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Tag: Top Company 2022

Top Company 2022: Construction and Engineering

The outpouring of applications for this year’s Top Company awards is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of enterprises that do business in the state. Applications for the 35th annual awards numbered in the hundreds, and it was particularly encouraging to see so many companies rebounding from two years of COVID restrictions, with most posting revenue and employee gains approaching—and in some cases, exceeding—pre-pandemic numbers.

This year’s Top Company winners and finalists represent 13 industry categories, plus a startup category for companies in business less than four years. Entrants were judged on three criteria: outstanding achievement, financial performance and community involvement. The judging panel was made up of ColoradoBiz magazine’s editorial board and two representatives from the business community.

 

WINNER — Ward Electric Co.

Longmont

Ward Electric Co. specializes in all aspects of power with an emphasis on high-voltage projects across the lower 48 states. 

The family-owned business believes its talented workforce is what differentiates it from the competition. Many employees have grown up in the company, working their way up the ranks.  

“They understand our culture and our values, they live them, and they pass them on,” said Jared Bodammer, the company’s director of marketing. “We understand that our employees share our culture and are our best recruiters.” 

Community service and involvement have been part of Ward Electric’s values and culture since Mike and Joyce Ward founded the company in 2005. The company supports numerous youth sports teams and area schools, events and organizations with a focus on helping children, especially those with special needs.  

“When it comes down to it, it’s about providing access and opportunities,”  Bodammer said. “Employees are encouraged to get involved in those opportunities and often present programs and causes for the company to support.  

Among the company’s greatest achievements was launching the JoyforWard Foundation in January. The foundation provides assistance to nonprofits and organizations that meet criteria set by the foundation.  

“We established the JoyforWard Foundation to honor our late mother, to continue to share her heart with others and to carry forward her ideals,” Ward Electric President Matt Ward said. 

 

FINALIST — Mortenson

Denver

Mortenson

A top 20 U.S. builder, developer and engineering services provider, Mortenson maintains offices across the country, including a major hub in Denver that was established in 1981.  

The company’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Business Resource Group has established internal workforce development programs, expanded hiring practices and set fair compensation packages across the company.  

“Our focus extends beyond numbers to promoting real parity,” said Christina Zavislan, Mortenson team member and regional marketing lead. “From career mapping to Women’s Skills Nights, which provide training and experience using the tools needed to advance on the construction site, we are committed to providing opportunities for advancement for all.” 

Mortenson establishes workforce utilization goals for each project to ensure people of color, women and veteran-owned businesses are given opportunities to grow. The company pledges to award 15% of all subcontracts to small, minority- and woman-owned businesses, a goal it exceeds every year.  

The company’s commitment to fostering a more inclusive construction industry extends to external advocacy. It is a founding member of the Time for Change consortium, a group of six national general contractors that banded together to identify ways to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in the construction industry.  

“That effort resulted in the first Construction Inclusion Week last fall in which tools, training and support were provided to 200,000 workers that made up the consortium and its partners,” Zavislan said. 

FINALIST — I-kota LLC

Denver 

I-kota LLC specializes in building multifamily affordable housing, completing more than 2,000 affordable units in Colorado.  

The company’s guiding light is to continually focus not on “who’s right,” but “what’s right.” 

The departure of CEO Riley McLaughlin’s business partner in 2016 left big shoes to fill and resulted in a new organizational chart, promoting three people from within the company and hiring an outside chief financial officer.  

In the process, the company committed to becoming a $50 million a year business. “This commitment required us to become a more sophisticated company and more systemized company,” McLaughlin said. 

The company is implementing integrated software that links project management to its accounting department. It also revamped its processes, coaching programs and implemented company town halls to increase communication and the recruiting processes to improve talent acquisition and training programs to increase employee retention. 

“What I’m personally proud of through this difficult organizational transition was that we had zero turnover in personnel and have a solid relationship today with our previous business partner,” McLaughlin said. “As an organization, we have grown through living and abiding by our core values.” 

Like other businesses feeling the pain of the coronavirus pandemic, I-kota applied for and was granted approval for the 2020 COVID PPP Small Business Loan. But because construction was deemed an essential business, it didn’t feel the hardship other businesses did, so it decided to pass on the loan so someone who needed it more could have it.  

“Could we have used the money? Sure,” McLaughlin said. “However, we felt this was true to our values personally and as a business to help others first. Our reputation is something we work very hard on and want it to be known for chivalry, respect and integrity.” 

Top Company 2022: Aerospace

The outpouring of applications for this year’s Top Company awards is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of enterprises that do business in the state. Applications for the 35th annual awards numbered in the hundreds, and it was particularly encouraging to see so many companies rebounding from two years of COVID restrictions, with most posting revenue and employee gains approaching—and in some cases, exceeding—pre-pandemic numbers.

This year’s Top Company winners and finalists represent 13 industry categories, plus a startup category for companies in business less than four years. Entrants were judged on three criteria: outstanding achievement, financial performance and community involvement. The judging panel was made up of ColoradoBiz magazine’s editorial board and two representatives from the business community.

Winner — Barber-Nichols

Arvada 

Since 2015, Barber-Nichols has grown more than twofold – in terms both of revenue and its workforce, as the company has expanded from 72 employees to 180 in the past seven years. 

The Arvada-based firm provides pumps, compressors, turbine systems, rocket engine turbo pumps, motors and thermal management solutions across aerospace, cryogenics, defense and energy sectors. Barber-Nichols has been at the forefront of aerospace innovation for 50 years and is showing no signs of stopping.  

“BN continues to experience rapid growth in current business industries including undersea power and propulsion systems, thermal management systems, space-based applications and advanced power generation and energy storage,” the company says. 

To facilitate expansion, the company acquired property adjacent to its current campus. The new facility will improve manufacturing efficiency by consolidating BN’s machining, quality control and manufacturing support operations. By designing, manufacturing, and testing turbomachinery, Barber-Nichols continues to push the envelope of integrated engineering. 

Among the company’s goals: Continue 15% year-over-year growth in four product group areas; maintain a top-notch employee-centric culture with a 4.9 out of 5 Glassdoor score; and manufacture mission-critical products that impact the world. 

Meanwhile, the company is helping to develop the next generation of aerospace technicians, as it offers an apprenticeship program with Red Rocks Community College.   

Top Company 2022: Tourism and Hospitality

The outpouring of applications for this year’s Top Company awards is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of enterprises that do business in the state. Applications for the 35th annual awards numbered in the hundreds, and it was particularly encouraging to see so many companies rebounding from two years of COVID restrictions, with most posting revenue and employee gains approaching—and in some cases, exceeding—pre-pandemic numbers.

This year’s Top Company winners and finalists represent 13 industry categories, plus a startup category for companies in business less than four years. Entrants were judged on three criteria: outstanding achievement, financial performance and community involvement. The judging panel was made up of ColoradoBiz magazine’s editorial board and two representatives from the business community.

 

Winner — Travelers Haven

Denver

Travelers Haven
Travelers Haven Team Photo

Whether it is a first responder flying across the country to assist on a natural disaster or a technical consultant placed on a project, the need to house nomadic workers is on the rise, and Travelers Haven is at the forefront of that.  

Travelers Haven strives to secure the best housing at the best rates, and manages every aspect of the short-term housing process to save clients’ money, time and stress, offering a complete suite of tools and features to inform and optimize every housing program.  

In 2021, Travelers Haven placed almost 6,000 workers in more than 2,500 locations with an average stay of four months. As of June 2022, Travelers Haven had seen a 25% growth increase over 2021 and is projected to outperform 2020’s revenue by 40%, which would mark this year as the company’s strongest period of growth since its inception 14 years ago.

Finalist — Footers

Arvada

Footers
Footers Catering provides a special Mediterranean Shrimp dish at an event

After monumental obstacles as a result of COVID-19, Footers rebounded impressively in 2021 and is set to continue on an upward trajectory well past 2022. 

“The hit our business took in 2020 was unlike anything the company had ever experienced in 40 years of business,” the firm shared in its Top Company application. “Like so many hospitality companies, due to the restrictions on gatherings, our revenue at Footers dropped 70%.” 

That set the stage for a dramatic comeback for the longtime caterer. In 2021, Footers served more than 450 events and more than 57,000 guests. Meanwhile, the company completed arguably its boldest undertaking yet: the opening of Social Capitol in Arvada. The venue boasts 20,000 feet of event space, a mezzanine, and a 20-foot customizable bar.  

To Footers, the completion of Social Capitol was not just a grand accomplishment, it was proof that the company’s owners would do anything to support their vision and invest in the catering business in a time of uncertainty.  

Construction was set to break ground in March 2020, and owners April and Anthony Lambatos faced the critical decision of whether to move forward with the development or not. Their decision proved motivational to the entire team. Going ahead with the plan underscored their belief that when the catering business returned, Footers would be poised to serve with the same standards of excellence that had been its hallmark for 40 years, but with even more resources. 

Footers forecasts 100% revenue growth over the next two years compared with 2021. 

Finalist — Harvest Hosts

Vail

Harvest Host 3537 Karen Blue Montavons Berries
Enjoying one of Harvest Host’s beautiful Colorado locations

Harvest Hosts is a unique membership club for RVers that allows access to stays at more than 6,600 locations across North America. The locations range from farms to golf courses to breweries and everything in between. When these property owners or managers register as a host, they earn extra income and — perhaps even more beneficial — they provide an environment for helping to uplift and support small businesses around them. 

“On average, each host garners an additional $13,000 in revenue each year from Harvest Hosts members, with some even earning more than $50,000 in additional revenue,” the company says. 

Despite the company’s national reach, CEO Joel Holland makes sure that Colorado still holds a special place in Harvest Hosts’ heart. Harvest sponsors the annual Vail Rotary Club Duck Race, the marquee event and largest fundraiser of the year for the club. Holland is also the vice president of Vail Mountain Rescue and is an active member of the rescue team, totaling an impressive 49 missions over the last two years.

Top Company 2022: Energy

The outpouring of applications for this year’s Top Company awards is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of enterprises that do business in the state. Applications for the 35th annual awards numbered in the hundreds, and it was particularly encouraging to see so many companies rebounding from two years of COVID restrictions, with most posting revenue and employee gains approaching—and in some cases, exceeding—pre-pandemic numbers.

This year’s Top Company winners and finalists represent 13 industry categories, plus a startup category for companies in business less than four years. Entrants were judged on three criteria: outstanding achievement, financial performance and community involvement. The judging panel was made up of ColoradoBiz magazine’s editorial board and two representatives from the business community.

 

Winner — NexGen Resources Corp

Greenwood Village

Formed in 1993, NexGen Resources Corp. initially focused on the development and acquisition of natural resources. Since, NexGen has evolved into a noted force in the energy sector — and beyond. It supplies all the coal requirements for Xcel Energy’s Texas power plants and has interests in alternative fuel and clean coal technology commercialization, exploration and development of oil and gas resources, as well as mine development and operations. The company’s diverse portfolio also includes real estate, consumer finance and even dental services. 

NexGen founder Charles McNeil is a fourth-generation Coloradan and graduate of the Colorado School of Mines, which honored him with the Mines Distinguished Achievement Medal in 1998. 

Under McNeil’s leadership, NexGen has been involved in more than 15 company start-ups. Areas of focus include the development oil and gas resources in Colorado, Wyoming, North Dakota and Oklahoma.  

“NexGen efficiently analyzes thousands of prospective oil and gas acres using advanced exploration geology, reservoir engineering geology, geoscience engineering, and proven land acquisition practices,” the company says. “After meeting rigorous diligence metrics across all disciplines, NexGen has the capability to act quickly and creatively to form large contiguous blocks of prospective acreage.”  

The company has supported numerous organizations over the years, including the Denver Area Council of the Boy Scouts, The Barbara Davis Center for Children’s Diabetes, Volunteers of America, the Cancer League, Common Sense Institute, Craig Hospital, Steamboat Institute and Western Energy Alliance, among others.  

 

Finalist — Enverus

Austin, Texas (Colorado office: Centennial)

Enverus’ Colorado office is in Centennial, but its influence stretches around the globe. Founded 22 years ago, the company is a strategic partner to more than 6,000 customers in 50 countries. 

Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Enverus is an energy SaaS (software as a service) company delivering highly technical insights and predictive/prescriptive analytics that empower customers to make decisions that increase profit. Enverus’ technologies drive production and investment strategies, enable best practices for energy and commodity trading and risk management, and reduce costs through automated processes across critical business functions. 

In fact, Enverus is the only SaaS company to focus entirely on the energy industry. In addition to software, its analytics and intelligence enable customers to make decisions faster so they can grow and become more profitable and/or efficient. 

In late 2021, the 1,542-employee firm launched Enverus Communities — employee-led groups where co-workers can connect on and celebrate shared interests, identities and passions.  

Enverus also offers eight hours of volunteer paid time off to all employees each quarter. This time can be used for employees to volunteer for nonprofits within their communities. 

Top Company 2022: Nonprofits

The outpouring of applications for this year’s Top Company awards is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of enterprises that do business in the state. Applications for the 35th annual awards numbered in the hundreds, and it was particularly encouraging to see so many companies rebounding from two years of COVID restrictions, with most posting revenue and employee gains approaching—and in some cases, exceeding—pre-pandemic numbers.

This year’s Top Company winners and finalists represent 13 industry categories, plus a startup category for companies in business less than four years. Entrants were judged on three criteria: outstanding achievement, financial performance and community involvement. The judging panel was made up of ColoradoBiz magazine’s editorial board and two representatives from the business community.

 

WINNER — We Don’t Waste

Denver

What began as a one-man operation run out of founder Arlan Preblud’s station wagon has evolved into an 11,570-square-foot Food Recovery and Distribution center operated by 19 full-time employees. We Don’t Waste looks to keep perishable food out of landfills in order to distribute it to underserved and food-insecure communities of the Denver area.  

We Don’t Waste has grown to become the largest food recovery-focused organization in Colorado. As of this year, it has recovered and distributed more than 165 million servings of quality food, equal to more than 61 million meals, to food-insecure community members while also diverting roughly 41 million pounds of food from landfills since 2009.  

Part of We Don’t Waste’s success has been due to the company’s fundraising efforts to keep operations excelling, even amid the pandemic. As in-person volunteers waned during COVID-19, the nonprofit turned its focus to available grants. We Don’t Waste won the Bank of America Neighborhood Builders grant, amounting to $200,000 over two years, and the Front Range Waste Division grant. Both helped to support the nonprofit during a crucial time.   

Finalist — Common Sense Institute

Greenwood Village 

The Common Sense Institute has one clear goal: to educate Coloradans on policies, initiatives and proposed laws that will impact their lives. Founded in 2010, originally under the name Common Sense Policy Roundtable, CSI has become a juggernaut of information Coloradans can rely on to develop informed views on new policies, proposals and laws. Understanding its sphere of influence, CSI doesn’t just help educate the people of Colorado, it provides information to aid those in positions of power as well. In 2021, CSI hosted the inaugural Free Enterprise Summit, an event that featured the release of the “Colorado Free Enterprise Report” and “The Rankings Book: 2022 Edition,” which has served as a road map for policymakers across the state. 

Nonpartisanship is one of the organization’s guiding principles. “We believe it is critical to work across the aisles on positive solutions to address Colorado’s biggest challenges,” says CSI Director of Communications Cinamon Watson. “All research is conducted from this lens, and the company culture is based on it — collaborative, diverse, open.” 

The nonprofit has shown no signs of slowing down. Among all Colorado think tanks, CSI measured in at 59.5% of the total mentioned volume of online discussions and mentions. As of June this year, CSI had garnered more than 300 media mentions, which puts CSI well on its way to surpassing its number of 346 for 2021.  

FINALIST — Youth on Record

Denver

Youth on Record works with more than 3,000 young people annually to provide enhanced art- and music-centric programs to some of Denver’s most under-resourced communities.  

“YOR’s education, music and community programs are designed to help young people become more free, more rooted in their personal power, and better able to thrive in spite of systems and circumstances that dis-empower and marginalize them,” YOR’s website states.  

Part of YOR’s educational model is the fact that teachers and instructors are all local and professional musicians. It takes an artist to teach art, and YOR knows that investing in marginalized musicians is a way to continue to support potential future educators. Currently building a Music & Entertainment company, YOR wants to create a pathway for aspiring artists that re-imagines the talent landscape. 

“The design for the M&E company emerged through conversations with YOR’s oldest participants (ages 17-24) and its Teaching Artist staff members, as well as through conversations and dialogue with industry professionals who have identified gaps in the training, preparation, and professional development for creators of color and other minoritized groups,” the company says. 

YOR’s M&E company would be the first of any agency groups in the Western region to prioritize, support and promote artists specifically from minority communities.  

Top Company 2022: Startups

The outpouring of applications for this year’s Top Company awards is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of enterprises that do business in the state. Applications for the 35th annual awards numbered in the hundreds, and it was particularly encouraging to see so many companies rebounding from two years of COVID restrictions, with most posting revenue and employee gains approaching—and in some cases, exceeding—pre-pandemic numbers.

This year’s Top Company winners and finalists represent 13 industry categories, plus a startup category for companies in business less than four years. Entrants were judged on three criteria: outstanding achievement, financial performance and community involvement. The judging panel was made up of ColoradoBiz magazine’s editorial board and two representatives from the business community.

 

Winner — Fulfilld Intelligent Warehouse Software

Denver

Fulfilld is an intelligent warehouse management orchestration platform that directs tasking between warehouse workers and connected systems (robotics, vehicles, etc.) and is delivered via a monthly bundled software and hardware subscription. Fulfilld’s disruptive objective is to optimize core-warehousing operations by driving cost savings, greater efficiencies, labor optimization, higher throughput, and act as a company’s warehousing orchestration engine. 

The company’s founders are no strangers to the startup space. Before Fulfilld, they self-funded and grew tech firm NIMBL to more than 300 people, at which point it was acquired by a publicly traded competitor. Raising VC funds for Fulfilld during the pandemic was no small challenge, but the company raised $4 million from global VC investors. 

“One could argue the worst time to start a business is during an economic downturn,” says co-founder and CEO Yosh Eisbart. “Fulfilld believes the opposite. While many businesses were pivoting to navigate their respective challenges, Fulfilld seized this once in a lifetime — hopefully — event to not only tackle head-on a challenge…but double-down on the opportunity due to perceived supply-chain, logistics and warehousing disruptions coming in the future. Obviously, Fulfilld could not have imagined the level of supply chain disruption that was to be and seized the opportunity.” 

According to the company, Fulfilld clients experience an average 25% increase in maintenance cost savings, a 20% increase in productivity, and a 50% increase of savings in total cost of ownership.  

Though it was founded less than two years ago, Fulfilld is already making its mark as an ally in the community. Partnering with the Colorado Refugee and Immigration Security Service (CRISS), Fulfilld aims to recruit, re-train and hire about 200 refugees and immigrants per year and provide livable jobs for refugees and immigrants not earning sustainable wages. Fulfilld has worked with CRISS since the founders’ NIMBL days and has procured resources including 13 computers for refugee computer literacy training classes.  

Finalist — Titan CEO

Arvada

Titan CEO focuses on three major offerings: CEO peer groups, The Titan 100 and Executive Retreats. The company fosters a much-needed community for executives through a suite of resources including private CEO peer groups, high-level networking and executive retreats that focus on the unique needs of the executive leader. 

Titan CEO is also the creator of the Titan 100 program, which recognizes 100 CEOs and C-level executives: 100 Titans of Industry. This program is designed to build and connect a community of CEOs and C-level executives and serve as inspiration to the local business community. Currently, the Titan 100 program exists in five cities across the country and will recognize 500 Titans of Industry in 2022. The program will recognize 1,000 Titans of Industry annually by 2024. 

Reaching the top of one’s industry is no easy feat, and Titan CEO makes sure that if a business leader’s impact is great, he or she is recognized for it. 

However, it is the company’s ability to facilitate high-level networking events, catered business tutoring, and an elite level of community that truly makes each Titan CEO a titan in his or her own right. 

Using this network of executives to foster community engagement and outreach is the company’s true goal. For this year’s Titan Days, the company’s annual community outreach event, Titan CEO will partner with the Infinity Foundation of Colorado, a nonprofit focused on creating opportunities for families and individuals impacted by intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities.  

The company also plans to partner with a local nonprofit in each of the five major cities that Titan CEO operates in, for an estimated 600 hours of cumulative volunteer service throughout the Titan 100 community.  

Finalist — Guide Real Estate

Denver

Originally founded by Bret Weinstein as BSW Real Estate in 2019, the company rebranded to Guide Real Estate in 2022. The agency was created to reshape the landscape of real estate through value and transparency, with a focus on continuing education for clients and agents alike. 

The 70-agent company announced earlier this year a partnership with the brokerage platform Side, ensuring Guide remains on the cutting edge of the evolving real estate market while continuing to deliver premium services to clients with a platform that includes proprietary technology, transaction management, branding and marketing services, public relations, legal support, lead generation, vendor management, infrastructure solutions and more. 

Since 2019, Guide agents have donated many hours and more than $100,000 to local charities, putting into practice their belief that real estate is about uplifting everyone. Guide agents have hosted a supply drive, are currently putting together a food drive, and have assisted victims of the Marshall Fire to find rentals. 

Agents at Guide Real Estate have a good role model to follow: Weinstein, the CEO, has ranked among the top 1% of Colorado agents each of the last 10 years.  

Top Company 2022: Technology, Software & Telecommunications

The outpouring of applications for this year’s Top Company awards is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of enterprises that do business in the state. Applications for the 35th annual awards numbered in the hundreds, and it was particularly encouraging to see so many companies rebounding from two years of COVID restrictions, with most posting revenue and employee gains approaching—and in some cases, exceeding—pre-pandemic numbers.

This year’s Top Company winners and finalists represent 13 industry categories, plus a startup category for companies in business less than four years. Entrants were judged on three criteria: outstanding achievement, financial performance and community involvement. The judging panel was made up of ColoradoBiz magazine’s editorial board and two representatives from the business community.

 

Winner — ColdQuanta

Boulder

Founded in 2007, ColdQuanta is a global quantum technology company that is taking aim on some of the world’s most challenging problems. The company harnesses quantum mechanics to build and integrate quantum computers, sensors, and networks. From fundamental physics to leading-edge commercial products ColdQuanta enables “quantum everywhere” throughout an ecosystem of devices and platforms. 

In May, ColdQuanta acquired Super.tech, a leader in quantum software, and announced the launch of Hilbert, the world’s first cold atom quantum computer. Also this year, ColdQuanta was recognized as a winner of the 2022 SPIE and Photonics Media Prism Award, and was honored in the quantum category for its Albert quantum signal processing system that enables the design and prototyping of quantum products. Also, ColdQuanta was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy alongside Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Microsoft and IBM for a project to improve quantum stability. 

The company has partnerships with academic institutions and community-based organizations such as Front Range Community College, Colorado School of Mines, University of Colorado Boulder CUbit Quantum Initiative, and the global community Women in Quantum. ColdQuanta is sponsoring Ada Lovelace Day, which highlights the achievements of women in science, in partnership with Pretty Brainy, a nonprofit that empowers girls through science, technology, engineering, art and design, and math (STEAM).   

ColdQuanta has Engagement and DEI committees that have voluntary representation from across the organization and from each of ColdQuanta’s office locations. Committee members discuss ways to foster an engaging, diverse, equitable and inclusive culture that enables employees to thrive.

Finalist — BillingPlatform

Centennial

BillingPlatform provides a comprehensive cloud-native billing and revenue management platform, helping enterprises effectively monetize and deliver products and services that result in growth and competitive differentiation. With global customers serving multiple industries, BillingPlatform provides full lifecycle support of the monetization process – from product setup, quoting, billing and invoicing, revenue recognition, through payment and collections – all on a secure, next-generation cloud platform. BillingPlatform is committed to technology innovation and announces new software releases quarterly. 

The company’s Revenue Recognition solution automates all revenue recognition processes and can be tailored to business needs. It supports monetization strategy, contract change, customer event and sales strategy. Finance and revenue teams can spend less time tracking down errors in manual spreadsheets and more time surfacing reports and insights for forecasting and driving better revenue decisions across the business. 

BillingPlatform was named a fast-growing company on Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 two years in a row. Employees participate in community outreach with charitable contributions and sponsorships, and BillingPlatform offers company matching of charitable donations. The company sponsors and participates in Courage Classic, a bicycle tour each summer through the Rocky Mountains to raise money for Children’s Hospital Colorado.  

Core values include, “Team first,” “Details matter,” “We own our mistakes and celebrate our victories,” “We execute with purpose,” and “Innovation is an attitude.” To improve the employee experience, CEO Dennis Wall introduced a quarterly awards program to reinforce the behaviors that enhance the company overall, and to reward individuals who demonstrate the company’s values in action.  

Finalist — Conga

Broomfield

A leader in revenue lifecycle management solutions, Conga helps businesses remove complexities in order configuration, execution, fulfillment and contract renewal processes. The solutions help automate processes such as contract management and price quoting, which can help companies increase productivity.  

Despite the digital tools available today, some businesses still use manual paperwork and administrative tasks that hinder their productivity. Conga offers a single critical insights data model that adapts to ever-changing business requirements and aligns the understanding and efforts of every team. The company offers solutions that enable digital document generation, configure price quote (CPQ), and end-to-end contract lifecycle management (CLM). Conga Contract Intelligence applies artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) capabilities to deliver certainty and accuracy for businesses, empowering teams to reduce the time needed for these tasks from days or weeks to minutes.  

Employees volunteer with A Precious Child, which helps families in need get clothes and supplies, in the distribution and sorting facilities and the Fill a Backpack program. For another youth-related nonprofit, Together We Rise, Conga purchased and built skateboards to donate to local foster kids along with helmets to give them a fun outlet.  

The company’s approach to developing culture is the “Conga Way,” a framework grounded in three major themes — Entrepreneurial Spirit, Achieving Together, and Championing the Customer. During the pandemic, Conga hosted virtual “Open Mic Night” talent showcases called Congapalooza, with team members writing and releasing a song as a tribute to sticking together during the pandemic. 

Top Company 2022: Real Estate

The outpouring of applications for this year’s Top Company awards is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of enterprises that do business in the state. Applications for the 35th annual awards numbered in the hundreds, and it was particularly encouraging to see so many companies rebounding from two years of COVID restrictions, with most posting revenue and employee gains approaching—and in some cases, exceeding—pre-pandemic numbers.

This year’s Top Company winners and finalists represent 13 industry categories, plus a startup category for companies in business less than four years. Entrants were judged on three criteria: outstanding achievement, financial performance and community involvement. The judging panel was made up of ColoradoBiz magazine’s editorial board and two representatives from the business community.

Winner — Bray & Company

Grand Junction

Bray Real Estate
Bray Real Estate team photo

Through four generations and 75-plus years, Bray and Company has serviced the real estate needs of buyers, sellers, investors, landlords, tenants and homebuilders in Western Colorado. The company’s core values of Family, Community and Integrity have been the focus since founders Sherman and Roxie Bray started the business in 1946.   

The firm thrived through four local boom/bust cycles – uranium in the 50s, coal in the 60s, oil shale in the 80s, and gas in the 2000s. During the COVID-19 crisis Bray and Company launched the Caring For Our Home Community fund to enable full service dine-in restaurants to provide healthy meals and serve the needs of the community through local nonprofits. In 2020 the company raised and delivered over $60,000 to local restaurants that were hit hard by the pandemic, and in turn they were able to serve over 8,500 meals to those in need.  

Bray and Company created a Real Estate program at Colorado Mesa University, offering three different courses modeled after the DU Real Estate Program and taught by agents and staff. Employees also do volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity and with Kids Aid, an organization providing food to children in Grand Junction. 

New employees go through a “Culture Orientation,” where leadership shares the firm’s history and beliefs. Every quarter the company has a meeting to review the core values and recognize a few staffers who exemplify these values through their actions. Annually the firm recognizes three to five individuals with the Bray Way award.

 

Finalist — Cresa

Washington, D.C.

Cresa is a global commercial real estate advisory firm that exclusively represents occupiers and specializes in the delivery of fully integrated real estate solutions. Services include transaction management, workplace solutions, project management, consulting, lease administration, technology, investment banking, capital markets and portfolio solutions. In partnership with London-based Knight Frank, Cresa provides service through 16,000 people, across 380 offices in 51 territories.  

By concentrating single-mindedly on tenant issues in the commercial real estate industry, Cresa gains both the perspective and the experience to level the playing field in landlord-tenant relations. The integrated services cover every stage of the real estate life cycle, from planning to transaction to implementation. These services drive the tactical execution behind the firm’s strategic thinking, and lead directly to solutions that reduce costs, improve operations, and enhance the performance of clients’ workforces.

In the Denver community, Cresa leadership serves on boards of nonprofits including Kempe Foundation, Denver Children’s Home, Brain Injury Alliance, and others. Cresa’s own 501c3 organization, Cresa Cares, impacts communities across the globe through volunteer initiatives and financial donations. The firm is guided by the principle “Do the Right Thing,” for clients and for employees. To establish the culture within the Denver office, management has an open-door policy, so if employees have an idea, problem or solution, they will always find a listening ear. There are also regularly scheduled happy hours on and off-site, quarterly team-building activities such as go-kart racing, summer barbecues, annual ski trips, and sporting events.

 

Finalist — Coldwell Banker Realty

Denver

Coldwell Banking Co

Coldwell Banker Realty in Colorado operates 14 offices with more than 1,200 affiliated agents serving the communities along the Front Range. The Coldwell Banker network has a legacy of success that spans over a century and across the globe.  

Coldwell Banker offers several technological innovations to help homeowners list and sell their homes. They get an instant estimate on their home with CB Estimate and compare cost of living city by city with Move Meter. The Seller’s Assurance Program includes access to the services RealSure and RealVitalize. RealSure provides homeowners with the certainty that their home will sell, the opportunity to sell it for the best price, and features to help ensure the purchase of their next home. RealVitalize with Angi (formerly HomeAdvisor) provides home sellers with home improvement resources to prep their home for sale.  

Coldwell Banker Realty in Colorado developed an Agent Value Package to ensure agents have the proper tools and resources to best service clients. One program, Listing Concierge, helps agents reach buyers quickly and virtually, with a property video tour, dedicated property website, online advertising, customized email distribution, social media posts and more.  

The company holds Soles4Souls shoe drives, collecting about 16,000 shoes annually for those in need in Haiti and Honduras, and sponsors the Coldwell Banker Denver Century Ride, which raises around $20,000 annually for local bike advocacy groups. The company celebrates its “Culture of Awesomeness” at client appreciation events at Colorado Rockies games and other events. 

Top Company 2022: Professional Services

The outpouring of applications for this year’s Top Company awards is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of enterprises that do business in the state. Applications for the 35th annual awards numbered in the hundreds, and it was particularly encouraging to see so many companies rebounding from two years of COVID restrictions, with most posting revenue and employee gains approaching—and in some cases, exceeding—pre-pandemic numbers.

This year’s Top Company winners and finalists represent 13 industry categories, plus a startup category for companies in business less than four years. Entrants were judged on three criteria: outstanding achievement, financial performance and community involvement. The judging panel was made up of ColoradoBiz magazine’s editorial board and two representatives from the business community.

 

Winner — National Valuation Consultants

Centennial

National Valuation Consultants provides a broad range of appraisal, consultation and real estate advisory services. In 2021, NVC served nearly 600 clients and completed valuation and advisory assignments on commercial properties with an aggregate value exceeding $500 billion.  

To retain its top talent, NVC offers opportunities for personal and professional growth, such as having staff mentor and review other appraisers. For those demonstrating strong managerial skills, there is the prospect of leading a practice group or regional office.  

NVC’s motto is “Thinking Big to Better Our Community.” Employees held a fundraiser for Marshall Fire victims and, with the help of NVC’s corporate match, raised more than $12,000 to help the cause. Employees are also involved with Food for Thought, and helped to pack PowerSacks filled with nonperishable food to help fill the weekend hunger gap for school children and their families in the Denver area. In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic caused the cancellation of the X-Drive Classic golf tournament fundraiser for Joshua School and Treeline Pass, NVC employees created an in-office, socially distanced miniature golf tournament with holes designed and sponsored by employees, raising $10,000.   

To simplify many business processes and procedures, NVC has invested in technological solutions that enable employees to perform their jobs more efficiently and with greater accuracy. Among the solutions are Keystone, a web-based valuation data management system, and Velocity, a cloud-based proprietary appraisal management tool. NVC also developed appraisal report templates that reduce the time required for data entry.

Finalist — GavinHeath

Centennial

Named for founder Holly Steele’s late brother Gavin Heath Whitrock, GavinHeath is a search and solutions firm. It is dual-certified as a Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) and a Women Business Enterprise (WBE) through the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council.  The firm has a mission to provide unparalleled and inclusive staffing solutions, connecting people, businesses and communities, while equally fulfilling the diverse needs of its customers. 

In 2019 the company adapted quickly to market changes. GavinHeath shifted from primarily supporting contract, IT-related staffing solutions in specific business verticals to expanding the company’s offerings outside of IT, placing more permanent candidates and offering fee flexibility. 

GavinHeath has a commitment to expanding Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) initiatives within staffing. The firm strives to deliver exceptional professionals who can diversify and grow their clients’ ecosystems while simultaneously providing new opportunity to nurture and broaden one’s own career. In 2021, the firm initiated a DEI Committee to develop an overall DEI strategy for the company, accelerate DEI initiatives with dedicated focus, create accountability for results, and set key milestones.   

Holly and her husband, COO Dan Steele, are actively involved in charitable work such as helping at Project C.U.R.E. To support employees’ volunteer activities, leadership established a Volunteer Time Off (VTO) program. In lieu of traditional holiday gifts for clients, GavinHeath reallocates those funds to selected charities, which in 2021 represented local (Denver Kids), statewide (Food Bank of the Rockies), national (SHIFTai) and global (Solar Buddy) communities.    

Finalist — Buehler Companies

Aurora

Buehler Companies specializes in household goods moving, office moving, warehousing and storage. The company offers installation services and offers customers a “One-Stop Shop” to serve all their moving needs. From packing, to moving, to unpacking and putting it all away, the company handles every move big or small. Over the years, Buehler Companies has diversified its business model and purchased additional equipment to cover different types of jobs, including flatbed services, hazardous materials, hotel projects, libraries and larger exhibits.  

For community work, Buehler Companies makes good use of its trucks and warehouse space.  

The mover picks up food from Food Bank of the Rockies each week and delivers to local schools in need. For Fill The Mayflower, it stages a truck outside a Safeway to gather non-perishable items for troops at Buckley AFB, for families of service members serving overseas. With Cops Fighting Cancer, police officers from all over the state gather in the warehouse and hold a donut eating contest, host a silent auction, and gather donations for Children’s Hospital Colorado.  

Buehler Companies’ core values are, “We’re in this together,” “Be part of the solution,” “Do the right thing,” and “Attitude is everything.” These are written on a wall and on cards for employees. Leadership speaks about the core values at company meetings and at training at Buehler University, which was established to help educate the incoming staff to find and create career paths so they can grow professionally and personally within the company. 

Finalist — Griffiths Law

Lone Tree

Griffiths Law is a mid-size, full-service family law and civil litigation firm. The team of attorneys can assist with any aspect of family law, including divorce, child custody, child support, and maintenance. The civil litigation attorneys handle cases involving construction defects, insurance, real estate corporate and partnership matters. The attorneys have earned numerous awards and recognitions for achievements in law as well as business management.  

In 2021–2022, the firm and its attorneys prevailed at the Colorado Court of Appeals and Colorado Supreme Court, several times changing the law and advancing their clients’ interests in cases that involved nonparent rights, property division, maintenance, and child support.  

Attorneys actively take part in legal education, author legal scholarship and articles, teach legal education courses, and serve on boards. The firm is involved in pro bono commitments and volunteer work, and employees are engaged in everything from fighting breast cancer to providing pro bono legal services to human trafficking survivors to ensuring that programs like CASA (court-appointed special advocates) are funded and thriving. 

Griffiths Law provides training to up and coming legal professionals. The Pathfinders Program, which pairs aspiring attorneys with mentors, contributes toward tuition for those Pathfinders who continue working at the firm while attending law school. The firm also has a culture that who empowers women. Over 70% of the firm’s attorneys at present are women, in roles varying from president (Suzanne Griffiths) to legal assistants starting their careers, and leadership structured the firm to encourage women to grow through the ranks.  

Finalist — Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP

Denver

For more than 100 years, Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP has served clients nationally and internationally, with a strong focus on corporate finance and governance, mergers and acquisitions, natural resources, environmental law, real estate, intellectual property, and complex litigation. The lawyers, who operate out of a single office in Denver, have extensive experience working with companies in the energy, mining, technology, hospitality, private equity, and asset management industries. 

DGS is the exclusive Colorado member firm for Lex Mundi, a network of top-tier independent law firms across the U.S. and in more than 125 countries. With 145 attorneys and a 1:1 partner-to-associate ratio, the firm represents both Fortune 500 companies and startups. 

As a firm, DGS has been consistently recognized for its commitment to fostering a culture that empowers diversity, equity, and inclusion. Half of the firm’s executive committee members are women, and in 2021, DGS ranked 12th in Law360’s 2021 Glass Ceiling Report. In partnership with the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS), DGS and four other law firms formed the Denver Law Firm Coalition for Racial Equity. The Coalition’s mission is to make the Denver legal community a desirable place for attorneys of color – with an initial focus on African American attorneys – from across the country. 

In 2021, DGS completed 20,153 hours of legal pro bono work and community service. In 2024 the firm will relocate to the top three floors of Paradigm River North, a state-of-the-art office development in RiNo. 

Top Company 2022: Manufacturing

The outpouring of applications for this year’s Top Company awards is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of enterprises that do business in the state. Applications for the 35th annual awards numbered in the hundreds, and it was particularly encouraging to see so many companies rebounding from two years of COVID restrictions, with most posting revenue and employee gains approaching—and in some cases, exceeding—pre-pandemic numbers.

This year’s Top Company winners and finalists represent 13 industry categories, plus a startup category for companies in business less than four years. Entrants were judged on three criteria: outstanding achievement, financial performance and community involvement. The judging panel was made up of ColoradoBiz magazine’s editorial board and two representatives from the business community.

Winner — Growing Spaces

Pagosa Springs

Gardeners in Colorado looking to grow year-round can turn to Growing Spaces, which manufactures and installs geodesic greenhouse kits. The greenhouse is 100% solar powered and utilizes a thermal mass in the form of an above-ground pond. The company supports customers through blogs, videos and Facebook groups offering help with gardening challenges.

Growing Spaces purchased a new manufacturing facility and has used the additional space to improve production efficiency. The manufacturer also added solar, so both shops are run off 100% renewable energy.

Each year Growing Spaces offers an Urban Farming Grant for an underserved community. In 2022 the grant winners were Harlem Grown in New York City, and Valor Point VA Domiciliary in Lakewood. The 26-foot Growing Dome for Valor Point, scheduled for September installation, will be used for both inpatient and outpatient education, and to help veterans learn a new skill and get back into the workforce.

Employees are active in the Pagosa Springs community, and volunteer at the local food hubs and Habitat For Humanity. Employees get first choice of the produce grown in the company’s own domes, and Growing Spaces also donates the food it produces to the local food hubs in Pagosa Springs and Golden. Growing Spaces is looking to expand its presence in the Front Range, and hopes to open a new office and manufacturing facility in Denver in 2023. It also wants to establish hubs in other states and countries through either expansion or partnerships.

Finalist — Alpen High Performance Products

Louisville

Alpen High Performance Products custom manufactures super-insulating, thermally efficient residential and commercial windows and doors. The company uses a proprietary combination of component products including lightweight suspended-film technology, ultra-thin glass, and either fiberglass or fiberglass-reinforced uPVC framing systems.

Alpen’s new product, WinSert, is a high performance secondary window insert to improve existing single-glazed or lower-performing double-pane windows. The new product was recognized as a BuildingGreen Top 10 Product for 2022. Also, the U.S. General Services Administration’s (GSA) Green Proving Ground (GPG) Program conducted nearly year-long testing and evaluation of WinSert secondary window inserts and reported that the inserts demonstrated up to 18% whole-building energy savings based on energy modeling.

After the December 2021 Marshall Fire, Alpen employees assisted with the relief efforts for neighbors in Louisville and Superior by collecting donated goods and supplies. Alpen is further helping with the long-term relief efforts by developing a specific window product line to assist with rebuilding homes. This product will make it more accessible for homeowners to rebuild with high efficiency window components, helping the fight against climate change.

Alpen hosts quarterly meetings to recognize employees and show appreciation for the hard work that goes into manufacturing this product. The company is a sustaining sponsor for the Colorado Green Building Guild (CGBG), helping make high performance building more accessible for all, and looks to become a major influencer in the retrofitting and upgrading of existing older building stock to bring it up to today’s energy performance standards.

Finalist — Agri-Inject

Yuma

Agri-Inject manufactures chemical and fertilizer injection systems that connect to irrigation systems. The equipment allows the irrigation systems to do double or triple duty by applying both water and fertilizers, chemicals, or other helpful products simultaneously. The system promotes environmental benefits, user safety, timely and precision application as well as cost savings for growers.

Since 2013, Agri-Inject has been undergoing an operational transformation. Beginning with a digital 3D model, the company reorganized the entire factory to promote efficient movement of people, product and information. It removed walls, installed lighting, polished old concrete, and designed and installed new storage and production cells. It expanded the facility by 40% and recently broke ground to add another 25%. There is also a one-piece flow production line for a product line that is about 60% of total business volume, switching from an outmoded batch philosophy and reducing assembly time by over 70%.

Among the company’s product innovations is ReflexCONNECT. The Reflex product line is centered around sophisticated controls to operate injection pumps featuring PLC control and touchscreen interfaces. ReflexCONNECT takes that step to the age of IoT (Internet of Things), bringing the control features to the web, allowing remote control and monitoring of equipment from a computer, tablet or smartphone.

Agri-Inject works with schools to educate students about manufacturing, and holds a Manufacturing Day event, bringing in students from nearby schools for a tour of the facility, and discussion of products, markets and processes.