Libby Lukens is the Employee Ownership Office Program Manager at Colorado’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT). Libby oversees multiple tax credit programs and develops marketing strategies to increase program utilization and advance Employee Ownership throughout Colorado.

Before OEDIT, Libby worked at the Department of State in Washington, D.C. as a Management Officer in support of the U.S. diplomatic mission abroad. She previously assisted the Department of State Office of Global Change in organization, tracking, and procurement for multi-million dollar climate change programs. Libby earned a B.A. at The George Washington University in Political Science and Criminal Justice and spent time studying at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. In her free time, she enjoys skiing and hiking among the beautiful mountains of Colorado.

What was your first exposure to Employee Ownership?

Coming from a background studying public policy, I had heard about employee ownership as a concept supporting businesses. I never fully engaged until I realized it was a tool to help workplaces around the US. When I saw the role Colorado plays in advancing employee ownership, I thought it was a perfect intersection between policy work and engagement with outside business sectors.

 How did you come to lead COEOO?

I moved back home to Colorado in the fall, having spent just under eight years studying and working in Washington, DC. Given my experience and love for working with local businesses in my hometown in Steamboat Springs, CO, I knew that I wanted to further efforts within the state to help workers and businesses continue to be successful. When I saw the opportunity for becoming a Program Manager in the Employee Ownership Office, I recognized that it was an exciting way for me to continue supporting the state that I love.

What are COEOO’s goals?

Our office was started to break down barriers and increase accessibility for more businesses to become employee-owned - the goal is for CO to become a leader and one the the most EO-friendly states in the country

Why is employee ownership critical to you?

I believe that everyone should enjoy where they work. We spend more time each week with our coworkers than we do with our loved ones, so I support any endeavor to create a better working environment and open up opportunities for employees to access more wealth and to support their future. 

Additionally, I love to stay organized and prepare for future contingencies. I will be happy to contribute to the Colorado community If I can assist business owners to achieve that same reassurance for the future. As someone new to this space, I was excited to learn about the Exit Planning efforts and resources in collaboration with the Colorado Small Business Development Center and Employee Ownership feasibility studies with the Rocky Mountain Employee Ownership Center and the Center for Community Wealth Building. It is exciting to me that I have the opportunity to work with so many great, kind, and intelligent partners in this space. I cannot wait to see what we will achieve together!

Why is Colorado investing in employee ownership now? 

Small businesses are what drive Colorado’s economy, and employee ownership is a critical resource for Colorado businesses. Governor Polis has worked to make Colorado a leader in employee ownership, through the creation of the Employee Ownership Office and the use of tax credits to save businesses money on transitioning to employee ownership.

In 2019, the Colorado Employee Ownership Commission was established to further employee ownership throughout the state. Through the discussions and guidance from this mission, we actively work to establish technical support for businesses that want to become employee-owned, educate businesses on employee ownership, and identify and remove barriers facing the advancement of employee-owned businesses. The state is focused on supporting businesses and their employees through this process to maintain jobs and services in communities across Colorado.

We see that 60% of business owners in Colorado are ready to sell within the next decade, but only a small percentage are expected to be sold or passed on to the next generation. We engage all of these efforts with the goal of ensuring that these businesses – businesses that oftentimes provide critical community services – continue to grow and thrive in communities across Colorado.

Learn more about Colorado's employee ownership efforts >