Speaker Proposal Form - The ESOP Association

THE ESOP ASSOCIATION5 th ANNUAL MIDWEST REGIONAL CONFERENCESeptember 11-13, 2013 at the Hilton Hotel, Milwaukee, WisconsinRequest for Speaker ProposalsThe Illinois, Iowa-Nebraska, Minnesota/Dakotas, and Wisconsin ESOP Chapters are partnering to once againpresent the Midwest Regional Conference. All members in the respective chapters will be invited with ananticipated attendance of 400. Selection of speakers will be conducted by subcommittees of the MidwestRegional Conference Planning Committee. Subcommittees are comprised of one representative from eachrespective chapter.Conference GoalThe Planning Committee has outlined the following goals for the conference: 1) Provide a variety of qualitytopic tracks that educate and foster discussions among employee owners at various levels of an organization;2) engage new as well as repeat participants; and 3) include speakers/presenters from each chapter.Selection CriteriaThe Planning Committee continues to refine the speaker selection criteria in an effort to be responsive to theattendees. The criteria are based upon a culmination of conference evaluations. Attendees continuallyexpress strong preferences regarding conference content. Thus, the following criteria will be used by thesubcommittees to select speakers/topics:1. Proposals involving corporate and professional member teams and/or case study examples will receive toppriority consideration.2. Speaker/presenter representation at the conference from the same Company (corporate or professional),will be limited where necessary.3. An effort will be made to make sure there is fair representation of speakers/presenters from host Chaptersand membership groups.4. Corporate member speakers receive a complimentary conference registration (maximum 2 per company.)Professional members are required to register and pay for the conference.5. The Planning Committee may combine speakers or add other Corporate members to a panel. Presenterswill be notified of suggested combinations for approval.6. Conference sponsorship is appreciated and considered, but will not ensure an organization or individual isselected as a speaker/presenter.7. Preference will be given to Corporate and Professionals that are members of one of the sponsoringChapters over members from other Chapters of The ESOP Association.If you are interested in presenting at this conference, please complete the form below. You may submit aproposal as an individual to be assigned with another speaker, or as a two or three-person team proposal.Attached is a description of the session tracks.The deadline for submitting a speaker proposal is April 2, 2013.Speakers will be confirmed by June 1, 2013

2013 Midwest ESOP Regional Conference Speaker Proposal FormSubmit your proposal to: Sue Crockett, MN/Dakotas Chapter: scrockett@mndak-esop.org •612-872-4375 (phone) • 612-872-4377 (fax)Proposal Deadline: April 2, 2013Topic TrackLevel ofPresentationTopic Title forConferenceProgram:Presenter 1:Please list themoderator first if apanel or group.Presenter 2:Presenter 3:SessionDescription(briefparagraph forinclusion inConferenceBrochure)___1: Communications and Ownership Culture___2: Technical (Administration, Legal, Fiduciary, Valuation)___3: ESOP Basics (easy to understand topics for those withoutextensive technical knowledge of ESOPs___Beginner___Intermediate___AdvancedName:Company:Address:Email:Phone:Name:Company:Address:Email:Phone:Name:Company:Address:Email:Phone:Why Me?2-3 sentenceson why yourtopic shouldbe selected

ESOP MIDWEST REGIONAL CONFERENCESESSION TRACK DESCRIPTIONESOP BasicsThe goal of this track is to provide acomprehensive overview for new or first timeattendees of the conference. The track willcover the basic structure and function of anESOP, the interaction of various professionalfunctions (what does the Trustee do, why islegal important, who conducts the valuation,etc.), ownership culture, ESOP communications,and how to promote and educate fellowemployees. An attendee of the track, should beable to easily understand all of the topicspresented without having extensive priortechnical knowledge of ESOPs.Speakers/presenters may elect to submit atopic directly to this track, or the subcommitteemay ask speakers/presenters who submittedproposals to the other tracks to present insteadon the ESOP Essentials.Technical Education• Valuations – Subtopics of Basic, or Advanced,How to Read a Valuation Report, RepurchaseAffect on Valuations, Valuation Issues inEconomic Downturn• Fiduciary Duties• Redeem vs. Recycle• Diversification• Repurchase Obligation, Including CreativeFunding, Insurance Funding• Governance/BOD Role/Best Practices/OutsideDirectors• Sustainability for Mature ESOPs – Have andHave Nots, Including Culture in Mature ESOPs• Distributions, Payout Strategies• Executive Comp issues/ways to set up• Rebalance and Segregating• Financing and Refinancing loansCommunication & Ownership Culture Topics• Employee Motivation and Education – WhatWorks, Engaged Employees, CommunicateValuation, Presentation Ideas, YoungerEmployees• Communication Committee – Panel• Building the Culture• Management and Running an ESOP Company,Leadership in an ESOP Company• Open Book Management• Unions and ESOPs Working Together• How to Hire for Owners• Generation ESOP – discussing on how youreach the different generations to be engagedin an ownership culture• Employee Ownership Month – more than justa party, what makes an engaging andimpactful EOM• Culture, what do we look like, what do wewant to look like?• How to get a legislative member to visit yourcompany