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Top Company 2023: Energy

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.

READ: Fall 2023 Issue — Top Company Awards, Inside the CHIPS and SCIENCE Act, and More

WINNER

Urban Solutions Group

Denver, CO

Website: www.urbansolutiongroup.com

CEO Heidi Gill started Urban Solution Group in 2017 and raised $10 million to design, build and manufacture the next generation of sound walls that mitigate noise and nuisance impacts to communities from oil and gas operations. 

“Urban is a pro-American business and believes business and communities can coexist,” Gill says, citing expertise in industrial development, acoustic modeling, monitoring, mitigation and community relations. 

After the company’s now-patented mitigation walls launched at two locations in spring 2018, booming demand supported the manufacturing and deployment of enough product to service more than 25 simultaneous locations in the company’s second year. Urban Solution Group is now able to support more than 30 locations at any given time, more than six miles of walls in all. 

While Urban started as an oilfield services company, it has expanded into the renewable industry, data centers and racetracks. Gill said she believes “success snowballs,” adding, “If there is the opportunity, Urban will be there for the challenge.” 

The company saw revenue drop by 59 percent due to COVID-19 and the oil war in 2020. “Instead of pulling back on innovation and investment, Urban made the bold decision to double down,” Gill says. 

The resulting NavPlanIQ is a cloud-based energy platform that assists energy operators and developers with planning and navigating the human component of operations while providing regulatory and compliance tools. 

The strategy is paying off: Annual revenue grew by more than 120 percent in 2022, as the number of employees has increased from five in 2020 to 13 today. 

Top Company 2023: Consumer Business

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.

WINNER 

GoJo Auto

Denver, CO

Website: gojoauto.com 

GoJo Auto is a dealership that specializes in educating underserved communities through the car-buying process. The company’s mostly minority staff is a reflection of the customer base. 

Founder and CEO Amanda Gordon has broken a number of barriers in the industry. She is the first African-American woman in Colorado to own a dealership on record and the first Black woman to serve on the Colorado Motor Vehicle Dealer Board. 

GoJo has also spawned multiple nonprofits. One is WOCAN, The Woman of Color Automotive Network, an organization centered around attracting and placing women of color within the different sectors of the automotive industry. It now has more than 500 members. 

Car Class, which helps educate students about purchasing cars, is another. It has helped 25 kids buy cars to date, and Gordon says she has ambitious plans for the program. “We are working on multiple locations and more schools to host our Car Class in an effort to make the curriculum mandatory in all high school classes,” she says. 

There’s a reason for the focus on community involvement. “Our culture is only as strong as the community we serve,” Gordon says. “We are all about education through car buying. If we have more educated consumers, they can help boost our economy and have confidence in other areas of their lives.” 

She added, “We see our buyers as more than just customers. We see them as a part of our entire ecosystem. Education is our gateway to impact and build wealth directly.” 

The strategy is working. The company had four employees in 2019, its first full year in business. That has increased to 16 employees (along with a tenfold jump in revenue) for 2022. 

FINALISTS 

Fast Fit Foods

Colorado Springs, CO

Website: fastfitfoodsco.com

Fast Fit Foods makes fresh, fully cooked single-portion meals with both nutrition and flavor in mind. The company sells meals and protein snacks online and at three retail locations in Colorado Springs.  

It’s also gotten into food service: In 2023, Fast Fit Foods secured contracts to operate the cafeteria at a 780,000-square-foot office complex and to provide healthy lunches at two schools. 

Under the leadership of CEO Tillman Huett, the company’s head count increased from 12 employees in 2019 to 18 in 2022, as revenue nearly doubled in that same time span. 

In that time, Fast Fit Foods survived the COVID-19 pandemic and the closing of a Florida branch. “We circled the wagons and did what we do best: work earlier, harder and faster,” says VP of Business Development Nicholas Bonvini. “With fewer staff, we personally made thousands of meals each week. Our customers never felt supply chain crunches, inflationary pressures or drops in service because we all showed up to the kitchen at 4 a.m. and did the work ourselves, and then covered the retail stores over the weekend.” 

Fast Fit Foods donates all unsold meals to a charity called Food to Power, giving away around 10,000 meals to date. The business plan calls for expansion to more schools as well as more retail locations. 

“We lead by example,” Bonvini says. “We have hard conversations early and often, and we’ve learned to grow from them. We have high standards but always explain why and how they came to be.” 

American Outdoor Products 

Boulder, CO

Website: backpackerspantry.com 

Whether eaten in the backwoods or outer space, the freeze-dried foods of American Outdoor Products have been on the cutting edge for more than 70 years. 

The 47-employee company creates freeze-dried meals for outdoor adventurers with its Backpacker’s Pantry brand. In 1974, it developed the original freeze-dried ice cream with NASA and launched it into the consumer market under the Astronaut Foods label. 

Culture is key: The company has always been 100 percent family-owned, and 30 percent of employees have been with the company for more than a decade. Philanthropic giving always exceeds 1 percent of sales, and the office and manufacturing facility are entirely powered by 391 rooftop solar panels. 

In 2019, owner and CEO Rodney Smith passed away in a skiing accident. Soraya Smith, Rodney’s wife and the company’s president/head chef, weathered the storm and led the company to growth with the help of longtime employees. The company’s new CEO (and Smith family neighbor), Duane Primozich, has a long career in the Boulder-area natural foods sector. 

The outdoor boom during the COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed demand for Backpacker’s Pantry products, stretching the company’s supply chain to its limit; then a fire destroyed the ice cream factory in 2022. American Outdoor Products adapted to both challenges with the help of partners and relying on the strong foundation of the company’s culture.  

Top Company 2023: Construction & Engineering

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.

Winner

Kodiak Building Partners 

Highlands Ranch, CO

Website: kodiakbp.com

CEO Steve Swinney founded Kodiak Building Partners in 2011 to bring an economy of scale to the building materials sector. 

Kodiak has since acquired more than 100 locations in 25 states with 6,000-plus employees, as the revenue has soared in the last decade. 

Swinney called Kodiak’s “decentralized business model” a differentiator. “Unlike many competitors, Kodiak’s backend support has helped enable growth across its portfolio of brands, while maintaining local independence and decision-making autonomy,’ he says. “Kodiak’s financial success and growth is a testament to how well this model works. In the past five years, Kodiak has delivered more than 10 times the return on their original investment in transactions to acquire new operating partners.” 

It’s all about operational efficiency. Kodiak, for example, recently evaluated its accounts payable processes and reduced workloads by 80 percent, which enabled the team staffed around those tasks to refocus on other value-added projects. 

Fostering culture as a holding company has been a challenge, but a welcome one, Swinney adds. “It’s commonplace for holding companies to establish a standard ‘corporate’ culture that’s big on compliance and often lacking in personality. Kodiak took another approach in establishing its culture, intentionally embracing a decentralized model where the corporate office more often flies under the radar of its operating partner brands.” 

The strategy allows companies in the portfolio to build on existing strengths as part of a broader network of suppliers. “Kodiak doesn’t come in and conduct corporate shakeups,” Swinney says. “Communication flows both from the top down and from the bottom up.” 

Kodiak recently launched a program to support leadership development across the company: The inaugural class of Kodiak’s Emerging Leaders program graduated in spring 2023.  

Finalists 

Cooper Heating & Cooling

Broomfield, CO

Website: coopergreenteam.com

It’s all about energy efficiency at the largest residential HVAC replacement contractor in Colorado and the leading Daikin dealer in the state. Cooper Heating & Cooling — aka the Cooper Green Team — has been Xcel Energy’s top partner for furnace, AC and heat pump rebates for the last 13 years.  

Founded in 1978, the contractor has grown by leaps and bounds over the decades. “At almost 180 people, we are starting to grow out of that mom-and-pop shop, which is good and bad,” says owner and CEO Luke Cooper. “We are able to offer better insurance, 401(k) and other support, but it has been very important for us to keep that mom-and-pop feel.” 

The company has turned around after former leadership drove the company into debt about five years ago. “We were overdrawn on every account and on credit hold with every vendor in town.” said Cooper. “This was the hardest professional thing we have ever had to overcome, but it made us better in every way. Our team showed amazing support and together we became more efficient, structured, and successful by working together as a team.” 

I-KOTA LLC 

Denver, CO

Website: i-kota.com

Founded in 2010, I-kota is a general contractor specializing in the construction of multi-family affordable housing. The 52-employee company is now one of the top three builders in the affordable housing market sector in Colorado with more than 3,100 affordable units completed, as revenue more than tripled from 2019 to 2022. 

CEO Riley McLaughlin had to pivot in 2016 after his business partner left I-kota. “In this process, we implemented a new organizational chart, promoting three individuals from within the company, hiring an outside CFO, and sizing our business to commit to being a $50 million a year company,” McLaughlin says. “What I’m personally most 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 says the company emphasizes people over all else. “We rewrite our business plan each year, and we do not put a growth percentage in there,” he says. “We believe that could be fueled by ego and as a company we attempt to stay as far from that behavior as we can. Instead, we understand the difficulty of hiring people. We are investing heavily in our current staff to limit any turnover and increase the quality of our product.” 

And he says, “Bigger does not mean great.” 

Top Company 2023: Architecture & Interior Design

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.

Winner — Sopher Sparn Architects

Boulder, CO 

Website: www.sophersparn.com 

Custom Residence Gemini
House on the foothills, designed by Sopher Sparn Architects

Founded in 1978, Sopher Sparn Architects (SSA) designs a wide range of residential, institutional, commercial and retail projects, while also consulting on master planning, entitlement and interior design. Principals Stephen Sparn, Adrian Sopher and Erin Bagnall lead the 18-employee firm today. 

Sustainable design is a core tenet at SSA, says Syd Berkowitz, marketing and operations manager. “From every phase of our design process to our projects’ climate impact, studio operations and education for our staff, clients and communities, we strive to be impactful industry leaders,” she says. “Our goal is to ensure that every building we design makes a meaningful contribution toward climate well-being and environmental preservation. Our objective for the architectural structures we design is [for them] to function as carbon sinks, effectively sequestering a greater amount of carbon than they emit.” 

Berkowitz also highlighted SSA’s community engagement. “We pledge to be active in our local Colorado communities and engage in outreach opportunities as a team,” she says, noting that the firm’s employees work with Sun Valley Youth Center, the Colorado Green Building Guild, PorchFest, ULI Colorado and SpeakUp Arvada. 

SSA is ultimately about the people, she adds, and it shows. “We establish our work environment through celebration, community, enrichment and wellness,” Berkowitz says. “We celebrate holidays, birthdays, wins and Friday afternoons. We contribute to our local communities and use our offices as hubs for Halloween contests, happy hours and potlucks. We encourage our team members to continue their education and studies through trainings and classes. And most importantly, we support the wellness and well-being of our team through daily walks, bagel Tuesdays and mental health time.” 

Fall 2023 Issue: Top Company Awards, Inside the CHIPS and SCIENCE Act, and More

The Top Company Awards have been an annual staple of ColoradoBiz since 1988, when applications had to be typed on actual paper and faxed, or mailed, or hand-delivered, then passed among judges sitting at a large table in a conference room.

Some aspects of the Top Company application have gotten easier — entries are now submitted online at cobizmag.com, and judges who are on the road can participate in discussions via Zoom — but the competition is no less rigorous than it was 36 years ago. Entrants still submit often-exhaustive accounts of their achievements, their financial performance in recent years, their work in the community and future goals.

READ: Top Company Winners Tapped in 36th Annual Statewide Business Awards

Make no mistake, the competitive fire burns hot. Often, companies that learn they’ve been named finalists email us to ask why they didn’t win, and companies that weren’t named finalists want to know why.

One thing is clear. These companies believe they’re the best at what they do. A memorable example comes from Holidaily Brewing Co., a Golden-based brewer founded seven years ago by Karen Hertz. Asked on the Top Company application about its future goals, the company responded, “World domination!”

That drew a chuckle from judges, but Holidaily was serious. “We want to be the leader and obvious choice for gluten-free beer, the company added. The woman-owned brewer has done just that. Holidaily is now the largest gluten-free brewer in the U.S., and since 2019, its revenues have nearly tripled.

Holidaily is this year’s Top Company winner in the Tourism/Hospitality category, joining winners in 13 other industries, plus the Startup category for companies in business four years or less.

The 41 Top Company winners and finalists highlight this issue of ColoradoBiz, but there are many other compelling stories along with opinion pieces by our columnists. Among the features is Stewart Schley’s look at the business of sports suites, as he examines this relatively high-end segment of the live game-day experience and how the premium-seating concept has evolved at Empower Field, Coors Field, Ball Arena and Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

Also in this issue, Eric Peterson reports on Colorado’s once-formidable semiconductor industry and how it stands to gain from the CHIPS and SCIENCE Act of 2022 that has earmarked $280 billion over five years to attract high-tech manufacturing back to U.S. soil. The pitfalls of overreliance on foreign manufacturing became painfully evident during supply chain disruptions of the past few years, as the U.S. accounted for just 12 percent of global semiconductor manufacturing as of 2021, fifth behind Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and China.

In his heyday, Peterson points out, Colorado’s Front Range earned the nickname “Silicon Mountain,” and Colorado Springs alone had nine semiconductor chip fabrication plants. It’s too early to say whether a semblance of those glory days can be rekindled, but the CHIPS and SCIENCE Act and additional incentives by the state are a step in that direction.

Of course, another incentive, one that goes without saying, resonates throughout this issue: that Colorado remains an enviable place to live and work.

 

Mike TaylorMike Taylor is the editor of ColoradoBiz.

Top Company 2023: Advertising & Marketing

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.

WINNER — AdCellerant

AdCellerant provides businesses with digital marketing technology and solutions via partnerships with media companies and agencies. The result is a one-stop shop for media buyers: Users can manage media buys from proposal creation through campaign launch and track campaign performance within a single platform.

The market has embraced the model: AdCellerant’s revenue jumped by more than 150 percent from 2022 as the employee count more than doubled to about 200 today.

The company isn’t resting on its laurels in 2023. “This year, our product team launched our new Order Management System,” says co-founder and CEO Brock Berry. “We made this change to streamline order entry and communication. This change came from feedback from our partners, and our team did all the heavy lifting to ensure partners had a seamless transition to one platform.”

AdCellerant Gives, an in-house program that helps employees get involved with the local community, has donated thousands of hours, more than 5,000 meals and thousands of dollars to nonprofits and people in need on the Front Range. “This commitment is led by an internal team and championed by our most prominent local volunteer, Muhammad Khan, who volunteers over 365 hours yearly,” Berry says.

Shelby Carlson, AdCellerant’s COO and co-founder, noted that AdCellerant strives to shape customized career paths to allow employees to grow and foster an authentic team.

“Micromanagement is not a word ever uttered or acted on,” Carlson adds. “As everyone is a genuine team member, stopping to play a game of ping-pong or leaving for lunch goes without saying.”

FINALIST — The Idea Marketing

Patricia Lepiani started The Idea Marketing in 2008 immediately before the financial crisis hit, so she’s accustomed to guiding a business through troubled times.

It shows: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company had no layoffs, and hired new employees to meet growing demand. In 2020, The Idea Marketing even took on a project for the State of Colorado to encourage the public to get vaccinated.

Now nine employees, the firm, which develops social marketing campaigns aimed at influencing behaviors related to public health, human services, education and awareness, saw revenue grow by 192 percent from 2020 to 2021, then by 77 percent from 2021 to 2022.

Not only is The Idea Marketing a minority- and woman-owned firm, its employees hail from all over Latin America and the U.S. Lepiani strives to leverage the diversity with a culture that takes every team member’s point of view into consideration.

Beyond the office, the company works with the African Leadership Group, a nonprofit created to serve and improve the quality of life of the African immigrant community by social, educational and economic programs. The team has helped immigrants write and perform poetry to keep their traditions front and center.

FINALIST — OTM

Vallene Kailburn, chief creative officer, founded OTM (an acronym for Old Town Media) with her husband, CEO Miles Kailburn, in 2007.

Now 17 employees, OTM is a Fort Collins-based marketing agency that combines business strategy, consumer behavior modeling and market positioning with traditional marketing services and public relations.

The firm has developed a trademarked process called the OTM Path to Growth to guide clients through a series of collaborative exercises to analyze their organization, model their target audience’s behaviors and ultimately position their brand effectively within its respective industry.

The team emphasizes philanthropy and community involvement. In 2022, OTM donated $25,050 in cash and $35,653 in work to nonprofits, including Realities for Children, Project Self-Sufficiency of Northern Colorado, and SummitStone Health Partners. Additionally, Chief Strategy Officer Kerrie Luginbill organized a golf tournament in September 2022 that raised $26,444 for Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity. Luginbill subsequently received the 2023 Impact Award from the Rotary Club of Fort Collins.

OTM has grown every year it’s been in business. Revenue jumped by more than 30 percent from 2021 to 2022, and the firm is targeting another 20 percent uptick for 2023.

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.