Best Medium-Sized Business to Work For in 2018 – Colorado Springs' BombBomb

Spanning the Front Range, from Colorado Springs to Denver, Fort Collins and Boulder – the medium-sized companies in the 2018 Best Companies to Work For roundup are geographically diverse. What's more? Their economic contributions to the state are varied as well. Meet the teams and you'll understand the old adage: Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life. 

BOMBBOMB


Email marketing sometimes struggles to achieve sex appeal, let alone ROI – but Colorado Springs-based BombBomb is lighting a fire under the industry, with relatable and engaging dialogues served up on its video email software.

Launched in October 2006, BombBomb is on a mission to “re-humanize the planet” with its marketing platform. Customers can make and track the results of traditional email communications.

“That’s our ‘why,’” says Jonathan Bolton, BombBomb’s senior vice president of operations.

Strong bonds begin from within, while externally, the company pivoted in 2012 to pinpoint the real estate industry.

“BombBomb is the expert in the space in helping you use video to absolutely change your business,” Bolton says.

And it’s working. Founders Conor McCluskey and Darin Dawson’s operation receives an average 98 percent customer satisfaction score, according to the company’s website. 

Bolton describes the culture at BombBomb as “high-speed [and] smart … we operate with this huge fear of failure,” and yet, “we have a lot of fun.”

That includes 17 games of foosball played on average each day, fueled by five craft beers on tap at HQ.

In the community, BombBomb assists with fundraising, clean-ups and kitchen takeovers at Springs Rescue Mission, and has contributed a significant amount to “family sponsorships” at Mary’s Home, a housing program for single mothers and children.

BombBomb from ICC, Inc. on Vimeo.

RUNNERS-UP

SYNCHR 


SyncHR is a modern platform for people and organizations that expect more from human resources. With its patented, enterprise-class technology redefining and simplifying human capital management (HCM), SyncHR provides real-time data, streamlined workflows and task lists for a frictionless user experience.

Founded in 2005, SyncHR made the strategic decision to relocate its corporate headquarters from Oakland, California to Denver in 2016. The company selected its new home based on Colorado’s economy and its strong technology-focused business landscape. SyncHR’s culture is characterized by empowerment, resulting in a team of independent thinkers with a bias for action.

“I love working at SyncHR because I’m constantly facing new challenges and I get to work alongside clients and co-workers to build a successful product we can all be proud of,” says Michelle Bisping, senior implementation consultant at SyncHR. “Everyone I work with holds themselves to the same high standards and work ethic while always willing to lend a helping hand.”

ODELL BREWING CO.

Northern Colorado is chock full of beer experts, but Odell stands out and has stood the test of time since launching 30 years ago, with its high-quality craft product and its mantra to “always [be] better.”

Husband-wife duo Doug and Wynne Odell made the move to Fort Collins from Seattle and upped the ante, beginning with home-brewed batches. Since 1989, the now-147-person beer-making machine has been profitable every year.

Known for its inventive recipes, powerful business management methods and strong employee engagement, the organization makes people its highest priority.

A weekly beer allotment is a sacred weekend policy, and downtime is respected by managers and team members, so Odell employees can return to work on Mondays rejuvenated, raring to go with each new week.

After one year of employment, Odell staffers are invited to participate in the employee stock ownership plan, giving each individual a sense of accountability and responsibility, and ultimately a stake in the success of the brewery. Five years in, the brewery takes team members on a brewery tour throughout Europe as an act of gratitude.

What’s more, an employee-led charitable committee hand-picks the organization’s 
giving commitments, which span humanitarian work, environmental initiatives and educational efforts.

Odell Brewery from ICC, Inc. on Vimeo.

POPSOCKETS

Boulder-based PopSockets gives you a grip, so you don’t drop one of your most precious belongings – making your smart phone just a bit smarter.

David Barnett’s breakout button was conceived inside his garage – like so many entrepreneurs who came before – following his tenure as a philosophy professor. It seems the fad has caught fire, as the company sold 35 million knobby units last year alone. In 2018, PopSockets earned the No. 2 slot on the Inc. 5000 list, with 71,424 percent growth year-over-year and $168.8 million in revenue.

Indeed, business is booming, but somehow the PopSockets posse seems to find time for fun and altruism as well. The team maintains a refreshing perspective with its quirky campaigns and informal in-office vibe, carving out special scheduling for “bagel Wednesdays” and a serious snack cabinet.

In building and growing his team of more than 150 employees, Barnett looks for independent problem-solvers and highly motivated types. The acronym SCRIPTIC – Selfless, Customer obsessed, Responsible, Innovative, Passionate, Transparent, Impactful, Courageous – sets forth a meaningful mantra for the crew to follow.

Recently, PopSockets doubled down on its corporate social responsibility strategy as well, donating 10 percent of its net proceeds for every grip sold online. The company also joined the ALS Association’s Every Drop Adds Up campaign to bring individuals and organizations together to fight the disease.

PopSockets from ICC, Inc. on Vimeo.