Jeff Zachau

An inside look at how Jeff Zachau of Zachau Construction and Laura Pfeiffenberger of Spinnaker Trust worked together to create an employee stock ownership plan, or ESOP.

Zachau joins nearly 90 companies across Maine that have adopted employee ownership, through Employee Stock Ownership Plans, or ESOPs. The companies employ more than 8,500 people.

The Freeport general contractor promoted employees with backgrounds in finance, passive house construction, L.L.Bean projects and affordable housing development.

Zachau Construction has seven active job sites, including the Agren distribution center, Betsy Ross Crossing, Winter Landing, Equinox, the L.L.Bean flagship store and two projects for BIW.

“I wanted a group of people that could bring a depth of perspective and expertise to bear on the issues we are navigating,” said CEO Jeff Zachau.

From Orono to Skowhegan to Yarmouth, commercial construction firms around Maine have been busy with projects of all kinds.

Amanda Rector, state economist for Maine, offered a mostly upbeat outlook on Maine's economy in 2023 at the Mainebiz "5 on the Future" event.