Posted 07.31.2009

Best Companies to Work for in Colorado ’09

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Best Company winner
Omni Interlocken Resort
www.omnihotels.com

Omni Interlocken Resort associates have the opportunity to utilize the brand new, state of the art fitness center at any time, at no cost. David Jurcak, general manager, and Alissa Heim show off the new equipment.

Employees at Omni Interlocken Resort who want to further their careers in the hospitality industry can take advantage of at least two programs to put them on the road to becoming managers or supervisors or another role.

“We kind of refer to our development here as ‘growing our own garden,’” says Marcey Bowman, director of human resources at Omni Interlocken, a 390-room resort in Broomfield outside of Boulder.

One Omni program, called Manager in Development, or MID, is aimed specifically at recent college graduates and is designed to provide students the training and mentoring needed to begin their careers at Omni Hotels. Another Omni program is called Leaders in Development (LID). Participants have six months or a year to complete the process, depending on the program.

“Just because they may be working in banquets or at the front desk doesn’t necessarily mean their knowledge has to be limited to those departments,” Bowman says. “They can become more well-rounded and learn how to become a supervisor, become a manager, and enhance their skill set so we can have them work for us well into the future or possibly relocate to a different hotel, and it really keeps them motivated.”

The programs are both a recruiting and retention tool for Omni Interlocken, one of 40 hotels in the Omni Hotels Resorts chain throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

“We really have fun with it, too,” Bowman says of Omni’s developmental programs. “It’s not just sitting there in a classroom. They’re actually out there kind of in the field. Whether it’s learning about golf maintenance or shadowing a wedding or something like that, they get some hands-on experience.”

Another benefit for Omni Interlocken’s 301 employees is the employee dining room, where breakfast is free and other meals are just $1 each. Paydays – every other Friday – are celebrated with donuts from Lamar’s donut shop in Louisville in the morning and prime rib in the afternoon.

Employees also get to play golf for free at the resort’s 27-hole course – voted the third-best course in the Rocky Mountain region by Golf Magazine in 2008 – and they have free access to the resort’s state-of-the-art fitness center. They also can get an RTD Eco Pass, good for unlimited use of RTD transportation, for $10 a month.

“They’re working hard here, and we want to show them we appreciate them,” Bowman says.

New to List
— Mike Taylor

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Best Company winner
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
www.pwc.com

Founded: 1998 (merger)
Location: Denver, headquartered in New York
CEO: Dennis Nally
2008 Revenue: $7.2 billion (U.S.)
Colorado workers: 268

In a nutshell: With a worldwide work force of more than 140,000, PricewaterhouseCoopers helps organizations around the world solve complex business issues in areas ranging from taxation to human resources to transactions to crisis management.
What’s special: Despite its large size – 30,000 professionals in the U.S. and 268 in Colorado – PwC maintains a community feel with bimonthly newsletters and biweekly “PwC Updates” from CEO Dennis Nally that include an “Ask Me Anything” feedback button. More than 110 employees submit ideas, questions or comments to Nally each month, and every question receives a personal response, even when the answer requires considerable research.
Values: In Denver, PwC has a Diversity Circle made up of more than 50 members. Among other things, it celebrates holidays for its diverse groups. A Women’s Networking Circles group with about 30 members has the goal of meeting four to five times a year
to discuss women’s issues, and a Staff Advisory Council comprised of all lines of service and all levels of employees focuses on continuous improvement.

2008 Rank: No. 6

5
Best Company winner
Alpine Bank
www.alpinebank.com

Founded: 1973
Location: Glenwood Springs and 36 other Western Slope locations
CEO: Robert Young
2008 revenue: $187 million
Colorado workers: 572

In a nutshell: Alpine Bank serves customers with retail, business, trust, asset management, mortgage and electronic banking services.
What’s special: The bank attributes much of its success to its ability to retain employees – many for more than 10 years — who have built long-term relationships with a customer base that now numbers close to 100,000. Alpine Bank employees started a grass-roots effort called the Green Team in 2005. This led to development of the bank’s Environmental Management System (EMS), a framework to measure progress in implementing environmental practices.
Perks: Alpine Bank employees receive three days of paid time for volunteer activities such as helping schools or with highway cleanup or other projects.

2008 Rank: No. 5

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