Building Better, Together: Celebrating Employee Ownership at Volano Software

October is Employee Ownership Month, and at Volano Software, that’s more than a reason to celebrate; it’s a reminder of what makes our company tick. Being an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) company means that everyone here has a stake in the success of the company – from what we build, to how we serve our clients, and to even where we’re headed next.

As we like to say, this isn’t just a paycheck. It’s our company.

Why Employee Ownership Matters

Employee ownership changes the way people show up to work. And that’s not just fluffy marketing. It bears out in company performance. In fact, according to the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO), employee-owned companies grow about 2.5% faster per year than their non-employee-owned peers. In addition, ESOP participants have retirement accounts that are 2-3 times greater than those in comparable non-ESOP companies.

Firms with employee ownership also report lower turnover and higher resilience during economic downturns.

It’s not just good business. It’s good for people.

“We went the ESOP route for a few reasons. The first is that we wanted a way to reward the employees who had been with us from the early Volano days, and we knew it’d be a great way to recruit employees looking for place to build their career. We also wanted to reassure our loyal customers that we weren’t going anywhere,” said Co-Founder Rod Smith. 

The Volano Way

At Volano, we don’t just write software; we aim to make the work week easier. We build with our clients, not just for them. That mindset of shared responsibility and pride comes straight from our ownership model.

“I’ve been at Volano for more than 10 years, and I’m really grateful that the founders chose to transition Volano to an ESOP,” said Tim Schuman, Director of Sales and member of Volano’s ESOP Committee. “It means a lot that they wanted to give us the opportunity to share in the success of the business, too.”

As employee owners, we get to see the ripple effect of every line of code and every decision. The wins feel more personal, and the challenges are shared because every outcome reflects on all of us. 

Playing the Long Game

We’re building the company we want to work for in ten years, one that prioritizes learning, adaptability, and fun. Ownership means we’re all thinking long-term: shared wins, shared growth, and shared accountability.

“Preserving our culture was important to us, even as we looked to craft an exit strategy as founders,” Co-Founder Don Stavneak said. “We wanted to take a longer-term approach and transition the company to the employees while we continued to work alongside them. I can honestly say that Volano is in very good hands.”

More Than Just a Month

Employee Ownership Month is a great time to recognize what makes ESOPs powerful, but for us, it’s something that drives our day-to-day. Every decision, project, and client relationship is an investment in our future.

“Being part of this team for the past 12 years has been incredible, I’ve grown right alongside the company, both as a professional and as a person,” said Kevin Harvey, Product Owner. “What makes it even more special is knowing that as an ESOP, we’re not just building something great together, we’re building it for each other. Every success we achieve is truly our success, and that sense of shared ownership makes coming to work exciting. I can’t wait to see where we go next.”

Want to See It in Action?

We captured our philosophy, culture, and operating principles in The Source Code, our internal playbook. It’s part manifesto, part roadmap, and entirely Volano.

Because we’re not just building software. We’re building trust, opportunity, and a company worth owning, together.