VISITING THE EDWARD AT THE TOP ANGELS OF CONTAINER

Sunday
APRIL
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13, 2014 • DENVERPOST.COM • THE DENVER POST
SECTION
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By admitting mistakes, praising people and modeling teachability, the best executives show
their people how to grow and reassure them that mistakes and uncertainty happen. »4W
SMALL
MEDIUM
VISITING
ANGELS OF
LITTLETON
THE
CONTAINER
STORE
"Everyone knows how
appreciated they are." )) 8W
"It's really all about our
employees first." )) 16W
TOP
WORK
PLACES
LARGE
EDWARD
JONES
"It's important that
everyone who works at
Jones is successful." ))19W
ONLINE
AT THE TOP
Take a look at last year's
Top Workplaces.
)) DENVERPOST.COM/
TOPWORKPLACES
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SUNDAY, APRIL
13, 2014 • DENVERPOST.COM • THE DENVER POST
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A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
Workers happy to follow thoughtful leaders
By Dana Coffield
gested a majority of workers were
far less concerned about pay and
benefits than they were with the
way top leaders conveyed company
goals and executed strategy, and
how connected they felt to their
work.
They valued being looped in on
their employers' overall progress
and appreciated focused managers who helped them do their
current jobs well and prepare for
the next step on the career ladder.
We asked some of these managers to share their strategies in the
hope that others may be ble to
follow the leads to deveij>p their
own best business practices that
engage and inspire employees because the bottom line is only as
strong as those involved in building it.
Denver Post Business Editor
The economic news has been
pretty good so far this year. Colorado business leaders surveyed by
the University of Colorado's
Leeds School of Business research division report a mostly
positive outlook about the state of
the economy, sales, profits and
hiring.
Job growth continues at a steady
clip, and Colorado now is 2.1 percent above the prerecession employment peak. And there seems to
be a little less work-related anxiety,
even though employees are, in
many cases, working harder than
ever.
And let's face it: Without good
employees, no business gets to
share in the spoils of an improving
economy.
For the third annual Top Workplaces, The Denver Post took its
cues from the s6.360 employees
Carl Knight, owner ofVisiting Angels of Littleton, meets with
employees last month. Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post
who responded to WorkplaceDynamics' survey last fall and focused
on how top management motivates
the workforce.
While we expected Top Workplaces employees to still be stinging from the effects of the protracted recession, the assessment sug-
Dana Coffield: 303-954-1954,
[email protected] or
twitter.com/denpostdana
There are over 2,600 reasons why
U.S. Bank is a great place to work ...
our employees.
On behalf of our 2,600+ employees in Colorado, we are proud to be
recognized as a 2014 Top Workplace.
As a company, we encourage advancement, celebrate success, reward
achievements, support a work/life balance, and respect each other as
individuals and a team.
We take pride in providing our employees with the resources and support
they need to succeed so we can succeed together as a company.
Thank you to our employees for voting for US!
All of C!In serving you
'IIIE DENVER PosT
Member FDIC
[!E3bank.
I.
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THE DENVER POST •
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13, 2014
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4W» NEWS
SUNDAY, APRIL
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13, 2014 • DENVERPOST.COM • THE DENVER POST
KEEPING EMPLOYEES MOTIVATED AND SATISFIED
Positive energy in the workplace makes for happier workers. The chart compares what metro Denver workers value versus the nation in 2014.
Denver
C Nation
Meaningful, fulfilling job
lob has met or exceeded expectations
Manager helps learn
and grow '
New ideas encouraged at company
Confident about personal
future at company
_ _ _ _ _ _ _, ____ - - - - - - --
-- -~
· _..1
Upper management
understands company goals
Work genuinely appreciated
by company
Company operates by
strong values and ethics
Manager cares about concerns
... '
Well-informed, aware
of important decisions
1
Acquiring formal training for career 1--- - - -- - - --
Little frustration at workplace
Execute projects efficiently and well
Benefits package comparable
to others in industry
Managers make it easier
to do job well '
Flexibility to balance work
and personal life
Pay is fair for the work done
Company is going in
the right direction
Source: Workplace Dynamics The Denver Post
Best firms go to the mat
By Lisa Greim
Special to The Denver Post
When people talk about what
makes a great workplace, perks hog
the spotlight. But the tone the boss
sets matters more, experts and
workers agree.
Colorado companies tout on-site
fitness classes, unlimited vacation
time, cool chairs, all the soda you
can drink, game lounges and a dog
under every desk.
But workers who answered The
Denver Post's Top Workplaces survey showed that appreciation from
leadership is a much better motivator than Nerf guns and free bagels.
Managers' behavior gets copied
and forms a culture, for good or ill,
Brannan Sand and Gravel paving superintendent Sunny Alvarez, right,
works on a parking lot near uoth Avenue and I -25. Brannan ranks high
nationally among midsize employers. Jamie Cotten, Special to The Denver Post
says David Hekman, assistant professor of management and entrepreneurship at the University of Colorado's Leeds School of Business in
Boulder.
·~ lot of the time, it's not conscious," Hekman says. "Followers really focus on what the leader does,
(to learn) what's a legitimate normal
behavior. 'We're mean to people,
that's what we do.' Or 'My leader
serves me, so I serve other people.' "
In one paper, co-written by Hekman and published in the Academy
of Management Journal, leaders
who modeled humble behaviors created a culture of learning and innovation.
By admitting mistakes, praising
EMPLOYEES>> 6W
Yoga instructor Rose Ode helps White Wave staffers, from right,
Tanya Rowe, Elizabeth MacD onald and Anni Wildung at a free class
during the lunch hour last month. Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post
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THE DENVER POST •
DENVERPOST.COM
•
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13, 2014
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r·--·-·--·- ................. --·- ........... -· -- - -.·-
30 Million Homeowners
80~000 Service Professionals
900 Employees in Denver
TOP
WORK
TOP
PLACES
HomeAdvisor.com/Careers
Always looking for great
• Marketers
Sales Stars
o
Software Developers
Internet Product Managers
Advisor:M
Your Home Improvement Connection
Customer Service Reps
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SUNDAY, APRIL
13, 2014 • DENVERPOST.COM • THE DENVER POST
revgen partners
EMPLOYEES
DRIVING PROFITABILITY ®
((FROM 4W
Our people make
RevGen Partners a
great place to work.
www.revgenpartners.com
Our team
of heroes is
committed
to making
the online
world secure.
c
aga~ns~ ·fS~~ne viruses,
thii '·at._aoti cyber "Ti~e
+
people and modeling teachability,
leaders show their people how to
grow and reassure them that mistakes and uncertainty happen. This
encourages teamwork and growth
from the bottom up.
"It's extremely motivating (for
workers) to realize where their boss
is weak," Hekman says. Team members see ways they can contribute,
rather than being intimidated by a
boss who appears to know everything.
The concept works for highly rated top workplaces.
"I've always taken the approach to
hire better than me," says Carl
Knight, who received high marks for
leadership from his employees at Visiting Angels of Littleton. During 10
years of business, he and his agency
managers "evolved together," he says.
New Belgium Brewing workers
earn a cruiser bike after a year, a trip
to Belgium after five years and lots
of free beer. But asked why they love
their jobs, they say things such as: "I
smile when I am working, knowing
that what I do is part of a greater
whole."
Most people with a great boss
know how lucky they are.
A team member at Jackson National Life stated, "I have THE BEST
BOSS in the world who also has THE
BEST BOSS in the world.... Rare is
the company that makes its employees feel valued and listened to."
Even in large global companies,
the tone set by the CEO or founder
can influence the day-to-day work of
the whole organization.
Top companies deliver
"It starts with (CEO) Fred Smith
and his leadership and understanding of how important people are. I
am treated as a pr:ofessional in the
truest sense of the word," a Denverarea FedEx employee wrote. FedEx
employs 4,000 people in Colorado
and 30o,ooo around the world.
At Craig Hospital, "Everyone
(from housekeeping to CEO) contributes to our patients' and families'
experience through our culture and
attitudes," a team member says.
Tim Van Binsbergen, general
manager of Mountain States Toyota,
believes his main job is not selling
cars. "It's about growing people," he
says, "teaching our associates to be-
*
come better human beings."
Along with a noncommissioned
pay structure, good benefits and "a
very expensive espresso machine,"
Van Binsbergen started assigning
books to read and discuss. "I do
things to feed their brains."
Workers who worry about getting
in trouble or making a mistake will
take a defensive posture toward customers and co-workers, says Simon
Sinek, author of "Leaders Eat Last:
Why Some Teams Pull Together and
Others Don't."
"You have the responsibility to
make the people closest to you feel
confident and encourage them to
pass it through layers of the organization," Sinek says. Pointing to the
outermost layer, he adds, "When this
group of people really feels safe,
then they will invite in the customer
to also feel safe. They will talk to
these people as if they are human."
Happy, loyal customers
It pays off in happier and more
loyal customers. For example, credit
card call-center employees at Alliance Data Retail Services wrote that
they loved their jobs because "I do
not have to rush with my customers"
and "We are encouraged and rewarded, not threatened."
One of The Container Store's core
values is "Communication is leadership," says Jodi Hager, general manager of the Flatiron Crossing location.
By letting team members at all levels know what's going on, inoculating them with culture and teaching
them how to make decisions, "People feel empowered to take care of
customers," she says.
In "Leaders Eat Last," Sinek uses
the military to illustrate a key point:
Empathy is the single greatest asset
a leader has.
Greg Betsinger, regional leader
with Edward Jones, recalls wanting
to throw in the towel as a brand-new
rmancial adviser. Despairing, he
called someone he had met during
training: Jack Cahill.
"Jack is a legend in the rrrm, although I didn't know it at the time,"
Betsinger said.
Cahill, Edward Jones' now-retired
general partner, spent 45 minutes
convincing Betsinger to stay with
the work he has now done for 16
years.
"Empowering people to thrive as a leader, that's what I do," he says
now. "I keep the vision present for
everybody."
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THE DENVER POST •
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Physician Health Partners
Collaborate, Innovate, Mdke a Differen((:~
DENVERPOST.COM
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Partners with Patients
Partners in Health Care
- ·.:
PHP is:
13, 2014
Part e s \vith Doctors
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SUNDAY, APRIL
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~ helping ·mpr ve health care for more than
240,000 Denver area kids and adults
an influencer
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Thank you to our talented
and dedicated
You
everyday.
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13, 2014 • DENVERPOST.COM • THE DENVER POST
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TOP WORKPLACES SURVEY WINNERS: SMALL COMPANIES
Staffers given wings to soar
By Lisa Greim
Special to The Denver Post
When most of your employees
work outside the office, how do you
manage them? How do you make
them feel like part of a team?
Carl Knight, CEO of Visiting Angels of Littleton, used last year's Top
Workplaces survey results to f'md
out whether his 120 home-care
workers were happy.
"The indirect supervision component of our business is hard," he said.
"We always worry about that disconnect, (so) we treat our field staff
like a customer. We're here for them
when they need us.''
Team members conf'rrm this:
"They make sure everyone knows
how appreciated they are," one says.
One of 450 locations in a national
chain based in Havertown, Pa., Visiting Angels provides private-duty
home care for seniors, enabling people to stay in their homes. Clients
choose their caregivers. A woman
might request someone who also
went through breast cancer or
someone who plays the piano.
Although Visiting Angels doesn't
offer skilled medical care, many
caregivers are retired nurses or other health care workers.
One worker noted she enjoyed
"meeting people from all areas of
life, allowing me to keep busy and
helpful.''
Visiting Angels of Littleton's 134
team members gave Knight high
marks for effective and compassionate leadership toward both clients
and themselves. "Every single staff
member and the owners show genuine care for employees," one wrote.
The Knight family opened Visiting Angels in Littleton 10 years ago,
after their son Todd, then 24, suffered a closed-head injury during a
dirt-track motorcycle race.
Todd received care at Craig Hospital, close to home, and his family
had the resources and flexibility to
Visiting Angels team member Ramona Howell, left, helps Jeanne Herrick, 95, finish paperwork at
Concordia on the Lake apartments and cottage homes in Littleton last month. Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post
help him make a full recovery. But it
raised questions that led Knight to
leave a 27-year career in computers
and start a home-care business.
"For four months, he could not be
left alone," Knight said. "We
thought, what do other families do?
How does that person get care? I
didn't even know these services
were available."
Employee retention has been a big
focus, because f'mding people with
the heart to do this work is not easy,
Knight said. "I don't want to just put
a warm body in your house.''
On the basis of information from
the 2013 Top Workplaces Survey,
Knight and his managers improved
Visiting Angels' benefits package,
changed how time off is accrued and
increased starting pay. He believes
the changes helped decrease employee turnover from 62 percent in
2012 to 36 percent last year.
"For what our staff does, they never make enough money," he said.
"They should be paid what Peyton
Manning gets paid."
Rounding out the Top Five Small
Workplaces:
2. LIVE Urban Real Estate
Like the city dwellers it serves,
LIVE Urban Real Estate is pluggedin, wind-powered and always looking for the next epic thing.
Their sleek Highland office relies
on a paperless system for contracts
and file management, communicates with its 55 brokers through a
private WordPress blog, and uses
Google Docs for ordering marketing
materials and scheduling floor
shifts. Mobile marketing, a YouTube
channel and Twitter feed put the
brand in front of the young professionals who form their customer
base.
LIVE Urban supports nonprofits
such as Project Angel Heart and UrbiCulture Community Farms, and
puts on events such as Race to Your
Next Place, an open-house scavenger hunt with a $1o,ooo cash prize
for a down payment. The 2012 event
attracted 114 teams and raised mon-
"For what our staff does, they never make enough money.
They should be paid what Peyton Manning gets paid."
Carl Knight, CEO of Visiting Angels of Littleton
SMALL))lOW
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THE DENVER POST •
DENVERPOST.COM •
SUNDAY, APRIL
13, 2014
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TOP
Great c,ity.
G:reat news.
GreatPfaee
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Thank you,
Maybe it's our company v:alues. Our commitment to
Schwab employees,
clients. Our diversity and inclusiveness. Our concern
for once again naming
us a Top_Workplace
in Denver.
for employee well-being. Or maybe all those things
combined make Schwab a different kind of investment
firm and a place our employees really like to work.
How about you? Is Schwab your kind of workplace?
Visit aboutschwab.com/careers.
charles
SCHWAB
©2014 Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
All rights reserved. Member SIPC.
CS21331 - 03 (0413- 2561) ADP79920-00 (03/14)
+.
lOW» NEWS
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13, 2014 • DENVERPOST.COM • THE DENVER POST
SMALL
((FROM 8W
ey for Habitat for Humanity.
An energetic and fun environment
sets the tone, brokers say. "I feel part
of a team, and that's hard in the real
estate industry," one wrote. Another
described LIVE as "an awesome
place to work."
Founded in 2006 by John Skrabec
and Mark White, LIVE Urban sells
homes across the metro area but focuses on Denver neighborhoods
from Sunnyside to Country Club.
3. PorchLight
Real Estate Group
For a taste of what -makes PorchLight Real Estate Group a different
kind of real estate office, consider an
upcoming charity trivia night to
benefit Warren Village, with beer
and wine, a burrito bar and trivia by
Geeks Who Drink - hosted in the
party room at PorchLight's headquarters on Broadway.
"We have fun!" an employee said.
"I am constantly learning and going
and doing."
PorchLight describes its work
with both buyers and sellers as "concierge-style." It harnesses the power
of social media to sell homes, attracting buyers with Pinterest
boards and YouTube videos that
spotlight neighborhood attractions.
Team members gave their company high marks for doing business efficiently and well. "Systems are in
place that actually work to streamline the process ofbuying and selling real estate," one said.
Support for agents includes website development, virtual tours with
professional photography and staging to show off homes. Benefits include 100 percent employer-funded
health insurance, 401(k) with match,
and fitness perks.
"My peers sharpen me instead of
compete with me," an agent said.
"We have a strong, encouraging
team where everyone wants to see
the other succeed."
Founders Amy and Carol Bayer
started the trrm in 2005 and have
grown from two women to 124 team
members in five locations. Offices
are located in Cherry Creek, the
Golden Triangle, Capitol Hill, Littleton and Bonnie Brae.
The Avery Brewing Co. is brimming with patrons. Employee benefits
include free tickets to the brewer's five festivals, an RTD EcoPass, a
climbing-gym membership and plenty ofbeer. Jeremy Papasso, Daily Camera
family-owned company that sources
as locally as possible, employs the
best
people I have ever worked with,
Boulder-based Avery Brewing Co.
creates unusual beers and loyal em- and gives back to a community that
ployees. ·~very represents the supports us."
American dream," one wrote, "a
SMALL»11W
4. Avery Brewing Co.
BRECKENRIDGE GRAND VACATIONS
Join Summit County's Employer of Choice
· Great Benefits Package
· Family-Owned Company
· Employee Recognition Program
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To learn more about our culture and team, visit
WWW.AI MCO.COM/CAREERS
building
community
*
Visit www. BreckenridgeGrandVacations. com
for employment opportunities.
*
SMALL
THE DENVER POST •
(( FROM lOW
In January, Avery broke ground on
a 96,ooo-square-foot brewery and
restaurant in north Boulder. The
new plant, expected to be completed
in early 2015, will double its production capacity, enabling it to expand
distribution beyond the 26 states in
which Avery's 20-plus ales and lagers are sold.
Benefits for Avery's 92 employees
include free tickets to each of five·
festivals that the craft brewer holds,
a Regional Transportation District
EcoPass, a climbing-gym membership, and plenty of draft and bottled
beer.
"The people are great," an Avery
employee said. "Management cares
about the concerns and well-being
of the employees. Creativity and
growth (are) strongly encouraged.
Training procedures are top-notch.
There is a sense of camaraderie that
DENVERPOST.COM
•
SUNDAY, APRIL
13, 2014
NEWS «llW
sharpeners has been around since
1976. "First we made things sharp,"
its website says, "then we made
sharp things!"
Its folding and fixed-blade knives
are favored by law enforcement,
military, outdoor enthusiasts, martial-arts practitioners, chefs and
sailors, including the crew of Oracle
Team USA, winner of the America's
Cup.
Employees praise a "caring and
strong management team" that
shows appreciation and produces
quality work. "I love that we have
high standards for ourselves and our
products," one said.
An assembler said, "My team leaders and managers are the best. When
you want or need anything done,
Dave Lyons makes a knife at Spyderco, whose folding and itxed-blade they're right on it."
knives are favored by law enforcement, military, outdoor enthusiasts,
"This company means the· world
martial-arts practitioners, chefs and sailors. Anya Semenoff, The Denver Post to me," another wrote.
Spyderco's 69 employees appreciI have not experienced in any other
ate the benefits, which include free
work environment."
rmancial planning twice a year, free
5. Spyderco Inc.
Added another: "Who wouldn't
The Golden-based maker of high- flu shots, matching retirement conlove working with beer?"
performance cutting tools and tributions and annual bonuses.
"This company means the world to me."
A Spyderco Inc. employee, in an anonymous survey
You deserve a
round of app ause.
You inspire us. Fed Ex is proud to recognize our Colorado
team members for a job well done.
©2014 FedEx. All rights reserved.
+.
+
12W» NEWS
SUNDAY, APRIL
13, 2014 • DENVERPOST.COM • THE DENVER POST
*
Top Workplaces ranking
Large employers
Rank Employer
1 Edward Jones
2 Anadarko Petroleum
Corp./Denver
3 Alliance Data Retail Services
4 Craig Hospital
5 FirstBank
6 T-Mobile US
7 IHS Inc.
8 Sturgeon Electric Company Inc.
9 Charles Schwab & Co.
10 East West Partners
More than sao local employeees
Headquarters
Ownership
Des Peres, Mo.
Partnership
The Woodlands, Texas Public
local hires
expected
local this year
n/a
628
n/a
796
35,350
5,068
revenues
$4.8 billion
n/a
Dallas
Englewood
Lakewood
Bellevue, Wash.
Englewood
Henderson
San Francisco
Avon
563
831
1,922
1,201
838
525
1,904
599
n/a
100
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
300
380
9,181
831
2,200
37,184
5,000
1,372
13,500
1,000
n/a
$1.3 million
n/a
$4.9 billion
n/a
n/a
$4.8 billion
$65 million
alliancedataretail.com
craighospital.org
eft rstba nk.com
t-mobile.com
ihs.com
myrg rou p.com
schwab.com
eastwestpartners.com
1,139
582
711
500
n/a
90
n/a
n/a
1,800
582
18,670
1,900
n/a
$65 million
n/a
n/a
oppenheimerfunds.com
mhcd.org
brighthorizons.com
thewhitewavefoodscompany.com
n/a 16,500
n/a 74,000
n/a 14,800
450 70,000
810 65,254
n/a
4.799
n/a 260,000
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
enterpriseholdings.com
usbank.com
childrenshospitalcolorado.org
fedex.com
878
n/a
1,990
n/a
nobleenergyinc.com
1,637
775
2,108
n/a
n/a
n/a
47.700
1,000
40,000
n/a
n/a
n/a
davita.com
homeadvisor.com
sprint.com
u.s.
Sector
Financial Advisers
Petroleum, Gas and
Petroleum Products
Public
Call Centers
Health Care- Hospitals
Nonprofit
Bank Office Services
Private
Wireless Communication
Public
Business Services
Public
Parent company Electrical
Investment Management
Public
Real Estate DeveloperI
Private
Manager/Broker
Parent company Investment Management
Nonprofit
Human and social services
Public
Other Services
Food/Beverages
Public
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
Oppenheimer Funds
New York
Mental Health Center of Denver Denver
Bright Horizons Family Solutions Watertown, Mass.
The WhiteWave
Broomfield
Foods Co.
DirecTV
El Segundo, Calif.
Whole Foods Market
University of Colorado Health
Aurora
Enterprise Holdings
St. Louis
U.S. Bank
Minneapolis
Children's Hospital Colorado
Aurora
Memphis
Fed Ex
22
Noble Energy Inc.
Houston
Public
23
24
25
DaVita Inc.
HomeAdvisor, Inc.
Sprint Nextel Corp.
Denver
Golden
Overland Park, Kan.
Public
Public
Public
11
12
13
14
Public
Public
Nonprofit
Private
Public
Nonprofit
Public
Telecommunications and Cable
Health Care- Hospitals
Retail
Commercial Bank
Hospitals
Distribution, Logistics
and Freight
Oil & Gas Exploration
and Production
Health Care
Consumer Services
Wireless Communication
Midsize em players 1so to 499 local employeees
Rank Employer
1 The Container Store
Headquarters
Coppell, Texas
Ownership
Private
3
Mountain States Toyota
Datalogix
Denver
Westminster
Public
Private
4
5
Kentwood Real Estate
New York Life Insurance
Denver
New York
6
Sympoz Inc.
Cornerstone Home Lending, Inc.
First American Title
Insurance Co.
New Belgium Brewing Co.
Denver
Houston
Santa Ana, Calif.
Private
Cooperative/
mutual
Private
Private
Public
Physician Health Partners
Breckenridge Grand Vacations
Denver
Breckenridge
2
7
8
9
10
11
EMPLOYEES
Fort Collins
Cooperative/
mutual
Private
Partnership
Sector
Retail- Storage
and Organization
Retail
Marketing Data and
Technology
Agents/Brokers
Financial Services
and Insurance
Online Education
Mortgage
Financial Services
and Insurance
Craft Brewery
Health Care
T;avei/Vacations
1,864
3,660
14,800
899
2,655
4.788
4,000
u.s.
u.s.
Web address
edwardjones.com
anadarko.com
directv.com
wholefoodsmarket.com
EMPLOYEES
local hires
expected
local this year
n/a
156
5,000
revenues
$750 million
150
238
n/a
75
150
282
n/a
n/a
mou nta instatestoyota .com
datalogix.com
283
202
n/a
60
285
21,000
n/a
n/a
DenverReaiEstate.com
newyorklifecolorado.com
159
190
183
n/a
n/a
40
180
1,150
9,900
n/a
n/a
$4.2 billion
374
n/a
sao
n/a
180
374
15
125
200
444
$31.3 million
n/a
u.s.
Web address
containerstore.com
craftsy.com
houseloan.com
firstam.com
newbelgium.com
PhysicianHealthPartners.com
breckenridgegrandvacations.com
Source: Workplace Dynamics
+
*
THE DENVER POST •
DENVERPOST.COM •
SUNDAY, APRIL
13, 2014
NEWS «13W
'+
MIDSIZE EMPLOYERS CONTINUED
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
EMC Corporation
EOG Resources Inc
ZOll
Samuel Engineering Inc.
Clinica Family Health Services
Trulia
Mortenson Construction
Apartment Investment and
Management Co. (Aimco)
The Spectranetics Corp.
21
22
23
Encompass Home Health
Dallas
Stewart Trtle Company
Houston
Hammersmith Management, Inc. Greenwood Village
Private
Public
Private
24
Jackson National life Insurance
lansing, Mich.
Parent company
25
26
Weifield Group Contracting
WOW! Internet, Cable & Phone
Denver
Englewood
Partnership
Private
27
28
29
Pinnacle Mortgage Group Inc.
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Health Images/
Envision Radiology
STRIVE Preparatory Schools
DSST Public Schools
lakewood
New York
Colorado Springs
Private
Partnership
Partnership
Denver
Denver
Nonprofit
Nonprofit
logRhythm Inc.
Jefferson Center
For Mental Health
Webroot Inc.
Brannan Sand and Gravel Co.
Boulder
Wheat Ridge
Private
Nonprofit
Infrastructure Software
Exploration & Production
Enterprise Software
Engineering
Community Health Center
Internet
Construction
Multi-Family Real Estate
Investment Trust
Medical Devices
and Products
Health Care
Title and Closing Services
Community Association
Management
Annuities and
Retirement Solutions
Electrical
Telecommunications
and Cable
Mortgage lending
Accounting/Professional Services
Diagnostics, Imaging
and laboratories
Network of Charter Schools
Education - Primary/
Secondary School
Enterprise Software
Behavioral Health
Broomfield
Denver
Private
Private
Enterprise Software
Asphalt and Concrete
30
31
32
33
34
35
Hopkinton, Mass.
Houston
Chelmsford, Mass.
Greenwood Village
lafayette
San Francisco
Minneapolis
Denver
Public
Public
Public
Private
Nonprofit
Public
Private
Public
Colorado Springs
Public
Small employers Fewer than soo local employeees
Rank
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Employer
Visiting Angels of littleton
LIVE Urban Real Estate
Porchlight Real Estate Group
Avery Brewing Co.
Spyderco Inc.
Madison & Company Properties
Community Development Institute
5olidFire Inc.
Headquarters
littleton
Denver
Denver
Boulder
Golden
Denver
Denver
Boulder
Ownership
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Nonprofit
Private
9
10
Ave Maria Catholic School
Done Plumbing & Heating
Parker
Aurora
Private
Private
11
12
13
14
Trace3
Restaurant Solutions Inc.
Enerplus Resources (USA) Corp.
Aveda Academy Denver
Irvine, Calif.
littleton
Denver
Denver
15
16
17
18
19
TallGrass Aveda Spa & Salon
RevGen Partners
Aerotek
Clinic Service Corp.
Eide Bailly llP
Evergreen
Centennial
Hanover, Md.
Denver
Fargo, N.D.
Private
Private
Public
Cooperative/
mutual
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
20
21
Convercent
Griffis Residential
Denver
Denver
Private
Private
22
Slalom Consulting
Seattle
Private
Sector
Private Duty Home Care
Agents/Brokers
Agents/Brokers
Craft Brewing
Manufacturing Cutting Tools
Agents/Brokers
Government: HHS/ACF/OHS/OCC
Data Storage Software
and Hardware
Primary/Secondary School
Plumbing, Heating and
Air Conditioning
Value Added Reseller
Back Office Services
Energy Exploration and Production
Beauty and Fashion
Day Spa and Salon
Consulting
Staffing
Vendor Serving Health Care Industry
Certified Public Accountants
and Consultants
Enterprise Software
Real estate investment and
property management
Business and
Technology Consulting
125
n/a
n/a
n/a
26ooO
2400
1679
185
435
500
2100
2,040
n/a
$10.7 billion
n/a
n/a
$31 million
n/a
$2.3 billion
emc.com
eogresources.com
zolldata.com
samuelengineering.com
Clinica.org
trulia.com
mortenson.com
aimco.com
385
n/a
soo
$117 million
spectra netics.com
174
154
179
n/a
n/a
75
3,540
7,500
179
n/a
n/a
$19 million
449
n/a
4,300
$25.5 billion
152
407
n/a
n/a
152
3,300
n/a
n/a
we ifie ldcontracting .com/
wowway.com
167
350
191
n/a
n/a
n/a
235
38,000
500
n/a
n/a
n/a
pinnacle-mortgage.com
pwc.com
215
284
115
n/a
215
300
n/a
n/a
striveprep.org
154
489
60
n/a
200
450
n/a
n/a
logrhythm.com
jcmh.org
184
290
n/a
20
255
290
n/a
n/a
brannanl.com
u.s.
123
55
125
92
69
80
124
157
revenues
n/a
n/a
$7.7 million
n/a
n/a
$210 million
$15.5 million
n/a
414
187
219
165
435
233
231
367
n/a
19
n/a
so
ehhi.com
stewart.com/denver
eHammersmith.com
Jackson.com
dsstpublicschool~.org
EMPLOYEES
Local hires
expeded
Local this year
123
so
n/a
55
Go
124
88
4
8
69
20
80
58
5
100
103
Web address
visitinga ngels.com/littleton
liveu rba ndenver.com
porch lig htg rou p.com
averybrewing.com
spyderco.com
madisonprops.com
cditeam .org
solidfire.com
52
61
n/a
20
55
61
n/a
n/a
aveangels.org
itsdone.com
52
84
96
275
89
135
Go
10
n/a
n/a
20
Go
$400 million
n/a
n/a
$2.7 million
68
71
55
69
133
n/a
40
n/a
15
n/a
68
71
3,500
70
1,300
n/a
$8.5 million
n/a
$5
n/a
revgenpartners.com/
aerotek.com
clinicservice.com
eidebailly.com
64
114
n/a
12
75
120
n/a
$60 million
convercent.com
griffisresidential.com
121
n/a
2,412
n/a
trace3.com
restacct.net
avedaacademydenver.com
slalom.com
Source: Workplace Dynamics
'+-
+.
14W» NEWS
SUNDAY, APRIL
13, 2014
.
DENVERPOST.COM
.
SMALL EMPLOYERS CONTINUED
Rank Employer
Headquarters
Ownership
Denver
27
Applewood Plumbing
Heating & Electric
Boa Technology Inc
Cooley LLP
Burns & McDonnell
Engineering Co., Inc.
Denver Academy
Denver
Nonprofit
28
29
30
31
32
SendGrid
GWD Engineering and Design
Map Quest
Red Peak Properties
Booj
Boulder
Denver
Denver
Denver
Lakewood
Private
Private
Parent company
Private
Partnership
33
34
35
36
37
38
SpotXchange
Halcyon Hospice & Palliative Care
Visiting Angels of Lakewood
Wolf Robotics LLC
Larson Financial Inc.
Monarch Investment
& Management Group
Black Hills Exploration and Production
Donor Alliance Inc.
Westminster
Mead
Wheat Ridge
Fort Collins
Westminster
Franktown
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Denver
Denver
Parent company
Nonprofit
23
24
25
26
39
40
Private
Denver
Private
Palo Alto, Calif. Partnership
Kansas City, Mo. Private
*
THE DENVER POST
Sector
local hires
expected
local this year
u.s.
revenues
Web address
Home Services
119
n/a
119
n/a
Applewood Fixlt.com
Apparel/Footwear
Law
Engineering
68
72
105
n/a
4
n/a
70
1685
4400
n/a
$617 million
n/a
boatechnology.com
cooley.com
burnsmcd.com
Education - Primary/
Secondary School
Email Delivery/Infrastructure
Energy Industry Services
Consumer Internet
Integrated Development,
Construction, Management
Enterprise Software
Web-based Services
Hospice
Home Health Care Services
110
n/a
110
n/a
denveracademy.org
122
72
63
96
62
55
n/a
n/a
n/a
20
172
102
109
96
66
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
$6 million
Tax Debt Resolution
Real Estate
80
115
85
106
69
52
n/a
n/a
20
15
n/a
n/a
100
115
85
123
72
400
n/a
n/a
n/a
$42 million
n/a
n/a
spotxchange.com
Myhalcyon.org
visiti nga ngels.com/la kewood
wolfrobotics.com
larson-financial.com
mona rchi nvestment.com
Upstream Oil and Gas
Nonprofit
52
107
n/a
18
104
107
n/a
$29 million
bhep.com
donoralliance.org
Machi~ery
sendg rid .com
gwddesign.com/
mapquest.com
redpeak.com
booj.com
Our employees say we're a great place to work and
The Denver Post agrees!
Thank you, Denver Post, for naming Community Development
Institute (CDI) one of Colorado's Top 100 Workplaces!
Thank you, Denver; for being a great home to CD/!
CD I:
'W ORKPLACES
• Serving as the Federal Office of
Head Start's National Interim
Management Contractor since 2000
• Nominated for Innovation in
American Government Award
by the Administration for Children
and Families, DHHS, 2003
• Appointed the Federal Office of Child
Care's National Center on Tribal Child
Care Innovation and Implementation
2011-2016
• Providing training, technical
assistance and organizational
development to public and private
organizations since 1970
*
THE DENVER POST •
Methodology: How
the survey was done
The Denver Post partnered with
Philadelphia-based WorkplaceDynamics, the employee survey firm,
to determine the region's 2014 Top
Workplaces.
Beginning in September, The Denver Post ran articles and advertisements encouraging employees in the
region to nominate their companies
as top workplaces. WorkplaceDynamics then invited those companies,
as well as other organizations in the
region, to participate in the program.
Anyone could nominate a company. The sole requirement was that
the organization employs at least 50
people in the state of Colorado. The
company could be public, private,
nonprofit or governmental.
To pick the top workplaces, WorkplaceDynamics went straight to the
experts: the employees.
In total, we invited 1,342 companies to participate and we surveyed
2050fthem.
The surveyed f"rrms employ
108,724 people in Colorado. Receiving questionnaires were 84.592 Colorado employees, of whom 56,360 responded, either on paper or online.
The employee survey included 22
questions, covering seven factors:
Three "My Job" factors measure
how employees feel about their dayto-day job:
• My Work - training, work/life
balance
• My Manager - cares about concerns, helps learn and grow
• My Pay & Benefits
The three "OrgHealth" factors
measure how employees work together toward a common cause:
• Direction- where the company is
headed, its values and leaders
• Execution - how the company is
getting to where it aims to go
• Connection - feeling appreciated
and that their work is meaningful
Lastly, the survey measures engagement - retention, motivation
and referral.
The OrgHealth factors were the
most important to Colorado employees, with "Connection" as the
single most important.
"My Pay & Benefits" was least important. While pay and benefits remain important to a point, they are
more "table stakes" for top workplaces. Paying more money does not
make a bad workplace better.
After the surveys were completed,
WorkplaceDynamics ran statistical
tests to look for any questionable results. It disqualified a small number
of employers based on those tests.
Employers were then categorized
into size bands because smaller employers tend to score higher than
midsize employers, and midsize employers tend to score higher than
large employers.
The employers were ranked within
their size band based solely on employee responses to the survey statements. The top employers .in each
size band were then selected as the
Top Workplaces in Colorado for
2014. We also determined a list of
special awards based on standout
scores on specific survey statements.
You may wonder why your employer is not on the list. One possibility is
that the company took the survey and
scored too low. Another is that it
chose not to participate. We hope that
next year more Colorado employers
take the time to survey their employees and see where they stand.
-Doug Claffey,
WorkplaceDynamics CEO
Carlos Rodriguez
cleans the pool at
Griffis North
Metro in
Northglenn on
March 31. Griffis
Residential is
featured as a top
Colorado
workplace.
Cyrus McCrimmon,
The Denver Post
DENVERPOST.COM •
SUNDAY, APRIL
13, 2014
NEWS «lSW
to our employees who
make Applewood Plumbing Heating
& Electric a top Denver workplace.
-t~
We're seeking an experienced Service Manag er.
The Service Manager will direct and coordinate all service
activities to maximize customer satisfaction, employee
efficiency and profitability. This includes managing staff
and accomplishing the highest quality service call every
time. The Service Manager must be totally professional,
completely honest, highly presentable and firm yet friendly.
What you can expect from us ...
We provide top pay and benefits. As an Applewood
Plumbing Heating & Electric Service Manager, you'll be
given all you need to succeed including training, support,
a phone, uniforms and much more. You'll receive amazing
benefits like 100% paid medical premiums for you and
your family, dental, vision, and disability insurance, paid
vacation, paid holidays, paid training and a 401 (k) plan
with a generous company match.
Minimum requirements ...
• Bachelor's Degree or at least 5 yrs management experience
• Intermediate computer skills in MS Outlook, Word & Excel
• Ability to inspire and lead others to attain goals
• Quick, sound decision-making abilities
• Good presentation and public speaking skills
• Ability to build trust and demonstrate empathy
• A good attitude, motivated and flexible
• You must pass a drug test and background check
We're always looking for
awesome licensed plumbers
& electricians, as well as
certified HVAC techs.
Call to talk with us today!
303-328-3097
ApplewoodFixlt.com
'Jf
I.
16W» NEWS
SUNDAY, APRIL
13, 2014 •
DENVERPOST.COM •
*
THE DENVER POST
TOP WORKPLACES SURVEY WINNERS: MIDSIZE COMPANIES
Thinking outside the box
·:-·t1 1l
"It's really all about
our employees first.
Especially in retail,
that's unheard of."
Jodi Hager, general manager of
The Container Store at Flatiron
Crossing in Broomfield
Cassie Meyer, left, and Dolores
Reynoso work at the The
Container Store in Broomfield
last month. The company was
named the top medium-sized
workplace in a survey of
employees from 205 companies.
- ..........
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
,. -
.
-!- ... J
-
----- ~
- --
,.,._,.____ - --
By Lisa Greim
Special to The Denver Post
Proud to be among
DENVER'S TOP PLACES TO W ORK
Thanks to our employees for their continued
commitment to saving lives through
donation and ransplantation.
-
DONQO
ALLIANC~
&
Organ
Tissue Donation
0
eeing The Container Store, a
major chain retailer, land the
No.1 spot on The Denver Post's
Top Workplaces for the second year
in a row inspires a little cognitive
dissonance.
Retail jobs are supposed to be horrible - low pay, no benefits, lousy
working conditions, irregular hours
and arbitrary, if not overtly, sadistic
management.
Instead, The Container Store
loves its team members, and they
love the company right back.
As a banner on the chain's "What
We Stand For" page states: "What if
everyone associated with a business
could thrive?"
"We have a very, very unique culture," said Jodi Hager, general manager of The Container Store at FlatIron Crossing in Broomfield, one of
three Colorado locations with 156
employees. "It's really all about our
employees frrst. Especially in retail,
that's unheard of."
The idea: Workers who feel valued
and well-prepared to do their jobs
have a strong connection to their
company, and will go out of their
way to convince customers to love it,
S
too. This boosts sales, increases
share prices, serves the community
and enriches vendors.
"It's leadership based on love,
rather than fear,'' Hager said.
A new full-timer will receive 263
hours of training in his or her f"rrst
year, a part-timer 150 (the retail industry average is eight, the company
says). They start with a day devoted
to the company's core values, known
as the Foundation Principles. CEO
and founder Kip Tindell wrote them
as the company prepared to open its
f"rrst store outside the Dallas area.
The principles stress hiring great
people, communicating, solutionbased selling, leading in service and
selection as well as price, training
workers to be independent thinkers,
treating vendors fairly, and creating
an "air of excitement" in its stores.
The objective is for a new parttimer to be as comfortable recommending products as a veteran
member of management.
"We trust our gut at The Container Store," spokeswoman Nina Smith
said.
Only 3 percent of applicants are
hired. Full- and part-time Container
Store employees also receive a suite
of health and wellness benefits, paid
MIDSIZE» 17W
THE DENVER POST •
*
MIDSIZE
((FROM 16W
vacation, generous merchandise discounts, domestic-partner benefits
and 401(k). WheJ;t the company went
public last fall, 14 percent of the offering was reserved for employees, and a
quarter of those eligible participated.
Rounding out the Top Five Medium-Sized Workplaces:
2. Mountain States Toyota
When Mountain States Toyota
general manager Tim Van Binsbergen arrived in 2005, the 2-year-old
dealership was ranked 1,175 out of
1,200 Toyota stores in terms of sales.
Today it's No. 35, it has won national
honors for operational quality and
satisfied customers, and employee
turnover has dropped from 220 percent to less than 26 percent.
"It's not a grinding culture," Van
Binsbergen said. "If people feel
good, they do a good job."
Asked what they like most about
their jobs, workers praised co-workers and management, the family atmosphere and positive attitudes and the new espresso machine. "Our
product line is top shelf, the management staff is excellent and the facility is f"rrst class," one wrote.
The 150 team members at Mountain States appreciate their benefits,
which include incentives for wellness and paid time off for community activities. The dealership is
owned by Sonic Automotive, a public company based in Charlotte, N.C.
3. Datalogix
Datalogix probably knows you. In
the fast-growing universe of Big
Data, the Westminster-based business boasts it has touched almost every household in the United States.
Datalogix helps companies figure
out whether promotions, loyalty
programs and social media campaigns translate into sales. Its customers include Facebook, Google
and Twitter and about l,SOO retailers
who can now make a connection between a post you saw in your Facebook news feed and the shoes or car
you bought a week later.
Its 238 Colorado employees feel
jazzed to come to work. "It's challenging every day, the work is industry game-changing, and we're constantly working from a clean palette
to create something, which keeps it
DENVERPOST.COM •
interesting," one wrote.
Privately held and venture funded,
Datalogix offers stock options, uncapped bonuses and a suite of work/
life balance perks, including inhouse fitness classes and a continuing-education program.
4. Kentwood Real Estate
In residential real estate, a busy
broker is a happy broker. Kentwood
Real Estate's 283 team members,
who closed 4,ooo transactions in
2013, must be happy indeed.
The largest independent brokerage in the metro area, Kentwood
works only with full-time brokers
averaging more than 20 years' experience. Corporate relocation and
luxury homes are a specialty.
Workers say that Kentwood balances competitive drive with camaraderie and team spirit. "Our management are visionaries and they
care about their employees," one
person reported. Another wrote, "I
really enjoy everyone I work with,
and the energy this company provides me to be more productive and
happier at work."
The flexibility of real estate work
is also a plus. "I have flexibility to
enjoy my family, travel, basically
You do r beco ea
op workplace without
to employees.
Thanks to all of our employees for (again)
making us a Top Workplace in 2014.
0 0e0 000 0000
ef rst an .co
Member FDIC
TOP
TOP
?LACES
PLACES
WORK
SUNDAY, APRIL
WORK
13, 2014
NEWS «17W
have a life, while making a very good
income," another team member said.
Based in the Denver Tech Center,
Kentwood was founded in 1980. It
also has offices in downtown Denver and Cherry Creek North.
S. New York Life
New York Life's three Colorado locations employ more than 200 people. Its Colorado General Office is in
Arvada, with sales offices in Cherry
Creek and Fort Collins.
They offer life insurance, longterm care insurance, annuities and
other investment products, backed
by a parent company that has been
in business since 1845.
Employees gave New York Life
high marks for its formal training
programs. The company offers extensive sales training through its
NYLIC University, and ongoing support from full-time management and
trainers in each office. Company reimbursement is also available for
certain industry designations and
degrees.
As independent entrepreneurs
within the New York Life organization, agents set their own work pace
and goals. "My income is based totally on my work ethic," one said.
+
+.
18W» NEWS
SUNDAY, APRIL
13, 2014 •
DENVERPOST.COM
•
Only the BEST of the best...
our EMPLOYEES..•
. . . they MAKE US a
TOP WORKPLACE!
Celebrating 56 years of ..BJ.t!IJ~#t?l'"~ ck113fJ5'-1vu Ahl
Slrt!~w~CP/HIHRJ't.il14.r••. helping people with mental
health issues-from depression, anxiety, and trauma
to more serious illnesses.
tlta~ !J(l!Al
Thank you to our staff and to
the communities we servel
*
THE DENVER POST
Exec banks on face time
with staffers, mentors
Leadership profile: FirstBank CEO
John Ikard
As CEO of a company that has
many branch locations, how do
you connect with employees?
As we become a larger, more geographically dispersed organization,
this task proves to be more difficult.
I schedule annual peer-group meetings and branch visits. We've also
started to expand
our video conferencing to more
branch locations so
we are able to have
face-to-face interaction more frequently. FirstBank is also
very active in the
John Ikard
community,
and
therefore we are
able to attend several fundraising
events. Nonprofit events are another chance to connect with and get to
know my management team on a
more personal level.
deserved- you will have a loyal follower for life. Back up your employees when they make a mistake- encourage them to make the tough decisions with the understanding that
occasional mistakes are expected.
One mentor once told me, "I won't
frre you for making the wrong decision, but I will frre you for not making a decision." Smile and greet people when you see them in the halls,
regardless of their position.
Did you have a mentor or another
person who inspired you as you
developed as a leader?
I have a number of people in town
that I try to meet for breakfast or
lunch a couple of times a year. They
don't even know they are my mentors. I listen to what they have to say
in terms of both their successes and
failures. People will be very candid
as long as you maintain the appropriate level of confidentiality. Denver has some truly amazing leaders
- consistent traits include integrity,
What advice on leadership do you high IQand EQ, and, most imporgive to developing FirstBank man- tantly, humility.
agers?
Nothing magical. The old cliche What makes FirstBank a great
that you should treat people like you place to work?
FirstBank is a great place to work
would like to be treated is still a
pretty good rule to live by. As a lead- because we really believe in what we
er, you need to be realistic but posi- are doing and what we have built. The
tive in terms oflooking for solutions founders poured their hearts into this
to problems instead of just being the company, and they truly believe in
person pointing out the problem. our business model - promoting
Admit when you're wrong. Give from within and giving employees a
credit to your employees when it is fmancial stake in the company.
Car dealership dishes up perks
Leadership profile: Tim Van Bins- a grind to come in.
bergen, Mountain
States Toyota, who Any special perks?
We reward people - employees
arrived at the dealand customers. Along with all the
ership in 2005.
normal amenities like bottled water,
How have you at 3 p.m. every aftemoon we serve
countered the ste- fresh-baked cookies. I just put in a
reotypical image very expensive espresso machine.
of a dealership as a On Tuesdays, we have a masseuse to
Tim Van
do chair massages. Wednesdays we
shark tank?
Binsbergen
When
people have waffles, and Thursdays we serve
come in, they feel omelets made to order. Then we do
good. It's a fun place to work. It's not pancake breakfasts on Saturdays.
+.
*
THE DENVER POST •
DENVERPOST.COM •
SUNDAY, APRIL
13, 2014
NEWS «19W
TOP WORKPLACES SURVEY WINNERS: LARGE COMPANIES
Invested in worker success
By Lisa Greim
Special to The Denver Post
Edward Jones regional leader Greg Betsinger, fourth from left, meets
with company financial advisers in Denver last month. "We're a
highly collaborative organization," he said. Andy Cross, The DenverPost
Edward Jones took over the top
spot in The Denver Post's Top
Workplaces for large employers but it can also be seen as a small employer dozens of times over.
That seeming contradiction fuels
a company culture that emphasizes
autonomy and flexibility, while offering deep support and a collective
vision.
"We're a highly collaborative organization," said Greg Betsinger, a regional leader for Edward Jones in
northern Colorado. '~s a partnership, it's important that everyone
who works at Jones is successful."
Founded in 1922, the St. Louisbased fmancial advisory f"l.rm has
288 offices in Colorado, each with a
financial adviser and one or more
branch office administrators. All
employees are eligible to become
partners, and even part-time workers can earn profit-sharing bonuses
under a program that paid out 24
percent of net profit - $126 million
-in20l2.
During the recession, while other
fmancial companies sent hundreds
of thousands of workers onto the
street, Edward Jones employees
worked together to cut costs "and
saved every job," company spokeswoman Ellen Wiederanders said.
"Not one associate (was) laid off."
Colorado employees gave Edward
Jones the highest marks of any participating company in 2014 for
work/life balance.
"I can take time off for just about
anything that I want to," one worker
wrote. "It is up to me to keep the
business moving forward around my
own schedule." Another said, "I have
the freedom to do my job effectively
while supporting a family - and
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Thank you to our dedicated employees and clients for making Brannan Companies
a Top Workplace recipient again in 2014.
We strive to create a culture where everyone at Brannan knows their value and
looks forward to coming to work each day. We believe in innovation and
creativity and foster it through our Corporate Culture.
For over a hundred years Brannan has proudly served Colorado and knows
everyone at Brannan is family. You are the heart
THE DENVER PosT
of our success. Thank you!
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community-focused lifestyle."
Betsinger is quick to note that he
worked six-day weeks and took no
vacation for the f"rrst three years he
ran his Longmont office. But success
has brought more flexibility.
"It's yo~ business," he said. "You
have a bottom line. If you're profitable, how you run your business is
up to you, as long as your clients are
taken care of."
Edward Jones' 628 Colorado team
members also rave about pay and
perks, a supportive corporate culture, high ethical and customer-service standards, and great co-workers. "I am appreciated, respected
and well- compensated," said one
worker, while another noted, "I get
the real sense ofbeing part of something that helps people."
A new employee added, "The
training and guidance I am receiving
make me confident that this f"rrm is
looking after its team members as
well as the clients."
Volunteerism is a deeply ingrained value. Along with volunteer
Korby Bracken, Anadarko director of environmental health and safety,
stands on a tankless, three-well horizontal battery in December.
Anadarko employs 796 people in Denver. Joe Amon, The Denver Post
hours for organizations that include
Food Bank of the Rockies, Safehouse
Denver and the Marine Corps
League, team members give their
time to one another other- allleadershiproles at EdwardJones are voluntary. Betsinger figures about half
his time is spent recruiting, training
and mentoring people.
Along with training new hires, experienced advisers participate in
Goodknight Programs, offering new
advisers some of their "less-active
clients" to serve in new branches.
Rounding out the top five large
employers in The Denver Post's Top
Workplaces 2014 are:
2.Anadarko
Petroleum Corp.
*
they appreciate working for a management team that walks their talk
of integrity, community focus and
servant leadership. "The fact that
our core values are actually practiced and honored is extremely
unique," one worker wrote.
The energy exploration and development company makes a return appearance on the Top Workplaces
list, after placing f"rrst in 2012 and
2013. Headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas, Anadarko employs 796
people in downtown Denver.
Team members describe their
work as "exciting" and "challenging," and say their contributions are
valued. "There are no limits set on
my job," one wrote. "I can expand,
create and be as big a part of the future direction of Anadarko as -I
choose."
Employees describe Anadarko's
compensation and time-off policies
as generous and their benefits as
"fantastic." They may choose a traditional 40-hour workweek or a
9/8o work schedule, working So
hours over nine days and taking every other Friday off to handle personal business, volunteer or head for
the mountains.
Anadarko's Denver employees say
At the Mental Health Center of Denver, we focus on recovery-oriented mental healthcare. We're the national model for
success, with more than 75% of people receiving treatment going on to lead healthier, more productive lives. And each
of our employees contribute to that success by building a stronger, healthier community. Learn more at MHCD.ORG.
Mental Health Center of Denver
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Part-time employees who work at
least 20 hours per week receive full
employee benefits, paying the same
contributions as full-timers.
3. Alliance Data
Retail Services
If you hold a credit card from aretailer or hotel chain, you may have
spoken to one of Alliance Data's 563
customer-service team members in
Westminster.
The Retail Services division of
Dallas-based Alliance Data markets
and supports more than 120 credit
card and loyalty programs for consumer brands such as HSN, J. Crew
and True Value. Purdue University's
BenchmarkPortal program named
Alliance's call centers as industry
leaders for eight consecutive years.
The result: Top Workplaces responses not usually heard about call
center work: ·~azing people" and
"I feel appreciated" and "I never
worked at a place where everyone is
happy, excited and loves their job."
THE DENVER POST •
Team members like the flexible
scheduling, good pay and benefits,
incentives and room to grow. Alliance offers tuition reimbursement, a
stock purchase plan, 401(k) with
match, and paid time off. A work-athome program kicked off last year.
Workers gave their managers high
marks for helping them learn, making their jobs easier to do well, and
caring about their concerns. "He is
great with coaching and keeping me
informed of what I am doing well,
and what still needs to be worked
on," one said.
In 2013, 275 people were hired and
15 people were promoted in the
Westminster center.
4. Craig Hospital
Craig Hospital specializes in rehabilitation, treatment and research
into spinal-cord and traumatic brain
injuries. Founded in 1907 as a tuberculosis sanitarium, the "Tent Colony
of Brotherly Love," Craig Hospital is
now known worldwide as a center
for excellence and a life-changing
place for nearly 30,000 patients with
neurologic disabilities.
Craig's 831 team members credit
their job satisfaction to a collective
DENVERPOST.COM •
SUNDAY, APRIL
13, 2014
NEWS «21W
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sense of mission, and day-to-day reminders of the impact that their
work has on the lives of patients and
families. It gives rise to long relationships; nurses stay at Craig nine
years on average, therapists 13 years
and attending physicians 14 years.
One employee wrote, "Every day I
feel like I am surrounded by family
members. I have been challenged
and pushed and grown into who I
am not only as a nurse, but as a productive adult. When you are at
Craig, you are surrounded every day
by love and hope and support."
Another says simply, "We help so
many people get better."
Employees also appreciate flexible scheduling, continuing education, knowledgeable co-workers and
a fun, positive atmosphere.
·
"Our patients are motivators to
me," a Craig employee wrote. "I see
them go to classes and push themselves, (and that) leaves no room for
whining or being frustrated."
cial steadiness, community orientation and commitment to taking care
ofboth workers and customers, putting it high on the Top Workplaces
list for three years running.
They also say "I love my co-workers" over and over, adding words
such as "wonderful," "positive" and
"awesome." And they believe that
sound decision-making has made
their company more stable than others in the rmancial services industry.
"FirstBank's culture toward employees motivates me every day,''
one worker said. Others cite flexibility, the employee stock ownership
program, supportive management,
education assistance for both employees and dependents, and many
opportunities to advance.
FirstBank team members were
generous with their praise of senior
management, ranking the Lakewood
company tops in employee satisfaction with leadership. "John Ikard is a
man of integrity and has done wonderful things to grow FirstBank
5. FirstBank
without losing the community bank
With us Colorado locations, First- feel," one said.
Another noted, "It would be great
Bank has been employee-owned and
if every president at the market level
locally controlled since 1963.
Its 1,922 employees value its !man- is as genuine as he is."
ul,mproud to call Colorado home, and I
appreciate businesses that improve the quality
of life here/,- Maria told us
That,s what our employees do. Whether they're
lending their knowledge to our energy customers or
serving on nonprofit boards that help our communities
thrive, our employees embody our mission of improving
life with energy.
It takes all kinds of energy to keep Colorado great.
And we"re always happy to provide ours.
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These companies received special awards in The Denver Post's Top Workplaces survey, based on
employee responses in various categories. Included are the special-award category, the survey
statement that employees were asked to respond to, and selected comments.
Leadership - I have confidence
in the leader of this company.
Large: John Ikard, FirstBank
"I think FirstBank strikes a strong
balance between sound principles,
differentiating itself, and steady
growth. That starts at the top."
Meaningfulness -My job makes me feel like I am part of something meaningful.
Craig Hospital
"I come to work every day to help others, and leave feeling like I have made a difference."
Midsize: Tim Van Binsbergen,
Mountain States Toyota
"The general manager is fair and
understanding. Managers are very
good at leading."
Small: Carl Knight,
Visiting Angels of Littleton
"The owner believes in what he
does, and it is with great pleasure
that I am a part of their vision."
Managers -
My manager helps
me learn and grow; my manager
makes it easier to do my job well; my
manager cares about my concerns.
Alliance Data Retail Services
"My direct supervisor is always
there to listen and help in areas that
I might be struggling in."
New ideas -
New ideas are encouraged at this company.
Sympoz Inc. (Craftsy)
"We have innovation challenges
for new product ideas, we have a
bonus program to reward/recognize innovative thinking, innovation is a company core value - so
we goal/evaluate performance relative to innovation each quarter."
Doers - At this company, we do
things efficiently and well.
PorchLight Real Estate Group
"Systems are in place that actually work to streamline the process of
buying and selling real estate."
Outpatient Kaleb Wilson gets assistance preparing for locomotor work on the treadmill from, from
left, physical therapists Selena LeClair and Meghan Joyce, and exercise technician Chad Rife (hands
on the right) at Craig Hospital. Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post
Clued-in senior managementSenior managers understand what
is really happening at this company.
The Container Store
Communication - I feel well-informed about important decisions
at this company.
Ethics - This company operates Convercent
"We hear useful information
by strong values and ethics.
straight from the top C-level execuCornerstore Home Lending Inc.
"I feel Cornerstone has the right . tive, two or three times a week."
values and corporate culture for me
to be successful. The company truly Appreciation - I feel genuinely
has the employee's best interest at appreciated at this company.
Madison & Company Properties
heart."
"I get to do what I love doing, in a
place where I feel appreciated and
supported. This is my dream job."
Work/life flexibility- I have the
flexibility I need to balance my
work and personal life.
Edward Jones
"I have two young children an,d
my job allows me to be a much bigger participant in their lives than I
would be otherwise."
Benefits - My benefits package is
good compared to others in this industry.
Applewood Plumbing, Heating &
Electric
"Health benefits package is ~ost
valuable."
Direction - I believe this compaTraining - I get the formal training I want for my career.
New York Life Insurance
"NYLIC University, Leaders for
Life, GO meetings, Kickoffs, Study
Groups."
ny is going in the right direction.
T-MoblleUSA
"We are changing a lot of things
to make T-Mobile different in a positive way."
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THE DENVER POST •
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TOP
::=Log hythm.
The Security Intelligence Company
LogRhythm is the fastest growing, independent security intelligence company in the world. Our
patented software helps organizations detect and respond to today's most sophisticated cyber
threats - faster and with greater accuracy than ever before. We are proud to be named a Top 100
Workplace and thank our employees for making Log Rhythm an exceptional place to work.
Gartner.
Niimcd ii Lead e r m Gartner
Maqac Quac.Jr<~nt tor SIEM
2013
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INFO
·'-'TECH
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,
MOST
INNOVA'TIVE