NABE CHICAGO Event

Three 1776 Economic Creations 250 Years Later:

1.Capitalism. 2.The American Revolution. 3.ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) Companies.

July 30, 2026, 3:30pm – 5:30pm
Location: The Co-op
5751 S. Woodlawn Ave, Chicago, IL 60637

Cost: Members Free; Non-Members $25

  1. Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations introduced Capitalism in 1776.

  2. Samuel Adams is the recognized driver behind the 13 North American colonies banding together, first with The Boston Tea Party, then with the signing of The Declaration of Independence in 1776 that culminated with The Constitution of the United States of America being crafted in 1787.

    • Samuel Adams worked closely with George Washington, the USA’s first President, during the Revolutionary War when Washington served as Commander in Chief.

3. Benjamin Franklin was busy, too, founding in 1776 the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) that has enabled employees to be stock owners in the company of their employment.

How have these 3 concepts impacted each other—and the USA economy—throughout the past 250 years and all the way to today?

Come listen to:

  • An ECONOMIC HISTORIAN (in process), discussing how capitalism and US democracy have influenced each other.

  • Mary Josephs, Founder of ESOP advisory firm, Verit Advisors, reviewing the impact of ESOPs on the development of US capitalism and democracy.

NOTE: Books on Adam Smith, Samuel Adams, and George Washington are available for sale online and at the event.  Mary Josephs’s article can also be read in advance here.

REGISTER NOW BELOW.

Note: Event ticket is issued upon payment confirmation. You should receive an email with your ticket within 48 hours.

Bios

Mary Josephs is a recognized authority on family and private company finance, governance and employee stock ownership plans. She has 30-plus years of experience working with hundreds of strategic alternatives for middle-market companies.

Before starting Verit Advisors in 2009, she founded LaSalle National Bank’s ESOP group and later led Bank of America-Merrill Lynch’s ESOP Solutions Group.

Mary is a director of Manson Construction, Performance Contracting, and Proponent, Inc and Conscious Capitalism. Ms. Josephs was selected as one of the Most Influential Women in Mid-Market M&A by Mergers & Acquisition publication in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. Chicago Crain’s recognized Ms. Josephs as a Notable Entrepreneur in 2019 and Private Board Directors magazine named Mary a Director to Watch in 2019. Mary has proudly served on ESCA’s advisory board for 20 years. She is also a lifetime member of the ESOP Association, and 40-year member of the National Center for Employee Ownership.

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