Tim Rettig (EO Cincinnati) watched his father build a software company — then give it to his employees. Two decades later, Tim did the same. Now he is on a mission to convince other business owners to follow his lead.
After witnessing the fallout of a traditional company sale early in his career, Tim Rettig set out to build a different kind of exit — one rooted in stability, shared ownership and long-term impact. In a recent Q&A with EO Global, the Intrust IT founder reflected on his journey to becoming 100% employee-owned through an ESOP:
“Previously, I was growing and making acquisitions, and my employees would wonder, ‘Why are we doing this? This is all just for you?’ When I changed it and said, ‘The reason we have to get larger is that we want to become employee-owned,’ it became a different rallying cry.”
“That’s the legacy I wanted—to build something where employees benefit long after I step away, and where the company continues to thrive with the same people and purpose in place.”
After years of intentional growth and education, Rettig completed the transition in 2025, giving employees ownership not only in Intrust IT but across a broader platform of companies. Now part of the fast-growing professional services division of 3LS, Inc., the company continues to expand its impact while maintaining its employee-owned foundation.
Rettig is now focused on advocating for ESOPs as a powerful alternative to private equity and helping other founders rethink what a successful exit can look like.
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