ProTrade Steel (ProTrade) is now 100% employee-owned through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), a milestone that secures the company’s independence and honors the generations of people who built it.
Lazear served as the exclusive financial advisor on the ESOP transaction designed to strengthen ProTrade’s long-term position in the scrap metal industry while reinforcing a culture rooted in accountability, pride, and shared success.
“Becoming an employee-owned company is a natural extension of the legacy my family has built in the steel industry,” said Jon Kessick, President of ProTrade. “My grandfather, Jack Kessick Sr., spent 35 years in steel, long enough to earn the privilege of discussing the industry with President John F. Kennedy. My father carried that passion forward when he founded ProTrade. An ESOP ensures that same pride is now shared by every employee-owner as we move into our next chapter.”
Shawn Ely, Managing Director and Cleveland Market Leader, led the transaction with support from Brad Miller and Paige McCarthy. Reflecting on the engagement, Ely shared, “Advising ProTrade on their transition to employee ownership was especially meaningful for me. I’ve seen firsthand how ESOPs are reshaping the future of construction, trades, and industrial companies across our region. ProTrade’s move to employee ownership positions them for long-term stability while keeping their legacy and independence intact. It’s a powerful step for their team and for the industry.”
Founded in 1994, ProTrade is a fully integrated ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal company with five trading offices, two processing facilities, and a transportation division operating more than 350 private railcars. Together, these capabilities allow ProTrade to serve mills, foundries, and export markets worldwide with consistent brokerage and delivery of diverse scrap grades.
The National Center for Employee Ownership reports a growing number of ESOPs among industrial, construction, and trade-related businesses as companies look for strategies to strengthen competitiveness, retain skilled talent, and plan for long-term continuity. ProTrade now joins this expanding group of firms using employee ownership to maintain its leadership, operations, and culture and elevate the people at the core of its success.
About Lazear
Lazear is a premier middle-market advisory firm specializing in business ownership transitions nationwide. Headquartered in Columbus, OH, with a growing presence, the firm is dedicated to helping business owners maximize wealth and preserve legacies through customized exit strategies, including ESOPs and 1042, M&A, and capital formation.
To learn more, visit www.lazearcapital.com and follow Lazear on LinkedIn.
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kk@lazearcapital.com
614-502-1411
