The PennZone

PITTSBURGH - PennZone -- COE Distributing is thrilled to announce it has become a 100% employee-owned company through the establishment of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). This transition provides all COE employees with a direct stake in the company's success, offering equitable profit-sharing and enhanced retirement planning benefits, while reinforcing the company's commitment to sustainable growth and stability.

"Our employees have always been COE's greatest asset," said Chairman and CEO J.D. Ewing. "The establishment of the ESOP ensures that every team member has a meaningful stake in our future success and can directly benefit from COE's performance and growth. As employee-owners, we share a responsibility to each other and our customers to maintain our commitment to excellence."

The implementation of the ESOP takes COE's culture of employee engagement to the next level. Keeping employee satisfaction at the center of all initiatives, COE has continuously provided pathways for employees to develop and grow within the company, including programs such as Rising Stars training for emerging leaders, quarterly employee recognition, company goals and incentives and profit-sharing. As the official employee engagement partner of the Pittsburgh Penguins, COE also offers a peer-to-peer recognition program and personal benefits such as financial workshops, volunteer paid time off and virtual book clubs.

More on The PennZone

• L2 Aviation Welcomes Jason Marshall as Vice President of Sales and Business Development
• Mom Era, Still That Girl: Family Art Tees 25% Off
• Fashion vs. Fascism - Because Democracy Should Always Be In Style
• Lee Gunn IV Shares Lessons From 40 Years in the Courtroom on PodNumbra Podcast
• [New Book] "Historic Maps of Philadelphia" Available Now!

Employees also have a voice and direct line to management through quarterly Start, Stop, Continue surveys which encourage their input into what works well, what doesn't and ideas for changes that could improve operations.

"We are building on a culture that values teamwork, innovation, and accountability," said President and COO Michael Flaherty. "This move underscores our dedication to providing quality products and services with a team that is fully invested in delivering the best solutions for our customers."

To that end, COE announced the release of its new catalog last week, holding the line on pricing of stock products at this time. Despite shipping and supply chain challenges plaguing all industries, COE has not raised prices since 2022 and remains committed to honest, fair and clear pricing. Under the new structure of employee ownership, COE customers can expect sustained enthusiasm for providing innovative products, world-class customer service and unmatched product availability and quick delivery.

J.D. Ewing will continue as Chairman and CEO, continuing to guide COE through this next chapter of growth and opportunity.

More on The PennZone

• Michael H. Kaplan Recognized for 17 Years on PHPA Workers' Compensation Panel and Advocacy for Professional Athletes
• International Society of Medical AI Convenes Global Faculty in Florence for ISMAI 2026
• Boston Industrial Solutions Introduces Personalized Printing Training
• Century Fasteners de Mexico Exhibiting at the 2026 Automotive & Aerospace Nearshoring Summit
• Retell AI White Label Platform for Agencies Launched by VoiceAIWrapper, With Branded Client Portals and No Per-Minute Markup

About COE

COE Distributing is a national office furniture distributor with a passion to create inspiring work environments. Started as a family-owned business in 1947, COE sources high-quality office furniture with forward-thinking, well-planned design from around the globe. Our developers collaborate with skilled manufacturers to bring exclusive products to market, ensuring each piece meets unwavering quality standards. Our OfficeSource brand offers a line of furniture and accessories always styled right, built right and priced right. Based in southwestern Pennsylvania with distribution centers in North Carolina and Texas, COE boasts an enthusiastic team dedicated to delivering the right solutions for our customers. Learn more at http://www.coedistributing.com.