Corporate Mission, Values, Vision and Employee Ownership

ESOP Logo

On September 30, 2021, Golden Artist Colors staff celebrated 100% Employee Ownership!

With this monumental step, comes growth for the company’s Corporate Board. Two new Board Members have joined CEO & Co-Founder Mark Golden, President & COO Barbara Schindler, and Board of Directors Treasurer Jim Henderson on its Board of Directors.

You can learn more about the company’s Mission, Values, Vision  and journey in Employee Ownership over the years below.

Corporate Mission, Values, Vision and Employee Ownership

At Golden Artist Colors, a unique company in the business of making professional artist paints, our Mission is:

To grow a sustainable company dedicated to creating and sharing the most imaginative and innovative tools of color, line and texture for inspiring those who turn their vision into reality.

As committed as we are to being tool makers for artists, we are also committed to being a responsible employer and therefore, in 2002, implemented an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) for staff. 

"This new step," said Mark Golden, "reinforces what employees have learned to believe all along-to act and feel like owners. From its inception, Golden Artist Colors has prepared its employees to take greater responsibility and share in the company's success."

At the end of Golden Artist Colors' first profitable year in 1987, the company instituted a profit sharing pension plan, unique at the time because it allowed each employee to direct his or her own investments. In 1996, The White House recognized 150 businesses including Golden Artist Colors, for their shining example of outstanding Corporate Citizenship.

"We have tried to create an environment where people can thrive," commented CEO, Mark Golden. "As a result, the company has flourished. We are so grateful for all the support and dedication shown by employees over the years, and becoming employee owned allows us to close the final loop for our staff. Not only will our employees act and feel like owners, but they will become true owners as well."

In May 2010, a new phase of the ownership journey began when GOLDEN staff became one of only 4,000 other companies across the entire United States that is majority owned by its employees. On  October 1, 2021, GOLDEN staff celebrated 100% Employee Ownership!

“Implementing 100% ownership for staff is very unique and something our family has dreamt about since the company’s beginning,” said GOLDEN CEO Mark Golden. “We began on the premise that ‘what you care about will grow’ and Golden Artist Colors has grown many times beyond the dreams we once had as we peered across the fields from my parent’s kitchen. Four decades later it is clear that we’ve grown in the most wonderful ways. It has been through the care and dedication of each of our staff that has joined us on this journey and made this place part of themselves.” 

“Time has demonstrated that companies with 100% employee ownership often see greater productivity, higher profitability, and increased revenue,” said Golden.  “These successes tend to continue over time, as employees have a vested interest in the sustainability and overall success of the company.  We’re excited to experience this new phase in the company’s dynamic history!”

"Employee ownership provides the opportunity to perpetually renew and reenergize the motivations of the entire company," said GOLDEN President & COO, Barbara J. Schindler. "Guided by principles of mutual respect and constructs of value-centered leadership, given the care of its employees, Golden Artist Colors, Inc. looks forward to an even greater measure of success."

Not only are employee owners at Golden Artist Colors dedicated to the corporate Mission, they are committed to the Values of the company as well:

Employee owners at Golden Artist Colors are devoted to what we do and how we do it. Above all, human dignity is treasured and preserved. Our Values are as follows:

  • Honor Work-Life Balance
  • Pursue Growth and Learning
  • Act as Stewards in All We Care For
  • Lead and Inspire Creativity and Innovation
  • Build and Engage Community Relationships

And finally, as we look to the future of Golden Artist Colors, we keep the company's Vision at the forefront of our minds:

Golden Artist Colors is a catalyst, bridging creative communities and inspiring positive global change through the arts.

If you're interested in learning even more about employee ownership, visit the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) website as well.