Political Quotes

“I wish to pay tribute to J. Michael Keeling, a lifelong advocate for employee retirement benefits who believed in creating engaged workforces through Employee Stock Ownership Plans, or ESOPs. A proud graduate of Harvard and the University of Texas School of Law, and a lifelong student of history, Mr. Keeling's support of ESOPs began in the 1970s when he served as chief of staff for former Congressman J.J. ``Jake'' Pickle, an ardent supporter of these plans. When Mr. Keeling joined the ESOP Association, he distinguished himself as an outstanding advocate and lawyer on behalf of employees and their companies seeking to establish Employee Stock Ownership Plans during the 1980s. In 1991, after serving as general counsel to the organization, Mr. Keeling was chosen by the ESOP Association's board of directors to lead its operations as president and chief staff officer. It was during his distinguished 28-year tenure in this position that many important achievements benefitting thousands of businesses and millions of employee owners took place. Thanks to his efforts, the ESOP Association developed a nationwide network of chapters facilitating education, training, and networking among employee owners. These local groups help hundreds of companies better engage their employee owners and successfully navigate the often complex regulations guiding ESOPs. Recognizing that good policy is predicated on good data, Mr.…”