Banking & Finance  October 6, 2016

Brinkman Construction goes 100 percent employee-owned

FORT COLLINS — Brinkman Construction announced on Thursday that the company has become 100 percent employee-owned through creation of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, or ESOP.

Cofounders Kevin and Paul Brinkman and company president Jim Ciesla sold 100 percent of their ownership to the plan.

Paul Brinkman, the company’s CEO, said Thursday that he couldn’t disclose the amount the ESOP paid or specific details of the way the ESOP will work. But the company’s core leadership will stay in place.

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ESOPs can vary in structure. But essentially, the ESOP owns the company, and employees are allocated a certain number of shares each year based on the value of the company and employees’ individual salaries. The shares are redeemable when employees leave the firm.

ESOPs are often seen as a way to increase employee engagement, and they’ve been popular locally of late in the craft-beer industry, with New Belgium Brewing and Odell Brewing in Fort Collins and Left Hand Brewing in Longmont all going the ESOP route in recent years.

“It’s really a great attraction and retention tool,” Paul Brinkman said. “If we can get top talent, we can provide a high level of service to our clients and continue to innovate.”

Brinkman Construction was founded in 2005. The Brinkmans’ overarching company, Brinkman Partners, also provides real estate, development and management services. But Brinkman Construction, an S-Corp., was the only portion eligible for an ESOP.

FORT COLLINS — Brinkman Construction announced on Thursday that the company has become 100 percent employee-owned through creation of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, or ESOP.

Cofounders Kevin and Paul Brinkman and company president Jim Ciesla sold 100 percent of their ownership to the plan.

Paul Brinkman, the company’s CEO, said Thursday that he couldn’t disclose the amount the ESOP paid or specific details of the way the ESOP will work. But the company’s core leadership will stay in place.

ESOPs can vary in structure. But essentially, the ESOP owns the company, and employees are allocated a certain number of shares each year…

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