The founder of Bob’s Red Mill grain company sounds like an interesting dude. Having retreated to a seminary to learn how to read the Bible in Hebrew & Greek, he stumbled across a mill for sale. “I bought the thing and it changed my entire life.”
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Discussion 3 comments
Bob Moore was a local hero here in Portland. I saw him speak a few years ago at a conference about how, rather than sell the company to the highest bidder, he transferred the company on his 81st birthday in 2010 to his 209 employees using an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Under this arrangement, the company gradually bought out the founders and over time, fully transferred it to the employees, who fully vest after three years.
Since then, the company has nearly tripled in size. I wish more founders thought like this.
I'm proud that Bob Moore is from Portland. He lived his faith, didn't sell out, and transferred his wealth to the workers. He will be missed!
Making your company 100% employee-owned because "The Bible says to do unto others as you would have them do unto you"? This is the version of Christianity that capitalism desperately needs.
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