Call For Speakers
DEADLINE:
OCT 10
SPEAKERS WILL BE EVALUATED BASED ON THE FOLLOWING:
1.Priority: New abstracts not yet presented at any EO conference. Yes, we do check this.
2.Preference: Speakers with high ratings from 2024 and 2025 events.
3.Content: Educational content with no product/service pitches.
4.Individual Proposals: May be placed on a related topic panel.
5.Panels: Must include members or clients from different firms/companies.
6.Speaker Limit: Max of 4 speakers per panel. 2 service providers from the same firm are not permitted to speak together.
BENEFITS OF SPEAKING
Share Your Expertise: Showcase your knowledge and experience with employee-owners, enhancing their understanding and engagement.
Boost Your Visibility: Increase brand awareness and generate leads.
Engage and Enrich: Captivate your audience with compelling and enriching content.
Establish Authority: Position yourself or your organization as a leading expert in the employee ownership community.
Promote Employee Ownership: Raise national awareness about the benefits and practices of employee ownership.
Offer Real Solutions: Share practical insights and solutions based on your company’s experiences.
Enjoy Speaker Perks: Benefit from a speaker rate discount (early-bird registrants will be refunded the difference).
Get Complimentary Access: Speakers from employee-owned companies with active NCEO memberships receive free registration.
SESSION FORMAT
CHANGES
Learning is evolving, driven by attendee demand for more engaging formats and tracks. The era of presenter-led sessions from a head table is over. In 2026 and beyond, our educational approach will emphasize solutions-oriented workshops, small groups, and outcome-focused agendas. Our goal is to help all employeeowners understand and be ready for the challenges and opportunities within their companies. Please consider this when crafting your proposal for 2026.
WHERE TO APPLY
We have made it easier than ever to apply to speak. Please note that if you are submitting a panel of speakers, other panelists will need to log in and submit their headshots, bio, and profile information before your session proposal can be submitted.
Important: Topic and Track Selection Guidelines
Before submitting your abstract, please carefully review all available tracks and subtopics to ensure you select the most appropriate category for your presentation. Your chosen track and subtopic should directly align with the primary focus and content of your session.
Accurate categorization is essential for our review process and helps ensure your submission reaches the most qualified reviewers in your field. Misaligned selections can delay the review process and may impact your submission's evaluation and selection.
Please take a moment to:
Read through all track descriptions thoroughly
Consider which subtopic best represents your session's main theme If deciding between categories, choose the one that represents 70% or more of your content
Contact education@nceo.org if you need clarification on track distinctions. Your thoughtful selection helps us efficiently manage the review process and ensures your work is evaluated by the most appropriate subject matter experts.
EDUCATIONAL TRACKS
1.Growth Strategies
2.Effective Governance
3.Culture & Engagement
4.Operational Excellence
5.Repurchase Obligation & Sustainability
6.Innovative Leadership
7.Workforce Development
TOPICS OF INTEREST
Technical Topics
Acquisitions
Holding Company Strategy
Scaling an ESOP Company
Accessing Capital Culture Preservation Through Growth
ESOP Governance Basics
Fiduciary Responsibilities & Legal Issues
Board Development & Training
Board Responsibilities
Trustee Best Practices
Valuation & Accounting
Leveraging Technology for Operational Efficiency
Risk Mitigation & Resilience
Plan Design Implications & Iterations
Second Stage Transactions
Regulatory Updates
Market Uncertainty
Sustainable ESOP Operations
Advanced ESOP Plan Design
Repurchase Obligation Strategies
Workforce Development
Talent Acquisition
Recruiting & Onboarding Strategies
Compensation & Benefits
Planning
Performance Management & Reviews
Conflict Resolution & Employee Relations
Leveraging Technology
Legal Compliance & HR Policies
Innovative Leadership
Innovative Company Practices
Leading in an Employee-Owned Culture
Empowering ESOP Leaders & Champions
Succession Development at All Levels
Navigating Change
SELECTION PROCESS & NEXT STEPS
After the October 10 deadline, the selection committee will review your submission. Our conference is primarily for employee-owners, so while we consider non-ESOP employee ownership topics, ESOP-related topics will be favored. Preference will be given to speakers who have consistently met deadlines and received high ratings in previous NCEO engagements. Selected speakers will be notified in mid-December 2025.