Proceedings of the International Association for Business and Society

Volume 11, 2000

Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual Meeting

Talking Their Walk When the Employees Become Owners
The Process of Designed Change in the Carris Companies

The focus of this session was the Carris Financial Corporation (CFC), a privately-held entrepreneurial manufacturing company founded in Rutland, Vermont in 1951 by Henry Carris and now led by Henry's son, William H. (Bill) Carris. Six representatives from the company actively involved in the long-term organizational change process discussed their activities, examined positives and pitfalls, and projected future directions for their firm. The CFC is in the process of implementing the Long Term Plan (LTP) which involves: the sale of the company to employees through an Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP); employee training in ownership rights and responsibilities, business. Interpersonal, and general skill development; employee education on global social and working conditions through the Full Circle trips to developing countries; and tithing activities through site gift Giving Committees and the Carris Foundation.