COLUMBUS – As of April 5, Golden Artist Colors is now under new ownership. Employees are no longer just participating owners, but the majority owners of the company. Golden has become one of only 4,000 other companies across the entire United States that is majority owned by its employees. Golden is committed to growing a sustainable company dedicated to creating and sharing the most imaginative and innovative tools of color, line and texture for inspiring those who turn their vision into reality.
“This has been an unbelievable journey for all of us here at Golden,” said Golden CEO, Mark Golden. “Since the beginning, we have tried to create an environment where people can thrive, believing that if the people thrive, the company will too. These philosophies lead us to establish an Employee Stock Ownership Program for Golden Artist Colors in 2002, providing a tangible way for employees to not only act and feel like owners, but to be owners. Now just eight short years later, our dream of majority ownership for staff has come true!”
“Together as employee owners, we work diligently to nurture and grow the company,” said Filling Technician and Trainer, Andrea Bice. “It’s exciting to know that each and every one of us has the opportunity to positively affect a legacy that has been entrusted to us by Mark and Barbara Golden.”
According to company President & COO Barbara Schindler, this was a natural step forward for the company. “Golden is a leader not only in the development of fine art materials, but in employee growth and support as well and it’s paid off,” said
Schindler. “Participating in an ESOP has been incredibly motivational for staff, and as a result, we’re seeing the overall performance of the company heighten.”
“The major difference of an ESOP company isn’t in the daily business routines,” said Operations Manager, Greg Sheldon. “It’s when the work load pressure increases and everyone focuses harder on their job. This level of intensity insures that promises made to our customers and ourselves, are honored, regardless of the magnitude of the job. There is pride and accountability with ownership that is absolutely a powerful advantage we have being an employee owned company!”
To learn more about Golden Artist Colors, go to www.goldenpaints.com.
For additional information about employee ownership, go to www.nceo.org.
About Golden Artist Colors, Inc.
Located in its 100,000-square-foot facility in rural Columbus, Golden’s 147 employees are committed to producing materials that encourage exploration of form and concept, while assuring archival integrity. Golden takes pride in the fact that its Custom Lab is the only facility of its kind, dedicated to designing products to the specifications of individual artists. Developing paints to meet exacting criteria is the specialty of Golden’s custom operations. As a natural progression from its initiatives in the fine arts market, Golden established Paintworks, the commercial paint and coatings division of Golden Artist Colors, Inc. It provides commercial and OEM clients with paint making technology, toll manufacturing and integrated solutions. Golden Paintworks can design a full solution to a coatings project based on its expertise designing, manufacturing, marketing and selling high performance paints and coatings. The company also assists customers with complex production, packaging and regulatory issues. The company is not only committed to its customers, but to its employee owners and local community as well. On November 20, 2008, the company became a 100% Tobacco Free Campus for staff and visitors. For more information about Golden Artist Colors, Inc. and its comprehensive product offering, call 1-800-959-6543 or visit the company’s Web site atwww.goldenpaints.com.