When you have this much skin in the game, devotion to success is natural.
That’s what it means to be 100% employee-owned.
Employee ownership creates an elevated level of care, stronger sense of responsibility, and a team that understands every project builds something bigger than the building itself.
Being an employee-owner to me means taking pride and having a real stake in our company’s future, recognizing the responsibility that comes with it. The effort we put in and the decisions we make each day directly shape where we’re headed.
Archer Charles, Assistant Superintendent
Thinking and Acting Like Owners
Choate became 100% employee-owned in 2016 through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), giving the company back to the people who built it and strengthening a culture built on accountability, relationships, and shared success.
Today, that entrepreneurial spirit and ownership mindset show up in the work itself: sharper planning, safer jobsites, stronger coordination, and teams that take pride and responsibility long after the ribbon is cut.
The Ownership Advantage
Employees receive tangible long-term retirement benefits as Choate prospers; benefits which extend beyond our 401(k) profit-sharing program. A participative management and “all in” approach has also resulted in intangible benefits:
Consistently ranked in the top 3% of all ESOPs for wealth creation
Higher job satisfaction levels
Employee retention rates exceeding the industry average
Partnering with Owners
For clients, partnering with Choate means working with employee-owners who have a personal stake in the project, the relationship, and the trust that builds both. As an independent, internally-operated company, Choate maintains a flat, hands-on structure that keeps decision-makers close to the work and gives clients direct access to the people who can provide answers and keep momentum moving.
A Culture Employees Can Build On
For those considering a career with Choate, employee ownership is so much more than a financial benefit. It’s joining a company where people are trusted to take initiative, grow their careers, and contribute to something shared.
Employee-owners have a voice in the work and a stake in the future. From early-career development and field mentorship to leadership opportunities and community involvement, Choate gives people room to build with purpose.
When our people grow, our clients benefit. Stronger teams create stronger projects, stronger relationships, and a stronger company.
Experience ESOP
Employee ownership is more than a benefit—it shapes how we work, grow, and succeed together. Explore what it means to be an employee-owner, discover career opportunities, and learn how shared ownership drives our purpose.
Learn How ESOPs Work
From the National Center for Employee Ownership
Explore Our Career Opportunities
Join our team of owners.
Owning Our Purpose
Find out what drives our employee-owners.
Being part of Choate's ESOP means creating long-term generational wealth something that not just a regular savings account or a 401k could ever do!
Stacye Anderson, Accounting Manager