The Best Medium-Sized Companies to Work For in 2017

An accounting operation, a real estate agency and an architectural firm – all Colorado-based – walk into a competition for best workplace, and who comes out on top? See below:

WINNER

ANTON COLLINS MITCHELL

Kristin Holthus started with the Denver accounting firm’s audit department right out of college 13 years ago and quickly moved up the ranks to manager. But when Holthus was ready to start a family, she didn’t want to travel as extensively, so the firm moved her into a human resources and recruiting role.

“They’ve provided me with really great opportunities and have been really supportive,” says Holthus, who has a master’s degree in accounting and is currently ACM’s director of finance and operations.

When she wanted to get back to her accounting roots, the company moved her into the controller role, a position she’s held for the last seven years.

Holthus has watched the firm grow from one office with 30 people to four offices with 150 people and still maintain the fun, family-type culture it’s had since she started.

“It’s the people,” she says. “As we’ve grown, we’ve continued to expand into niches and get great people who have great expertise but are still fun people. There’s a lot of camaraderie in the office that’s been important for our culture.”

ACM was started in 2002 by Greg Anton, Jim Collins and Gary Mitchell, three former partners of BDO USA LLP, who shared a vision to provide their clients with local expertise and their employees with new opportunities. It merged with the existing practice of Watkins & Schommer Inc. in 2010, giving it a location that’s capable of fully serving Greeley and Northern Colorado. In 2012, ACM increased its Colorado footprint by combining with the firm formerly known as Doty, Lyle and Jones LLC. It added another office when it merged with Mader Tschacher Peterson & Co.

RUNNERS-UP

OZ ARCHITECTURE

Connect, collaborate and create are the three actions that guide Oz Architecture as it harnesses its employees’ unique skills. Because leadership recognizes that good ideas can come from anybody at any time on any project, employees enjoy a free exchange of ideas, which keeps the creativity flowing. The company doesn’t have individual offices, so no one is behind closed doors, creating an environment that fosters dynamic interaction. Every day is interesting because Oz works on such a variety of projects. The firm has designed everything from the 4,000-square-foot Elway’s at the Lodge at Vail to the Village at Copper Mountain, as well as the 17,500-square-foot home of SmartWool in Steamboat Springs and a 67,000-square-foot student center for Pueblo Community College.

RE/MAX ALLIANCE

When residential real estate company RE/MAX Alliance asked its employees for three words to describe their work environment, they kept repeating one word: fun. They also described REMAX as empowered, engaged and exceptional. The company, which specializes in the Arvada real estate market, supports collaboration and flexibility, as well as teamwork. The company’s 850 Realtors have helped 12,000 families buy and sell homes, so its culture is apparently working.