Top company finalists: Colorado's most competitive business award isn't getting any easier.

The challenges posed to businesses have been so frequently trotted out the past three years often on the pages of this magazine--they hardly bear repeating. But what is worth noting as the economy continues towobble are the businesses and organizations that are succeeding, and not with a win-at-all costs approach butwith ethical principles and community conciousness intact, whether by seeing opportunity where others seeonly obstacles or simply by refusing to let obstacles derail their vision. The 33 firms in 11 industry categoriesprofiled on the following pages are finalists for Top Company, a program widely considered to be "Colorado's most competitive business award."

Now in its 24th year, the Top Company program recognizes outstanding firms headquartered in Colorado or with a significant presence here, based on three factors: financial performance, community involvement and outstanding achievement, such as marketing innovation, product innovation or operational efficiency. Finalists are selected from a rigorous evaluation by longtime sponsor Deloitte. A panel of business professionals and policy officials then selects the winners in each industry category.

Winners in each category will be announced - and finalists recognized--at a special awards celebration Sept. 13 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Seawel Grand Ballroom at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. For registration information, contact Kelly Ness at kness@cobizrnag.com or (303) 662-5222. Or go to www.cobizmag.com and click the events tab.

CONSUMER BUSINESS

CorePower Yoga

www.corepoweryoga.com

Years in business: 10

Location: Denver

CEO: Trevor Tice

Employees: 800

Company snapshot: CorePower Yoga operates 55 yoga studios in Colorado, California, Oregon, Minnesota and Illinois. CorePower runs the largest network of yoga studios in the world and plans to open 10 to 15 studios a year, with the goal of growing to 100 in five years. Since its founding in 2002, CorePower has offered an athletic brand of yoga designed to appeal to mass markets.

Notable practices: CorePower studios are operated by professional business managers who monitor their profitability closely. Instructors are expected to be at the studio to meet with students 30 minutes before and after class. The company offers teacher training, yogi training and weight management and a line of retail yoga and lifestyle products.

Community involvement: Founder and CEO Trevor Tice started the Karma Yoga Project, based on the Eastern philosophical belief that all good deeds positively shape our future experience. Every CorePower Yoga studio participates at least monthly. In 2010, CorePower partnered with Michael Franti for his annual Harvest Ball. It held a benefit yoga class and concert in Broomfield, donating all proceeds to The Gathering Place--a daytime drop-in center for women and children experiencing homelessness and poverty The company also partnered with the Colorado Chapter of the American Red Gross and raised more than $25,000 for Haiti relief efforts and more than $32,000 for aid in Japan.

GolfTEC

www.golftec.com

Years in business: 16

Location: Centennial

CEO: Joe Assell

Employees: 40

Company snapshot: GolfTEC teaches more than 20 percent of golf lessons in the U.S. through its Improvement Centers nationwide, offering instruction to both beginners and accomplished golfers.

Notable practices: GoIfTEC's proven path to results is based on five factors: fact-based diagnosis, sequential lessons, video-based practice, advanced retention tools and precision-matched clubs. Its heavy focus on technology in golf instruction led the company in 2011 to either improve a current piece of technology or develop something new to meet marketplace demand, according to its vice president of technology, Ryan Ayers. That includes the development of a mobile version of the Player Performance Center, a customized website where clients can view their latest golf lessons.

Community involvement: GolfTEC's eight improvement centers in Colorado donated gift certificates for one-hour swing evaluations to local organizations, such as the Rocky Mountain Academy of Evergreen, Freedom Horizon Montessory and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. At the company's corporate headquarters, 40 employees donated toys to Toys for Tots for the holidays. CEO Joe Assell serves on the board of directors for the Boys and Girls Club.

Oskar Blues Brewery

www.oskarblues.com

Years in business: 9

Location: Lyons

CEO: Dale Katechis

Employees: 200

Company snapshot: Oskar Blues is the first U.S. microbrewer to brew and can its own beer. Since launching its "Canned Beer Apocalypse" in 2002, the company has changed consumer perceptions about canned beer.

Notable practices and achievement: Oskar Blues uses lighter weight cans to reduce its carbon footprint. The company has grown more than 300 percent since 2008.

Community involvement: Since 2008, Oskar Blues Brewery has employed workers from Imagine!, a program that supports people with cognitive, developmental, physical and health related needs. The crew assembles "tiling"--beer cans with mardi gran beads attached that the company hands out at events as a marketing tool. Most of the original hires from 2008 are still with the company. Owner Dale Katechis is involved in the community through donations, fundraising and support of local schools and charities.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

CapitalValue Advisors

www. capitalvalue.net

Years in business: 10

Managing directors: David Tolson and Chris Younger

Employees: eight

Company snapshot: CapitalValue Advisors is a FINRA-registered investment bank and valuation firm focused on enabling entrepreneurial spirit. 'The managing directors have helped more than 400 company owners navigate critical capital mar kets that have helped them build value and reap benefit from years of hard work and perseverance.

Notable practices: CapitalValue Advisors' business model is built On relationships rattler than transactions. As a firm, CVA becomes involved long befbre a client is ready to sell, to help increase value and reduce risk. The company has helped more than 400 clients over the past decade add value to their businesses in advance of selling.

Community involvement: CapitalValue Advisors believes its responsibility to the local community goes beyond making charitable contributions. It is fbcused on giving back to the local business community; making sustainable charitable contributions and helping to educate young professionals. The managing directors are active or former board members for Colorado Companies to Watch, the Association Ibr Corporate Growth, the South Metro Chamber of Commerce, the Telecommunications Industry Association and other business and civic groups.

FirstBank Holding Co.

www.efirstbank.com

Years in business: 48

Location: Lakewood

CEO: John Ikard

Employees: 2,000

Company snapshot: FirstBank Holding Co. provides banking services such as checking, savings, certificates of deposit, health savings and individual retirement accounts and loans, including mortgage and home equity; auto and home construction loans. The company also provides such services to businesses. FirstBank is Colorado's largest locally owned bank and one of the best performing banks in the country.

Notable practices: The employee-owned bank reported that the past three years were the most successful since its inception 48 years ago, which it attributes to conservative management, a focus on credit quality and a long-term approach to customer service and growth. The bank prides itself on its high employee satisfaction and retention. Of the company's 2,000-plus employees, nearly half (more than 100 officers and 710 employees) have worked for FirstBank for 10 years or longer.

Community involvement: FirstBank donated more than $4.2 million in cash to Colorado charities last yew, an increase of 24 percent from its 2009 contributions. The bank was the presenting sponsor for the inaugural Colorado Gives Day; which raised $8.7 million for 523 nonprofit organizations in Colorado.

IMA Financial Group

www.imagcorp.com

Years in business: 37

Location: Denver

CEO: Rob Cohen

Employees: 450

Company snapshot: IMA Inc., a retail insurance broker, is a subsidiary of The IMA Financial Group Inc., a diversified financial services company. Consistently ranked amongst the top 20 independently owned brokers in the United States, the employee-owned company offers a full range of risk management related products with offices in Dallas, Denver, Kansas City, Topeka and Wichita.

Notable practices: Because IMA is independent and employee-owned, it has a lower cost of doing business. It can reinvest in the company and is not beholden to produce profits for Wall Street shareholders. The company's financial-services practice helped numerous public and private companies navigate the 2007-2009 credit crises while retaining professional liability coverage.

Community involvement: The IMA Foundation gives a minimum of 2.5 percent of MIAs profits annually in order to meet its mission of making a difference in the communities in which its employees and clients live and work. IIVLik employees on average participate in 4,000 hours of volunteer work each year. including work with 30 local nonprofit boards. The company's Community Action Committee raises and donates money to charities selected and supported by IMA employees.

HEALTH CARE

DaVita

www.davita.com

Years in business: 11

Location: Denver

CEO: Kent Thiry

Employees: 34,000

Company snapshot: DaVita Inc., a Fortune 500 company; is a leading provider of kidney care in the United States, delivering dialysis services and education to patients with chronic kidney failure and end stage renal disease. DaVita operates or provides administrative services at 1,642 dialysis facilities, serving approximately 128,000 patients. DaVita, Italian for "giving life," employs more than 34,000 people around the country.

Noteworthy achievement: DaVita's $101 million...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT