Employee Ownership Foundation Leadership
The EOF is governed by an independent national Board of Trustees, eight of whom make up the Foundation’s Executive Committee, the primary decision-making body for the organization. The Board is led by an elected Chairman who serves no more than two consecutive two year terms. The EOF staff is led by a President, who is a non-voting member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees.
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
Cindy Turcot
Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees
Cindy Turcot is President at Gardener’s Supply Company, a direct mail, web and retail company with 4 locations in Vermont and 1 location in NH. Gardener's Supply has had an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) since 1987 and is 100% ESOP owned. Cindy was a key player in the transition from the Founder to the ESOP and is a driving force for a strong employee ownership culture. Gardener’s Supply was the national “Company of the Year” through the ESOP Association in 2018. In addition, Gardener’s Supply is a B Corporation and in 2019 won “Best for Workers” from the Best for the World list in the B Corp community. She is Chair of the Employee Ownership Foundation, past Chair of the national ESOP Association, Treasurer (and past Chair) of the Vermont Employee Ownership Center, past founding Board of Director of the Employee Ownership Expansion Network (EOX) and serves as a Board of Director for two ESOP owned companies.
James J. Bonham
President
James Bonham serves as the President of the Employee Ownership Foundation and the President & CEO of The ESOP Association. He is a recognized expert in public policy, government advocacy, and executive leadership, with more than 25 years of experience as a high level government official, advisor, advocate, and business leader.
Before joining the Foundation, James served for eight years as Chairman of the highly regarded Federal Public Policy and Government Relations practice at Manatt, Phelps, & Phillips, LLP, a nationally recognized law and business consulting firm. In his practice, Bonham advised national trade associations, non-profits, and Fortune 100 businesses.
During more than a decade of public service, he held multiple senior staff positions in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives where he was frequently cited in the media as one of the 50 most influential aides of either political party.
Bonham has served in leadership positions for several non-profits. In addition to the EOF, he is currently serving or has served on the Board of Directors for the California State Society, the National Maritime Heritage Foundation, the Robert T. Matsui Foundation, and Per Scholas.
His passion for shared capitalism springs from a family commitment to employee ownership: His grandfather had a personal and professional relationship with James Cash (J.C.) Penney, based partly on a shared business philosophy. One of their beliefs was granting a form of ownership to employees in the small mercantile businesses they ran. Bonham is proud to carry on today his family tradition of expanding employee ownership.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Gary Shorman
Executive Committee Member
Chairman & CEO
Eagle Communications
Brian Ippensen
Executive Committee Member
President
TI TRUST Inc.
David Fitz-Gerald
Executive Committee Member
Vice President and CFO
Carris Reels, Inc.
Karen L. Ellis
Executive Committee Member
EVP, Human Resources
Superior Farms/Transhumance Holding Company Inc.
Missy Pieske
Executive Committee Member
Executive Assistant & Meeting Planner
The Walman Optical Company
Mark R. Lomele
Executive Committee Member
Executive Vice President (Ret.)
Recology
Derrick Vick
Executive Committee Member
VP, CFO
Freedom Industries Inc.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Merri Ash
Sr. Vice President, Fiduciary Trust Group
TI-Trust, Inc.
Ted Becker
Partner
McDermott, Will & Emery, LLP
Dr. Daphne Berry
Associate Professor of Management
University of Hartford
J. Randall Bishop
Owner
J. Randall Bishop Consulting Services
Spencer A. Coates
President
Houchens Industries, Inc.
Tabitha Croscut
Shareholder
Devine, Millemet & Branch, PA
Lynn DuBois
Partner
ESOP Law Group