RMEOC’s mission is to change the current economic system to a system of inclusion by providing pathways to and advocating for employee ownership!
RMEOC takes an active leadership role in advancing employee-ownership in the Rocky Mountain region as a means of preserving & building strong local economies, and alleviating wealth & income inequities . We consistently seek out opportunities to galvanize the employee-ownership efforts in the region through engaging in education and outreach to key communities and stakeholders. We consult directly with business owners to assist them in transitioning their business to employee-owned. Additionally, we enact a government affairs program to stimulate favorable legislation. We are proud to work alongside several fantastic organizations in Colorado who share our dedication to employee-ownership.
C. Paul Bindel, Communications Coordinator
Originally from New Mexico, Paul came to Denver to teach composition, and after five years in education, he transitioned into full-time writing, bringing editing, copywriting, and team-building skills to successful projects in marketing, PR, journalism, grants, curriculum, and social media. He first encountered employee ownership through living in housing cooperatives, where he learned to facilitate discussions, listen, negotiate, and find consensus. Paul finds joy in bringing people together, particularly in service of building healthier communities and more resilient economies.
720.316.8220
Halisi Vinson, Executive Director
Halisi brings a wealth of knowledge and a strong skill set developed through her work in business development, marketing, consulting and over half of a decade in the venture capital industry. Halisi spent the last seven years as a strategic consultant and has worked extensively in and with large and small companies, non-profits, and faith-based organizations. Her pioneering ideas have led to the creation of innovative strategic plans, effective crisis communications messaging, and dynamic process optimization plans. Halisi earned her Bachelors degree from Loyola Marymount University and her MBA from FW Olin School of Business at Babson College.
303.550.1247
Greg Weiss, Chair
Greg Weiss is a CPA who works on the sexier side of accounting: valuation, fraud investigation and forensic accounting. With 7-years in the investment industry and 11-years in public accounting, Greg has a broad base of experience that helps him get to the bottom of the issues at hand and communicate his findings in a way that is easy to understand and truly provides value.
303.486.0010
Bill Kirton, Treasurer
Bill Kirton is a retired Methodist minister with more than 40-years of experience in community-based, organizational development, including non-profits. He is an experienced writer and communicator. Bill’s interest in and involvement with local schools, local government and local business organizations have played a major role in his professional and service activities.
303.916.3128
Kyle Huelsman, Secretary
Kyle co-founded the Food Rescue Alliance, where he serves as Executive Director. This non-profit organization provides crucial financial, administrative, and technical support to their “direct-to-shelter” Food Rescue chapters in Denver, Boulder and Colorado Springs. He also works as an aid for State Representative Jessie Danielson providing research, office, and intern supervision support.
303.328.5638
Ahad Ghadami
Ahad Ghadimi is a corporate iconoclast, who has worked with organizations in over 30-countries with the objective of transforming them into highly engaged, employee ownership-cultures. From businesses coming out of bankruptcy or companies transitioning to employee-ownership, Ahad gets involved with companies in one or more of the following roles: adviser, investor, and/or operator.
347.559.7558
Michael Sanchez
Mike Sanchez is a Member in Sherman & Howard who practices employee benefits, tax and healthcare law. He counsels his clients on planning and structuring employee benefits plans. Mike often serves a legal adviser to professional services entities and coordinates with other Sherman & Howard attorneys to address these clients’ diverse legal needs.
303.299.8114
Abdi Buni
Abdi is a transportation entrepreneur. Since 2010, he has founded three employee-owned taxi companies: Union Taxi Cooperative in Denver with 262 driver owners; Union Taxi in Portland, OR; and Green Taxi Cooperative in Denver with 800 driver-owners. Abdi currently owns and manages Denver ABC Shuttle.
303.761.0111
Richard Eidlin
Richard has a played a key role in building the responsible and progressive business movement. He is a co-founder of the American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC), a national coalition of business organizations and businesses committed to building a vibrant and sustainable economy. For eight years (2009-2017), he served as the Vice President for Policy, directing issue campaigns on environmental, high road workplace, social justice and economic development issues. He directed ASBC’s efforts on Capitol Hill, White House, federal agencies and state legislatures, and worked with a wide array of groups from the left and right.
From 2005 to 2009, Richard served as the Business Outreach Director for the groundbreaking, multi-stakeholder Apollo Alliance advocating for federal and state legislation. Richard worked in the solar energy industry for ten years (1995-2005); In 2008, he co-directed the Colorado Clean Tech for Obama campaign. Two years earlier, he crafted gubernatorial candidate Bill Ritter’s ‘New Energy Economy’ strategy. Richard led training seminars for Boston College’s Center for Corporate Citizenship from 1995-2000.
Since 2009, Richard has been teaching as an adjunct faculty at the University of Denver on Environmental Policy and Sustainability.
303.478.0131
Dick Peterson
Dick Peterson spent most of his career as a real estate broker. During this time, he started three employee owned companies, including Re/max of Cherry Creek. In 2009 Dick realized the need for an organization that supported the creation of employee-owned companies so he — with the help of Bill Kirton and Larry Dunn — founded the Rocky Mountain Employee Ownership Center. The rest is current history.
303.919.1356