L-r: Chris Paxson, Zach Gifford, Art Singelyn, and Derek Stocking.

This incredible honor recognizes an outstanding ESOP Company committed to employee ownership.

DES MOINES, Iowa — The IA/NE Chapter of The ESOP Association named LBS, a 100% employee-owned company based in Des Moines, IA as the 2023 Employee Owned Company of the Year.

This award is given to an ESOP company that shows a strong commitment to employee ownership through its involvement with The ESOP Association and its programs, its clear communication with employees, and its commitment to The ESOP Association’s vision of endorsing employee participation, wealth creation, and individual dignity and worth.

The review committee was inspired by LBS’ dedication to employee ownership culture and impressed with the examples they set for the ESOP community to follow.

LBS employee-owners Chris Paxson, Zach Gifford, Art Singelyn, and Derek Stocking received this award on behalf of LBS while attending the IA/NE ESOP Chapter's 2023 Winter Conference in Omaha, NE on March 1, 2023.

LBS became an ESOP in 2014 and is 100% employee owned. “We are very proud to receive the Employee Owned Company of the Year award! It says to our community, our customers, and most of all our employee-owners that we are committed to doing the right thing. By this I mean we pride ourselves on working together to make our company environment one that is safe, welcoming, rewarding, interesting and when appropriate, a heckuva lot of fun!” said Rob Mauritz, President and CEO of LBS.

LBS is now entered into the National Award competition for National Employee Owned Company of the Year.