North Arrow ABA Makes History as Michigan’s First Employee-Owned Applied Behavior Analysis Firm
Pioneering a New Path for the Behavioral Health Industry
Leading a New Era of Ownership in Healthcare
North Arrow ABA has spent years caring for others, and now they are building a future where their employees are cared for as owners - literally.
In July 2026, North Arrow ABA will make history as the first Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) firm in Michigan to transition to employee ownership through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).
With more than 180 employees across Michigan, North Arrow ABA’s transition represents a significant milestone not only for the company but for the broader mental and behavioral health industry. By choosing employee ownership, North Arrow ABA is creating a new model for how organizations can grow, preserve culture, and invest in the people who make their mission possible.
North Arrow provides ABA services at their 8 locations and plans to expand throughout the state. Making them a household name for the future of ABA services and the employee ownership movement alike.
The transition is being supported
by the Michigan Center for Employee Ownership (MICEO) Transition to Employee Ownership pilot program, a statewide initiative of the Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity (LEO) designed to help Michigan businesses explore employee ownership as a succession strategy and long-term economic development tool.
Building a Future Designed to Last
For North Arrow ABA’s leadership team, the decision to become employee-owned stemmed from firsthand observations of what is happening across the behavioral health industry.
“The MICEO program really helped accelerate our transition to employee ownership,” said Mike Dow, North Arrow’s Executive Director. “We’ve always felt that an ESOP was the best fit for our business model, our culture, and our community. MICEO and LEO helped lead us to that goal, to the benefit of both our employees and the clients we serve.”
Rather than pursuing a traditional sales model, North Arrow ABA chose a path focused on continuity, culture, and the future of its employees. Rooting its employees long term in their communities, providing economic resilience for generations of workers to come.
Employee ownership allows the company to preserve the values that helped build the organization while creating a shared investment in its future success. With North Arrow's ownership mentality, becoming employee-owned was the next natural step.
“This milestone reflects growing awareness among Michigan business owners that employee ownership can be a practical and successful succession strategy,” said MICEO Executive Director Roy Messing. “We’re excited to see so many companies taking meaningful steps toward employee ownership and are proud to celebrate North Arrow ABA as the first company to complete a transition through the program. Employee ownership helps preserve local businesses, reward the employees who contribute to their success and create stronger, more resilient communities.”
Ownership Starts With People
ABA providers play a critical role in supporting children and families through evidence-based behavioral services. For North Arrow ABA, the people delivering that care are at the center of the company’s success.
By becoming employee-owned, team members will have the opportunity to build wealth through ownership while having a stronger connection to the long-term success of the organization.
The ESOP model creates a structure in which employees are not only contributors to the company’s mission but also owners of the future they are helping create.
A Michigan Company Leading National Change
North Arrow ABA’s transition is a powerful example of how employee ownership can create new opportunities across a wide range of industries.
While ESOPs have long been established in manufacturing, construction, professional services, and other sectors, North Arrow ABA is helping demonstrate that employee ownership can be a solution for growing healthcare and behavioral health organizations as well.
Their transition sends a message to business owners across Michigan and beyond: succession planning does not have to mean losing culture, jobs, or the legacy built over years of hard work.
Building the Future of Employee Ownership in Michigan
The Michigan Center for Employee Ownership is proud to support companies like North Arrow ABA as they explore employee ownership as a path forward. Showcasing a rooted mission, the Transition to Employee Ownership Pilot is giving Michigan businesses access to the education, resources, and connections needed to navigate successful ownership transitions.
North Arrow ABA’s story represents more than a company milestone; it represents a shift in how businesses can think about growth, succession, and shared success.
As North Arrow ABA begins its next chapter as an employee-owned company, it is proving that ownership can be a powerful tool for strengthening companies, communities, and the people who make them thrive.
Additional Press Releases
North Arrow's Press Release:
https://www.northarrowaba.com/esop
Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Press Release: https://www.michigan.gov/leo/news/2026/06/30/governor-whitmer-celebrates-michigan-employee-ownership-pilot-momentum
