Mary Ann Beyster, Foundation for Enterprise Development

Many individuals in North America struggle for opportunity and economic prosperity. Separately, many firms struggle with the challenges of sustainability. We the Owners, an award-winning documentary about companies that share ownership and responsibility and define success beyond shareholder value, assesses whether the employee ownership-model can provide a solution to both challenges. Employee-owners and founders from New Belgium Brewing, Namasté Solar, and DPR Construction tell their stories of founding companies, expanding locations, preparing for succession, hiring during rapid growth, and addressing layoffs. These real-world stories provide viewers with a perspective on what Corporate North America might look like if more employees were empowered through ownership in their companies. Can employee ownership bring the inspiration in a time when responsible business solutions are sought in North America and the world? Following screening a portion of the film, there will be a discussion on the practice and research of shared ownership models with the film's Executive Producer, Mary Ann Beyster.