The Vermont Employee Ownership Center (VEOC) is offering a free workshop entitled “Selling to the Employees: Employee Ownership as a Path for Business Succession” on December 1st from 2:00 to 4:30 pm at the Heritage Family Credit Union, 50 West Street in Rutland.

The workshop will include a brief overview of ownership succession options and will focus on the pros and cons of different forms of employee ownership and the key financial and organizational benefits of this approach.

Joining the VEOC will be Bill Carris, Vermont State Senator and former owner of Carris Reels, a Rutland-based manufacturing company that became 100% employee-owned in 2008. Carris will explain why he decided to sell his family business to the employees, the steps involved in the process, and how the new ownership structure has affected the company, the employees, and the community at large.

The workshop is co-sponsored by the Vermont Small Business Development Center and the Rutland Economic Development Corporation.

There is no registration fee, but advance registration is required. Refreshments will be served.