Episode Summary:

For today's episode of The Alternative Exit Podcast, Andy Farquharson is joined by Beth Spong, CEO of Dean's Beans Organic Coffee. She had a career working in a non-profit and a respected leader in employee ownership.

In this episode, she shared her journey working with Dean's Beans Organic Coffee and how she helped the company on its transition from being a founder-led company to an employee-owned company via co-op. She also talked about the challenges of leading change in a company, and the response of employees with their transition to employee ownership. Listen and enjoy the show!

Key Takeaways:
- Helping Dean's Beans' transition from being founder-led to employee-owned via co-op
- Preserving the mission and looking after employees in the local community
- How to know if a company is ready for the ownership transition?
- What do bylaws mean in a co-op?
- Periodic opportunities for people to question decisions
- The biggest challenge as a leader in supporting and guiding change in a company
- Employees' response to their transition to being an owner
- Beth's favorite resource on employee ownership

About Beth Spong

Beth Spong is the CEO of Dean's Beans Organic Coffee. She has a career in non-profits and is a respected leader in employee ownership. Beth has overseen the transition of this business from founder-led to an employee-owned model and as a co-op. As a permanent voice in employee ownership, she contributed to reshaping the narrative of how worker empowerment and shared governance can transform the work environment for her people.

Connect with Beth Spong:
- Website: https://deansbeans.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeansBeansOrganicFairTradeCoffee
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deansbeanscoffee

Connect with Andy Farquharson:
- LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyfarquharson/
- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/andyfarq
- Website - https://abettermonday.me/
- Email - andy@bettermonday.me