The Winners
The record 57 companies selected this year and featured on these pages are
inspirational and instructional, providing the North Bay with key benchmarks
for what makes a company a great place to work. (Listed alphabetically)
ABD Insurance and Financial Services/Wells Fargo Insurance Services
Two-time winner Even after homegrown ABD Insurance and Financial
Services was acquired last year, its employees still say continued community
commitment makes it one of the Best Places to Work in the North Bay, nominating
their employer for the award for the second consecutive year.
In response to the question, ?What makes your company great,? one employee
said, ?The overall feeling that you are given the opportunity to succeed if
you want to and the avenue in which to reap the rewards for your success.
? They are community minded and keep us informed.?
After almost 60 years in the community, employees say the company has successfully
preserved its family-business feel, garnering an average 4.38 employee survey
score out of five for its credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie.
Last year, Wells Fargo insurance absorbed the Redwood City-based brokerage,
but it retains much of its independence with the same staff and management
team. The company has 17 offices in four states and about 100 employees in
the North Bay headquarters office.
? Ashley Furness
Accuchex
When asked why Accuchex is one of the region?s Best Places to Work, overwhelmingly
staff praised the first-time winner?s founders for their compassion and accessibility,
which earned them high marks in every category.
?The owners are involved day to day and support me when I need personal
time. They really care about the employees and the clients,? one employee
said in a survey.
Husband-and-wife duo Leslie and Jim Rhuland opened the human resources management
firm in 1990 from a small one-room office in Marin County. They started with
the help of friends and family and have since added about 20 employees and
provide services to companies of all sizes across the United States. ?Jim
and Leslie care about the people that work for them, and I speak from personal
experience,? one employee said.
? Ashley Furness
Andersen & Company LLP
Three-time winner Family. That was the response nearly all employees
gave as to what is the best part of working for Andersen & Company. The
sense of family in the workplace and the fact that the owners care about the
employees? families make it great, according to comments on the employee survey.
This is the third year in a row that Andersen & Company, consultants
and certified public accountants, has been voted one of the Best Places to
Work. Of the 36 employees, one said, ?In the past I nominated them for what
I get from the company. This year I would like to stress what they give
to the community.?
Andersen & Company gives to more than 25 charitable events and organizations,
including the Boys and Girls Club, Santa Rosa Little League, Redwood Empire
Food Bank and the Human Race.
? Jenna V. Loceff
Athleta Inc.
Two-time winner Athleta Inc., the women?s athletic clothing
maker, is back for a second year in the Best Places winner?s circle. The 241-employee
company is lauded by employees for its worker-centric attitude, flexibility,
dog-friendliness and being an all around fun place to work.
Petaluma-based Athleta workers love designing the clothing, and they love
wearing it. The company?s emphasis on fitness and outdoor activities and goal
of building strong, healthy, confident women has struck such a rich chord
among its employees that very few of them leave.
The company has one of the highest employee retention rates in the North
Bay. ?No one has to tell you this company is great,? wrote one Athleta worker.
?You see it on the employees? faces, and the customers hear it in their voices.?
? Loralee Stevens
Bank of Marin
Two-time winner Founded in 1990, the 205-employee bank is very
civic minded, giving the community more than 7,000 volunteer hours a year.
The bank gives to organizations to support the arts, youth programs, health
and environmental issues.
?All of us at Bank of Marin are proud to carry on the commitment since our
founding in 1989 to be meaningfully involved in our communities. We recognize
the power of volunteerism, contributing financial resources and collaborating
with other local businesses and nonprofits to help make our communities better
places to live and work,? said Joan Capurro, director of community relations.
In the past three years, sales, profits and market shares have increased.
According to one employee, it is ?its willingness to go out of its way to
work with the community and its interest in every client that walks through
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