3LS Professional Services CEO and Founder of 5by5 Agency, Shannon Litton, Set to Kick Off Summit
(NASHVILLE, TN) December 16, 2025 — 3LS, Inc., an employee-owned family of companies, announced today that 3LS Professional Services CEO, Shannon Litton, will deliver the opening keynote for the National Center for Employee Ownership’s (NCEO) inaugural Women’s Summit on February 2-3 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The groundbreaking event is designed specifically for women in all areas of employee ownership and aims to cultivate professional and leadership development, foster personal growth and build a vibrant, supportive community.
“I’m honored to open NCEO’s inaugural Women’s Summit, especially at such a critical moment,” said Litton. “Companies are rethinking what ownership, leadership and long-term value should look like—and employee ownership is emerging as one of the most powerful paths forward. We’re standing at the edge of a major shift in how businesses can build stability, equity and generational opportunity. This gathering has the potential to spark real momentum for women and for the future of employee ownership.”
Founded in 1981, NCEO is the nation’s leading nonprofit and research organization delivering accurate, unbiased information on employee ownership, including ESOPs, employee ownership trusts (EOTs), equity compensation plans such as stock options and ownership culture. As a result of its events and research, the organization identified a critical gap of educational and supportive resources for women in the community and launched the Women’s Summit to help close it.
“We’ve been hearing from women across all organization levels that they’re looking for community and professional development that’s tailored to the experiences and opportunities they’re navigating every day in the world of employee ownership,” said Events Director of the NCEO, Megan Drees (née Bonwell). “Our Women’s Summit is a response to that need—we heard them loud and clear.”
Drees continued: “As we were preparing programming, we knew Shannon’s experience, expertise and energy were a perfect fit to kickoff the Summit. We couldn’t be more honored to have her join us and propel our attendees forward.”
Litton has seen firsthand the power of employee ownership and has become a passionate advocate for its expansion—a passion that led to her appointment as President of the Tennessee Center for Employee Ownership (TNCEO) and recognition as a Trailblazer on Ragan’s 2026 Top Women in Communications Awards. She will take the stage at NCEO’s Women’s Summit to share her business journey and how purpose-driven leadership creates powerful business results.
Litton has spent the last 25 years of her career driving growth for changemakers and founding multiple companies, including award-winning 5by5 Agency. Under her leadership, 5by5 earned five spots on the Inc. 5000 list and Best Place to Work awards, and most recently became 100% employee-owned when it was acquired by 3LS Inc. earlier this year. With the transition, Litton was appointed CEO of 3LS Professional Services and now oversees the growth of the company’s professional services portfolio, including ESOP advisory firm, 40 Million Owners; IT support firm, Intrust IT; and 5by5 Agency.
To request an interview with Litton or event organizers, contact kristin@thenewfashioned.co.
###
About 3LS Inc.
3LS, Inc. is a rapidly growing family of 19 employee-owned companies, with nearly 800 employees across the country, unified in their mission to empower good. With roots in health and human services, today 3LS invests in quality child welfare and behavioral healthcare services, transformative technology, and exceptional professional services — driving growth and impact for similar changemaker organizations and generational opportunity for its employee owners. Visit www.3ls.com to learn more.
About NCEO
Founded in 1981, The National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) is a private, nonprofit membership and research organization that serves as the leading source of accurate, unbiased information on employee ownership, including ESOPs, employee ownership trusts (EOTs), equity compensation plans such as stock options and ownership culture. The NCEO hosts virtual and in-person events across the country with thousands of attendees every year and is the main publisher in the field with over 40 publications. Learn more at NCEO.org.