Central States, a manufacturer of metal building components, roofing, and building systems, announced last month that it has become a member of Certified Employee-Owned, or Certified EO, a leading certification program for employee-owned companies in America; Central States is 100% employee-owned by its 1,400 employees. 

“We are thrilled to be recognized by Certified EO for our commitment to fostering a culture of ownership and empowerment at Central States,” Chad Ware, Central States’ CFO said in an October news release. 

“This collaboration will help us provide invaluable resources and education to both our current and future employee-owners, ensuring they are well-informed and engaged in our shared mission to educate and inform them no matter where they are on their journey to financial freedom,” Ware added.  

Central States said that to become a member of Certified EO, companies must pass a rigorous certification process to demonstrate that their employees own at least 30% of the business (exclusive of company founders), access to ownership is open to every employee, and ownership concentration is limited. 

The Certified EO program provides best practices, market insight, communication support, and various educational resources to the companies it certifies. 

“We’re excited to have Central States as our newest member,” said Thomas Dudley, CEO and co-founder of Certified EO. “As one of the fewer than 1 in 200 American companies eligible to join Certified EO, Central States stands out in promoting the power of employee ownership; they've joined a growing community who are reshaping how businesses operate." 

Founded by Carl Carpenter in 1988, Central States became fully employee-owned in 2011 to provide financial freedom for its 1,400 employees across 13 locations nationwide. Two more manufacturing facilities are set to open in 2025. 

For more information, visit centralstatesco.com.