Published March 11, 2025
Massachusetts — Eastern Garage Door has been installing and servicing garage doors for the greater Lawrence and Merrimack Valley area for more than a century. Today, the company of eight employees is marking a new milestone: becoming an employee-owned cooperative and entrusting the future of the company to the people who know the business best.
David Berryan, the previous owner of the company who had worked as a manager before taking over as owner, had always known he wanted to sell the business to his employees, some who have worked at the company for decades.
“I wanted to see the company continue on after me,” said Mr. Berryan. “I certainly didn’t want to sell it to an outside company. I didn’t have a family member interested. I had another form of family, my employees. They are much of the driving force. I spent an enormous amount of time trying to figure out how to make the transition happen and how to be successful.”
The pieces started coming together in the Spring of 2023, when Mr. Berryan attended a Cooperative Development Institute (CDI) presentation at a workshop held by the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce. He learned about the process of transitioning his business to employee ownership and felt assured that this option was possible with the right preparation.
“It was very fulfilling, and I finally got all the answers I needed to take this idea to the team,” Mr. Berryan said.
He presented the concept to his employees and got a positive response. Then in November 2023, the employees met with CDI to understand their options and 6 out of 8 employees voted to proceed with the transition. Mr. Berryan and his team spent about a year and a half working together with members of CDI’s Business Ownership Solutions program to plan a smooth transition, including establishing a steering committee, training employees on how to run the business, and helping them secure the financing to buy-out the business.
The new owners of the Eastern Garage Door cooperative include a mix of field technicians and office staff who have spent decades becoming specialists in their own roles. Now, as owners, not only do they have to solve problems in their own jobs, but they must also solve problems and make money for the whole company.
“It was tough coming from a lot of different backgrounds and trying to get us all on the same understanding level,” said Tamara McDermott, general manager and one of six member-owners of Eastern Garage Door. “For some of our techs in the field, English isn’t their primary language. So, we had to think about, how do we get everyone to understand the finances and how the numbers apply to the business?”
The process was sometimes challenging, but the result was well worth it, Ms. McDermott said.
“CDI was gentle with us, helping us understand a little at a time,” said Ms. McDermott. “We had to hold on tight, go back into learning mode, but it was worth it. Now that we’re owners, business is as usual, but with a little added extra flair. It’s not just one person feeling the financial pressure, we all are. CDI will continue to help us navigate being a cooperative including any hurdles we might face.”
The future is bright for the owners of Eastern Garage Door. They will continue to evolve the business to increase revenue including possibly expanding their service range and opening a second location.
“Growth is very doable for us,” said Ms. McDermott. “It’s a reality and not just talk. It’s attainable.”
If you are a business owner who is interested in learning more about employee ownership as an exit or growth strategy, reach out to Rob Brown, director of CDI’s Business Ownership Solutions: rbrown@cdi.coop.
For press inquiries, please contact Heather Holland: hholland@cdi.coop
