Address
Cambridge City Hall, Sullivan Chamber – 2nd Floor, 795 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139
- This page, Mass Center for Employee Ownership - Greater Boston Regional Symposium, is offered by
- Massachusetts Office of Business Development
Mass Center for Employee Ownership - Greater Boston Regional Symposium
Overview
If you are interested in exploring an employee ownership model for your business, at the symposium you will:
- Learn about the MA Center for Employee Ownership (MassCEO).
- Gain a basic understanding of some forms of employee ownership.
- Understand benefits such as succession planning, pay equity, wealth building, etc.
- Hear from employee-owned firms about their journey to employee ownership.
- Learn about potential state and federal funding for adopting employee ownership.
- Participate in a round-table discussion on employee ownership and interact with subject matter experts.
Agenda
9:00 AM – 9:05 AM | Welcome Address
Speaker: Pardis Saffari, Director of Economic Opportunity and Development, City of Cambridge
Overview: Opening remarks and welcome from the City of Cambridge, emphasizing the importance of employee ownership and economic development.
9:05 AM – 9:15 AM | Introduction to MassCEO & Employee Ownership Models
Speaker: Kevin Kuros, Interim Director, MassCEO
Overview: Introduction to MassCEO, an overview of employee ownership (EO) models, and an introduction to featured Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) and cooperative businesses.
9:15 AM – 9:25 AM | Featured ESOP: PCA Design
Speaker: Dan Carp, Senior Associate, PCA
Overview: A case study on PCA Design’s transition to an ESOP and the impact on business operations and employee engagement.
9:25 AM – 9:35 AM | Featured Co-op: Broadway Bicycle School
Speaker: Ace Young, Employee Owner, Broadway Bicycle School
Overview: Insights into Broadway Bicycle School’s cooperative structure, challenges, and benefits of employee ownership.
9:35 AM – 9:55 AM | Funding Employee Ownership: Small Business Administration (SBA)
Speaker: Ili Spahiu, Deputy District Director, SBA
Overview: Discussion on financial resources and support available for businesses transitioning to employee ownership through SBA programs.
10:00 AM – 10:40 AM | Facilitated Roundtable Discussion
Facilitator: Kevin Kuros, Interim Director, MassCEO
Panelists:
Dan Carp, PCA, Senior Associate
Ace Young, Broadway Bicycle, Employee Owner
Ili Spahiu, SBA, Deputy District Director
Aaron Moberger, Chair, MassCEO Advisory Board
Darnell Adams, Vice Chair, MassCEO Advisory Board
Overview: A dynamic discussion on the practical aspects of transitioning to employee ownership, challenges, success stories, and strategies for sustainable EO businesses.
10:40 AM – 10:45 AM | Concluding Remarks
Speaker: Kevin Kuros, Interim Director, MassCEO
Overview: Summary of key takeaways, appreciation for participants, and a call to action for business leaders and policymakers.
10:45 AM – 11:15 AM | Networking & Refreshments
Overview: Informal networking session with light refreshments, providing an opportunity for attendees to connect and explore collaboration opportunities
Featured ESOP Overview – PCA Design
PCA is recognized as one of New England's most innovative and creative design firms. With expertise in architecture, planning, and interior design, PCA’s teams provide thoughtful, award-winning designs for hospitality, housing, retail, higher education, and mixed-use clients — making places that thrive in the marketplace and bring lasting value to the community. Over the past four decades, PCA has grown from a four-person office to a robust firm of 50+ people and is currently an 84% employee-owned ESOP.
Featured Co-op Overview – Broadway Bicycle School
Broadway Bicycle School is a collectively-run and worker-owned bicycle shop that has operated since 1972. They both repair and sell new and used bikes and accessories. In the evenings, they offer hands-on classes on bicycle maintenance and repair.
Broadway Bikes began as a community-oriented anti-profit repair space during a time where collectives and cooperatives were sprouting all over Cambridge. The founding group of mechanics aimed to fight consumerism, destructive hierarchies, and other societal injustices. Over the past 53 years, Broadway Bicycle’s business has shifted to resembling a conventional bicycle shop (i.e., selling bicycles, accessories, and components, as well as offering repair services), while staying true to their community-driven roots. They actively support local bike non-profits and diverse cycling groups, and are focused on making their shop space welcoming and inclusive to everyone.
Event Materials
- MassCEO - Greater Boston Symposium 2.28.25 - Combined Presentations
- MassCEO One Pager - PCA Design
- MassCEO One Pager - Broadway Bicycle
- MassCEO - Employee Ownership Models
- MassCEO - Greater Boston Symposium Panelists
- MassCEO - Greater Boston Regional Symposium Event Recording
Thank you to Circus Cooperative Café (https://www.circus.coop/) for great food and refreshments for the event.