CAGE Luncheon Meeting - Employee Stock Ownership Trust, Alternate To Sale or Merger of Consulting Engineering Companies
2/11/2026 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM MST
Location: PPA Event Center, 2105 Decatur St., Denver, CO 80044
There are currently 59 spots remaining out of 60
Event Description
EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP TRUST
Alternate To Sale or Merger of Consulting Engineering Companies
Presenter: Narender Kumar, P.E. F. ACEC
When Chen and Associates, Inc. was sold to Huntington Holdings, a Wall Street investment firm, in 1988, employees lost control of very successful firm and what followed was loss of employment, memories and a way of life. That also propelled me to start Kumar and Associates where the “refugees” of Chen found a new home.
I was determined not to let that happen again, especially when I inevitably grow old and retire. In 2000, K+A opened ESOP Trust which allows employees to own shares of the company at no cost. ESOP is qualified, defined benefit plan similar to 401(k) retirement plan, which is totally funded by the company. Depending on the corporation type, the discretionary contributions to the ESOP can be taken off the profits of the company reducing your tax liability.
Depending on how you manage the trust, the holdings can grow into substantial amount, that can allow the original owners and senior professionals to cash out their stock. That allows the company to continue and have employee owners/managers who work harder for the growth and welfare of the company without sale or merger, as is commonly the case. In the presentation, I will discuss the formation, management and growth of K+A with the help of ESOP trust. It has allowed the next generation of employee owners to call it home.
