Keep your business local.

Employee ownership keeps jobs and profits where they belong - in our communities. WACEO helps businesses explore this option, at no cost.

The Washington Center for Employee Ownership (WACEO) empowers business owners, workers, and service providers to build a thriving, employee-owned business sector across the state.

What is employee ownership?

Employee ownership creates a pathway for workers to own a stake in the companies where they work.

Employee ownership aligns employees' interests with the company's performance. When employees have the opportunity to be owners, they take a proactive role in supporting the long-term success and legacy of the business.

Benefits of Employee Ownership

Preserves Local
Jobs & Revenue
Increases Wages
& Benefits
Builds Community
Resiliency
Bridges Asset Gap,
Including Retirement
Sustains
Business Legacy
Strengthens
Local Economies
Improves Company Performance
Explore Ownership Models

What We Do

Hands-On
Guidance

We guide businesses through every stage of employee ownership, from exploration to implementation and beyond, providing expertise and resources that strengthen community resilience, company culture, and employee financial well-being.

Movement
Building

We believe lasting change requires all of us. Our mission brings together government agencies, local businesses, employees, and allies to grow the employee ownership network through coalition building and resource sharing.

Washington Resources

We provide Washington-specific insight on employee ownership: digests on state legislation, funding, regulations, etc. to help you understand how it all affects your transition.

Learn more About WACEO

Explore Broad-Based Employee-Owned Businesses in Washington State

Browse and filter by type of employee ownership.

This map is updated and maintained to the best of our knowledge, but may contain errors. Are we missing a business? Let us know here.

Click the button in the top left (box with arrow) to open the side panel, where you can filter by EO type.

Interested in Learning More?

We're on a mission to create a prosperous, resilient, and growing employee-owned business sector that fuels Washington State's diverse communities and economies.

The process can be complex, but the rewards - for selling owners, employees, and communities alike - can be outstanding. If you have questions, we're here to help.

Contact Us
Patricia Kwan
Patricia firmly believes that employee ownership is a powerful tool for creating inclusive economies offering both..
Learn More
Patricia Kwan
Director
Patricia firmly believes that employee ownership is a powerful tool for creating inclusive economies - offering both holistic employee well-being and organizational effectiveness. Alongside a long career in private industry, Patricia has been actively involved in community and civic engagement, most recently supporting legislative work creating a loan fund to promote housing cooperatives. She aims to leverage her experiences to educate stakeholders, influence policy, and foster a more equitable landscape in Washington and beyond. She holds an MBA from Yale University and a Bachelor's in Environmental Economics and Policy from UC Berkeley. When not working, you can find Patricia traveling and exploring the beautiful forests and mountains of the Pacific Northwest.