About the Beyster Institute
The Beyster Institute was established by the Foundation for Enterprise Development (FED) in 2002 and took on the mission to spread the visionary ideas of Dr. J. Robert Beyster, founder of Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). Ideas taken from SAIC have led to the development of many highly successful enterprises based on a potent combination of employee ownership and entrepreneurial spirit.
In 2004, the Beyster Institute joined the Rady School of Management at the University of California, San Diego, a leading professional school within one of the top-ranked institutions in the U.S. for higher education and research.
Today, the Beyster Institute continues to promote the understanding and practice of employee ownership as an effective and responsible business model through its consulting practice, education initiatives and leadership role in the community.
Our History
The work of the Beyster Institute began in 1986 when, as part of the Foundation for Enterprise Development, it took on the commission to spread the visionary ideas of Dr. J. Robert Beyster, the founder of SAIC. These ideas have led to the development of many highly successful enterprises based on the potent combination of employee ownership and entrepreneurial spirit.
Dr. Beyster founded SAIC in 1969, and by the time he retired from the company in 2004 it had grown to Fortune 500® size, with more than 40,000 employees and annual revenues approaching $8 billion. Dr. Beyster firmly believed that the methods used to develop SAIC – employee ownership, shared entrepreneurship and participation — can make a real difference in the success of an enterprise and in the economic lives of people everywhere. From the very beginning, Dr. Beyster rewarded the performance of employees with stock ownership. As SAIC grew, Dr. Beyster fought to preserve the values that had made the early SAIC successful — not only employee ownership and entrepreneurship, but a flexible and decentralized organization structure, technical excellence, high standards of ethical conduct, and a firm belief in customer service.
Dr. Beyster retired from the company in 2004. In conjunction with his retirement, the Beyster Institute joined the Rady School of Management at the University of California, San Diego, a leading professional school within one of the top-ranked institutions in the U.S. for higher education and research. Dr. Beyster passed away at his home in La Jolla on Dec. 22, 2014, leaving behind a legacy that continues to have a lasting impact on people, businesses, and communities across the face of our nation and around the globe.
Our Mission
Furthering employee ownership by educating through professional consulting, academic courses, and thought leadership.
Our Team
Kim Blaugher
Executive Director
208.283.4644
Kim has over 30 years of experience working with ESOPs and equity compensation plans. He uses his income tax and accounting background to help companies determine the feasibility of an ESOP, forecast repurchase obligations, and craft ESOP transactions designed to address each client’s unique needs and objectives. Prior to joining the Beyster Institute, he was a vice president of ESOP consulting at Principal Financial Group. Kim also led the ESOP practice at Mercer Company and has worked at RSM US LLP, and KPMG. Kim holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Earlham College and a Master of Taxation degree from the University of Denver. He passed the CPA exam in 1985.
Charles Chang
Sr. Consultant
At the Beyster Institute, Charles Chang provides consultations that include quantitative analysis and financial modeling for companies that wish to implement Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs).
Prior to joining the Beyster Institute in 2022, Charles worked in corporate governance and strategic planning at large corporations including Fiat, BRF, Disney and Grupo Boticario. He has a double bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and business administration; and an MBA from the Rady School of Management.
Jon Valencia
Officer Administrator
Before joining the Rady School in 2015, Valencia was Senior Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy. He led troops, served as a technical expert for administrators, and mentored sailors and newly commissioned junior officers. Valencia has a master’s degree in leadership and management from the University of La Verne.
Developing the Next Generation of ESOP Professionals
We are proud of the achievements of our alumni and remain committed to developing the next generation of ESOP professionals!
Our engagements are designed to provide hands-on training, mentorship, and ongoing support to help our consultants achieve their professional goals.
Many of our former consultants have become leaders in the ESOP industry, members of ESOP companies or ESOP advisors. We are thrilled to have played a part in their success and we are committed to continuing developing the next generation of ESOP professionals.
Nikita Agarwal
Ventura
Mauro Canelo
BDO Capital
Maria Frontera
Ventura
Aashna Kampani
Ventura
Brian Khorsand
Khorsand ESOP Advisory
Scott Leach
BDO Capital
Mitch Miller
GreatBanc
Aparimit Phophalia
PCE Investment Bankers
Jur Slinkman
BDO Capital
Damien Vira
Building Material Distributors
WeiYang (Tina) Xu
Prudent Fiduciary Services
Previous Leadership
Anthony Mathews
Anthony Mathews is the incorporator and Secretary for the renewed California Center for Employee Ownership (CCEO). Tony has been an active leader in the ESOP community for over 40 years, serving as a principal in several of the most respected ESOP consulting firms in the country and as the Director of the Beyster Institute at the University of California San Diego Rady School of Management. During his tenure at UCSD, Tony was responsible for creating and delivering the first ever MBA level curricula on several subjects related to employee ownership and workplace democracy. He has recently taken over the CCEO and incorporated it as a separate, independent entity serving the broad needs of stakeholders in the development of an effective employee ownership model. He currently serves as its Secretary.
Martin Staubus
As Beyster’s former Executive Director, Mr. Staubus advised business leaders on the design and operation of employee stock ownership programs to build stronger companies and provide liquidity to owners. Martin has over 30 years of experience in business, having served in varied roles as an attorney, consultant, Labor Department policy advisor, corporate executive, and corporate director. He has served as Associate Director of the ESOP Association in Washington DC and as a director of the National Center for Employee Ownership.
From left to right: Robert S. Sullivan, founding dean of the Rady School of Management, Mary Ann Beyster, John Robert Beyster, Anthony Mathews, and Martin Staubus. -- Beyster Institute Archive, 2011
Interested in becoming an expert in the employee-ownership field?
Contact us to learn which opportunities are available and how to apply. We offer internship positions for graduate students every year.
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