The Texas Center for Employee Ownership (TXCEO) – part of the Employee Ownership Expansion Network (EOX) announced today that it has hired Taylor Knickel as the organization’s Program Director. Ms. Knickel is the first staff member for the Center and is charged with carrying out TXCEO’s goal to educate businesses across Texas about all forms of employee ownership.
The Texas Center for Employee Ownership (TXCEO) – a nonprofit organization dedicated to turning the state of Texas into a place where every working person can also be an employee-owner – announced today the hiring of Taylor Knickel as its Program Director. TXCEO is a member of the Employee Ownership Expansion Network (EOX) – a network of 21 state centers focused on significantly expanding employee ownership in the United States.
Ms. Knickel is passionate about building thriving communities and brings over a decade of expertise in community organizing and civic engagement to her new role. Her unique approach melds systems thinking and human-centered design to reveal leverage points for significant impact. “I am honored to step into the role of Program Director and advance employee ownership in Texas,” said Knickel. “I am eager to support Texas businesses and foster a culture of ownership to build a vibrant Texas economy.”
As Founder of Civic Innovation Lab, Ms. Knickel helped clients maximize their impact and increase their community value through impact strategy design, bridging capital connections, and identifying innovative impact opportunities. Her previous experience includes directing statewide anti-hunger efforts at Texas Hunger Initiative and establishing the first 2-Gen civic leadership institute in Arapahoe County, Colorado. She has a Master of Social Work from Baylor University and an Executive Certificate in Social Impact Strategy from the University of Pennsylvania.
Mark Russell, Senior Managing Director at SES ESOP and Board Member/Treasurer for the TXCEO said of Taylor’s hiring, “We are very excited to bring Taylor onboard as our first staff member for the TXCEO. Her experience in building communities, effective collaboration, program management and networking, all combined with her interpersonal skills present the perfect combination to move this organization forward to help us increase employee ownership in the state of Texas.”
