In its 33rd year, ColoradoBiz‘s Top Company honors the Colorado companies that have drive, determination, a vision and a plan and are ultimately making the state a better place to live and work. These two companies – one winner and one finalist –represent the 2020 Top Companies in Public Relations and Communications. 

Winner

B Public Relations

Denver 

B Public Relations’ staff includes three certified sommeliers, one Cicerone, one spirits specialist and one food photographer.

“As a team, we completely immerse ourselves within the industries in which we specialize – hospitality, travel and food and beverage – not only because we’re super passionate about them, but because it gives us a deeper understanding of our clients’ operations, challenges, goals, lingo and more,” says Principal Jordan Blakesley, whose first job at 14 was busing tables at the local Holiday Inn restaurant.

BPR pays for all certifications, just one of many employee perks that include fully paid maternity leave, a retirement match, a month of paid vacation time to start, summer Fridays, flexible hours and work-from-home options. BPR also provides free employee family vacations at clients’ hotels and meals at client restaurants and generous commission on all new clients and revenue streams. Team members are regularly recognized for their contributions with the “Queen B” awards program and bonus.

“We pride ourselves on mutual respect and a positive, supportive culture,” Blakesley says. “We don’t follow a hierarchical structure; we’re all equally ingrained in accounts when it comes to tactical work. This has proven to be effective for us as we foster an environment geared toward celebrating each other and team wins, as well as the success of our clients.”

Team wellness and philanthropy are priorities at BPR, which has committees that oversee charitable initiatives and monthly “Wellness Wednesdays.” In 2019, BPR added a prom dress drive for Bella Boutique, a food drive for Bienvenidos Food Bank and launched a #RaiseUpRestaurants community initiative to encourage consumers to purchase gift cards from restaurants affected by COVID-19.

Finalist

Novitas Communications

Denver 

Novitas Communications specializes in corporate communications, crisis communications and issue management for highly regulated industries and organizations, such as oil and gas, banking, housing, health care, education, insurance and more.

Among Novitas’ innovations: Its PR Protect service, a pre-paid crisis communications program, ensures companies have a crisis plan in place should the need arise.

The company’s work-hard, play-hard culture rewards its team with birthday lunches, cakes and bonuses; happy hours; industry memberships; spot bonuses; and surprise presents, such as home champagne deliveries after a week of hard work, among other perks. Employees also receive an annual $2,000 education stipend.

Employee involvement in the community is a source of pride: Every year, employees put together and host different client events, some of which are catered. The firm also has donated more than $45,000 in cash and pro-bono work for nonprofit organizations across the state.