This October, Commonwealth celebrated an annual company-wide tradition: Employee Ownership Month. Founded in 1982 by the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Association, the month-long celebration highlights the many benefits of employee-owned companies and the impact they have on our communities.

Throughout the month, Commonwealth’s Employee Ownership Committee facilitated a series of events and initiatives based on their core values of Community Service, Wellbeing, Education, and Social, with the overall theme of Mardi Gras.

To kick off the month, employee-owners made donations to 5 For the Fight, a Utah-based nonprofit that raises money for cancer research. Together, we raised over $3,000 to aid in the fight against cancer. We also kicked off a company-wide door decorating contest, which saw incredible participation across all our locations. Congratulations to Jacob Hancock at Rydalch Electric, Inc., the overall winner!

Throughout the month, the Employee Ownership Committee facilitated several events to promote our employees’ wellbeing and further education. During the second week of October, our teams each participated in a basketball shootout contest, with the winners at each office receiving a prize. Later in the month, employee-owners were invited to attend webinars and in-person meetings to learn more about defensive driving, 401(k) plans, and an in-depth look at ESOP share allocation.

To wrap up Employee Ownership Month, each of our locations hosted its own Mardi Gras party—complete with Mardi-Gras-themed food, decorations, and fun activities. It was a great opportunity to spend time with coworkers and celebrate our employee-ownership!