In this interactive workshop, Maceo Owens, CEO (Chief ERG Operator) at The ERG Movement and Keith Choy, Co-founder & COO at Epoch, led attendees through a high-impact session focused on building sustainable, high-performing employee resource groups (ERGs). Designed for ERG program managers, leads, and workplace professionals, the session gave participants actionable tools to structure, engage, and measure ERG success, without overwhelming volunteer leads or sacrificing quality.

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Setting the foundation: the ERG refresh

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Maceo kicked off the session by introducing the ERG Recipe framework, a metaphor for treating ERG programs like a well-functioning kitchen. Without the right setup, even the best chefs struggle. Similarly, ERGs need clear purpose, structure, and process before they can scale.

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Participants walked through a 90-day roadmap to reset their ERG programs, including:

• Diagnosing challenges and identifying core issues
  
  
• Clarifying the purpose of the ERG
  
  
• Defining key roles and responsibilities
  
  
• Building repeatable processes
  
  
• Establishing data collection and onboarding practices
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Using design thinking principles, attendees reflected on how to design for their members’ real needs. A key takeaway: without a solid foundation, ERGs struggle to maintain momentum and scale effectively.

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Engagement beyond just events

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The next portion of the workshop focused on evolving ERGs from event engines to true communities. Maceo emphasized that ERGs are not meant to be just another corporate task force, they are meant to create connection. Community can be built in many ways: through asynchronous activities, Slack posts, videos, or resource sharing, not just through formal events.

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Keith explored how tooling can reduce manual workload. Many ERG leads operate like unpaid program managers, balancing logistics with their day jobs. By using platforms like Epoch, teams can automate key workflows such as:

• Event creation and calendar integration
  
  
• Automated comms and reminders
  
  
• RSVP and attendance tracking
  
  
• Centralized event discovery
  
  

This helps ERG leaders focus more on impact and less on administrative burden. If tools aren’t in the budget, teams were encouraged to partner with internal comms or people ops to share the load and build the case for future investment.

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Measuring what matters

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The final segment covered the metrics that matter most for ERG success. Maceo outlined a full framework for capturing data across community engagement, event participation, and communication touchpoints.

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Sample metrics included:

• Member participation rates and attendance at events
  
  
• Engagement scores for communications across platforms
  
  
• Event effectiveness using post-event surveys and feedback
  
  
• Segment insights by surfacing gaps in participation across identity groups
  
  

Keith closed with a reality check. Many teams spend hours manually updating spreadsheets for quarterly reports. By using integrated platforms, ERG managers can track participation, feedback, and outcomes in real time, allowing them to be more strategic, not just reactive.

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Key takeaways

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• Build a solid ERG foundation before trying to scale
  
  
• Design for engagement, not just attendance
  
  
• Use creative formats to build community beyond events
  
  
• Automate where possible to avoid burnout and boost consistency
  
  
• Track meaningful metrics that reflect reach, engagement, and equity
  
  

Start small, stay consistent, and advocate for tools that support growth