Business View Magazine - Dec 2023

ESCA’S PRIMARY METHOD OF ADVOCACY With there being a law protecting S-Corporations from being ousted from the ESOP structure, it’s easy to think that ESCA shouldn’t really have much work on its hands in terms of ESOP advocacy. However, according to ESCA Executive Director Noelle Montaño, that misconception is exactly why ESCA works so hard to consistently provide ESOP- owned S-Corporations a voice. “There [needs] to be a group in Washington, D.C., that will make sure that Congress doesn’t change this new structure because what Congress creates, they can certainly take away,” Montaño explains. The heart of ESCA’s mission lies in advocating for the preservation and enhancement of S-Corp ESOPs. This goes beyond a legislative win; it’s about fostering a community committed to the principles of employee ownership. As a result, ESCA is constantly on the hunt for new information and credible collaborations that can help them in their endeavors. For example, the organization conducts significant research and studies in conjunction with the National Center of Employee Ownership (NCEO) as well as other reputable economists on an annual basis. These studies tend to focus on showing how employee-owned businesses take care of their employee-owners, the types of benefits they offer them, as well as how they compare to other businesses in the same industries that aren’t employee-owned. “We need all of this data to help tell our story on Capitol Hill to policymakers,” Montaño explains, pointing out that ESCA’s studies are designed to provide answers that not only provide clarity 136 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 10, ISSUE 12