The document highlights the coolest companies to work for in 2014 across seven cities, emphasizing their unique corporate cultures and employee-focused programs. Awards from O.C. Tanner recognize these companies for their exceptional practices in employee appreciation, communication, community involvement, and growth. The document also invites nominations for the 2015 awards, underscoring O.C. Tanner's commitment to inspiring and appreciating great work through innovative recognition solutions.

1. Coolest
Companies
to Work
For in 2014

2. Presented by

3. As 2014 comes to a close, we look back at seven cities
with the coolest companies. The Coolest Company award,
presented by O.C. Tanner appreciates companies with an
extraordinary focus on building corporate cultures that
value employees in exemplary ways.
AWARDS INCLUDE PERSONALIZED CERTIFICATES,
A WINNER BADGE TO PLACE ON THE COMPANY’S
WEBSITE, AND A FEATURE IN O.C. TANNER’S
MEDIA OUTREACH AS WELL AS WEBSITE.

4. Let’s look at the
coolest companies to
work for in 2014.

5. Orlando, Florida
BishopBeale
Crossman Co.
Chatter Buzz Media
ActivEngage
Purple Rock Scissors
Kavaliro
One Hope United
Cybis Communications
Protiviti
Cross, Fernandez & Riley, LLP
view article

6. Highlights
Unique Culture Programs
“Chatter Buzz Media’s program, ‘Lunch n’ Learn’ allows for
employees to talk about their role in the company and their
interest over lunch.”
Employee Unity
“ActivEngage focuses on unity among its employees. Whether it’s
participating in Charity Challenge Events, potlucks, or intramural sports,
ActivEngage is fully invested in efforts to make their employees happy.”
Employee Appreciation
“Appreciation at Cybis Communications comes in the form of a
Brag Box, where employees write notes bragging about their teams.
Every few months the box is opened and prizes are awarded.”

7. San Diego, California
Scripps Health
Destination Concepts Inc.
American Specialty Health
Hotel del Coronado
YMCA of San Diego County
Underground Elephant
MI Technologies
MyOffice
San Diego Sign Company
Qualcomm
view article

8. Highlights
Communication
“Hotel del Coronado has quarterly ‘town hall meetings’ where the
general manager explains upcoming hotel events, projects, and
the overall performance of the hotel. This meeting also involves an
open microphone, where employees can ask the general manager
questions and concerns—keeping everyone in the loop.”
Unique Training Meetings
“One way Underground Elephant achieves this inspired culture is
through weekly training meetings with retired boxer, Paul Vaden. Vaden
doesn’t have marketing experience, but he talks to employees about
setting goals, achieving them, and becoming a champion.”
CEO Lunches
“CEO and chairman of American Specialty Health, George
DeVries, hosts ‘Lunch with George’ where employees get some
quality face time with their leader over a bite to eat.”

9. Austin, Texas
GSD&M
Keller Williams Realty
Burnett Specialists
National Instruments
Cirrus Logic
Chuy’s
Yodle
SolarWinds
Whole Foods Market
Rackspace
view article

10. Highlights
Employee Education
“Two to three times a month, GSD&M hosts ‘idea university
classes’ taught by employees as well as leaders in the community,
answering the question: what is the next thing we should know
about in order to help our clients?”
Community Outreach
“National Instruments community service includes supporting
hands-on robotics programs at local schools to inspire kids to
pursue STEM careers.”
Culture Team
“Yodle has a full time ‘culture team’ that organizes daily, weekly,
and quarterly contests with prizes ranging from cash incentives to
company sponsored trips.”

11. Portland, Oregon
Consumer Cellular
Pinnacle Exhibits
VanderHouwen & Associates
Cresa
ESCO
Nature Conservancy
Mentor Graphics
Mercy Corps
Janrain
Urban Airship
view article

12. Highlights
Employee Growth
“VanderHouwen & Associates provides internal mentors as well as
external skill-enhancing seminars that strengthen company
performance as a whole.”
Strong Community Relationships
“Because their services are often for community use, ESCO looks for
opportunities to build good relationships in the local community. ‘We
try to have a good neighborhood relationship in every aspect of the
work we do.’”
Company Collaboration
“Urban Airship participates in ‘Hack Week’ where staff put aside
their daily roles and collaborate across teams and departments to
work on an inspired project. Results from this week can vary from
prototypes of new products to a fun improvement of products.”

13. Nashville, Tennessee
Lee Company
Asurion
Healthways
Pinnacle Financial Partners
LBMC
Ingram Content Group
Churchill Mortgage
Dollar General
Cracker Barrel
STR
view article

14. Highlights
Organizational Culture
“The work hard play hard office [at Asurion] allows employees to
be result focused while having fun, which includes gathering to
watch sports together and participating in corn-hole
tournaments.”
Employee Appreciation
“Ingram gives back to their employees with a continuing education
assistance program for both undergraduate and graduate employees.”
Giving Back to the Community
“The Lee Company is very involved in the community,
participating in Habitat for Humanity and other local charities and
organizations—including being the second largest food donor to
Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee with its ‘Vans 4
Cans’ campaign.

15. Indianapolis, Indiana
Interactive Intelligence
Eli Lilly and Company
Key Benefit Administrators
RE/MAX Ability Plus
Duke Realty Corp
Community Health Network
Wellpoint
DEFENDER
Orchard Software Corporation
Blue & CO.
view article

16. Highlights
Employee Training
“Community Health Network has training and professional
development for their employees to help them ‘grow-from-within’
with their Community Learning Institute.”
Giving Back to the Community
“All team members of DEFENDER are given four ‘giving days’ per year to
use for serving in the local community.”
Employee Appreciation
“The Spotlight program [at Eli Lilly and Company] allows
employees to recognize each other for their accomplishments and
give each other points that can be used to purchase items.”

17. Kansas City, Missouri
VML
JE Dunn Construction
FishNet Security
Children’s Mercy Hospitals & Clinics
Henderson Engineers Inc.
Lockton
Burns & McDonnell Engineering
Black & Veatch
Cerner Corp
Saint Luke’s-Shawnee Mission Health Systems
view article

18. Highlights
Employee Recognition
“FishNet Security appreciates its employees through their ‘Rock
On’ program, allowing employees to submit kudos or positive
things about coworkers in an online form.”
Tight-Knit Community
“By focusing on factors such as meaningful work, purposeful
collaboration, and communication, employees at VML have been able to
keep our growing global agency feeling like a tight-knit community.”
Culture of Giving Back
“JE Dunn Construction holds activities each year to raise money
for various organizations that include BBQ competitions, indoor
putt-putt tournaments, and games.”

19. Do you work for a cool company?
Want us to come to your city?
FROM SMALL STARTUPS TO LARGE CORPORATIONS, WE
WANT YOU TO NOMINATE YOUR COMPANY.
Nominate your company today for O.C. Tanner’s
Coolest Companies to Work For Award in 2015!

20. O.C. Tanner and The O.C. Tanner Institute
O.C. Tanner helps the world inspire and appreciate great work.
Through our innovative cloud-based software, tools, awards,
education, and research, we provide thought leadership and
strategic recognition solutions for thousands of clients globally.
Designed to engage talent, increase performance, and drive
corporate goals, our solutions create personalized recognition
experiences delivered through a smart technology platform.
The O.C. Tanner Institute regularly commissions research and
provides a global forum for exchanging ideas about recognition,
engagement, leadership, culture, human values, and sound
business principles.