Karen Hertz founded Holidaily Brewing Company in 2016 with one taproom in Golden that was open three days a week with three beers on tap. She wasn’t sure if people would be interested in a dedicated gluten-free beer. By the end of year one,
Holidaily Brewing was open seven days a week, had 10 beers on tap, and Hertz found herself distributing beer out of the back of her “mom car” to retail accounts and stadiums throughout the Denver area.
Holidaily has since grown more than 1,121%, and its production brewery is the largest dedicated gluten-free brewery in the U.S. Exponential growth, along with a handful of national and local awards for both the quality of their beer and business practices have allowed for rapid expansion across the country, including Oregon and Washington.
“We are excited to bring Holidaily to the already established gluten-free beer-loving communities of Oregon and Washington,” said Hertz, chief Brewista at Holidaily as well as its founder.
“Our expansion into these states represents not only a strategic growth opportunity for our brewery in a like-minded market but also a chance to connect with beer enthusiasts in general who share our appreciation for quality ingredients and flavor.”
Columbia’s President and CEO Chris Steffanci anticipates great reception to the Holidaily brand for several reasons. “There’s already tremendous buzz about Holidaily in the Pacific Northwest,” Steffanci said. “First, the liquid stands up to any beer, gluten-free or not, it’s just great beer. Our retailers want a gluten-free option — customers are asking for it — and we’re excited to bring it to them. And to represent the only certified woman-owned brewery in the country … what an honor! We’re always proud to support females in this industry.”
Starting late April, Holidaily Brewing will be available in liquor stores, bars, restaurants and grocery stores throughout Washington and Oregon.
Distribution will begin with four of the brewery’s core styles: Favorite Blonde, Fat Randy’s IPA, Big Henry Hazy IPA and a rotating seasonal: Buckwit Belgian (March-August), Patchy Waters Pumpkin Ale (August-December) and Riva Stout (December-March).
Holidaily Brewing Co., a ColoradoBiz Top Company Award winner in the Tourism/Hospitality category last year, is the only certified gluten-free and certified women-owned brewery in the U.S. It has two tasting rooms in Colorado — one in Golden and one in the Denver Tech Center. Beers are distributed to liquor stores, restaurants, stadiums, grocery stores and breweries throughout Colorado, Arizona, Texas, California, Kansas, Kansas City Metro, Wyoming, Oregon and Washington.
As part of its Top Company application, Holidaily Brewing Co. was asked about its future business goals. “World domination!” the Golden-based brewer boldly responded. “We want to be the leader and obvious choice for gluten-free beer.”
The seven-year-old company is off to a good start on that ambition. Founded by Chief Brewista Karen Hertz, Holidaily is the only woman-owned gluten-free brewer in the U.S. as well as the largest gluten-free brewer in the country.
Holidaily also is a three-time Great American Beer Festival Medal winner and recently won a World Beer Cup Silver Medal.
The 28-employee company engages with the community through monthly fundraisers called “Raise a Pint, Lend a Hand” on the last Thursday of every month. On those days, Holidaily donates 10 percent of taproom sales to a local nonprofit, selecting organizations that align with Holidaily’s vision, which is to celebrate a life of health and happiness.
To make its beer, Holidaily sources local gluten-free certified grain (buckwheat and millet); its total cost of producing a beer is five to seven times that of a traditional beer. The company does its own packaging onsite and pays for a gluten-free certification, which requires stringent tracking, testing, training, audits and procedures.
Since opening in 2016, Holidaily has experienced more than 1,500 percent revenue growth; since 2019, sales have more than doubled, and they’re projected to increase another 13 percent year-over year in 2023.
In business for 41 years, Footers caters more than 700 events a year and feeds more than 75,000 guests annually. The company’s in-house hospitality team specializes in cooking fresh onsite at locations across Colorado.
The hospitality industry is typically plagued by high turnover, staff shortages and a scarcity of growth positions. In response, Footers has created a culture to attract inspired, motivated people who love what they do and retain them by providing professional development opportunities within all levels of the Footers team. Examples include an event coordinator evolving into a venue specialist manager, or a prep chef being promoted to the tasting chef team.
In 2019, Footers owners Anthony and April Lambatos launched a sister business called MIBE, an acronym for part of Footers Mission Statement to “Make It Better Everyday.” Through MIBE, Footers offers a yearly conference for companies in the hospitality industry that seek to further develop their company culture, improve their employee engagement, empower their teams to embrace innovation, and commit to heartfelt leadership.
The Lambatos’ belief in Footers was put to a supreme test in 2020 when they decided to go ahead with construction of a new 40,000-square-foot facility despite the devasting impacts of COVID on the entire hospitality industry – including a 70 percent drop in business for Footers.
Their faith was rewarded, as construction on the new headquarters was completed in February 2021, and revenues have rebounded to levels far surpassing even pre-pandemic numbers.
In business for 44 years, International Jet Aviation is an aircraft charter company serving private families, businesses and emergency/medical response teams.
The charter aircraft industry has undergone significant changes over the years, and International Jet has evolved, too. The company started out transporting mail, checks and various types of cargo. It now specializes in executive transportation and, while it has strived to maintain a small-company atmosphere, it is one of the largest charter operations in Denver and the Rocky Mountain region.
International Jet was founded in 1979 by William Milam and Lynn Krogh. In 1989, Brian Smith joined the organization and became a partner. Smith is now International Jet’s president; Milam is chairman emeritus. The partners’ combined aviation experience exceeds 100 years.
“Our fleet of aircraft is centrally located and provides unparalleled service to the Rocky Mountain states with very few competitors in the region,” the company says.
International Jet’s staff of about 60 professionals includes mechanics, pilots, aircraft fuelers and detailers. One enduring priority: safety.
Founded in the basement of a Boulder home in 1987, ATJ is an award-winning travel agency and tour operator that has coordinated or directed trips to more than 35 countries.
The “core team” of the 18-employee company has been with ATJ for 17 years on average.
“We attract very smart and interesting staff members,” says CEO and co-owner Kirsten Louy-Nasty, who has been with ATJ 24 years. “We take a lot of time to onboard new staff and nurture those already with us.”
Likewise, the CEO and co-owner says, “We attract exceptional clientele who want to visit markets and temples, take a cooking class, understand spirituality, and meet local people in real time to experience their lives. We are always there, real people, helping others experience the trip of a lifetime.”
The company’s charitable arm, the ATJ Foundation, has contributed to numerous causes over the years, including the “Have You Herd” elephant rescue and awareness campaign in 2020-21, Myanmar relief for legal aid and humanitarian needs in 2021, the Nepal earthquake in 2015, Sri Lanka flooding in 2017, and many others.
ATJ changed ownership in 2014 when founder Marilyn Downing retired, passing the torch to employee-owners Donna Galland, the company’s CFO; Eric Kareus, director of travel; and Louy-Nasty.
“We pride ourselves on being experts in Asia and the Pacific,” Louy-Nasty says.
Now in its 36th year, ColoradoBiz magazine’s Top Company Awards program recognizes businesses and organizations based in Colorado or with a significant presence in the state that are leading the way in their fields, as demonstrated by financial performance, notable company achievements and community engagement.
To be considered, Top Company entrants submitted applications throughout the year online at ColoradoBiz.com. From those entries, which numbered in the hundreds, the magazine’s editorial board narrowed the field to three finalists (in most cases) in each industry category. A judging panel made up of area business leaders and ColoradoBiz staff then met to compare notes on the finalists and decide winners in 14 industries plus the Startup category, for companies in business four years or less.
Congratulations are in order not only to the 41 winners and finalists profiled on the following pages, but to all the companies that took the time to tell us about their achievements and obstacles surmounted over the past year that make them worthy of Top Company consideration.
Trimble was founded in 1978 and is recognized as the first company to commercialize GPS. It has since expanded its technology portfolio to include hardware, software and services that increase productivity, improve efficiencies and drive sustainability. Today, it is most known for connecting the physical and digital worlds, helping make everything from a building to an agriculture yield more efficient and productive.
Trimble’s revenue has grown steadily despite a rocky business environment that’s been plagued by supply chain issues, materials shortages, cost pressures and global economic and political uncertainty. The company has more than 13,200 employees – an increase of 14 percent over the past five years; they are located across approximately 40 countries and speak 45 different languages. While Trimble established its presence in Colorado in 2000, it just moved its corporate headquarters to Westminster last fall.
Trimble’s solutions are used in more than 150 countries by millions of customers – numbers that continue to grow as the company innovates and evolves to better meet its users’ needs. From precision guidance technology on a tractor, to construction management software, to enterprise life-cycle solutions, Trimble technology is helping to digitally transform industries that have historically been technology laggards, enabling them to become more efficient, productive and sustainable. This is particularly important given that construction is responsible for almost 40 percent of global CO2 emissions from fuel combustion, and for 25 percent of overall greenhouse gas emissions.
Trimble holds more than 1,000 unique, active patents and spends roughly 13-15 percent of its sales revenue on R&D. In 2022 alone, Trimble spent more than $540 million on R&D.
The company’s quarterly Technical Innovation Award provides formal recognition and a financial reward for innovative work. Any team or individual below the level of Engineering Director is eligible; in 2022, four teams were selected, each receiving a $10,000 prize.
Launched in 2016, Fluid Truck helps businesses and individuals rent commercial vehicles at the tap of a button. The company offers trucks, vans, electric vehicles and more through its mobile app and website 24/7, 365 days a year.
Fluid Truck is used nationally by businesses of all sizes to flexibly and affordably build their fleet, manage employee scheduling on-the-go, and activate zero-emission last-mile delivery services, free from the hassles of ownership. Fluid Truck serves more than 100,000 users, supporting customers ranging from local florists and moving companies to national retailers such as IKEA and delivery fleets for Amazon, FedEx and UPS. It operates in 400 cities across the U.S.
Fluid Truck is the ninth-fastest growing company in North America, according to Deloitte.
The company regularly partners with local nonprofits and community outreach programs in every city on the Fluid Truck platform to provide free rental credits to help organizations empower communities. For example, the North Carolina Adult Soccer Association raised thousands of dollars in Charlotte to provide free mammograms to the women of North Carolina. Fluid Truck donated a truck to help the association accomplish its cause. Locally, Fluid Truck donated a truck to Hope Lives Here Colorado so the nonprofit could haul supplies to families’ homes. The nonprofit builds bedrooms for children who lost their homes in the Marshall Fire.
Optiv delivers cyber advisory and cyber solutions to nearly 6,000 companies across every major industry. The Denver-based company partners with organizations to advise, deploy and operate complete cybersecurity programs from strategy and managed security services to risk, integration and technology solutions.
Optiv points out that as the world has digitized, the surface area for potential cyberattacks has grown.
Realizing Optiv had a unique opportunity to carve out a differentiated position in the crowded cybersecurity market, Optiv CEO Kevin Lynch in 2021 led Optiv in creating a new market “category of one.”
For Optiv, that has meant shifting brand perception from a technology reseller and security solutions integrator to that of cyber advisory and solutions leader and one of the largest pure-play cybersecurity companies in the world.
A specific internal challenge Optiv has worked through and overcome this year is growth in the federal sector. Acknowledging the public sector’s need for cybersecurity and resilience support, Optiv wanted to expand as a services organization in the federal space and looked for the right strategy to do so. The company’s efforts culminated in its recent acquisition of ClearShark, which more than doubles its federal presence.
Along with its commitment to helping clients manage cyber risk, Optiv is devoted to giving back to the communities where its employees live and work. Since 2018, the company’s Optiv Chips In (OCI) program has supported underserved populations through industry investments, community projects and employee mobilization – harnessing employees’ collective passions to make lasting change.
Now in its 36th year, ColoradoBiz magazine’s Top Company Awards program recognizes businesses and organizations based in Colorado or with a significant presence in the state that are leading the way in their fields, as demonstrated by financial performance, notable company achievements and community engagement.
To be considered, Top Company entrants submitted applications throughout the year online at ColoradoBiz.com. From those entries, which numbered in the hundreds, the magazine’s editorial board narrowed the field to three finalists (in most cases) in each industry category. A judging panel made up of area business leaders and ColoradoBiz staff then met to compare notes on the finalists and decide winners in 14 industries plus the Startup category, for companies in business four years or less.
Congratulations are in order not only to the 41 winners and finalists profiled on the following pages, but to all the companies that took the time to tell us about their achievements and obstacles surmounted over the past year that make them worthy of Top Company consideration.
CEO Grady Cope started Reata Engineering & Machine Works with $6,000 in credit card charges in 1993. The 43-employee manufacturer provides prototypes, tooling, production machining and assembly to customers in aerospace, medical, semiconductor and other industries.
In 2011, the company purchased its first five-axis multi-tasking CNC machine, which was “a game changer in terms of production and revenue generation,” says Tom Finnelli, Reata’s COO and CFO.
The company has continued to invest heavily in technology and automation in the years since. “When it comes to Industry 4.0, Reata is a leader and a great example of where manufacturing is headed,” Finnelli says. “We incorporate advanced technology so that our team can spend less time on manual labor and more time creatively solving problems.”
Workforce is a challenge, but Finnelli says Reata has met it head-on. “We’re heavily involved with the high schools in and around Englewood, where our precision machine shop is located,” he says.
Reata recruits from and teaches at local high schools. Additionally, it works with vocational programs to subsidize credentials for National Institute of Metalworking Skills certification. The company also sponsors and volunteers to help students develop engineering and manufacturing skills at an annual high school National Robotics League competition.
The human touch doesn’t end with hiring. Reata has worked to foster a culture based on employee recognition and engagement. “Whether we’re bringing a wok into the shop for fresh Vietnamese spring rolls made by a machinist’s family members or celebrating birthdays and milestones together, we value each other,” Finnelli says. “How many shops do you know that have a Fun Committee? We do. And not just because we like parties — but because enjoying each other as people helps our business grow and succeed. We’re having more fun, and our productivity is up: It’s a win-win.”
Founded by Jim Davis in 1998, Packaging Express designs and manufactures custom corrugated packaging and boxes, including retail packaging, printed shipping boxes and point-of-purchase displays.
The 24-employee, family-owned company’s new EMBA 175 is the fastest box-making machine in Colorado, with a maximum capacity of 500 boxes per minute. Packaging Express acquired the machine in late 2022 and is leveraging its superlative speed to foster sales growth.
President and CEO Matt Davis (Jim’s son) represents the family’s third generation in the box business. He has built Packaging Express on communication and transparency with his team, as the company instituted profit sharing to foster accountability. That strategy has led to low turnover and fast turnaround times for producing custom boxes and packaging.
The company’s 94,000-square-foot facility in Colorado Springs is home to the new Packaging Express Artist in Residency (P.E.A.R.) program. It gives artists about 400 square feet of space to work for free on large-scale projects for four to eight months. P.E.A.R. opened for applications in 2023.
Now in its 36th year, ColoradoBiz magazine’s Top Company Awards program recognizes businesses and organizations based in Colorado or with a significant presence in the state that are leading the way in their fields, as demonstrated by financial performance, notable company achievements and community engagement.
To be considered, Top Company entrants submitted applications throughout the year online at ColoradoBiz.com. From those entries, which numbered in the hundreds, the magazine’s editorial board narrowed the field to three finalists (in most cases) in each industry category. A judging panel made up of area business leaders and ColoradoBiz staff then met to compare notes on the finalists and decide winners in 14 industries plus the Startup category, for companies in business four years or less.
Congratulations are in order not only to the 41 winners and finalists profiled on the following pages, but to all the companies that took the time to tell us about their achievements and obstacles surmounted over the past year that make them worthy of Top Company consideration.
Founded in Denver in 2013, Atlas transacts more than $1 billion in real estate annually and manages more than 8,500 residential units. Since its founding, Atlas has expanded to markets in Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Kansas, Missouri, Idaho and Texas.
The 227-employee firm touts a program called Uplifting Humanity through Real Estate, dedicated to helping clients build wealth through the firm’s core services: investment; property management; institutional acquisition; and buy/sell brokerage services.
Three years ago, Atlas introduced the Uplift Cycle, a concerted effort to help renters become homeowners and homeowners become investors in real estate. The message Atlas shares with new residents when they move into an Atlas-managed property is they have a shared goal that their next move is into a home that they own. In 2022, Atlas introduced an initiative focused on the single-family homes they own and manage that provides a pathway for a resident to earn the equivalent of a 3.5 percent down payment over a four-year period of renting from Atlas.
Through the Atlas Uplift program in 2023, 82 homeowners bought their first investment; 1,800 residents expressed interest in moving from renter to homeowner, and four Atlas team members invested in their first home.
Also, in 2022, Atlas fulfilled a long-time goal of launching a new business segment to make a meaningful impact on the environment – Net Energy. Net Energy works with owners of single-family rental properties to make property improvements that drastically reduce carbon emissions and other resource consumption while increasing the value of the property for the investor.
Additionally, Atlas is leveraging new technologies to create a more efficient environment for clientse — renters and property owners. For example, Atlas has embraced innovative solutions that make security deposits easier on residents; provided options on rent payment management and automation; and offered upgrades that include smart home technology.
Founded by Motty Shames and Evan Makovsky in 1971, NAI Shames Makovsky is a full-service commercial real estate firm offering brokerage, development, property management, and lending for retail, business office, medical office and industrial properties.
NAI Shames Makovsky is part of NAI Global, the single largest global network of commercial real estate firms in the world.
In the last 16 months, the property management team at NAI Shames Makovsky has tripled its existing portfolio to include more than 3 million square feet of properties across the Denver area.
NAI Shames Makovsky also recently won the Denver Metro Commercial Association of Realtors’ “Retail Deal of the Year” award for the sale of a property in Five Points. The sale of the approximately 97,103 square-foot property is part of a larger deal between a national real estate owner, operator and developer and Volunteers of America Colorado, a nonprofit with a mission to support Colorado’s most underserved residents with food resources and services. NAI Shames Makovsky has a long history of working with mission-driven organizations such as VOA Colorado to help them map out their real estate needs and make smart decisions for their future. This deal exemplifies the team’s creativity and expertise in bringing two strong community-minded clients to navigate a complex yet successful deal that will benefit both VOA Colorado and the neighborhood.
Aimco (Apartment Investment & Management Co.) invests primarily in the multifamily sector within targeted U.S. markets. Its vision is to be best-in-class real estate investors, developers and portfolio managers, committed to strong financial performance and outstanding corporate citizenship.
The primary focus of publicly traded Aimco (NYSE: AIV) is on value-add and opportunistic multifamily investments located in the following target markets: South Florida, Denver and Washington, D.C. metro areas.
The Denver-based company boasts a workforce rich with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, including 67 percent women in executive management; 43 percent women and racial/ethnic minorities in senior leadership positions; and 53 percent women and racial/ethnic minorities companywide. Aimco’s 2022 team engagement survey resulted in a record 4.52 out of five stars, with a record 92% of employees responding.
Aimco’s parental leave program offers both mothers and fathers 16 paid weeks to take care of their biological or adopted children.
Now in its 36th year, ColoradoBiz magazine’s Top Company Awards program recognizes businesses and organizations based in Colorado or with a significant presence in the state that are leading the way in their fields, as demonstrated by financial performance, notable company achievements and community engagement.
To be considered, Top Company entrants submitted applications throughout the year online at ColoradoBiz.com. From those entries, which numbered in the hundreds, the magazine’s editorial board narrowed the field to three finalists (in most cases) in each industry category. A judging panel made up of area business leaders and ColoradoBiz staff then met to compare notes on the finalists and decide winners in 14 industries plus the Startup category, for companies in business four years or less.
Congratulations are in order not only to the 41 winners and finalists profiled on the following pages, but to all the companies that took the time to tell us about their achievements and obstacles surmounted over the past year that make them worthy of Top Company consideration.
Emergenetics helps employees, teams and companies transform the ways they work together by providing insights into people’s inherent tendencies so that individuals and organizations can use this information to improve productivity, communication and employee engagement.
“What’s so remarkable about Emergenetics is the fact that our proprietary assessment has withstood the test of time and continues to deliver empowering insights to individuals and organizations across the globe,” CEO Marie Unger says.
In the late 1980s, Dr. Geil Browning recognized the need to create a practical assessment that would explain the most prevalent thinking and behavioral preferences of adults so that individuals could understand their strengths and teams could learn to work together effectively. Extensive research led to the creation of the Emergenetics Profile.
Browning launched the Browning Group in 1985 (before establishing Emergenetics International in 1991) to use the Emergenetics Profile, the Meeting of the Minds workshop and subsequent programs to enable companies to utilize strength-based insights to build successful workplaces.
Today, Emergenetics International has a presence in more than 40 countries and has grown significantly across the Americas, Central Asia, Europe and Africa, with more than 2,000 Emergenetics associates worldwide.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought significant change to Emergenetics International in a time of uncertainty for all businesses. Within the first two months of the crisis, Emergenetics’ Learning & Development team retooled its in-person workshop experiences to create the same level of connection and engagement via a virtual platform.
These virtual workshops were essential in helping Emergenetics to operate successfully in an increasingly remote world. Moreover, they provided global clients with resources to engage employees and empower them to improve teamwork, communication and productivity, which are major challenges for today’s distributed workforces.
This development also led to a transformative period at Emergenetics, which had historically relied on in-person programming to support revenue generation. The company has expanded its product suite to provide online learning opportunities to its client base. Clients now have a multitude of tools to increase engagement no matter where their employees are located.
FINALISTS
GEM Family Law
Denver, CO
Website: familylawco.com
Gebhardt Emerson Moodie Bonanno LLC (GEM Family Law) is a boutique firm led by four women in their 30s – all mothers to young children — providing comprehensive services to families in transition. That includes representation in divorce, child custody, support, dependency and neglect, adoption cases, and neutral third-party expert work as mediators, arbitrators, child and family investigators and more.
Notably, in 2023, GEM accomplished its long-time goal of starting a trust and estate planning department, bringing on an Of Counsel attorney from a prominent “big law” firm to head it up. Now, the 21-employee GEM will be able to serve families planning for life transitions at all stages.
It’s been quite an evolution for a firm that started out in 2018 with only three attorneys and one part-time support staffer.
Since 2019, GEM has been recognized by the Colorado Supreme Court for reaching its commitment to provide 50 hours of pro bono service per attorney, per year. Pro bono legal representation is provided through partnerships with organizations such as Alight, which assists victims of human trafficking, Project Safeguard, which serves victims of domestic violence, and Metro Volunteer Lawyers.
Johnson Storage & Moving Co.
Centennial, CO
Website: johnson-united.com
Owned and operated by fourth-generation members of the Johnson family, Johnson Storage & Moving Co. has been in business since 1900, predating the Ford Model T by eight years.
From its founding site in Denver, the company has expanded to multiple locations and grown to include Security Van Lines (an agent for Mayflower Van Lines Transit) in Colorado Springs, as well as Johnson Storage & Moving Co. (an agent for United Van Lines) with operations throughout Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, California, Kansas and Texas.
The company’s moving and storage services span residential and commercial, office and industrial, hotel/dorm installations and more. With locations in 12 states, it handles local, interstate and international moves.
The company attributes its enduring success to “keeping stellar reviews from our most vocal critics … our clients.”
The COVID pandemic challenged businesses everywhere, but Ken Schappert, director of commercial sales in Colorado Springs, credits President Don Hindman for navigating the company through disruptive times.
“Johnson pivoted, which allowed us to expand where other companies were cutting back,” Schappert says. “Don kept everyone informed. Good and bad. I, for one, am very proud of how this transpired.”
Universal Chain Inc.
Denver, CO
Website: uchaininc.com
In business for 41 years, Universal Chain is a third-party logistics partner to Fortune 100-500 companies across North America. UChain offers a comprehensive suite of services.
“Our service capabilities cover all aspects critical to our partner’s operational needs,” Senior Vice President Michael Peterson says. “We offer a robust suite of warehousing solutions focused on process improvement driven by first-rate people and award-winning supply chain technology.”
As with most businesses, COVID impacted UChain in ways both unexpected and unavoidable. UChain teams needed to observe safe practices and social distancing yet still get the work completed. COVID leave policies ensured that all who needed time off received it; drivers entering distribution centers that UChain services were provided with Remote Driver Check-in so they didn’t have to leave the cab of their truck. UChain also provided multiple travel teams to assist customers in completing their required work when COVID impacted their workforce.
“All the challenges of COVID were met with our ‘Will to Win’ spirit, and we continued to thrive and grow even in the toughest of times,” Peterson says. “Post-COVID, we continue those processes, and we’ve worked to improve in every area and continue on our quest: We don’t want to be the largest 3PL, only the best.”
House of Revenue
Denver, CO
Website: houseofrevenue.com
House of Revenue helps second-stage growth companies to scale by aligning marketing, sales, customer success and revenue-operations teams with a shared playbook to profitably scale revenue.
The Denver-based firm, a 2021 Colorado Companies to Watch winner, operates with the belief that in a changing economy, companies MUST be agile in adapting to what the market requires. Many CEOs are still trying to solve revenue problems with a silo-attack, focusing on singular sales or marketing initiatives. In House of Revenue’s observations, that does not work.
The firm points to a client that lost $2 million over a two-month period in 2020 because its clients were pausing services. House of Revenue’s team was able to act quickly and help this client pivot. Analyzing the industries of that company’s clients, House of Revenue found the ones that could flourish with the market shifts. All marketing and sales efforts were thus moved to focus on the industries they could serve well, resulting in revenue growth from $14 million to $17.2 million, including recovery of the aforementioned $2 million loss.
Now in its 36th year, ColoradoBiz magazine’s Top Company Awards program recognizes businesses and organizations based in Colorado or with a significant presence in the state that are leading the way in their fields, as demonstrated by financial performance, notable company achievements and community engagement.
To be considered, Top Company entrants submitted applications throughout the year online at ColoradoBiz.com. From those entries, which numbered in the hundreds, the magazine’s editorial board narrowed the field to three finalists (in most cases) in each industry category. A judging panel made up of area business leaders and ColoradoBiz staff then met to compare notes on the finalists and decide winners in 14 industries plus the Startup category, for companies in business four years or less.
Congratulations are in order not only to the 41 winners and finalists profiled on the following pages, but to all the companies that took the time to tell us about their achievements and obstacles surmounted over the past year that make them worthy of Top Company consideration.
Hope Communities provides people in need with affordable housing, rental assistance and pathways to opportunities that foster personal and economic growth. Founded in 1980 by concerned citizens, Hope has four Denver locations that serve as hubs for the development of close-knit, supportive communities.
Hope’s no-cost programs and services are tailored to meet individual client needs and are not limited to residents. The organization recognizes the connection between the lack of opportunities people with limited economic means often face, and the inability to achieve social and economic mobility, health and well-being.
Addressing those economic challenges, Hope provides resources and coaching to help clients secure jobs with livable wages and benefits; it strives to help clients understand finances and the means by which they can achieve their economic goals, including credit score improvement and safety-net savings.
The organization points to a recent report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition that there is not a single state in the U.S. in which the average wage of renters who work full time covers the average rent of a two-bedroom apartment in their state.
In 2022, Hope Communities served 3,235 clients, its largest number ever and a 75 percent increase over 2021. In the past six years, Hope has tripled its staff, from 12 to 36 (with 22 languages spoken among staffers). Just as impressive: 87 percent of Hope’s income is spent on programs; only 13 percent on fundraising and administration.
Other highlights in 2022 included 12 affordable-housing clients purchasing homes; 278 affordable units rented at 30 percent to 80 percent of Denver’s AMI (area median income); 921 refugees served; 46,414 meals served; and 76 post-incarceration clients assisted with housing, skills resources and employment.
Denver Urban Gardens was formally incorporated in 1985 to support Denver residents in creating sustainable, food-producing neighborhood community gardens. Over the past 38 years, its network of community gardens has expanded across six metro Denver counties, including 193 community gardens and 15 food forests throughout metro Denver, more than 70 of which are school-based community gardens.
In addition to gardens, Denver Urban Gardens (aka DUG) programs provide access, skills and resources to help people grow food in the community and regenerate urban green space through youth programming, skill-building workshops for adults, community-centered events, volunteer workdays, free and reduced-cost seeds and seedlings, and compost training.
Denver Urban Gardens is changing the perception of what it means to be a climate organization. While the organization continues to build its network of community gardens, the education effort around the climate impact of gardens, food forests, and urban green space development is restructuring how we imagine thriving cities. Two major projects are leading this charge at DUG.
The first is DUG’s Urban Garden Project. The project is meant for national expansion of the DUG model and focuses on the intersection of social and environmental issues such as food insecurity; climate change; loss of urban green space; loneliness and the collective mental health crisis.
The second is the Etkin Family Food Forest Initiative (FFI). As Denver works to grow its urban tree canopy, DUG’s food forest efforts are a crucial component. A food forest is a highly integrated community of food-producing plants with several vertical and horizontal diverse layers of trees, shrubs, annuals and perennials that thrive together while yielding food, medicine and habitat.
In 2022, DUG successfully piloted the FFI, installing food forests at six existing DUG gardens, planting 92 trees and 147 berry bushes. In 2023, DUG has planted nine new food forests with plans to reach 20 total by the end of the year.
Established in 2007, The Chanda Center for Health strives to improve health outcomes for people living with long-term physical disabilities by delivering comprehensive integrative health care that includes acupuncture, behavioral health, chiropractic, dental, massage, adaptive yoga, physical therapy and care coordination.
In 2009, the organization led a movement to pass Colorado House Bill 1047, which created the Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Waiver, thus offering acupuncture, massage and chiropractic care through Medicaid to evaluate cost effectiveness and improve quality of life for persons with spinal cord injuries in the Denver area. In 2021, the movement evolved and expanded (it’s now the CIH Waiver) to other diagnoses and to become a statewide benefit.
Partners include Jefferson Center for Mental Health, Thrive PT, Craig Hospital, Native Roots and Wana Cares. By partnering with these organizations, participants (who already have trouble with transportation) can now get these services at The Chanda Center for Health.
Now in its 36th year, ColoradoBiz magazine’s Top Company Awards program recognizes businesses and organizations based in Colorado or with a significant presence in the state that are leading the way in their fields, as demonstrated by financial performance, notable company achievements and community engagement.
To be considered, Top Company entrants submitted applications throughout the year online at ColoradoBiz.com. From those entries, which numbered in the hundreds, the magazine’s editorial board narrowed the field to three finalists (in most cases) in each industry category. A judging panel made up of area business leaders and ColoradoBiz staff then met to compare notes on the finalists and decide winners in 14 industries plus the Startup category, for companies in business four years or less.
Congratulations are in order not only to the 41 winners and finalists profiled on the following pages, but to all the companies that took the time to tell us about their achievements and obstacles surmounted over the past year that make them worthy of Top Company consideration.
Founded in 2020, Titan CEO brings together CEOs through private events and roundtables, along with private, in-person, instructor-led groups for Titan CEO members. Titan CEO membership groups meet monthly and are designed to meet CEOs’ unique needs as business leaders by facilitating curriculum that helps to build business valuation and tackle everyday business challenges. The program offers a suite of resources, including networking and executive-level retreats.
Within the Titan CEO organization is the Titan 100, a national program that recognizes the top 100 CEOs and C-level executives in a region. The Titan 100 are recognized at an annual awards event, published in the “Titan 100” book and given the opportunity to connect multiple times throughout the year with their fellow Titans. Titans must be nominated and selected annually with the pinnacle achievement of being recognized as an elite Hall of Fame honoree in their third year.
In 2022, the Colorado-based Titan 100 program expanded to four additional markets after being picked up by a large national sponsor that believes in the mission, vision and value of the Titan 100 program. In the first year of major expansion, the organization recognized 500 Titans across the country — in Colorado, St. Louis, Georgia, Philadelphia and Phoenix. Collectively, the 2022 Titan 500 and their companies employ more than 472,000 and generate $149.7 billion in annual revenues. Titan CEO produced more than 32 corporate events for the Titans across the country.
In 2023, the Titan 100 program continued expansion efforts, adding two additional markets: Wisconsin and Chicago. This year, the program will recognize 700 Titans of Industry and produce more than 36 corporate events.
Titan CEO closed on an SBA loan at the end of 2021 to build an executive retreat facility in the mountains. The project broke ground in spring 2023 and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. This facility will serve the many clients, executive leadership teams and community by bringing executives together for off-site leadership retreats.
Tire waste has become a worldwide environmental challenge, with more than 1 billion tires sent to the landfill or burned every year. At the same time, concrete is a resource-intensive material with a massive carbon footprint.
Pretred addresses both issues, recycling and repurposing waste tires into sustainable industrial barriers and blocks that serve as a sustainable alternative to concrete barriers made from recycled tires. The product has applications in a myriad of industries and uses: construction sites, parking lots, playgrounds, roadways and highways; controlling erosion, perimeter and flood control, beach and rock fall protection and landscape design, to name a few.
In May 2021, less than a year after launching, Pretred garnered $3 million in seed investment. In January 2022, Pretred was awarded the “Market Development Grant for Tire Derived Products” by the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE), which is designed to support the development and expansion of sustainable waste tire markets in Colorado and regionally, assisting in the reduction of the storage and illegal dumping of waste tires.
The CDPHE awarded Pretred $93,470 with a 20 percent match from Pretred ($18,694). With the funding, Pretred was able to come to market with a first-of-its-kind solution – making full-size industrial barriers made from 95 percent diverted scrap tires – marketing them to target markets and getting pilot units into the working market to identify feedback and demand for additional production.
Rebalance is a health and wellness company that focuses on natural and organic formulas to treat individuals suffering from menopause, low testosterone and anxiety. The company’s lozenges and Directline delivery technology to the body are designed for maximum absorption.
Rebalance originally was branded to manage levels of cortisol, a “stress hormone” sometimes referred to as the “flight or fight” hormone or the body’s “built-in alarm system.” Cortisol can also affect the balance of other hormones, such as testosterone, human growth hormone, estrogen and melatonin.
The company found this was difficult for the consumer to understand, as cortisol is not something the average consumer knows much about, nor is it easy to quickly explain. So the company went back to the drawing board and relaunched with a focus on low testosterone, anxiety and hot flashes.
“Rebalance works with your body to help it maximize hormone balance and reduce the impacts of stress,” the company says. “We aren’t trying to replace what’s missing. We are helping activate what wants to be working for you.”
Now in its 36th year, ColoradoBiz magazine’s Top Company Awards program recognizes businesses and organizations based in Colorado or with a significant presence in the state that are leading the way in their fields, as demonstrated by financial performance, notable company achievements and community engagement.
To be considered, Top Company entrants submitted applications throughout the year online at ColoradoBiz.com. From those entries, which numbered in the hundreds, the magazine’s editorial board narrowed the field to three finalists (in most cases) in each industry category. A judging panel made up of area business leaders and ColoradoBiz staff then met to compare notes on the finalists and decide winners in 14 industries plus the Startup category, for companies in business four years or less.
Congratulations are in order not only to the 41 winners and finalists profiled on the following pages, but to all the companies that took the time to tell us about their achievements and obstacles surmounted over the past year that make them worthy of Top Company consideration.
David Lamb and his pharmacist wife, Nancy, bought their first drug store in Loveland in 1985.
Good Day Pharmacy has grown across Northern Colorado from there, and now operates 12 pharmacies in Loveland as well as Fort Collins, Greeley, Yuma, Eaton and Wellington. Across its entire footprint, the company has 133 employees.
“Though much of our concerted effort remains behind the scenes, it manifests in our ability to improve patient health, simplify medication management for the patient and cultivate strong community bonds,” says President and COO Joseph Poling, Pharm.D. “Our unique blend of cooperative teamwork and innovative service delivery positions us as a formidable force in the health-care community.”
The steady expansion continued with the acquisition of Prospect Apothecary, a sterile compounding facility in Longmont, in April 2023. Poling says there are plans for additional deals in the future.
Good Day leaders and employees staff the “Ask a Pharmacist” booth at the 9HealthFair and raise money for numerous health-care nonprofits. “By collaborating with various organizations and participating in community events, we aim to create a better and healthier environment for everyone,” Poling says.
The numbers back this up: In 2022 alone, Good Day administered 14,827 vaccinations, collaborating with local businesses, senior retirement communities and facilities, and jails and correction centers to organize vaccination clinics.
Poling says staffing is one of the company’s biggest challenges, and Good Day has fostered an inclusive culture with clear career paths for its employees. “We also encourage restful time off, as we understand the necessity of a well-rested team to maintain our high standards of service,” Poling says. “Our prudent staffing practices ensure our team isn’t overburdened, thereby preventing medication errors and maintaining the level of service that sets us apart.”
The strategy continues to pay off, as annual revenue grew by more than 20 percent in 2022. “We’re fortunate to have established a loyal customer base in the communities we serve, and we don’t take that for granted,” Poling says.
2nd Home Community is “an adult day care center like no other” for the aging population in Colorado. The company’s facilities aim for a welcoming atmosphere and offer exercise and yoga sessions, music, dancing, facials and pedicures. The staff regularly takes clients on field trips for picnics, and even chaperoned a small group to Mexico for a few days.
CEO Haneen Omar, along with 2nd Home Community, was recognized in the United States Congressional record in 2021 for providing high-quality care and helping to demarginalize the community the company serves.
2nd Home has grown from 60 employees in 2019 to 300 employees in 2022 as revenue more than tripled. The company now encompasses four locations (including 1st Choice Life Skills Academy to assist clients with intellectual and developmental disabilities) in Aurora, and there are plans for more.
Keeping up with demand has required an aggressive recruitment and retention strategy, which the company has tackled by increasing pay rates and benefits, providing flexible paid time off, and adding an employee referral incentive program.
Leiters Health is an FDA-registered 503B outsourcing provider of sterile compounded pharmaceuticals. The company supplies IV bags, vials, syringes and other products to customers like physician offices, hospitals and surgery centers. The business started as a family-owned pharmacy in California in 1926 but closed its brick-and-mortar location in 2015 to focus on outsourcing.
Leiters came to Colorado after the ownership group acquired another compounding pharmacy in Englewood. The company moved its headquarters to Colorado in 2016 and subsequently launched a 60,000-square-foot facility to handle the large-batch volumes the market needs.
Since operations commenced there, the company has had its share of challenges — and opportunities for growth. “When a large competitor exited the market unexpectedly, Leiters stepped in and increased production volumes significantly to provide products for patients,” says President and CEO Joseph Cosgrove.
With “10 of the most well-known health systems” in the country as strategic investors in Leiters, annual revenue jumped by more than 50 percent in 2022. “Marketing and product innovation has been a catapult for the company’s differentiation strategy,” Cosgrove says, citing a target to quadruple the business by 2028.
Now in its 36th year, ColoradoBiz magazine’s Top Company Awards program recognizes businesses and organizations based in Colorado or with a significant presence in the state that are leading the way in their fields, as demonstrated by financial performance, notable company achievements and community engagement.
To be considered, Top Company entrants submitted applications throughout the year online at ColoradoBiz.com. From those entries, which numbered in the hundreds, the magazine’s editorial board narrowed the field to three finalists (in most cases) in each industry category. A judging panel made up of area business leaders and ColoradoBiz staff then met to compare notes on the finalists and decide winners in 14 industries plus the Startup category, for companies in business four years or less.
Congratulations are in order not only to the 41 winners and finalists profiled on the following pages, but to all the companies that took the time to tell us about their achievements and obstacles surmounted over the past year that make them worthy of Top Company consideration.
Established in 1976 when the Mountain High Yogurt Company needed capital to expand in then-blighted LoDo, Colorado Enterprise Fund (CEF) is a nonprofit loan fund that helps socially and economically disadvantaged small-business entrepreneurs with capital, knowledge and networking.
“Our focus is to finance and support low-income entrepreneurs, underserved small businesses and nonprofit social enterprises throughout Colorado that are unable to secure traditional bank financing,” says President and CEO Ceyl Prinster. “CEFprovidescapital where banks cannot lend and fill gaps whenbankscannot lend enough.”
More than 90 percent of CEF’s lending is to disadvantaged small businesses via microloans, small business loans and commercial real estate with loans up to $1 million. The average loan size is $55,000 to small businesses that typically generate less than $2 million annual revenue and have fewer than 50 employees. CEF also provides New Markets Tax Credit loans from between $5 million to $30 million for projects that generate jobs and revitalization in distressed areas.
In its 47-year history, CEF has impacted more than 30,000jobs bydeploying$246 millionof capitaltoalmost 10,000Coloradoentrepreneurs.A certified Community Development Financial Institution, the organization has 37 employees.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and forced many small businesses to shut their doors, CEF needed to act as “economic first responders,” Prinster says. “We went out to our funders to raise capital, tapped into national, state and local dollars to build our lending capacity, became a PPP lender with the SBA, and created an entirely remote organization to deliver over 10 times the annual loan volume that we had previously done.”
It follows that CEF’s net assets more than doubled from 2020 to 2022. “Our vision is to be the biggest, best and most impactful CDFI in Colorado,” Prinster says.
Founded in 2009, GLC Advisors is an independent investment bank that specializes in providing objective, senior-level expertise for sell-side and buy-side M&A, capital raising and strategic advisory. The team has cumulatively led hundreds of transactions, representing more than $400 billion of enterprise value across numerous industries.
Shifting market conditions led to the opening of its Denver office, the bank’s first outside New York, in 2016. The Mile High City was chosen due to its talent pool and client potential, and the Denver office now includes 20 out of GLC’s 67 advisers nationally. The bank now has offices in Denver and New York as well as San Francisco and Los Angeles.
GLC Advisors has closed more than 900 transactions in its history, many involving Colorado-based companies such as SpineOne, Dema Plumbing, AllPro Capital and AccuSystems. SpineOne’s 2022 acquisition by Trinity Hunt Partners was recently recognized as the “Healthcare Deal of the Year” by the USA M&A Atlas Awards. Dema Plumbing’s acquisition by Gladstone Investment Corp., also in 2022, was honored as the “USA Private Equity Deal of the Year”’ in the same awards program.
Long-established bankers in Nebraska, the Dinsdale family entered the Colorado market with the acquisition of Fort Lupton State Bank in 1978.
Throughout the 1980s and ‘90s, the business expanded across the Eastern Plains, down the Front Range and over the Western Slope. In 1998, all 19 Colorado branches were under a single name, Bank of Colorado.
Now 500 employees in all, Bank of Colorado remains a Dinsdale family-owned business today, serving customers at 44 locations across Colorado. It is part of Pinnacle Bancorp, which operates 161 banks in eight states.
Supporting local small businesses has always been a focus at Bank of Colorado. It was a top lender of PPP funds, with a model that enabled local businesses to get access to funds in hours that had been on waiting lists from larger institutions for weeks. The effort impacted nearly 67,000 jobs in Colorado.
The company also gives back by donating millions of dollars annually to local community organizations. A local control model allows for each branch to support organizations that are important to them, without centralized oversight.
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