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PULLMAN, Washington—Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories has been named ESOP Company of the Year by the Northwest Chapter of The ESOP Association, which includes more than 133 companies and service providers.

This award is given to companies that exhibit a strong dedication to employee ownership through educating their employee owners and others about the benefits of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOP) to employees, communities and the economy.

“SEL's dedication, innovation and commitment to the ESOP culture and business model are a great testament to the power of employee ownership,” said Janeece Higgins, The ESOP Association Northwest Chapter president. “The work they have done, both locally and nationally, to promote ESOPs will benefit all employee owners."

The award was announced during the Northwest Chapter’s 2021 Spring Virtual Conference last week. The ESOP Association educates about and advocates for employee ownership. SEL has been a member of The ESOP Association for more than a decade. The Northwest Chapter is made up of companies and professional service providers in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.  

“We find real value in being part of this association and are truly honored to receive this award,” said Joey Nestegard, SEL chief business and finance officer. “It’s great to be part of a network of so many excellent employee-owned companies and to be able to share ideas and successes that benefit us all.” 

SEL became employee owned in 1994 and transitioned to 100 percent employee ownership in 2009. 

This award puts SEL in the running for The ESOP Association’s National Company of the Year Award, which will be presented in June.