company since 1998 with employees now owning 100 percent of the company.
The award was presented at the organization's Annual Awards Ceremony during The ESOP Association’s National Conference in Washington, DC.
The Founder's award was created upon Michael Keeling's retirement from The ESOP Association after 28 years as President. The organization only presented this award one other time, and that was to the founder himself.
"Shorman has set a lifelong example we can all be inspired by," the ESOP Association stated. “Shorman has been a passionate advocate while serving on the organization's Board of Directors, and worked to create the organization's Silver Tsunami video series to encourage ESOP formation."
"It has been an honor to serve the ESOP association and be recognized with this award," said Shorman. "Helping build the Eagle ESOP and being a champion for employee owned companies has been rewarding. Employee ownership creates a unique business environment where everyone shares in the success and shares in the growth of their company."
"Shorman also chaired the organization's search committee for the first leadership transition at TEA in nearly three decades. He chaired the Association during COVID, led the way as we modernized our Board governance procedures, and has helped direct more than one hundred thousand dollars to the Employee Ownership Foundation."
"Any one of these things would be worthy of recognition, but together they exemplify a special dedication to ESOPs and future ESOP formation."
The annual awards honor excellence and achievement in the ESOP community and the people and companies that make significant contributions to The ESOP Association’s cause and membership.