John Abrams, co-founder of South Mountain Company, emphasizes the benefits of employee ownership, which fosters commitment, stability, and community engagement in renewable energy and sustainable building practices. The document details the company's approach to design/build processes and highlights the importance of employee empowerment and skill development. It also discusses collaboration with the United Steelworkers to promote worker cooperatives that prioritize community and worker investment.

1. John Abrams Co-founder and President South Mountain Company Martha’s Vineyard

2. South Mountain Company Design/build Renewable Energy Energy Services Division Employee Owned (17 owners, 33 employees Annual revenues around $9 M

3. Design/Build Design/build is when buildings (or anything else for that matter) get built with the design and construction process united Continuous interaction between the architects, building science, and construction managers to establish best practices in energy efficiency, conservation, and quality craftsmanship.

4. Sustainable Building Practices Technological Innovations Local Materials Environmentally Friendly products Reclaimed Wood

5. Energy PV panels and wind turbines Energy audits Deep energy retrofits to existing buildings

6. Employee Ownership “One of the great successes was the realization in the mid 80's that until we spread the ownership of this company out we would never have the kind of commitment we want. It would always be a benevolent dictatorship. People might be compliant, but not as actively engaged as they could be”

7. Employee Ownership (Cont.) Tend to create long-term stable jobs, have more equitable and environmentally sustainable business practices be connected and accountable to their community

8. Affordable Housing In US, home ownership a commodity Lack of commitment to community Affordable housing Owners take care of homes (investment) Fosters well-being (family values) Community involvement

9. John on Employee Ownership http:// www.youtube.com/results?search_query = john+abrams&search_type =& aq =f

10. What I learned from John and SMC Employee ownership- dedication, commitment, job means more than a paycheck= your future Empowerment- allow employees to grow skill set, promote from within, encourage personal growth= increase employee satisfaction= sustainable business

11. US Steelworkers The USW and Mondragon to establish manufacturing cooperatives that adapt collective bargaining principles to the Mondragon worker ownership model of “one worker, one vote.” “ We see today’s agreement as a historic first step towards making union co-ops a viable business model that can create good jobs, empower workers, and support communities in the United States and Canada,” said USW International President Leo W. Gerard. “Too often we have seen Wall Street hollow out companies by draining their cash and assets and hollowing out communities by shedding jobs and shuttering plants. We need a new business model that invests in workers and invests in communities.” http:// www.usw.org/media_center/releases_advisories?id =0234