Employee Ownership Month is celebrated nationally every October to recognize the benefits employee ownership brings to employees, companies, and communities.
Acadian Companies is marking Employee Ownership Month by highlighting the key benefits of being employee-owned and celebrating its more than 5,500 team members, many of whom are enrolled in the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).
Acadian Ambulance was founded in 1971 and has grown to become the nation’s largest and most respected privately held medical transportation company. What began as a small ambulance company in South Louisiana has expanded to include a diverse suite of services designed to offer the very best support and education in health, safety, security and transportation. It has expanded to include eight divisions:
-
Acadian Ambulance Service
-
Acadian Air Med
-
Acadian Total Security
-
National EMS Academy
-
Safety Management Systems
-
Executive Aircraft Charter Service
-
Acadian Health
-
Acadian Federal Resources
In 1993, Acadian established an ESOP structure, providing employees with the opportunity to own private company stock. Acadian sets up a trust fund for qualifying employees and contribute new shares of its own stock or cash to buy existing shares. The ESOP provides a strong and stable retirement plan for employees. In 2024, Acadian Companies became 100% employee-owned.
“A key benefit of being an ESOP is that our employees truly are owners of the company, and therefore are more invested in the work they do,” said Acadian Companies CEO H. Eddy Dupuis. “When employees have a sense of pride and ownership in the company, they strengthen its foundation and promote continued growth.”
Acadian is a member of the National ESOP Association and its regional Southwest Chapter.
Acadian’s ESOP Committee, comprised of 20 members and chaired by Hub City Paramedic Julie Overby, acts as a vital link, communicating the advantages of ESOP to all employees and representing the company regionally and nationally.
