In this episode of Are You Ready?, Neil Cockburn is joined by John Stevens, founder of Camilla Advisory Group and a long-time advocate for employee ownership, to explore how Employee Share Ownership Plans can offer a powerful and often overlooked path for business transition.

With more than 35 years of experience in senior financial and leadership roles across private, public, and private equity-backed companies, John brings deep insight into how employee ownership can be successfully implemented. He shares how ESOPs can provide business owners with an alternative to traditional sales, while also creating long-term value, engagement, and stability within the organization.

The conversation explores why employee ownership is gaining traction in Canada, how it compares to third-party sales, and what business owners need to consider before pursuing this path. John also reflects on his decades-long passion for employee ownership and the impact it can have on culture, performance, and legacy.

This episode offers a practical and forward-looking perspective on exit planning. It challenges business owners to think differently about succession and consider whether the next generation of ownership might already be part of their team.

About John Stevens
John M. Stevens, CPA, CMA, brings over 35 years of experience in business and accounting, including more than 25 years in senior leadership roles across private companies, public companies, and private equity-backed organizations. Throughout his career, he has been directly involved in implementing Employee Share Ownership Plans and has developed a deep expertise in this area.

John is the founder of Camilla Advisory Group Inc., where he works with organizations to design and implement employee share plans. He has been a passionate advocate for employee ownership for over three decades and previously served as a board member with Employee Ownership Canada.

About Neil Cockburn

Neil Cockburn is a Chartered Professional Accountant (FCPA), Family Enterprise Advisor (FEA), and Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP), and the Director of Family Enterprise Advisory Services at Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP. With more than 40 years of experience working alongside business owners and family enterprises, Neil specializes in succession planning, intergenerational wealth transition, and estate strategy. He is known for helping families navigate complex transitions with clarity and confidence—always grounded in one central question: Are you ready for what comes next?

To learn more and connect with Neil Cockburn of Kingston Ross Pasnak, please visit: https://www.krpgroup.com/our-people/neil-cockburn

This video podcast series is proudly produced by the team at Road 55 - located in Edmonton, Alberta.
For more information, please visit: www.road55.ca 

In this episode of Are You Ready?, Neil Cockburn is joined by Brad Gaulin of MExit and Neha Desilets of Kingston Ross Pasnak to explore the realities of business exit planning. The conversation goes far beyond the idea of simply selling a company. Instead, it focuses on the strategic and often lengthy process of preparing a business for a change in ownership, whether that means an external sale, a transition to family members, or a path toward employee ownership. With trillions of dollars in Canadian business wealth expected to change hands over the next decade, the topic has never been more relevant.

Brad shares how his work in business transformation naturally led into exit planning. He explains that many owners assume they can sell their business whenever they are ready, but a successful exit often depends on years of preparation. That includes building a stronger leadership team, creating systems that allow the business to operate without the owner at the center of everything, and understanding the true after-tax value of the company. The discussion reinforces a key idea: preparing a business for exit often makes it stronger, more scalable, and more valuable, whether or not a sale ultimately happens.

Neil and Neha also highlight the personal side of exit planning. For many owners, the business is closely tied to identity, purpose, and long-term financial security. That is why exit planning must begin with clarity around what comes next, not just the transaction itself. This episode offers a practical look at why starting early matters, how better planning creates more options, and why the most successful exits are built long before they are executed.

About Neil Cockburn

Neil Cockburn is a Chartered Professional Accountant (FCPA), Family Enterprise Advisor (FEA), and Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP), and the Director of Family Enterprise Advisory Services at Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP. With more than 40 years of experience working alongside business owners and family enterprises, Neil specializes in succession planning, intergenerational wealth transition, and estate strategy. He is known for helping families navigate complex transitions with clarity and confidence—always grounded in one central question: Are you ready for what comes next?

About Neha Desilets

Neha Desilets is a Principal in the Consulting and Special Projects Practice at Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), with over 17 years of experience supporting organizations through audit, business advisory, and complex strategic initiatives. Neha has worked extensively with private companies, not‑for‑profit organizations, and First Nation entities, with a focus on governance, risk management, and due diligence. As a member of the Exit Planning Institute, she helps business owners prepare for transition with clarity, structure, and confidence—bridging the gap between today’s decisions and long‑term outcomes.

To learn more and connect with Neil Cockburn of Kingston Ross Pasnak, please visit: https://www.krpgroup.com/our-people/neil-cockburn

This video podcast series is proudly produced by the team at Road 55 - located in Edmonton, Alberta.
For more information, please visit: www.road55.ca 

In this first episode of Are You Ready?, host Neil Cockburn, Director of Family Enterprise Advisory Services at Kingston Ross Pasnak, explores one of the most overlooked but critical areas of readiness planning: wills, estate planning, and end-of-life preparation. Drawing on decades of experience advising business owners and families, Neil introduces two guiding principles that shape effective planning. Be proactive and begin with the end in mind. These ideas set the foundation for thoughtful decisions that can significantly impact the people you care about most.

Neil is joined by Greg Barnsdale, a Certified Financial Planner and licensed funeral director, who brings a rare and powerful perspective to the conversation. Greg shares why so many Canadians delay estate planning, despite the reality that more than half do not have an up-to-date will. He also reflects on his own experience with a life-altering brain tumour diagnosis, which deepened his belief in the importance of preparing early. Together, they discuss the emotional challenges of these conversations, the need for professional guidance, and the role communication plays in ensuring a plan actually works when it is needed.

This episode is a reminder that readiness is not about fear. It is about clarity, preparation, and care for those you leave behind. When planning is done well, it reduces stress, supports better outcomes, and allows families the space to focus on what matters most during difficult times.

About Neil Cockburn

Neil Cockburn is a Chartered Professional Accountant (FCPA), Family Enterprise Advisor (FEA), and Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP), and the Director of Family Enterprise Advisory Services at Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP. With more than 40 years of experience working alongside business owners and family enterprises, Neil specializes in succession planning, intergenerational wealth transition, and estate strategy. He is known for helping families navigate complex transitions with clarity and confidence—always grounded in one central question: Are you ready for what comes next?

To learn more and connect with Neil Cockburn of Kingston Ross Pasnak, please visit: https://www.krpgroup.com/our-people/neil-cockburn

This video podcast series is proudly produced by the team at Road 55 - located in Edmonton, Alberta.
For more information, please visit: www.road55.ca