Appointment reflects continued investment in executive leadership and long-term employee ownership strategy.
Waukesha, Wis. (February 17, 2026) — OwnersEdge, a 100% employee-owned ESOP holding company that invests in and builds sustainable businesses throughout the Midwest, has announced the appointment of John Hooyman as Chief Financial Officer. Hooyman brings more than 25 years of financial and operational leadership experience, the majority of which has been spent supporting and strengthening employee-owned organizations.
Hooyman’s appointment demonstrates OwnersEdge’s continued commitment to building a strong, accountable executive leadership team capable of supporting long-term growth across its portfolio of employee-owned companies.
“As OwnersEdge continues to scale, having the right executive leadership in place is critical to sustaining our people-first culture and long-term value creation,” said Chris Adee, Co-CEO of OwnersEdge. “John is a seasoned financial leader who deeply understands the responsibility that comes with employee ownership. He brings the discipline, strategic mindset, and cultural alignment needed to support our operating companies and our employee owners for decades to come.”
A certified public accountant and graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, Hooyman began his career at Ernst & Young before transitioning into employee-owned organizations early in his career. He spent 18 years at Direct Supply, Inc., a fast-growing, employee-owned company in Milwaukee, where he steadily advanced into senior leadership roles spanning finance, operations, technology, human resources, and FP&A.
In 2018, Hooyman joined Kesslers Diamonds as its first CFO, overseeing accounting, IT, HR, and strategy. He built the company’s financial and operating infrastructure, supported its next phase of growth, and helped evolve the ESOP for long-term stability. Most recently, he served as CFO of Western Building Products before joining OwnersEdge.
“At OwnersEdge, we look for leaders with character and competence, and John brings both in a big way,” said Rob Dillon, Co-CEO. “He’s an exceptional financial and operational leader with a work ethic to match, but what really sets him apart is how deeply he cares about people. He understands that culture drives performance. Hiring John made OwnersEdge a stronger company the moment he walked in the door.”
In his role as CFO, Hooyman will lead OwnersEdge’s financial strategy and oversight, supporting both the holding company and its five operating companies as they continue to grow, invest, and build long-term value for employee owners.
“I’m honored to join OwnersEdge — it’s an organization I’ve admired for years because of its commitment to employee ownership and long-term value creation. When this opportunity came along, it was one I couldn’t pass up,” said Hooyman. “I’ve seen firsthand how powerful employee ownership can be when it’s done well, and I’m excited to help support the next chapter of growth for OwnersEdge and its operating companies.”
Hooyman is an active member of the ESOP community and regularly participates in ESOP conferences, events, and roundtables. His appointment further reflects OwnersEdge’s strategy of attracting experienced leaders who share a long-term, ownership-driven mindset.
To learn more about OwnersEdge and its operating companies, visit www.OwnersEdge.com.
About OwnersEdge
Based in Waukesha, Wis., OwnersEdge Inc. is a 100% employee-owned ESOP holding company that invests in and builds sustainable, technology-driven businesses throughout the Midwest. The operating companies within the OwnersEdge portfolio utilize their industry expertise to drive business growth and create value for stakeholders including customers, communities, and the ESOP employee owners. The five companies in its portfolio – Asche & Spencer, BAYCOM, CC&N, Implecho, and QComp Technologies – provide diverse products and services to a variety of market segments ranging from public safety to construction to manufacturing and music production. For more information, visit OwnersEdge.com.
