Patti Plough, The ESOP Evangelist, is a woman of faith and a gifted entrepreneur who has established several successful businesses throughout her 30-year career. She has extensive experience buying, selling, and running businesses. This expertise developed over time has allowed her the ability to assist and give the small business owners options for retirement or exiting their business in a dignified way.
Plough graduated in 1976 with a nursing degree from Gateway Technical College and then worked for 15 years as a bedside nurse in a variety of settings before she embarked on her entrepreneurial journey.
Currently Plough holds several board of directors’ positions including one at Healics Holdings, Inc. Milwaukee, WI. An industry-leader and 100% employee-owned ESOP Holding Company with four portfolio companies – Healics Wellness, Healics Clinics, Healics Technology and Core Staffing Group.
Prior to transitioning to her BOD position at Healics, Plough was the President/CEO of Operations at Healics through June 2020. In that position, Plough implemented a continuous improvement and quality control system that contributed to the company’s high client retention rate.
HISTORY OF SUCCESS
1990
Plough established her first business, Corporate Health Planners, LLC conducting insurance physicals and investigations. At that time, she met Leigh Cord, the founder of Healics, and began selling and servicing his health risk assessment tool.
1993
While continuing to lead Corporate Health Planners, Plough founded a second company, Events-R-Us, LLC.
1999-2003
Events-R-Us, LLC acquires three competitors adding additional services such as a speaker’s bureau to their business portfolio and re-names the company Speakers & Events-R-Us, LLC.
2011
When Cord retired in 2011, Plough partnered to purchase Healics. Becoming the President/CEO of Operations.
2011-2018
Healics acquires two competitors and merges with another. Adding additional services such as employer sponsored clinics.
2019
Patti spear heads Healics becoming a 100% employee-owned ESOP. This transition was finalized in 2020.
2020
Plough led the way for a new division of Healics. COVID testing solutions...which wins the Mother of invention award from MMAC’s Focus on the Future.
2021
Plough launches Excel Legacy Group, LLC to assist business owners prepare for retirement or exiting their business in a dignified way. In addition, protecting their legacy, business culture and their trusted employees.
Our personal experience of selling through an ESOP has provided us with the insight you can count on.