Tennessee Center for Employee Ownership (TNCEO)

Nashville, TN1 team membersinfo@tnceo.org

Our Mission

The Tennessee Center for Employee Ownership (TNCEO) is a Nashville-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2020, whose mission is to expand employee ownership so Tennessee businesses, employees and communities thrive. It is a central hub for business owners navigating succession planning and sale options, including ESOPs, worker cooperatives and employee ownership trusts, so businesses can stay local and resilient. TNCEO offers free one-on-one consultations, succession-planning tools, statewide events and a network of vetted service providers, and is part of the Employee Ownership Expansion Network (EOX).

Employee ownership lets owners exit on their terms while preserving jobs, protecting legacies and keeping businesses local; employees become co-owners who share in the company's success, strengthening Tennessee communities.

Get in Touch

Email: info@tnceo.org

Website: www.tnceo.org

Phone: +16199877810

Region: Nashville, TN

Talk to Rachel

What We Do

EOT

Transition

End-to-end succession planning and ownership transition advisory services.

ESOP

Transition

End-to-end succession planning and ownership transition advisory services.

Exit Planning

Transition

End-to-end succession planning and ownership transition advisory services.

Worker Co-op 101

Conversion Support

Guidance and hands-on support for companies transitioning to employee ownership.

Meet the Team

The people behind Tennessee Center for Employee Ownership (TNCEO).

Rachel Eva Merfalen

Executive Director at TNCEO

Rachel Eva Merfalen works at the intersection of workforce development, employee ownership, and job quality. She has led regional business engagement strategy within a major workforce system and advised state and national partners on aligning workforce and economic strategies. As Executive Director of the Tennessee Center for Employee Ownership (TNCEO), she leads efforts to expand ownership transitions and strengthen businesses across the state. She is also a Job Quality Fellow with the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program. At TNCEO, Rachel chats 1:1 with business owners as they navigate business succession, exit planning, and business transition options, including employee ownership. Get in touch with Rachel to ask questions, connect with local and national experts, and take advantage of the free business tools and funding available to Tennessee businesses.

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