Tom Kalinski, RE/MAX of Boulder
Colorado is home to nearly half of the top 50 companies on Outside Magazine’s 2019 50 Best Places to Work, 20 to be exact. Of those, the Boulder-Denver metro area scored the majority on the list – 17 in total, including No. 1 ranked TDA advertising agency in Boulder.
It’s not easy to make this list. These companies show commitment to fun and a supportive work environment to stand out. It doesn’t hurt that Colorado offers the weather and natural environment that encourages an active lifestyle.
Here are the top companies on the Boulder-Denver metro area list:
1. TDA_Boulder (Boulder)
This advertising agency is clearly committed to a supportive place to work, going from No. 16 on the 2018 list and No. 36 in 2017. With generous three weeks paid time off, half-day summer Fridays, local brews and kombucha on tap, powder days, and fun outings like Rockies baseball games, the company lays the ground work. Employees note the Boulder location sets the stage for lunchtime trail runs up Mount Sanitas or frolicking in Boulder Creek.
3. Ground Floor Media (Denver)
The plan at this midsize advertising, public relations and marketing firm includes on-tap kombucha and beer, a meditation room, a café, a Mrs. Pac-Man machine, and a paid sabbatical after ten years. Moving up from No. 8 in 2018, Ground Floor-Media isn’t going to the dogs, despite the office dogs that greet team members on various days of the week. A move that “puts a smile on team members’ and clients’ faces.”
6. BSW Wealth Partners (Boulder)
Perks at this financial advisory firm include Colorado ski, craft beer in the fridge, and a paid three-month sabbatical at ten years of employment. The firm held steady at No. 6 from the 2018 list, after jumping from No. 39 on the 2017 list.
7. WhippleWood CPAs (Littleton)
This accounting, business consulting, and tax services firm offers professional massages during tax season and pours on the perks when the season ends, such as closing the office early for a stress-relief event after the tax deadline.
13. Pairin (Denver)
Pairin creates professional-development and hiring software. As a company founded by coaches, Pairin perks include an annual mountain retreat, Friday happy hours, indoor bike racks, team hikes, a local climbing-gym discount and musical jam nights. The company moved up from twenty-seventh in 2018.
14. SmartEtailing (Boulder)
SmartEtailing makes websites, marketing and integrations for independent bike shops. Employees enjoy happy-hour rides to local breweries, a dog-friendly office, back-patio meditation twice a week, partially reimbursed gym memberships, profit sharing, and deals on bikes and gear.
15. Choozle (Denver)
Makers of a digital-advertising software platform, Choozle offers generous time-off and perks. But that’s not what gets their employees buzzing. They say that having their opinions and ideas heard, valued and encouraged is what counts. “That sentiment means more than stocking the kitchen with beer kegs and snacks – although that helps.”
16. BridgeView IT (Denver)
These technology consulting employees benefit from in-office massages team outings, ski trips and short Friday work days.
19. Bonusly (Boulder)
As creators of recognition and rewards software for enriching company culture, Bonusly supports fitness for, including kombucha on tap and flexibility that empowers employees to organize outings. They must be doing something right, since they moved up from No. 30 on the 2018 list.
21. Uncharted (Denver)
Employees of this social-impact accelerator enjoy work from anywhere Tuesdays and Fridays and a snack-stocked kitchen along with many more activities.
23. Creative Alignments (Boulder)
25. Avid4 Adventure (Boulder)
26. CampMinder (Boulder)
28. Trineo (Boulder)
30. Sterling-Rice Group (Boulder)
36. East West Partners (Denver)
See more company details at outsideonline.com/2404274/best-places-to-work-2019.
By Tom Kalinski. Tom is the broker/owner of RE/MAX of Boulder, the local residential real estate company he established in 1977. He was inducted into Boulder County’s Business Hall of Fame in 2016 and has a 40-year background in commercial and residential real estate. For questions, e-mail Tom at [email protected], call 303.441.5620 or visit boulderco.com.
