What does it mean to work for an employee-owned company? At TSP, Inc., it means more than having a financial stake in the firm. It means a personal investment in our work, our teammates, and the communities we serve.
As a 100% employee-owned architecture, engineering, and planning firm, TSP gives employees an opportunity to share in the firm’s success.
But the benefits of ownership extend beyond the financial. They are also be found in the accountability we bring and the opportunities we create by working toward shared goals.
Those benefits look a little different to everyone. For some, ownership offers a tangible connection between the firm’s performance and their financial future. For others, it reinforces a sense of purpose or strengthens their connection to everyday work.
For TSP’s employee-owners, ownership is more than a company structure or a retirement benefit. It’s a personal experience shaped by a shared investment in the firm’s future.
What employee ownership means to our team
Each team member brings a unique perspective to ownership, shaped by their experiences and responsibilities.
For Director of Practice Kelli Osterloo, ownership means seeing the impact of our work firsthand. Knowing that TSP’s projects make a difference in people’s lives, and that she shares in the firm’s success, motivates her to do her best work.
Architectural Graduate Bailey Wanner looks beyond her own responsibilities to recognize how her contributions help the company and her teammates succeed. It’s not only about doing your part; it’s also about celebrating the accomplishments of the people around you.
For Electrical Engineer Carly Nord, ownership includes a tangible financial benefit. Understanding the ESOP process helps her see how the firm’s performance connects to the benefits employees can earn through their ownership stake.
That investment also brings a sense of accountability. Principal | Architect Von Petersen sees ownership as a reminder that everyday decisions matter and that doing the right thing makes a difference.
For Design Technician Chris Kenow, ownership brings an added sense of pride in how we serve clients and contribute our expertise to each project.
These perspectives illustrate how employee ownership can influence more than a team member’s financial future. It encourages collaboration and reinforces the connection between individual contributions and the success of the larger team.
Employee ownership doesn’t change why we do our work. It adds another reason to care about how we do it — and what we accomplish together.
Hear more from our employee-owners! Watch this video as TSP team members describe what employee ownership means to them.
Ownership in action
For employee ownership to be meaningful, team members need to understand how the firm is performing and how their contributions fit into its success. At TSP, transparency and regular communication help make that connection.
Brenda Moore
“When the entire team is aware of TSP’s strategies, financial health, and performance metrics, we can make informed decisions and act in the best interest of our firm,” Chief Financial Officer Brenda Moore said.
Through quarterly all-team meetings and monthly financial infographics, TSP gives team members regular insight into the firm’s performance and progress toward its goals.
“We want our team to understand that we all share in the success together; we are the owners,” Moore said.
That shared understanding can shape how team members see their roles and approach their work.
For newer employees, ownership can also bring a different understanding of what it means to be part of a team. Structural Engineer-in-Training Emily Maile says being an employee-owner has given her a greater sense of purpose and drive.
Rather than simply completing a job, she wants to do her best to help the company and her teammates succeed. Ownership encourages her to take pride in her work, hold herself accountable, and collaborate with colleagues who share the same goals.
Emily Maile
“Coming straight out of college, I didn’t even know employee-owned companies existed,” Maile said. “Since joining the team, I’ve learned that it is not just a retirement plan, but a way to motivate the team and ensure everyone has a direct impact on the company.”
Ultimately, employee ownership connects a financial stake in the firm with a broader sense of purpose in addition to accountability and opportunity.
At TSP, every employee has a stake in the firm’s future and an opportunity to help shape it through our collective efforts and the success we achieve together.
