Acadian Employees Win Award 2 Years in a Row
DALLAS, TX. -- The Southwest Chapter of the ESOP Association, a regional organization of companies in Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico, in which employees are owners through Employee Stock Ownership Plans, presented its Ninth Annual Award for Best Communications to Acadian Ambulance Service.
For the second consecutive year, Acadian Ambulance was honored with Best Communications for services and accomplishments with emphasis on how ownership enhances their quality of service. The award is presented annually to the company with the best overall program for communicating the values and benefits of employee ownership and ESOPs, including the use of newsletters, web sites, special events and other communications.
Acadian ESOP Chairman Ed Smith, Vice-chair Scott Johnson, and Secretary Maisha Chargois in accepting the award thanked their fellow ESOP committee members, Acadian’s management staff and the PR & Marketing department. “Not only does this award validate that we are moving in the right direction in communication ESOP to our co-workers,” Smith said, “but as recipients for the second consecutive time, we are setting a standard for other companies who strive to deliver their ESOP message”
We are a better company because of a program that maximizes human potential by enhancing the self-worth, dignity, and wellbeing of our people. Our ESOP message is clear--it enables our working 
family to share in the wealth they help create.”
Acadian’s ESOP committee members serve on a volunteer basis and are elected to serve by their employees at large. Paramedic Ed Smith, an eleven-year Acadian veteran, is an operations supervisor stationed in Terrebonne Parish. Paramedic Scott Johnson, from Washington, is a twenty-four year employee stationed in Evangeline Parish. Maisha Chargois of Lafayette is a Public Relations & Marketing Assistant.
Acadian Ambulance Service ranks among the top 100 employee-owned companies in the U.S., according to a list compiled by the National Center for Employee Ownership. The men and women of Acadian became employee-owners of the largest privately owned ambulance service in the U.S. in 1993, with the adoption of an Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP). Under the plan, 75 percent of the company value in stock is available to employees. The plan involves placing the stock in trust, with those shares acquired by employees redeemable in cash at the time of retirement.