ABOUT CARRIS REELS 100% Employee Owned Carris Reels is a company of employee owners. One hundred percent of the company’s stock is held in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), which is a defined contribution retirement plan and thus a long-term benefit. We’ve developed a culture in which broad based employee-ownership is assumed to be normal, rather than extraordinary. Shared ownership requires a unique balance of cooperation, understanding and accountability. Equitable pay and above average benefits are part of the equation, as are monthly incentives and annual profit-sharing bonuses. Each year, the stock value provides a measure of our long-term success. Employee-owners understand that thoroughly satisfied customers and operational excellence are paramount for employee ownership to realize its full potential. We recognize that there is a spiritual component to our organization in addition to an emotional element. Our employees were hardworking and dedicated long before the company became employee-owned. We “look out for each other,” which has dramatically improved our safety performance, and the Golden Rule serves as our code of conduct. Many long-term employees will tell you that they have stayed at Carris Reels so long because they “belong here.” We welcome employee-owners’ input in a variety of ways: Internally, we refer to Carris Reels as “employee-owned and governed.” We have implemented a system for involving employee-owners throughout the company in decision making. Whenever possible, we push for decision making to be done by those impacted by a decision. Corporate Steering Committee (CSC). The CSC is made up of management and non-management employee-owners who are dedicated to a wide range of issues and is primarily responsible for our communications and decisions regarding governance, policies, benefits and culture. The CSC also serves management and the Board in an advisory capacity. Non-management employees serve as ESOP Trustees. Since January 2014, non-management employees have served on the Board of Directors. Monthly Employee-Owner’s Meetings. Every month, each location meets to review previous months financial statements, safety initiatives, projects, and anything anyone wants to open for discussion. Since 2008, Carris Reels has been 100% Employee Owned What drives Employee-Ownership? The ESOP is the vehicle for employee ownership at Carris Reels. Continuing this analogy into the future, we are never completely “done.” Employees are owners and are as committed as they can be, however we expect much more to fully develop the entrepreneurial spirits within our employee-owners. We support the education and research activities of the Employee Ownership Foundation at a leadership level. The Carris donation per employee-owner is among the highest in the employee-ownership community. In Recent years, the company has donated $10,000 per year to the Employee Ownership Foundation. Our employee-owners have actively participated in the grassroots lobbying model outlined in The ESOP Association’s lobbying kit, and the company’s management is a determined supporter of the ESCA’s lobbying efforts also. We’re a net promoter of the NCEO and utilizes its survey services to continuously improve the company culture. The company’s CFO, David Fitz-Gerald, served as the chair of the ESOP Association in 2017-2019, as well as New England Chapter president 2009-2010, and was recognized nationally as chapter officer of the year in 2011. In 2017 he delivered the keynote speech at the Vermont Employee Ownership Center’s annual conference, and he is also a past member of the board of the VEOC. One of the most valuable membership benefits is developing relationships with other employee owned companies and bringing back what we learn from these trendsetting organizations to our company. Realizing how much we benefit from employee-ownership at Carris Reels, and how much we have gained from our interaction with other employee-owned companies we strive to give back to the ESOP community and help other companies become employee-owned. The ESOP Association’s vision statement says “We believe that employee ownership improves American competitiveness…that is increases productivity through greater employee participation in the workplace, that it strengthens our free enterprise economy and that it will maximize human potential by enhancing the self-worth, dignity, and well-being of our people…” “…Therefore, we envision an America where employee-ownership is widely recognized as a catalyst for economic prosperity where the great majority of employees own stock in the companies they work…and where employee-ownership enables companies to share in the wealth they help create.” Learn More About How ESOP’s Work What Is an ESOP? ESOPs in the U.S. Infographics by National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) Carris Reels is proud to be one of many companies that exemplify employee-ownership in America. Memberships Affiliations & Foundations Supported E The ESOP Association E The Employee Ownership Foundation E National Center for Employee Ownership (NCE) E Vermont Employee Ownership Center (VEOC) Awards and Achievements The ESOP Association:  ESOP Company of the Year, 2008  1st Place, Annual Awards for Communications Excellence (AACE), Printed Materials, 2010  2nd Place, (AACE), External ESOP Category, 2010  2nd Place, (AACE), Special Events & Promotions Category, 2013  2nd Place, (AACE), ESOP Advertising Category, 2013  1st Place, (AACE), One Special Event for companies with more than 250 employees, 2018 New England ESOP Association Chapter Awards:  Company of the Year, 2008 National Center of Employee Ownership (NCEO) News and Events Like Carris Reels on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn for the lastest news and events. 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