World of Concrete - WOC 2026
Session #TENWE
Wed, January 21st, 2026 10:30 – 12:00 PM
ESOP Exit Strategy: Unlocking Benefits, Busting Misconceptions and Building Legacy
Session #TENWE
Wed, January 21st, 2026 10:30 – 12:00 PM
Don’t miss this critical session with Gary, where he will reveal why Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) are among the most strategic, tax-advantaged, and legacy-driven exit options available to today’s business owners. With clarity and insight, Gary will walk you through the seven high-impact benefits of an ESOP while cutting through the noise to debunk common misconceptions that often cloud this powerful strategy.
Backed by compelling data and real-world studies, he’ll demonstrate how ESOPs not only build significant long-term wealth for employees but also protect and preserve the owner’s legacy for generations to come. Whether you’re exploring succession planning or simply want to better understand modern exit strategies, this is a session you can’t afford to miss.
Learning Objectives:
- 7 high impact benefits of an ESOP,
- Common misconceptions of this alternative exit strategy
- What's behind powerful , data backed studies that prove how ESOPs build wealth and preserve the shareholder’s legacy
Speaker:
Gary Gray, Former ESOP CEO & Partner with Tenor ESOP Partners, the leader in construction company ESOP transactions
You can also join us at our sponsored event:
Economic Forecast Breakfast with Ed Sullivan & Pierre Villere
Wednesday, January 21
7:45 am - 9:00 am $75 by 12/12/25; $85 after 12/12
And our Booth:
Tuesday 1/19 – 1/21
Central Hall C-6088
Clients
Your Point Of Contact
Gary Gray
ESOP for Contractors was founded by Gary Gray, an experienced ESOP CEO who has firsthand experience in navigating the ESOP transaction, maximizing the value of an Employee Ownership Culture and ultimately achieving nearly 3x growth in five years following the ESOP transaction. At ESOP for Contractors, we have helped owners create exit solutions customized to their business culture, maximizing the valuation at exit, sourced financing for significant liquidity events at closing and successfully executed succession plans on the selling shareholders' timeline.
Gary leads the dedicated construction practice at Tenor ESOP Partners, leaders in the ESOP advisory industry. Tenor’s unique approach focuses on the goals and strategic priorities of the selling shareholder creating extraordinary outcomes through employee ownership. Tenor’s deep construction expertise combined with practical knowledge provides Construction Business Owners a solution to unlock the value you deserve, protect the culture you created, position the business to accelerate growth beyond the transaction and create your long lasting legacy.
Not a contractor? Click here to head to Tenor's site.
"I’m a contractor at heart, I talk contractor language, I know the contracting business and I have the team of professionals to get your deal done."
ESOP For Contractors - A podcast series created to help construction company owners decide whether an ESOP is right for them. Brought to you by Tenor ESOP Partners. Includes real-world examples. Listen on Apple Podcasts:
FREE Guide!
Maximizing the Value of Your Contracting Business with an ESOP: A Financial Perspective
Plus, Your Path to Becoming a Tax-Free Company
What an ESOP will do for you and your contracting business
An ESOP allows you to enjoy a sale that benefits both you and your employees by design, offering significant advantages:
- Protect your culture and team, ensuring your legacy outlives the name on the door
- Retain control post-closing until you’re ready to turn over responsibility
- Highly favorable tax treatment for the business and the shareholders
- Qualified retirement plan that also takes care of the team you’ve built
- Guaranteed fair market value for shareholders
- Flexible and customizable
- An opportunity to build incentive plans for future leaders
- Give your employees the gift of ownership without personal risk, and the ability to affect the value through their efforts on the job or in the office
ESOP FAQ's
What is an ESOP?
An ESOP is a qualified retire plan that invests solely in the stock of the sponsoring company. Over time, employees accumulate shares, which they can cash out upon retirement, departure, or under other circumstances defined by the plan.
How does an ESOP work?
- Formation of the ESOP Trust: A company sets up an ESOP trust, which will purchase the shares on behalf of employees. The company typically funds this trust through future earnings.Financing the ESOP: The ESOP trust can buy shares solely through future earnings or by borrowing money. The company then repays the loan, with tax-deductible contributions, over time.Allocation to Employees: Shares in the ESOP trust are allocated to individual employee accounts, based on total employee compensation.Vesting Schedule: Employees earn the right to the shares over a vesting period, which can range from three to six years or more, incentivizing them to stay with the company.Exit and Distribution: When employees leave the company, retire, or otherwise separate, the company buys their shares back at fair market value, providing them with a significant retirement benefit.
Why should I consider an ESOP for my business?
- Succession Planning: ESOPs provide an orderly and flexible exit strategy for business owners who want to retire without selling to outside buyers.Tax Advantages: ESOPs offer substantial tax benefits. Contributions used to repay the ESOP loan are tax-deductible, and owners selling to an ESOP in a C corporation can defer capital gains taxes under certain conditions. An S-Corp ESOP structure offers substantial tax advantages, including the ability to eliminate or greatly reduce federal income taxes, make deductible contributions to the ESOP, and potentially defer capital gains tax on stock sales through certain strategies.Employee Motivation and Retention: ESOPs can boost employee morale, productivity, and loyalty because employees have a direct stake in the company’s success.Preservation of Company Culture: Selling to an ESOP ensures that the business remains in the hands of those who understand and value its culture, which is often a key concern for founders.Access to Financing: ESOP-owned companies may have better access to financing due to tax advantages, which improve cash flow and make loan repayment more manageable.
What's the role of consultants for an ESOP?
Determining if an ESOP is a Good Fit
Are ESOP for Contractors and Tenor ESOP Partners different companies?
ESOP for Contractors is the dedicated construction practice of Tenor ESOP Partners, who are leaders in the ESOP advisory industry.
Have a different question?
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