Ocala Manufacturer Gives Ownership to Workers Through ESOP

Fidelity Manufacturing, an Ocala company that has supplied backup power equipment to hospitals and data centers for more than a decade, is now fully employee-owned. The founders announced the transition on October 5, 2026, selling their controlling shares to an employee stock ownership plan that distributes ownership to eligible workers.

A New Era for Fidelity

Brad and Wendy Dinkins, who founded Fidelity Manufacturing in 2014, shared the news with employees at a companywide meeting at the Ocala facility. The founders will remain on the board, while their son Paul Dinkins moves from chief strategy officer to executive chair. Another son, Ken Dinkins, joins the board along with two independent directors.

"For us, this is about protecting what has made Fidelity successful while creating an even stronger foundation for the future," said CEO Mitch Twardosky in a press release reported by 352Today. The company manufactures generator enclosures, fuel tanks, and complete standby power packages for critical infrastructure including hospitals and data centers.

What the Company Does

Fidelity Manufacturing specializes in building equipment that keeps essential services running during power outages. Their products serve hospitals, data centers, and other facilities that cannot afford downtime. The company has operated from Ocala for 16 years, growing alongside the city's manufacturing sector.

According to EIN Presswire, the company is also expanding. Fidelity is opening a second manufacturing facility in McGregor, Texas, as part of its growth strategy while maintaining its headquarters in Ocala.

How the ESOP Works

In an employee stock ownership plan, shares are distributed to employees through a trust. The amount each worker receives typically depends on salary and length of service. When an employee retires or leaves the company, Fidelity typically buys those shares back.

Unlike a workers' cooperative, an ESOP does not involve employees in daily operations. The company retains its traditional corporate management structure while giving workers a financial stake in the company's success.

The ESOP model has grown more popular among family businesses looking for succession plans that keep companies locally rooted. Employees receive ownership stock as a retirement benefit, similar to how 401(k) matching works, but with actual ownership stakes in the business.

Preserving the Culture

Brad Dinkins said the transition reflects the family's view of themselves as stewards of what they built. "Wendy and I have always viewed ourselves as stewards of what God entrusted to us through Fidelity," he said, according to 352Today. "That included caring for our employees, honoring the relationships we have built with our customers and partners, and preparing the company to thrive beyond us. Employee ownership places Fidelity's future in the hands of the people who helped build it while preserving the values, independence and commitment to quality and service that have guided us from the beginning."

The company currently employs workers at its Ocala headquarters and will continue growing its Marion County workforce while adding the Texas location. The expansion comes as demand for backup power solutions grows across Florida and the Gulf Coast, where hurricanes and storms regularly cause extended power outages.

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