Eric Lothrop, VP at Benoure Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, takes us through his 17-year journey from roughing in houses to overseeing custom residential construction. Eric opens up about finding his passion for mechanicals, climbing inside 2.5 million BTU boilers before transitioning to small residential systems, and discovering his true calling: building something from nothing using just blueprints and 2x4s. He explains the four pillars of sustainable success in the trades—quality, accountability, honesty, and dependability—and shares his advice for young people entering the field and what it takes to be a good student in the skilled trades (willingness to be uncomfortable tops the list). Plus, learn why Eric loves to coach, something he learned from his incredible parents, who are still volunteering as adaptive skiing coaches in their late-70s.

Edited by Mateusz Złakowski

Not many people have stewarded century-old companies. We're lucky that Mike Jablonski, former owner-operator of Whitney Brothers, is one of them. He takes us through 121 years of American manufacturing—from making wooden toys with hydro-powered equipment to today's manufacturing methods. Mike shares the remarkable story of how Whitney Brothers survived the Great Depression, world wars, devastating fires, and the declaration of pine as a "strategic wartime material" that forced a permanent pivot to hardwoods. He opens up about the weight of stewarding a century-old legacy and the influence of technical tours to Germany and Italy. Mike reveals how Whitney Brothers reinvented itself from commodity toys to institutional-grade furniture, explains the company's unique "Whitney-ize it" product development process, and shares an emotional moment with a founder's descendent. Whether you're interested in manufacturing, family business succession, or what it really takes to make a company last over a century, Mike's insights on teamwork, innovation, and pride in workmanship offer timeless lessons.

Edited by Mateusz Złakowski

Meet Grace Talamini, the multi-talented coordinator at Benoure Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning. She manages social media, schedules service, and is one of Benoure's leading ESOP enthusiasts. After realizing she wasn't "a school person," Grace moved from Massachusetts to Vermont, landing at Benoure, where she found a company with better benefits than most in the trades. From being so nervous she couldn't order pizza to confidently leading biweekly ESOP meetings, Grace opens up about the challenges and rewards of stewarding employee ownership in year one, why high standards in craftsmanship naturally translate to ownership mindset, and how she's using TikTok to recruit the next generation of technicians. Plus, hear about the ESOP barbecue featuring ax throwing, the power of that second annual statement, dressage (think: horse ballet meets Roman cavalry), and Grace's Mount Rushmore of Taylor Swift albums.

Edited by Mateusz Złakowski

Kim Dinwiddie, EV's VP of Human Resources, returns to break down what's happening in the world of healthcare. Many companies are facing the highest cost increases in 15 years, and Kim explains why and what EV is doing to fight back. Instead of just accepting whatever healthcare "happens to us," EV has spent the past year finding partners and innovative tools to help employee owners get better care at lower costs. Kim introduces Optavise, a new healthcare advocate service launching in 2026, and shares tips for open enrollment season, explains why preventive care matters, and reveals how one employee owner saved $70 on a single prescription. This episode is essential listening for anyone who wants to start making informed decisions that benefit both their wallet and their wellbeing.

Edited by Mateusz Złakowski

Show notes and transcripts on our website at empowered.ventures. Questions? Comments? Leave us a message at (317) 643-2383.

Sam Marion, Sales Director for Apparel & Home Décor at TVF, shares her unexpected journey into the textile industry—starting with her mom's women's biker apparel company and childhood travels to fabric mills in Cambodia and Taiwan. From being a picky eater who learned to embrace new experiences at age 13, to learning from legends at TVF, Sam's story is one of learning and seizing opportunities. She opens up about the mentors who shaped her career, her transition to leadership, and how becoming a mom shifted her perspective on work and fulfillment. Sam also digs into what makes TVF's ownership culture work—including how the company keeps its core values alive through constant recognition, positive reinforcement, and trying to keep things light.

Edited by Mateusz Złakowski

Show notes and transcripts on our website at empowered.ventures. Questions? Comments? Leave us a message at (317) 643-2383.

EV CEO Chris Fredericks sits down with Casey Grisez, EV's finance and marketing associate, to decode the mystery behind ESOP share prices and valuations. With a background in business valuation, Casey covers the complex process of how companies get valued each year, including the income, market, and asset approaches that determine a share price. And while share price gets all the attention, Chris and Casey discuss that the benefit level (how many shares you accumulate) might matter more for long-term wealth building. The conversation then pivots to EV's ambitious 2030 share price goal and introduces the "ownership in action" framework—four practical ways every employee owner can impact their company's success through growth, innovation, service, and enjoyment.

Edited by Mateusz Złakowski

Show notes and transcripts on our website at empowered.ventures. Questions? Comments? Leave us a message at (317) 643-2383.

Meet Dennis Casey, Manufacturing Engineer at Firstar Precision. In his journey from Navy Man to machinist to engineer, he has lived the power of mentorship and the fun of continuous learning. From starting out on 1940s manual machines to teaching the next generation of machinists, Dennis explains what it takes to master precision grinding and why patience is the key to great teaching. He also opens up about the culture at Firstar, the impact of employee ownership, and his advice for young professionals, which starts with openness to criticism. Stick around for Dennis's favorite ports from around the world, and find out how his orange Shelby GT500 landed a starring role in a movie with Andy Garcia and Marshawn Lynch.

Edited by Mateusz Złakowski

Dan McGowan is a modern-day Renaissance man: content manager at TVF, co-host of the Textile Nerd podcast, broadcaster, roller derby enthusiast, and employee owner. He joins us to answer how he transitioned from a career in broadcasting to the world of textiles, and why joining an ESOP company became a game-changer for his financial future. He shares what makes employee ownership culture so special and why transparency about financial outcomes creates the ultimate team mentality. And don't miss Dan's Indiana women's sports Mount Rushmore, featuring a WNBA legend still doing amazing things in the community and a roller derby champion you've probably never heard of.

Edited by Mateusz Złakowski

Show notes and transcripts on our website at empowered.ventures. Questions? Comments? Leave us a message at (317) 643-2383.