At COE Distributing, our mission has always been rooted in people—empowering our team, serving our customers, and building lasting relationships. In December 2024, we proudly took that commitment to the next level by becoming a 100% employee-owned company through the launch of our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). This transformation reinforces our commitment to being more than just a leading office furniture distributor, wholesaler, and supplier—we’re now a company where every employee has a real stake in our shared success.

This milestone marks a new chapter in COE’s legacy. What began in 1947 as a family-owned business has now evolved into a company where every employee—from operations to leadership—has a real stake in our success.

What Does It Mean to Be Employee-Owned?

As an ESOP company, every COE team member becomes a shareholder. That means our employees aren’t just working for a paycheck—they’re building something bigger, together. Their success is our success, and our customers benefit from a team that’s truly invested in delivering quality, service, and value.

Chairman and CEO J.D. Ewing explains it best:

“Our employees have always been COE’s greatest asset. Becoming 100% employee-owned ensures that every team member has a meaningful stake in our future success and can directly benefit from COE’s performance and growth.”

Why It Matters

Stronger Culture: Ownership creates a workplace where people are more engaged, collaborative, and accountable. When every person has a stake, everyone wins.

Customer Advantage: An employee-owned team is a motivated team. You’ll experience faster service, higher attention to detail, and a team that genuinely cares about your satisfaction.

Future Growth: As we continue to expand our OfficeSource® product line and national reach, our employee-owners are energized and aligned around a shared vision for innovation and excellence.

Guided by Tradition. Driven by Innovation.

At COE, we don’t just distribute office furniture—we design solutions that empower workplaces and enrich lives. And now, as an employee-owned company, we’re more committed than ever to delivering results you can count on.

Thank you for being part of our journey.

Learn more about our story at coedistributing.com/about-coe.