Staying power

How do you explain a financial company enjoying the greatest success of its history in the worst economic climate of our lifetimes? Ask John Ikard at FirstBank.

What does a chain of fitness studios have to do to nearly double its bottom-line revenue this year and stay on track to hit 100 locations in five years? Trevor Tice at CorePower Yoga could tell you.

Can you name a public relations firm that has been profitable every year of its existence? Sharon Linhart, who co-founded her company nearly 15 years ago, can make that claim.

It’s easy to lose sight of success when so many businesses are struggling to survive. The 2011 crop of Top Company winners would tell you that they’ve had to make their share of tough choices, but they’ve found ways to thrive in both the boom and the bust cycles. Their success stories reveal as much about the character of the companies as they do about their financial performance.

Program sponsor Deloitte culled 33 finalists in 11 categories from the dozens of nominations we received. ColoradoBiz Publisher Bart Taylor and Deloitte Managing Partner Sandy Rothe met with a panel of business and community leaders to select the winner for each category.

We celebrated the finalists and announced winners at a reception in September at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts sponsored by Holland & Hart. The Top Company program also was sponsored by the University of Colorado Denver.

UMB once again hosted the annual Top Company trip to Napa Valley in October, where Top Company winners toured wine country and talked about the economy with Bill Greiner, chief investment officer for UMB subsidiary Scout Investment Advisors. Look for highlights of that discussion and Greiner’s 2012 financial forecast in our December issue.

The Top Company
Class of 2011

Consumer Business
CorePower Yoga

Financial Services
FirstBank Holding Co.

Health Care
DaVita

Manufacturing
OtterBox

Media/Advertising
Linhart Public Relations

Nonprofit
Denver Rescue Mission

Real Estate/Construction
PCL Construction

Services
JG Management Systems

Technology
IQ Navigator

Telecom
tw telecom

Tourism/Hospitality
Xanterra Parks & Resorts Inc.
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