March 26, 2026
Pictured left to right; Raleigh Mayor, Janet Cowell and S&ME employees: Kelley Simons, Gail Kluever, Stewart Laney, Ashley Buck, and Wes Lowder
S&ME was proud to host the City of Raleigh’s official press conference announcing Employee Ownership Raleigh on March 25, a new initiative designed to help local business owners explore succession planning and employee ownership as a long‑term strategy for business continuity and community impact. The event took place at S&ME’s Raleigh headquarters, highlighting our own experience as a 100% employee‑owned company and our role as a local example of the program’s mission in action.
S&ME President and CEO, Stewart Laney shares remarks about employee ownership at S&ME
Employee Ownership Raleigh connects Raleigh‑based business owners with free, expert guidance to help them plan for ownership transitions, keep businesses locally rooted, and preserve jobs and community wealth. The initiative is part of the national Worker Ownership Cities program led by the Democracy at Work Institute and is delivered locally through a partnership with the City of Raleigh and the North Carolina Employee Ownership Center.
The press conference included a formal announcement of the initiative by Raleigh’s mayor, Janet Cowell, along with insights from program partners on how employee ownership can support long‑term business stability, workforce retention, and economic resilience.
Attendees also heard directly from S&ME’s President and CEO, Stewart Laney, who shared how employee ownership has strengthened our culture, supported sustainable growth, and aligned long‑term success with employee investment. Check out a video testimonial from our team.
“As owners, we take great pride in our work because the firm’s reputation is our reputation. We invest personally in the firm’s success, knowing that the value we create stays with the people contributing to it; protecting our quality and sustaining our long‑term commitment,” Stewart shares.
Speakers pictured left to right: Zen Trenholm (Democracy at Work Institute), James Watts (Weaver Street Market), Stewart Laney (S&ME), Illa Burbank (North Carolina Employee Ownership Center), Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell, and Dr. Darlene Deberry (NCGrowth – UNC Chapel Hill)
Employee ownership is increasingly recognized as a proven model for business continuity, particularly as business owners approach retirement or consider exit strategies. According to the City of Raleigh, employee‑owned firms help preserve institutional knowledge, support fair‑market exits for owners, and contribute to stronger financial performance and productivity. North Carolina is already home to more than 140 employee‑owned businesses, demonstrating the growing impact of this model statewide.
By hosting the launch of Employee Ownership Raleigh, S&ME was honored to support a program that aligns closely with our own values and experience. S&ME’s 100% S-Corp employee‑owned structure reflects a long‑term commitment to its people, its clients, and the Raleigh community, principles at the heart of this new citywide initiative.
To learn more about Employee Ownership Raleigh and available resources for business owners, visit the City of Raleigh’s program page: Employee Ownership Raleigh.
