Best companies to work for: 2016 winners promote personal fulfillment along with pay. (2024)

TIME. COMPENSATION. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WELLNESS. These arejust a few of the themes visible in the following firms- our annual BestCompanies to Work For. Finding a dream job is no easy feat - typicallyrequiring compromise between a big paycheck, congenial culture and team,and incentives that nourish the mind, body and soul.

But then there are some places where you don't have to settleor compromise.

Though bottom lines aren't completely irrelevant on this list,they fall to the background as the human beings - who make the wheelsturn, who serve, who tinker, who return emails and make decisions, bigand small - rise to the top and their companies declare victory as aresult.

In Colorado, we hear much about work-life balance - so we betterhave some brilliant businesses that can speak to both. Without furtherado, we present the 2016 Best Companies to Work For.

SMALL COMPANIES

1 TOTAL QUALITY LOCISTICS

GIVE-BACK | FESTIVITIES

www.tql.com

HQ: Cincinnati; Denver-based satellite office

Founded in 1997, TQL is the second-largest freight brokerage firmin the country, employing roughly 3,800. As a sales organization in thetransportation industry, the company arranges truckload deliveries andpickups across North America.

EXCEPTIONAL PERKS/POLICIES:

* Last year, TQL supported 140 nationwide nonprofits. involving 73percent of its workforce in its internal giveback strategy, primarilyfocused on children's charities. health and wellness initiativesand military/veteran causes.

* TQL believes "to the victor goes the spoils," meaningan employee's income is only capped by effort. In sales. where 75percent of TOL's employees work, each individual is offered theopportunity for unlimited income. Since 1997. TOL has had an uncappedcommission structure.

Suite of work-life balance aids

* TaskRabbit: A concierge service provider that helps userscomplete errands.

* Minibar: Wine, beer and liquor delivery services (available wherenot prohibited by law).

* Your Mechanic: An app that links people with area mobile carmaintenance services.

* Postable: A custom card delivery service, first used two yearsago to enable employees to send Mother's Day cards from theirdesks.

2. VOLKBELL

WELLNESS | OUTINGS | FESTIVITIES | TEAM-BUILDING www.volkbell.comHQ: Longmont

Doubling down on relationship-building with customers, thisNorthern Colorado-based insurance and human-resources consultancy hasbeen helping companies with benefit programs, insurance plans, humanresources, property and casualty services, and work-site wellness forabout 30 years. The family company invests in employees' personaland professional development. paying for annual leadership conferencesand supporting continuing education pursuits.

EXCEPTIONAL PERKS/POLICIES

"When I began working at VolkBell, I was at my most unhealthyphysical state. The subtle emphasis that VolkBell puts on livinghealthily really impacted how I looked at food choice and exercise.Because of the support and encouragement that our team provides, myweight has significantly dropped, and my energy has significantlyincreased, which is something I would have not thought I would havereceived when entering the world of insurance. "

- anonymous employee

* Putting the "human" back in human resources,character-building has a day on the calendar every single month atVolkBell, during which the company comes together for specialprogramming. One individual on the team is recognized for demonstratinga particular quality, such as integrity or punctuality, and then. eachquarter, company members are asked to provide examples of how they livethat value.

3. MOTIVITY SOLUTIONS

New to the list GIVE-BACK I OUTINGS | FESTIVITIES I TIME | OFFICEENVIRONMENT | DRESS UP/DRESS DOWN I WELLNESS www.motivitysolutions.comHQ: Aurora

Before launching Motivity Solutions, the founders started, grew andeventually sold a retail mortgage banking company--the seventh largestFHA lender in the country from 2003 to 2004. Its sale was the largestprivately held mortgage company acquisition that year. Fast-forward andnow, it seems, history has repeated itself. Motivity Solutions, launchedin 2006, developed a platform used by half the nation's top lendersto cultivate data-driven profit growth and compliance. Withforward-thinking business philosophies, Motivity has experiencedunmatched productivity, high employee morale and outstandingprofitability. Hence, Black Knight Financial Services Inc. (NYSE: BKFS),a provider of technology, data and analysis across the mortgage loanlifecycle, acquired Motivity Solutions in June of this year.

EXCEPTIONAL PERKS/POLICIES:

* Casual dress code

* Standup desks

* Flexible schedule//Work from home capability

* On-site workout facility

* Make a Difference Day

* Fully stocked fridge

* Sabbatical benefits at the five- and 10-year marks

* Company-sponsored social events: Rockies games, bowling, happyhours, office Olympics

* Volunteer opportunities

4. MONEYTREE

GIVE-BACK I PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT www.moneytree.com HQ: Seattle;10 Colorado branch locations

Moneytree is a provider of consumer loans and other financialproducts and services. The family-run business started in 1983 and todayhas more than 800 employees. Moneytree has earned its position as anindustry leader, exceeding customer expectations, creating aprofessional work environment, and having a positive impact oncommunities where it's located.

EXCEPTIONAL PERKS/POLICIES:

The employee-directed community involvement fund, launched 13 yearsago, has since contributed to more than 200 nonprofits, locallysupporting the Make a Wish chapter, ALS Association Rocky Mountainchapter and the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life.

"I would say the advancement the company gives within."

- Delphina Madrigal, local branch manager when asked why hercompany can compete with the best.

5. INSPERITY

GIVE-BACK I TIME www.insperity.com HQ: Houston; Denver office

For nearly 30 years, Insperity CEO Paul Sarvadi has endeavored tomake business owners' lives easier by eliminating the burdens of HRand administrative duties. In 199Z Sarvadi rang the opening bell at theNew York Stock Exchange when his company went public. At the time,Insperity had 1,500 client companies across 44 states; today it servesmore than 100,000 firms with an employee headcount exceeding 2 million.

EXCEPTIONAL PERKS/POLICIES:

Insperity supports programs such as the American Heart Association,MS Society, Meals on Wheels and more. Employees are empowered tovolunteer with 12 hours of paid time each quarter to participate incompany-sponsored volunteer events. Last year the Insperity team loggedmore than 62,000 volunteer hours, and philanthropic efforts grossed $3.8million.

"Most employees, including myself, view their role atInsperity as a calling, rather than a job, which demonstrates why it issuch a unique company."

- Sean Branon, Insperity district manager

MEDIUM COMPANIES

1. READYTALK

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT | WELLNESS | FOOD/BOOZE I OFFICEENVIRONMENT www.readytaIk.com HQ: Denver

Service meets technology with this audio and web conferencingprovider for a seamless collaborative experience, giving customers asuite of tools for training, collaboration, sales demos, webinars andmore. With increasing numbers of people working remotely, the recipe forproductive communication has shifted. The newly refined focus is arounddelivering a one-stop shop that will enable people to collaborate andcommunicate wherever and whenever they want. Reliability, affordabilityand ease of use are primary targets for the business, and the supportteam makes it easy to connect when help is needed. ReadyTalk has beenrecognized as one of the nation's fastest growing companies thanksto an increasingly digital and mobile work force.

EXCEPTIONAL PERKS/POLICIES:

* This year, ReadyTalk brought Olympic swimming champion Amy VanDyken in as a motivation speaker to inspire the team.

* The company offers a Return to Work Program for those who havebeen out of the work force for an extended period. The 22-week paidinternship allows individuals to refresh their skills and re-enter thework force with confidence.

* Playfulness is something instilled in the company culture.Employees are encouraged to take short breaks through out the day, andoffice activities range from Nerf dart games to scrabble sessions,hula-hoops, Jenga and portable putting greens. Office happy hours are afrequent activity met with weekly yoga classes and massages.

2. THE NEENAN COMPANY

* New to the list

FESTIVITIES | TEAM-BUILDLING

www.neenan.com HQ: Fort Collins

From budget to brainstorming to final build-out, Neenan definesarchistruction - the business of uniting people to create physicalstructures, transforming vision into reality and streamliningcommunication through preparation and cooperative innovation. Facilitiesin Neenan's portfolio include health care, education, community,manufacturing and more.

EXCEPTIONAL PERKS/POLICIES:

Neenan hosts regular events, both planned and out-of-the-blue toshow its team a good time. Spontaneous Friday afternoon celebrations arecommon; the Neenan crew threw the president of the company a surprise50th birthday party this year; a special 1980s-themed party took placeand a Christmas party complete with a puppet show, Santa, dinner andgifts.

"The success of The Neenan Company is based on empoweringemployees to create synergy among our different disciplines, to createan amazing experience for our clients. We call this archistruction. Wehold a variety of events - from parties to annual retreats to informalFriday afternoon gatherings - that enable people to build relationships.Plus, these events are just fun and we feel they contribute to employeesatisfaction."

- David Shigekane, president of The Neenan Company

3. BONA US INC.

TEAM BUILDING |FESTIVITIES |DRESS UP/DOWN| TRAVEL | WELLNESS

www.bona.com HQ: Malmo, Sweden, Denver satellite office

Combining luxury and convenience, Bona has solidified its stance asa global leader in hardwood floor finishing and care for more than 90years. In 1979, Bona became the pioneer of waterborne technology, and in1995 it was the first to develop effective dust containment. Thecompany's commitment to research, development and sustainabilityhas enabled the team to drive the hardwood flooring industry'sinnovation.

EXCEPTIONAL PERKS/POLICIES:

* Annual Halloween party

* Winter holiday party

* Pancake breakfast

* Bike to work day

* Bi-monthly workout boot camps and wellness trackers

* Lunch with leader program

* Birthday paid day-off

* Monthly happy hours

* Unlimited PTO

* Sales trip to Las Vegas

4. OZ ARCHITECTURE

TEAM-BUILDING | GIVE-BACK | OUTINGS | PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

www.ozarch.com HQ: Denver

Founded in 1964, OZ integrates broad experience, varied disciplinesand diverse backgrounds of its professionals to encourage innovationacross projects. Offering a range of architectural, planning andinterior design services to clients throughout the U.S. andinternationally, projects include resorts, mixed-use and retaildevelopments, multifamily and senior housing, custom residences,corporate and multi-tenant offices and more. In every project, OZstrives to implement sustainable strategies.

EXCEPTIONAL PERKS/POLICIES:

As a design firm, the people at OZ tend to have a passion for art;thus, every year OZ hosts an art show in which hundreds of thefirm's clients, partners and RiNo neighbors are invited for a partywhere employees' art is on display.

"Collaboration is the core guiding force of our design andclient service, and our culture reflects this. From open brainstorm andcharette meetings, to our monthly 'beer 30' events, to flat,non-hierarchical project teams, we want each person to have a stake anda voice in the company, in design work and in our future."

- Managing partner Becky Stone

5. VI AT HIGHLANDS RANCH

COMPENSATION | PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT | WELLNESS |OUTINGS/FESTIVITIES

www. denver.viliving.com HQ: Chicago; Highlands Ranch location

Attempting to meld resort living with retirement community andservices, Vi at Highlands Ranch measures success through residentsatisfaction. However, employees are at the heart of the company,dedicated to the community's residents and the core values ofintegrity, compassion and excellence. With more than 25 years ofexperience as an owner/operator of residential communities for olderadults, Vi offers assisted living, Alzheimer's and memory supportcare and skilled nursing.

EXCEPTIONAL PERKS/POLICIES:

The company provides employees the opportunity to grow throughprograms such as Vi's Management Development and BreakthroughLeadership. Employees also have unlimited access to Vi's onlineuniversity, offering free continuing education courses through HarvardBusiness Publishing and free language training through Rosetta Stone. Inaddition:

* Annual bonus fund sponsored by Vi residents

* Employee discount membership to Orange Theory Fitness

* Employee appreciation party

* Free daily lunch for staff - meals prepared by kitchen stafftrained by the Culinary Institute of America

* Cell phone discounts

* Free CPR/first-aid training

* Annual wellness fair

* Halloween costume and pumpkin carving contests

* Employee referral bonusess

LARGE COMPANIES

1. EDWARD JONES

COMPENSATION | CONTINUED LEARNING www.edwardjones.com HQ: St.Louis; Aurora location

Edward Jones is a financial services firm that serves investmentclients in the U.S. and Canada through its branch network of more than12,000 locations, current total of more than 7 million clients, and $900billion assets under management worldwide. The firm focuses specificallyon individual investors and small-business owners.

EXCEPTIONAL PERKS/POLICIES:

The most distinctive benefit at Edward Jones is its limitedpartnership. Any associate in good standing with a minimum of threeyears of service can buy shares of the firm through limited partnership.This leaves Edward Jones as one of the last remaining partnerships amongmajor financial firms in the country, today owned by 20,000 limitedpartner associates.

"One of our biggest perks is that our company was designed ina way that allows us to work together to serve our clients. The limitedpartnership effectively allows us to share the company with ourassociates... after being with the company for three years... and thathas created a culture of teamwork that allows us to focus as a team forour clients to reach long-term goals. With that, our employees thinklike owners, act like owners and help others on the team do thesame."

- Patrick Pogue, financial adviser at Edward Jones, Aurora

2. KPMG LLP

WELLNESS

www.home.kpmg.com HQ: Amstelveen, Netherlands; Denver locations

KPMG, an audit, tax and advisory firm, is a global networkoperating in more than 155 countries and with more than 162,000 peopleworking in member firms around the world. KPMG delivers a globallyconsistent set of multidisciplinary services based on deep industryknowledge.

EXCEPTIONAL PERKS/POLICIES:

KPMG's Wellness Committee, a recent Employer of Choiceinitiative, kicked off with an office health fair. Employees met withdental, health, chiropractic, nutrition and acupuncture representatives,as well as B-cycle, Orange Theory Fitness, Sprouts, Denver Parks andRecreation, and to top it all off, received a free chair massage. TheDenver office now has walking maps for lunchtime fitness goals and toencourage walking meetings. Fresh fruit is provided in the common areas,and the committee also commissioned a delivery service to bring inhealthy lunch options. Employees also have access to several fitnessclubs at negotiated discount rates. The office sponsors employee sportsteams, including volleyball, basketball, soccer, softball, kickball,slosh ball, K-Run (running club), K-Climb (climbing club), and K-Tough(Tough Mudder). In May 2016, K-Run sponsored 95 KPMG runners in theColfax Marathon and relay.

3. PROGRESSIVE GROUP OF INSURANCE COMPANIES

* New to the list

CONTINUED LEARNING | GIVE-BACK | DIVERSITY

www.progressive.com/home HQ: Mayfield, Ohio; Multiple Coloradolocations

The fourth largest insurer in the country, Progressive Group ofInsurance Companies was founded in 1937 and provides shopping tools andservices that save customers time and money, such as the Name your Pricetool or Snapshot Discounts, and a concierge level of claims services,easing the process of purchasing and using auto insurance. Progressiveoffers plans for personal and commercial autos, motorcycles, boats,recreational vehicles and homes.

EXCEPTIONAL PERKS/POLICIES:

* Progressive hosts an annual "Take your Daughter to ITDay" to encourage school-age girls of company employees to observereal-world STEM career opportunities, create an Android game app, learnabout network routing, take apart and rebuild a laptop. The companytakes it a step further and sends Progressive employees into classroomsthroughout the academic year to teach students STEM principles. Duringthe 2014-15 school year, the group taught a total of 2,107 Coloradostudents in 71 classes, and participated in four STEM education nights;in 2015-16, Progressive moved its tech-ed programming into alternativeschools and rural environments.

* On Veteran's Day - October 2015 - Progressive donated morethan 130 cars nationwide to needy veteran families. On that day, a groupof Progressive employees convened at the service center in north Denverto present refurbished cars to two veteran families.

4. ELEVATIONS CREDIT UNION

WELLNESS | PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT | GIVE-BACK

www.elevationscu.com HQ: Boulder

Elevations Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit financialinstitution serving the Front Range. Founded in 1953, the organizationhas grown from 12 members and less than $100 in assets to a115,000-member group, managing more than $1.6 billion in assets - today,considered the No. 1 credit union mortgage lender in the state. Thespirit of cooperation has developed into a culture of belonging, evidentin the way Elevations' people participate in the global creditunion movement and take leadership roles in local communities. Shiftingaway from a product-centered business model, the Boulder-based creditunion focuses instead on creating consumer-centric solutions. Employingroughly 400 people, Elevations was honored to be the first credit unionto receive the only presidential honor for performance excellence in2014 and 2015 - the prestigious Malcolm Baldridge National QualityAward.

EXCEPTIONAL PERKS/POLICIES:

* Monthly summer cookouts

* Anniversary breakfasts

* Four weeks of paid-time off annually, plus 11 paid holidays

* Mortgage and auto loan discounts

* Sponsored athletic events and teams; biometrics screening, healthfairs, flu shots, gym discounts

* Since its inception in 2010, the company's own charitablearm - Elevations Foundation - has provided more than $1 million inscholarships for higher-ed, community grants, and resources in times ofdisaster and need. In 2015, Elevations employees spent nearly 5,000hours in the community through the credit union's Volunteer TimeOff benefit.

"At Elevations Credit Union, our employee value proposition isthat this will be the best place you have ever worked. We strive touphold this by providing worthwhile work and empowering or employeesthrough our servant leadership philosophy. We have something trulyspecial - the heart of nonprofit, the savvy mind of a business, and the'secret sauce' of our people and culture."--DebraJohnston, chief people officer

5. SQUARETWO FINANCIAL

DIVERSITY | GIVE-BACK | OFFICE ENVIRONMENT | FESTIVITIES

www.squaretwofinancial.com HQ: Denver

SquareTwo is dedicated to making distressed assets whole and is aleader in the $100 billion asset recovery and management industry.Through its award-winning technology, security and compliance practices,the company creates a more effective way for companies and customers toresolve their debt commitments. SquareTwo Financial is a trustedbusiness partner to the Fortune 100. It has has been recognized for itsemployee benefits, training, diversity and retention.

EXCEPTIONAL PERKS/POLICIES:

* EcoPass

* 16 volunteer hours

* National Hot Dog Day

* Pancake breakfast for National Pancake Day

* National Guacamole Day

* Broncos tailgate party and Super Bowl party

* Breast Cancer Awareness month - donates $1 for each employeewearing pink

* Charitable giving

In 2015, SquareTwo created appreciation stations around thebuilding to provide peers with #ThrowBackThursdays, daily shout-outs,cube recognition and an end-of-the-year celebration.