--- title: We Just Became an ESOP...But What Does That Mean? description: An ESOP is a rare and valuable benefit. Unlike a 401k plan, there’s no cost to employees to join the ESOP. image: https://blog.melinkcorp.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/Group%20of%20joyful%20excited%20business%20people%20throwing%20papers%20and%20having%20fun%20in%20office.jpeg --- - [Services](https://melinkcorp.com/services/) - - - [Services Overview](https://melinkcorp.com/services/) - [Building Commissioning](https://melinkcorp.com/services/building-commissioning/) - [Test, Adjust & Balance](https://melinkcorp.com/services/test-adjust-and-balance/) - [Test, Adjust & Balance FAQs](https://melinkcorp.com/services/test-adjust-balance-faqs/) - - #### Why we do what we do “We’ll build a 7 figure new store and we’ll fight with the A/C or negative air pressure for months or years, all because the equipment was never set up properly, causing problems that extend for the life of the building. Your reports allow us to know everything is set the way it should be from the beginning.” *Director of Facilities for a national restaurant chain* - [Kitchen Hood Controls](https://melinkcorp.com/kitchen-hood-controls/) - - - [Intelli-Hood Overview](https://melinkcorp.com/kitchen-hood-controls/) - [Intelli-Hood FAQs](https://melinkcorp.com/kitchen-hood-controls/intelli-hood-faqs/) - [Intelli-Hood Resources](https://melinkcorp.com/kitchen-hood-controls/intelli-hood-resources/) - - #### Why we do what we do > “Our engineering department worked with the engineers from each of our hotel brands and fully evaluated Intelli-Hood. Everyone is convinced that this is one of our most cost-effective paths to sustainability.” > > *SVP Operations New Development at Leading Global Hotel Chain* [tel:15139657300](tel:15139657300) - [Services](https://melinkcorp.com/services/) - [Building Commissioning](https://melinkcorp.com/services/building-commissioning/) - [Test, Adjust & Balance](https://melinkcorp.com/services/test-adjust-and-balance/) - [Test, Adjust & Balance FAQs](https://melinkcorp.com/services/test-adjust-balance-faqs/) - [Kitchen Hood Controls](https://melinkcorp.com/kitchen-hood-controls/) - [Intelli-Hood Resources](https://melinkcorp.com/kitchen-hood-controls/intelli-hood-resources/) - [Intelli-Hood FAQs](https://melinkcorp.com/kitchen-hood-controls/intelli-hood-faqs/) [About](https://melinkcorp.com/about/) - [Green Buildings](https://melinkcorp.com/about/melink-green-buildings/) - [Careers](https://melinkcorp.com/about/careers/) - [Contact](https://melinkcorp.com/contact/) # Green Link Sharing our expertise to help you succeed ![](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/hubfs/Amy%20Willenborg.jpg) [Amy Willenborg](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/author/awillenborg) 7/6/18 8:00 AM [Employee Owned](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/topic/employee-owned) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) We want you to join our team. Not only is it a special place to work, but Melink became an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) in 2018 and here’s what that means to you as an employee of Melink... Melink is unique. An [ESOP](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/employee-ownership-month) is a rare and valuable benefit. Melink offers this unusual opportunity for employee wealth building. Another unique feature at Melink is that the ESOP is provided to employees with no out-of-pocket cost.  Plus, it is a qualified defined contribution retirement plan that is invested primarily in the common stock of the sponsoring company. Unlike a 401k plan, which requires an employee to contribute his or her own money, there’s no cost to employees. Melink’s ESOP directly correlates to our company culture.  We act like a start up every day and our ESOP helps us to further build our ownership culture that rewards people both monetarily and intrinsically.  Employees are part of something bigger at Melink, because everyone is working to build his or her (and everyone else’s) successful future.  Increased company performance typically leads to a higher share price and, therefore, a higher balance in employee ESOP accounts. Simply put, when the company does better so will our employees. The ESOP plan provides a return on their sweat equity. At Melink, we value our employees’ ideas, opinions, and inputs to successfully serve our customers and growing the business.  Melink is building and sustaining an environment that fosters an ownership culture.     ![Amy Willenborg](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/hubfs/Amy%20Willenborg.jpg) #### About [Amy Willenborg](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/author/awillenborg) Amy is Melink Corporation's Director of Customer Experience. She helps to oversee Melink's national test and balance team. ## Most Popular Blog Posts ### Recent Posts ### VIEW BLOG POSTS BY TOPIC - [HVAC Test & Balance (50)](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/tag/hvac-test-balance) - [DCKV (49)](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/tag/dckv) - [Employee Owned (35)](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/tag/employee-owned) - [Energy Efficiency (27)](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/tag/energy-efficiency) - [Building Health (21)](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/tag/building-health) - [Climate Change (13)](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/tag/climate-change) - [Construction (10)](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/tag/construction) - [Commissioning (8)](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/tag/commissioning) - [Green (8)](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/tag/green) - [Renewable Energy (6)](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/tag/renewable-energy) - [Corp (5)](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/tag/corp) - [Zero-Energy Building (5)](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/tag/zero-energy-building) - [Electric Vehicle (4)](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/tag/electric-vehicle) - [Solar PV (3)](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/tag/solar-pv) - [HQ2 (2)](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/tag/hq2) - [Geothermal (1)](https://blog.melinkcorp.com/blog/tag/geothermal) See all ## Most Recent Blog Posts ### Recent Posts ### Subscribe to Email Updates ## CONTACT US **Global Headquarters:** Melink Campus 5140 River Valley Road Milford, OH 45150 USA 513-965-7300 © Copyright 2025, Melink Corporation. All Rights Reserved. - [About Us](https://melinkcorp.com/about/) - [Privacy Policy](https://melinkcorp.com/privacy-policy/) - [Terms & Conditions](https://melinkcorp.com/terms-conditions/) [LinkedIn (opens in new window)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/melink-corporation) [YouTube (opens in new window)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsa6oLcgZPSwAY4R1_NurRA) [Twitter (opens in new window)](https://twitter.com/MelinkCorp) [Facebook (opens in new window)](https://www.facebook.com/MelinkCorp)