ESOP Radio
ESOP Radio is the official ESOP podcast—where real stories of growth, succession, and long-term wealth building are told.
Hosted by Trevor Gilmore, CEO of Menke, and Ben Spadt, ESOP Investment Banking Consultant at Menke, the show features conversations with business owners, executives, and advisors who have navigated employee ownership as a strategic path forward. Episodes explore why companies choose ESOPs, how those decisions shape culture and continuity, and what it takes to build durable, long-term ownership structures.
Alongside real-world stories, ESOP Radio examines the practical realities behind successful ESOPs, including fiduciary responsibilities, valuation, transaction structure, and regulatory considerations.
ESOP Radio is educational in nature and designed for listeners seeking a clear, grounded understanding of employee ownership and long-term succession planning.
Episodes
13 episodes
ESOP vs Private Equity: Why This $XXM Contractor Chose Employee Ownership
What happens when a fast-growing contractor reaches a crossroads: private equity… or employee ownership?In this episode of ESOP Radio, Trevor Gilmore and Ben Spade sit down with Dave Jaeger, CEO of Legacy Utility Group, to unpack the rea...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 13
•
39:46
ESOP Boot Camp, Part 10: What Employees Actually Experience in an ESOP
What do employees actually experience in an ESOP?In Part 10 of the ESOP Boot Camp series, Trevor Gilmore and Ben Spadt explore what employee ownership looks like from the inside — beyond transaction mechanics and tax advantages.
•
Season 1
•
Episode 12
•
6:21
ESOP Boot Camp, Part 9: Life After the ESOP Transaction
What actually happens after the ESOP transaction closes?In Part 9 of the ESOP Boot Camp series, Trevor Gilmore and Ben Spadt walk through what life looks like after an ESOP is implemented — from the employee rollout to the annual ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 11
•
8:37
ESOP Boot Camp, Part 8: Who Works for Whom in an ESOP Transaction?
Who works for you — and who works for the ESOP — during a transaction?In Part 8 of the ESOP Boot Camp series, Trevor Gilmore and Ben Spadt break down the key players involved in an ESOP transaction and clarify who represents whom ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 10
•
11:25
ESOP Boot Camp, Part 7: How an ESOP Transaction Actually Works
How does an ESOP transaction actually work from start to finish?In Part 7 of the ESOP Boot Camp series, Trevor Gilmore explains the step-by-step process of executing an ESOP transaction once valuation, structure, and financing hav...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 9
•
5:13
ESOP Boot Camp, Part 6: ESOP Valuation Explained Simply
How is an ESOP valuation actually determined?In Part 6 of the ESOP Boot Camp series, Trevor Gilmore and Ben Spadt break down ESOP valuation in simple, practical terms. This episode explains how fair market value works in an ESOP t...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 8
•
11:26
ESOP Boot Camp, Part 5: How ESOPs Are Financed
How are ESOP transactions actually financed?In Part 5 of the ESOP Boot Camp series, Trevor Gilmore, CEO of Menke, explains the two primary ways ESOPs are financed: outside bank financing and seller financing—and how ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 7
•
5:48
ESOP Boot Camp, Part 4: The ESOP Tax Advantage Explained
What are the real tax advantages of an ESOP—and how do they actually work in practice?In Part 4 of the ESOP Boot Camp series, Trevor Gilmore, CEO of Menke, and Ben Spadt, ESOP Investment Banking Consultant at Menke, break down the...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 6
•
19:20
ESOP Boot Camp, Part 3: Why Owners Choose ESOPs — and Why They Don’t
Why do some business owners choose an ESOP—and why do others decide it’s not the right solution?In Part 3 of the ESOP Boot Camp series, Trevor Gilmore, CEO of Menke, and Ben Spadt, ESOP Investment Banking Consultant at Menke, walk...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 5
•
36:23
ESOP Boot Camp, Part 2: Is Your Company a Good ESOP Candidate?
How do you know if an ESOP is actually a good fit for your company?In Part 2 of the ESOP Boot Camp series, Trevor Gilmore, CEO of Menke, and Ben Spadt, ESOP Investment Banking Consultant at Menke, walk through the key questions bu...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 4
•
22:24
ESOP Boot Camp, Part 1: What Is an ESOP? How Employee Ownership Actually Works
What exactly is an Employee Stock Ownership Plan—and how does it actually work?In this episode of ESOP Radio, Trevor Gilmore, CEO of Menke, and Ben Spadt, ESOP Investment Banking Consultant at Menke, kick off the ESOP Boot Camp...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 3
•
14:02
Why Brown Construction Chose a 100% ESOP Over a Third-Party Sale
What does it really feel like to sell your company to an ESOP—especially at 100% ownership?In this episode of ESOP Radio, Trevor Gilmore and Ben Spadt sit down with Ron Brown, CEO and former majority owner of Brown Const...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 2
•
48:24
Episode 1: The Top 10 Questions to Ask Your ESOP Advisor
What should business owners ask before implementing an ESOP?In this first episode of ESOP Radio, Trevor Gilmore, CEO of Menke, and Ben Spadt, ESOP Investment Banking Consultant at Menke, walk through the top ten questions f...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 1
•
26:31