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How we picked them: First, with help from the Outdoor Industry Association, we got the word out to eligible applicants–nonprofit or for-profit companies with at least 15 employees working in the U.S. Our project partner, the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania-based research firm Best Companies Group (), then sent registered companies a confidential employee-satisfaction survey and an extensive employer questionnaire to collect information about policies, practices, and benefits. The results were analyzed by the Best Companies Group, which ranked the 50 winners in order of who best enables employees to balance productivity with an active, eco-conscious lifestyle. Here's our complete list.

50. TriSports.com

ABOUT
We are an online retailer that carries the highest-quality triathlon equipment, triathlon gear, triathlon apparel, and all of the hard-to-find necessities that every triathlete needs, including triathlon wetsuits, bike travel cases, aero race wheels, hydration systems, aerobars, triathlon-specific clothing, and much more. We are also an industry leader in both road-bike and triathlon-bike fitting.

COMPANY CULTURE
We realize that opening an Internet business was the easy part. What keeps us growing is our focus on our customers, our staff, our suppliers and the environment—all of which have defined who we are. All four of these are interconnected and require each of the others to be successful. We don't worry about what our competition is doing, but rather where and what we can do next. How can we continue to build our relationships and advance the sport of Triathlon at the same time.

FITNESS BENEFITS
Our industry naturally lends itself to a healthy lifestyle. We have a bike-commuter program in place. Each employee that commutes to work receives ten cents per mile that can be spent in our shop. There is also a weekly run group that meets at a local park before work hours. The run group is open to all levels and nobody is left behind because it is a circle run. TriSports.com also holds a weekly spin class that is free and open to our customers as well as our employees.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
TriSports.com supports Habitat for Humanity in Tucson, Aviva Children Services, and Sole for Souls. TriSports.com puts on a non-profit race every year in ShowLow Arizona where 75 percent of the proceeds go to CAF (Challenged Athletes Foundation) and the other 25 percent stays in ShowLow and is donated to a local boys and girls club. Employees are also paid to volunteer at certain local events. If the employee is not paid to volunteer they can earn credits: one credit for each hour worked, and ten credits can be redeemed for a $25 gift card or $25 TriSports.com store credit. This is not paid time off, but giving a triathlete money to spend in a tri store is big.

GREEN INITIATIVES
With our Green Box Program, our customers are able to opt for a used box for their shipment. We also participate in Soles for Souls to recycle used shoes to others in need. We send all of our used bike parts to Resource Revival to make awards, clocks, and other art items. We reuse all packaging material when possible, and our recycle bin is four times larger than our garbage dumpster. We also use compact fluorescent lighting throughout most of the building, natural light in all workplace areas, furniture made from recycled materials and/or able to be recycled after use, installed recycled carpet, super low-e glass throughout our storefront, multiple-zone air conditioning so areas of the building that aren't in use can be turned off, and dual light controls in office areas to minimize light usage.

ABOUT
Dominion Digital is a regional process-and-technology-consulting firm known for rapidly delivering value for its clients and providing right-size solutions to complex business challenges. Known for process-and-technology leadership, Dominion Digital has helped scores of companies realize dramatic gains in business-process efficiency and productivity.

49. Dominion Digital

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Dominion Digital is a regional process-and-technology-consulting firm known for rapidly delivering value for its clients and providing right-size solutions to complex business challenges. Known for process-and-technology leadership, Dominion Digital has helped scores of companies realize dramatic gains in business-process efficiency and productivity.

COMPANY CULTURE
From our open, collaborative office space and whiteboard walls to the superior benefits package and “family of co-workers,” Dominion Digital has continued to provide its team members with an energetic and motivating environment for its employees. The company believes that by developing healthy relationships we will establish sustainable success for all we serve—most notably, our employees. Making employee satisfaction and motivation a strategic priority every year, we employ consultants who share our vision and commitment to service, value, passion, excellence, teamwork, and respect. Each employee is personally vested in the continued success of the firm.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
Team members are given the opportunity to manage their own schedules, assuming that it doesn't impact their ability to deliver to our clients. Being a technology firm, we are committed to enabling our employees to be successful outside of the office. Dominion Digital provides each team member with a laptop and reimburses business usage of cellular phones as well as home Internet service.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Dominion Digital is committed to supporting and enhancing our community—embracing this commitment as a duty and a privilege. The firm regularly sponsors community events and promotes a Matching Gift program. Team Dominion Digital is an annual community partner with Relay for Life, BikeMS, and St. Baldricks' Foundation. In 2008, we were recognized for helping raise almost $350,000 in support of the UVA Breast Care Program and Children's Hospital.

48. Volcom

ABOUT
We are an innovative designer, marketer and distributor of premium quality young men's and young women's clothing, accessories and related products under the Volcom brand name. Our products, which include t-shirts, fleece, bottoms, tops, jackets, boardshorts, denim and outerwear, incorporate distinctive combinations of fashion, functionality and athletic performance.

COMPANY CULTURE
We promote a culture where people who share our core values want to work so it makes for a great environment with the most passionate people. Most employees have worked here for several years and, after taking a recent survey, 9 out of 10 employees understand and believe in the company's future and find it compelling. There is a lot of excitement, innovation, opportunity, boardsports lifestyle, perks, and teamwork here at Volcom. It is a fun, creative, family environment with employees who are very passionate about what they do.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
We give half-day summer Friday's every other Friday so employees can spend time with their families.

FITNESS BENEFITS
Volcom has a Wellness Program to promote a healthier lifestyle with the following programs: Corporate membership program (discounts to health/yoga clubs), Yoga classes at corporate office, Flu shot clinic (when available), monthly Health Awareness lunches, and EAP. We pay a annual corporation membership to 24 hour fitness and Yoga works. This allows our employees to get memberships at very discounted rates. We also hold monthly wellness lunches that offer advice on all kinds of topics, from eating healthy to learning how to stretch at work. In addition to the wellness program, we reward employees with free lift tickets, season passes to different mountains and other free giveaways that promote an active lifestyle.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
We have a program called our Give Back Series, which we use to highlight and raise funds for non-profit organizations. Some of the groups we have partnered with and/or supported: Alaska Wilderness League, Save the Waves Coalition, The Ecology Center, Protect our Winters (POW), and Orange County Coastkeeper. We have one “green” point person who sends out weekly V-Co Logical emails, challenges employees to car-pool, skateboard to work, etc.

GREEN INITIATIVES
Our V-Co Logical line, which represents our socially responsible movement towards sustainability, contains more sustainable materials and has lower impact production methods. In this collection, you'll find organic cottons, hemp blends, recycled PET, degradable plastics in packaging, thermoplastic elastomer linings rather than PVC, and a few other things that are in the works.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
To keep the troops stoked and retain/recognize our star players, we have the Monthly Stone Award, recognizing an employee's achievements and contributions as an exceptional Volcom employee. All employees are welcome to nominate anyone in the company. Different awards are given depending on accomplishments. Some examples are a week-long vacation at the Volcom Hawaii team house and front-spot parking for a month.

47. Sambazon

ABOUT
Sambazon was founded in 2000 as the first company to bring açaí to North America. Now the market leader in açaí, Sambazon has an expansive product line of organic, natural and eco friendly açaí products. Sambazon is a young, healthy and very entrepreneurial company that makes incredibly delicious and nutritious acai-based foods and beverages. We strive for Triple Bottom Line success (economic, social and environmental).

COMPANY CULTURE
Sambazon is a young company that encourages its employees to be creative, to own their own projects and to take ideas and run with them. Executives always have the door open to employees of all levels to come up with creative ideas from marketing to shipping. Employees are empowered by the entrepreneurial spirit and business model that Sambazon offers.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
Telecommuting and flex scheduling is available to employees, upon petition, which allows employees to work from home so they are available for family. Sambazon employees are given plenty of time at lunch to get a workout in and Sambazon offers a late start time of 9:00 – 9:30 a.m. for employees that prefer to work out in the morning.

FITNESS BENEFITS
Sambazon headquarters are a couple of miles from the ocean, steps away from a golf course, and surrounded by trails. Employees group together before work, during work and after work to go for a surf, swim or run together. Sambazon also has a shower on site to encourage employees to be active during the day. Sambazon offers employees free Sambazon products while they are working and a generous monthly acai plan.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Sambazon has donated over 6,600 cases of 32 oz. juices to Feed America. And our promo team has worked with the following charitable organizations by either sponsoring with financial dollars or donating product for sampling at events: American Lung Association, Susan G Komen Foundation, World Skin Cancer Foundation, September 11th Florida Firefighters Association, Code 3 For a Cure, Race for the Cure, and Walk for Hope.

GREEN INITIATIVES
Sambazon is founded on a sustainably harvested fruit in the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest. Sambazon tries to bring this eco-friendly and organic attitude and Amazonian vibe to everything we do. Sambazon gives back to the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest with several initiatives, including the Sustainable Amazon Partnership, which is a public and private collaboration to promote lasting sustainable management of the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest. We print the majority of our POS and paper goods on 100-percent recycled paper/materials. We also select post-consumer recycled packaging, water-based adhesives and soy-based inks for packaging when available. The labels are produced in a carbon offset (purchased wind powered credits) facility, printed on FSC paper, made with 30-percent post-consumer waste, water adhesives and agri-based inks. To reduce our carbon footprint, our main processing facility is located in Brazil. When the pulp is stripped, the leftover seeds are given to local co-ops, such as women who make açaí seed jewelry as a means to supplement their income and help bring them above the poverty line.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
The employee of the month is featured in the company newsletter and we give them the front row parking spot for the month along with a gift certificate for a dinner for two to the best restaurant in San Clemente. We throw a few parties per year that are thrown to celebrate our staff or any significant goals that our company exceeds.

47. OluKai Premium Footwear

ABOUT
At OluKai, we build premium products for the ocean lifestyle. Our footwear is created using the highest quality materials and crafted into beautiful, functional, and incredibly comfortable designs that reflect the spirit of the ocean lifestyle we all enjoy. We are committed to creating quality, long-lasting products for our customers while leaving the smallest footprint possible on the planet. Our company philosophy is to be environmentally responsible as manufacturers and actively support and work for a clean environment and better quality of life.

COMPANY CULTURE
We offer Surf Wednesdays, when employees can come in late, because we want everyone to get out to the beach and surf or paddle on Wednesdays. In addition, we also have a bring your dog to work policy everyday.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
OluKai is very laid back and flexible in regards to daily work schedules. We trust our employees will manage their work and achieve deadlines at their own pace. At OluKai, employees and their families are number one. We go above and beyond to accommodate the needs of our employees should a family emergency arise.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Our company and employees sponsor and support through financial means the Maui Cultural Lands, Hawaii's Junior Lifeguard Program, Team KamakakoaHawaiian Sailing Canoe Association, Orangewood Children's Home, Surfaid International's relief fund and Toys for Tots.

GREEN INITIATIVES
We work directly with our factories, without agents or sourcing groups. This means our founders and senior management personally inspect our factory partners up to six times a year. This includes conducting a comprehensive responsibility review every quarter to assess people, health, safety, attitude, and environment. We strive to reduce our environmental footprint by using natural latex gum rubbers, 100-percent recycled packaging printed with soy-based inks, and we source leathers from ISO-14001-compliant tanneries.

45. ���ϳԹ��� Life Journeys

ABOUT
���ϳԹ��� Life provides small-group, customized adventure travel throughout South and Central America and Antarctica. We are committed to providing quality tours that have a positive impact on the local culture and environment. Group size is kept to a minimum, welcoming a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Our goal is to provide a fun and exciting holiday, while creating a better understanding between travelers and our wonderful hosts.

COMPANY CULTURE
Quite frankly, with a little time, money and effort, many companies could if they desired to, offer many of the benefits we provide our employees. But they could not so easily replicate the unique relationships and support system found at ���ϳԹ��� Life. There is an exceptional respect that our co-workers share with one another. I can as easily call my fellow ���ϳԹ��� Lifers exceptional employees, as I can call them valued friends. I know that I can find people at work who will support me with a pressing project or client, or who will cook my family dinner for a month while I'm preoccupied with a newborn, and who make me laugh. We care about each other, and we care about what we've created together at ���ϳԹ��� Life.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
We actively support flex-time where it is reasonable and practical to do so, and where operational needs will not be adversely affected. Flextime is a work schedule which allows employees to work hours that are not within our standard 8:30 to 5:30 pm/ M-F. This is available year-round to take advantage of the great Montana landscape. Our office is populated by outdoor enthusiasts from snowboarders and hikers to kayakers and campers.

FITNESS BENEFITS
As an adventure travel company, our travel education benefits almost ensures that our employees will be active and outside on their travels. In addition, we supplement health club membership, and within the company we've developed soccer, volleyball, and softball teams, and support each other outside of work through kayaking classes, nightly lap swims, spinning classes, or weekend camping and/or rafting trips. Some employees take advantage of flextime and take time for an afternoon run—two of our staff members have run the Missoula marathon, and three is in the middle of training for next year's event. The point is, not only do we make it possible for our employees to enjoy Montana's outdoors, the office collectively supports this type of lifestyle.

44. National Outdoor Leadership School

ABOUT
A nonprofit educational organization, NOLS takes people of all ages on real wilderness expeditions to develop leadership, outdoor skills, and environmental ethics. Our graduates have the skills and experience necessary to take others comfortably and responsibly into the backcountry, and to lead competently in the front country. With courses ranging from two weeks to 135 days in length, we teach in the most awe-inspiring wilderness in the world.

COMPANY CULTURE
Nearly every employee is a NOLS graduate having done a course prior to employment or participating on a course after starting his or her career with the school. This common experience and the educational underpinnings of skills, leadership and environmental ethics drive the NOLS mission and values deeply into every facet of the organization. These idealistic young NOLS employees do work that really matters and learn from experience as they did on their NOLS course. Video production, logistics, and publications are just a few of the many areas at NOLS that rely on newly minted NOLS grads fresh off a NOLS internship in leadership roles.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
Employees can schedule their work day such that they can take longer lunch hours to go for a run, bike ride, ski, climb, etc., or come in to work early and leave early to be able to get in a workout.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Employees volunteer on the ambulance, SAR, fire department and in their local schools. Recently, employees worked on a home for Habitat for Humanity and had a full paid day to do so.

GREEN INITIATIVES
Internal policy drives the use of recycled paper for both administrative use and for publications. Our school-wide sustainability initiative sets aggressive goals for reducing our environmental footprint. Supported by our five-year strategic plan, our climate protection goals call for 20-percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2010, 30 percent by 2020, and 80 percent by 2050. The initiative also establishes internal guidance that drives our actions related to water use, waste management, and procurement of everything from paper to electronics to outdoor gear. At our Rocky Mountain facility, close to 40 percent of electricity comes from solar power generated on site. In Tucson, solar energy powers the hot water in our shower facilities. Our Mexico school is off the grid. Our main office in Patagonia is heated with geo-thermal energy. Our Alaska school is powered in part by wind. Our Wyoming headquarters features techniques to maximize natural light and temperature control, including building orientation, sun shades, tinted glass, and a rooftop garden to minimize heat loss and gain. We chose to keep our headquarters in downtown Lander so many employees can walk or ride their bikes to work. We have bike racks outside and a bike storage place inside.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
Formally, we give staff awards, typically two in-town, two faculty and two combination awards (plaque and $225 gift certificate) at our annual fall meeting. In addition, we give those faculty who reach the 400-field-weeks mark a Master in Outdoor Education award, including a pile vest with the words “Master in Outdoor Education” around the NOLS logo. When we exceed our financial goals for the year, employees receive gain-sharing checks.

43. Great Harvest Bread Company

ABOUT
Great Harvest Franchise is devoted to attracting health-conscious, community-focused and entrepreneurial people seeking the freedom of owning and operating their own neighborhood bakery. Owners receive as much or as little support from the franchise office as they like. We're the nation's first freedom franchise. We provide training and support to help bakery owners achieve their goals of creating an enjoyable, life-enhancing lifestyle/career.

COMPANY CULTURE
Great Harvest attracts fun, health-conscious and self-motivated individuals.By far the most unique aspect of our culture is a genuine desire to continually provide the best service and support to bakery owners. Employees are passionate about their respective contribution to the greater good. Humor is very important to our culture, too–we work hard and laugh hard. If something unforeseen happens within the course of our work, we figure out how to correct it and don't let it feel like the end of the world–it's a learning experience and something to laugh about, hopefully sooner rather than later. The culture is also very level and democratic. All employees have a voice and a vested interest in the success of co-workers and bakery owners.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
Employees often negotiate unique hours during peak outdoor activity months, so long as responsibilities are covered.

FITNESS BENEFITS
Showers, bike racks, and dressing rooms are available. Great Harvest pays half of YMCA dues to encourage participation and to financially support the local YMCA. Employees promote observances of national fitness activities. A personal trainer at Great Harvest promotes the local university's annual fitness challenges. Great Harvest is proud to be a sponsor of many outdoor activities/events/competitions that our employees participate in locally. Without our support, some of these activities would not exist.

COMMUNTIY SERVICE
Great Harvest participates with organizations like Habitat for Humanity. Employees who volunteer are paid during the period of the participation. Every quarter, we host a Bake Day fundraiser for a local cause. All proceeds from the Bake Day go directly to the recipient organization. This accounts for approximately $20,000 of donated funds annually from Bake Days. The company also supports various community events every year (approx. $2,000) and is a major supporter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

GREEN INITITATIVES
We continually evaluate our packaging and introduce environmentally friendly offerings for bakery boxes, bags and totes. We support family-owned farmers vs. agro-corporations for whole grains, knowing their practices are environmentally responsible (no GMO). We encourage bakery owners to purchase locally for honey, butter, fruit, produce and add-on products such as jams and dipping oils to reduce our carbon footprint and to support local neighborhood vendors. Our breads are never wasted. Every evening, fresh whole grain bread is donated to shelters nationwide.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
Employees meet weekly and co-workers share stories about excellent job performance. This is a peer-to-peer way to share best practices with the entire company. It raises the bar on job performance. Each week an employee receives $100 if entered into the “Way To Go!” drawing. Employees receive bi-monthly reviews from managers, which contribute to their annual ratings from 1-4, with 1 being the highest. Employees at a “1” receive the highest company bonuses and the highest raises. The bonus and raise allocations are tiered down based on evaluations of 1-4. The company hosts informal parties throughout the year, with the Holiday party being the “big one.” Gifts of appreciation are purchased and given to all employees.

42. G5 Search Marketing

ABOUT
G5 Search Marketing is the leading provider of Local Marketing Solutions that help mid-market companies get discovered online, generate more qualified leads, convert more leads into new customers, analyze marketing performance—including offline—and optimize marketing sources with the best return on investment. G5's Local Marketing Software Applications & Services provide clients with more customers and better business performance.

COMPANY CULTURE
G5 values a work-hard, play-hard, live-life environment, a got-your-back team mentality, the inspiration of ideas, driving positive change within the community and beyond, and a thirst for excellence.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
Employees can leave after 1pm on Fridays during the summer. We have a number of employees hit the mountain at 8am, ski until late morning and come in around lunchtime and work late to make up the missed time. It is very common for our employees take their lunch hour and hike Pilote Butte or go for a runride.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
G5 is invested in the Bend community. We have a relationship with the Ronald McDonald House; three to four of our employees volunteer each month. We have a “Community Participation” program, which recognizes employees who volunteer or participate in community activities. As a company, we are involved in and sponsor multiple community activities throughout the year. Employees are encouraged to participate, and G5 supports and rewards their efforts.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
We inspire our team leaders and co-workers to recognize each other for a job well done and for going the extra mile. We have a “Wheel Spin” during our weekly meetings where employees are awarded a spin and can win prizes such as $100, a coffee gift card, movie ticket, or a day off.

HEATH & WELLNESS
G5 believes in promoting and providing opportunities for all employees to maintain a healthy, happy lifestyle. G5 offers a variety of opportunities and events to support this endeavor, such as employee athletic club memberships at reduced rates, opportunities to participate in commute options (walking, bicycling, carpooling and other alternative forms of transportation), and quarterly incentive programs to promote health and wellness.

41. Ruff Wear

ABOUT
We design and manufacture gear for dogs…which means we get to hang out with them at work. These four-legged “inspirations” serve as product models and testers. And they help provide us with a unique, laid-back culture. On the human side, our executives and directors are available and receptive, and we have an open-flow office space. No one sits in an office—we're all in the same large room in a “pod” atmosphere. There is no hierarchy. Everyone has the same desk set-up and amount of space. This inspires open communication and allows us to work together closely.

COMPANY CULTURE
We design and manufacture gear for dogs. That means we get to work with dogs. We have dogs in office as product models. They come in and get fit in our products. We have an open door policy. Our executives and directors are available and receptive to employees all the time. We have an open flow office space. No one sits in an office. Everyone is in the same room, in a pod atmosphere. There is no hierarchy—everyone has the same desk set up and amount of space.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
We've got lots of creative ways to make our time at work efficient while still allowing for flexibility. Our product development team works four ten-hour days, and our Customer Service team rotates their hours. We offer two “Field Days” a year to our employees in which we have the opportunity to take our dogs and gear into real-life situations (camping, hiking, fishing, etc) to see how the gear works. We then give our product team feedback that helps future product development.

FITNESS BENEFITS
Ruff Wear pays for half of the gym membership for employees who join the gym located next to our headquarters.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Ruff Wear is very involved in the outdoor community. This past summer, all local employees were paid for the day to work in the Badlands, a protected wilderness east of Bend, as part of a Conservation Alliance program to give back to the outdoor community. Ruff Wear contributes financially to the Conservation Alliance through membership dues as well as fundraisers at Outdoor Retailer trade shows.

GREEN INITITATIVES
Many of our products use natural and recycled materials. We offer customers the option of electronic paperwork. We use recycled shipping bags for many of our orders. Our electricity provider uses solar, wind and biomass. Our heating system pulls heat trapped in the ceiling down to our work areas. We are partners with Central Oregon Commute Options. For every 45 car-less roundtrips to work, employees can earn a $20 gift card to participating businesses as well as a match $20 as a thank you from Ruff Wear.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
Ruff Wear has a tiered paid time off program that rewards employees for their longevity. PTO increases after 3, 6, and 10 years. We also like to have fun together with an annual holiday party, two seasonal kick-off parties per year to celebrate the completion of our bi-annual product process cycle, and an annual overnight retreat in the summer. Ruff Wear employees can let their hair down and have some fun while bonding with team members. Awards/special recognition is a major part of all our events.

40. Mindbody

ABOUT
Mindbody is a leading provider of comprehensive on-demand business management software focused on a broad variety of personal-service businesses, including yoga, fitness, wellness, spa, salon, dance, martial arts, children’s centers, music instruction, photography, and boutique retail markets. The web-based software seamlessly ties together the common business requirements of scheduling, account management, CRM, point-of-sale and payment processing, combined with powerful web scheduling marketing, and e-commerce tools.

OFFICE FACILITIES
The work environment, built from the ground up from green materials, is outfitted with comfortable furniture, natural light, and open windows.

FITNESS BENEFITS
The in-office wellness room offers over eight hours of weekly yoga, Pilates, and massage available to employees at reduced or no cost. We are a member of the San Luis Obispo Bike Coalition and 'home office' bikes are available for commuting employees to use on their lunch breaks to run errands or get some exercise. Our office building has bike room storage and men's and women's showers meant to encourage biking and working out on lunch breaks.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
We are a member of the San Luis Obispo Bicycle Coalition and we donate one percent of all start-up fees to one of two charities: YouthAIDS or Trees for the Future. We also have active in-house charity programs that encourage employees to donate goods to troops in Iraq, the local homeless shelter, and the food bank.

GREEN INITIATIVES
In efforts to build green, care was taken during the selection of finished products to acknowledge their environmental impact with regards to the occupants of the space. We also have a Green Laundry program that allows employees to drop their laundry at work. The laundry is washed by a local Green Laundry program and delivered back to the office for a small fee. Local farmers are also encouraged to peddle produce in our corporate office. Landscape irrigation water is from an onsite well that connects to the city's reclaimed water system. Material waste during construction was recycled to achieve 75 percent diversion from the landfill.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
An employee of the month is awarded a $100 bonus. Gifts are given for all employee birthdays and a new program to recognize employee anniversaries is in the works.The company wellness program gives each employee $50 worth of wellness services from local clients each month.

39. Quality Bicycle Products

ABOUT
Quality Bicycle Products (QBP) is a leading distributor in the bicycle industry. With a 28-year track record of growth and profitability, QBP is a high-performance company with the objective of being a world-class business. We have a broad stakeholder base to which we are responsible for delivering results, including our 5,000 customers, 120 vendors, and 400 employees, as well as being advocates for bicycling, our community, and the environment.

COMPANY CULTURE
We have open offices (no doors or walled offices). We teach QBP financials to all employees who attend the High Performance Distribution class. Casual work attire means casual work attire: jeans in the winter; shorts, cut-offs, sandals (except in the warehouse as necessitated by safety) in the summer. We recently surveyed our employees to see how they would describe our culture. The top answers were: green, bike, passion, accepting, employee-oriented, friendly, diverse, community-oriented, minimal-bureaucracy, relaxed, fun, high-performance, and casual.

FITNESS BENEFITS
We are located adjacent to a nature reserve with miles of hiking and biking paths in the summertime, along with cross-country ski trails in winter. We routinely have bicycles on trainers set up for riding, and this past summer we set up a few disc golf baskets on the property as well. We have locker rooms with showers. Employees earn permanent locker space by commuting to work by bike, and there are several lockers left open for daily use. We have a monthly activity scheduled and available to all employees. This year we went kayaking, longboarding, golfing, cross-country skiing, kickboxing, skating, disc golfing, and fishing. We have an on-site massage therapist offering 15-minute massages, plus yoga, meditation, and stretching classes. We also offer classes on a variety of topics, such as cooking, nutrition, winter commuting, and budgeting. Our wellness program organizes monthly events aimed at increasing employee activity. Participation in those events, along with other healthy lifestyle choices, allows employees to save costs through our healthcare provider.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
We rarely pay employees to volunteer, but we match their volunteer time with money to the organization they volunteer with. For each hour the employee volunteers, QBP donates $10 to that organization with a maximum of $400 per employee per year. Additionally, if employees participate in a walk/run/bike fundraiser (like the MS150), QBP will match employee donations up to $500.

GREEN INITIATIVES
We revamped packaging on a number of items to include recycled content for hang-tags or boxes, soy inks, reduction in the size of packaging, etc. We distribute products from more than 120 vendors whom we actively educate on best practices when it comes to packaging. We have a 40 KwH solar array on our roof, which provides us between 4–6 percent of our electricity. The newest part of our distribution center is LEED Gold certified. In addition to solar panels, sustainable features include: native prairie grass; rain gardens and porous pavers; waterless urinals and dual flush toilets; solar tubes; and motion-sensor lighting. Many of the tables and counters are made from renewable or recycled materials such as sunflower, bamboo, or wood.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
All supervisors receive $250 per full-time employee and $125 per part time employee each year to reward and recognize their employees. Often supervisors use this money to give cash bonuses, gift cards (of which they have a multitude of choices), or other rewards including taking their employees out to lunch, giving department employee of the month awards, etc.

38. Peaksware

ABOUT
Peaksware develops software systems to help motivated individuals and professionals achieve health, fitness, and peak performance goals. In addition to the world's leading online training and nutrition log, trainingpeaks.com, Peaksware also produces the desktop products Device Agent and WKO+. The software is compatible with the fitness industry's most popular training devices, from heart rate monitors to power meters and GPS devices.

COMPANY CULTURE
We work with Tour de France podium finishers and their coaches, and the same spirit of competition that drives these athletes and fitness professionals to achieve their best is what motivates Peaksware employees to work hard and create great products.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
Everyone likes to ride and run at lunch together, and it's fine to leave early for a workout and then do more work later. Working from home or on a flexible schedule is fine.

FITNESS BENEFITS
Many companies say they are dedicated to employee health and wellness, but at Peaksware, making tools to promote fitness is what we do. Everyone exercises, eats well, and often competes in Ironman, marathon, century, and other events. All employees are given a membership to the YMCA next door. Free training plans, nutrition plans, coaching advice, training devices, discounted bikes and biking gear, etc.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Company sponsors employee teams who wish to race in fund raising events such as triathlons and marathons.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
Employees who have contributed directly to achievements for the company are praised in meetings and mass emails.

37. Horny Toad

ABOUT
We design, manufacture, market, and sell lifestyle apparel.

OFFICE CULTURE
The open floor plan and casual work space—lounges, Ping Pong, common kitchen and eating areas—along with the added benefit of the location of the office a block from the beach make it an ideal place to go to every day.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
We do not have defined flex-time, but we do encourage informal flexible hours so that employees can go out and enjoy where they live. Employees show up to work with surfboards over briefcases.

FITNESS BENEFITS
Lockers, shower facility, and a location one block to the beach make the office a great jumping off point to walking, running, playing volleyball, or paddling. The back patio offers a basketball court, Ping Pong, and, of course, a unicycle. Also, as an employee, you can go down to the harbor and paddle/kayak for free.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Individuals may volunteer for an organization or cause they believe in with the approval of a supervisor. As a company we organized a monthly creek clean up and are working with our local Creeks Council on restoring native plants to the embankment. We also send Toad volunteers on Search for ���ϳԹ��� (SFA) trips. This is an adventure travel program that takes developmentally disabled adults on real vacations to places like the Appalachian Trail or a Colorado dude ranch. Most volunteer efforts are paid. We also consistently volunteer for the West Side Boys and Girls Club, Direct Relief International, and Santa Barabara Dyslexic and Blind.

GREEN INITIATIVES
We use organic cotton, recycled polyester and eco-friendly cellulosic fibers in our products. We also use recycled metal zippers. We are on a continuous path to increase the use of more sustainable fibers season to season. In our Fall 2010 collection, ninety-nine percent of our products are made with some or all of the fibers mentioned above. Since 2006, Horny Toad has bought Renewable Energy Credits (RECS) from green-E certified wind farms to offset all the energy used in our offices and stores. We also offset daily travel of the Toads, including the road-tripping sales force. Last year we worked with the SB Alt Transportation to create a bike challenge. We also placed bike racks in front of the offices and obtained a company electric bike. In addition, we have made sure all employees have access to bike and sneaker pro deals.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
On a small ship we all need to paddle. Therefore, we do our best to recognize the hard work put forth by every individual. Every month at the All Toad meeting we have three awards given for Above and Beyond, Spirit, and Leadership. During the meeting these recognition awards come as verbal praise. We also have the random 'thank you' awards, which consist of everything from fresh flowers to chocolate to gift certificates for a local eatery. We have found that a little 'thank you' for the hard work goes a long way.

36. Rutabaga

ABOUT
Rutabaga is the largest single-door paddlesports retailer in North America. We offer canoes, kayaks, and paddlesports gear from 150 manufacturers. Our Outdoor Programs puts over 1,000 children and 400 adults on the water every year, and we offer instruction and certification to anyone who wants to learn more about paddling.

COMPANY CULTURE
We have a culture that celebrates the glory of the outdoors, and we love that we work in an industry that has such a profound effect on the quality of one's life. We are a mixture of a democracy and a benevolent dictatorship. Everyone is allowed to give feedback in any area of the business, irrespective of their position; the best ideas often come from people who are not familiar with the intricacies of a process. Because of that, the staff now think strategically rather than tactically when initiating a new process, whether it be an internal business process, like rearranging inventory storage so it's more efficient, or organizing an event, like a local community festival. A lot of the people working here have never been employed before, and we get to teach them the basics (step one – show up and look alert). It's very satisfying to have staff members join when they are young and inexperienced and leave five or six years later to great jobs they've dreamed of, and then call and say they miss us.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
We ask folks to work hard, so it's not too hard to allow them to use flextime, especially as we are a seasonal business. Employees can accumulate up to 80 hours of flextime.

FITNESS BENEFITS
As a paddle sports shop, we get wet a lot. As such, we have a locker room and shower for those who paddle or bike to work. Staff are encouraged to paddle before or after work or on their lunch hour. We keep a full line of staff demo boats that are free for their use.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
We support a vast array of community programs: Big City Mountaineers, Sierra Club Inner City Outings, and a bunch of other community initiatives. Through our scholarship fund, we allow at-risk or underserved populations to participate in our programs. Staff members receive three days to perform community service each year. If they volunteer with Big City Mountaineers to do a canoe trip with at-risk youth, we increase this to five days so they can take the whole week off.

GREEN INITIATIVES
The electricity we use is generated by wind power, and we use bio-diesel in our vehicle fleet when available. We are planning on installing solar panels in 2010. Plus, employees receive $2 for every day they bike or walk to work.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
The big award is the Silver Rutabaga, a lapel pin that one person per year receives for their outstanding leadership. It's a silly little thing but it means a lot to the person who receives it. Other than that, when we catch people doing things right we reward them on a regular basis. The management team has a budget to reward great behavior. It can be cash, gear, trips, whatever—we like to give people stuff they like, not stuff we have.

35. Street Legal Industries

ABOUT
Street Legal Industries, Inc. is a small, woman-owned, HUBZone-certified firm that performs technical support services, including facility representative training and qualification, industrial-safety inspection and oversight support, environmental and waste management, operational readiness, security and management assessments, independent technical oversight support, records management, procedure development, and document control administration. Our professional culture is to support the level of rigor required for the nuclear industry.

COMPANY CULTURE
The company is family-oriented, fostering charitable contributions and encouraging community involvement, with an overall goal of instilling a caring “give back” mentality in this time of economic distress. Management takes a personal vested interest in the employees, operating as a family-entity. We care about the employees and their families.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
Many of our employees exercise a four-day workweek. This enables employees to spend more time with family commitments as well as cut back on fuel and other costs associated with travel. When the kids are out of school, we allow employees to set their own schedules. Whether it is coming in earlier, working from home or working a four-day workweek, we do what we can to accommodate employees so they can enjoy the extra hours of daylight. All employees that are not required to work in the field are equipped with a laptop and remote connections to the server so they can perform job duties at home as required.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
The company sponsors several charity events per year. Participating employees are given equal hours of paid time off to compensate for their participation. We sponsor an annual walk for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, an annual chili cook off to support Second Harvest Food Bank, and annual events for Big Brothers Big Sisters and MDA. Additionally, we financially support several local schools, little league teams, Toys for Tots, outreach programs that reach out to poverty stricken areas, the Battered Women's Shelter and the annual Angel Tree program at Christmas. The company also participates in a large number of community activities such as charitable events to foster employee involvement and contribution in the community.

34. Realeflow

ABOUT
Realeflow is one of the fastest growing and most profitable companies in the country. It provides a web based software solution called Open Road3, which gives real-estate investors and agents the ability to manage their entire business online. In addition, Realeflow provides online lead generation products and services. Greg Clement, the founder and President of Realeflow, is one of the top Internet marketers in the country and also offers top-level internet marketing courses such as SIMS (Smart Internet Marketing Solution) and Quantum Internet Mastery.

COMPANY CULTURE
Realeflow focuses on working hard and playing hard. Each employee is challenged daily and knows that they have high expectations to meet. To counteract the stress that may come from daily challenges and high expectations, employees are highly encouraged to use the big-screen TV and Wii and Playstation 3 game consoles that reside in the living-room area in our offices. Employees will often take a break and play a video game, or the office will order lunch and everyone will eat together in the living room and play video games or chit chat. Office pranks, like hiding the COO's cell phone in the ceiling above his office, also make our work environment fun.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
During summer hours, Realeflow gives all employees Friday afternoon off if there is no urgent special project. Realeflow focuses on Free Days, Focus Days, and Buffer Days. Focus Days are when you focus on certain projects. Buffer Days are days to get things in order, to catch up on emails, and to decide how to best attack projects. Free days are days where we do not think about work—if even one email is answered on a free day, then it is no longer a free day. We are encouraged to have two free days per week to rejuvenate. Our company is also very good at portraying the belief that family comes first. No one is ever discouraged from taking a day off if it's related to family.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Realeflow has always supported the Salvation Army's Adopt a Family Program during the holidays by adopting multiple families and providing them with Christmas gifts and food for the entire family. Realeflow also supports the Special Olympics. In addition, Realeflow is heavily involved with Remarkable Youth, which is an initiative to instill confidence in children through nurturing their gift of sharing and giving back to the world.

GREEN INITIATIVES
Realeflow uses projectgreenlife.net to promote remodeling homes in an environmentally-friendly way in order to preserve our forests, cut down on landfill waste, reduce carbon emissions, and reduce global warming. Carpoolers enjoy flexible work hours so they can drive home together.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
Each year Realeflow takes its employees on an all-expenses-paid trip. In 2009 Realeflow took all of its employees on a four-day cruise to the Bahamas in appreciation for their hard work. Employees are also recognized during office meetings for exceptional work. Realeflow has a family picnic to the local amusement park each year and families are encouraged to attend. Employees can use the day however they wish—spending time with other employees and their families or going off on their own. Realeflow also has a holiday party each year to celebrate the winter holidays, at which time all employees are again recognized for their hard work throughout the year.

33. Peal Izumi

ABOUT
Pearl Izumi is dedicated to meeting the needs of the serious sport enthusiast. We design and develop cycling and running apparel and footwear.

COMPANY CULTURE
We live to play—from the president who raced on the German National TT Team to an analyst who climbs 22,00-foot peaks to the paralegal who has run 23 marathons. We are one big family, and to us, outdoor activities are everything.

FITNESS BENEFITS
We have a large gym with over 40 pieces of workout equipment, as well as treadmills and elliptical machines, plus locker-room facilities. The gym is open to employees and their families seven days a week. We bring in fitness instructors and yoga instructors and offer general wellness education programs for all employees. We also work with a local gym to extend a discount on memberships to our employees in case they want to workout outside of the office here.

GREEN INITIATIVES
We have a variety of practices, from having our factories use recycled poly bags to making sure that most of them are EcoTex compliant. We also use polyester in some of our apparel and recycled post-consumer cardboard in our packaging materials and workbooks. And we have a commuter mileage program where all employees can get money per mile commuted via walking, biking, running, carpooling, etc., which is good towards purchase on our products.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
We have an “on the spot” award program where you can nominate an employee for doing something that is above and beyond what their normal duties require. With the award, they can get a prize that ranges from cash to gift cards to pizza parties for their department, etc.

32. LiveStrong

ABOUT
At LiveStrong, we inspire and empower people affected by cancer. We provide the information and tools people with cancer need to live life on their own terms. We unite people to fight cancer and pursue an agenda focused on prevention, access to screening and care, improvement of the quality of life for cancer survivors and investment in research. Founded by cancer survivor and cyclist Lance Armstrong, LiveStrong is a 501(c)(3) organization.

COMPANY CULTURE
LiveStrong encourages employees to engage in internal grassroots activism and form committees within the organization. By getting involved in a committee, employees are given the freedom to voice their opinions and get involved in something they are passionate about. LiveStrong currently has four committees within the organization–each plays a vital role in defining the LiveStrong culture. The social committee, for example, schedules monthly happy hours, company picnics, holiday parties, or fun team-building activities, such as a “Photo Scavenger Hunt” in downtown Austin, hosted by a local favorite, the Alamo Drafthouse movie theater.

OFFICE FACILITIES
We have a 1,142-square ft. fitness center outfitted with a Nike Regrind floor and equipped with custom-made fitness machines and equipment provided to LiveStrong at no cost through our partnership with Johnson Health Tech. Many of our staff are bike commuters, so in addition to bike racks, we provide showers and lockers.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
We are a results-oriented workplace and we trust employees to make the right choices to balance work and personal lives. We do not accrue or limit employees' paid time off. So long as an employee is meeting his/her goals and expectations, he/she has unlimited time for outdoor pursuits, fitness training, LiveStrong events, vacation, family events, parent-teacher conferences, personal pursuits and sick time.

FITNESS BENEFITS
We provide weekly yoga classes in our fitness center at no cost to staff. Two days a week, Train for the Game comes on site to teach fitness classes after work hours. We also provide quarterly nutritional education sessions with a Whole Foods' resident nutritionist. We provide acupuncture, massage therapy and meditation. We offer complimentary registration to our team for all LiveStrong-sponsored events: 5Ks, 10Ks, half-marathons, marathons, cycling, triathlons, etc.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Employees participate on a regular basis in Habitat for Humanity and Meals on Wheels. Last year, we sent the whole organization to New Orleans to build a house for Habitat.

GREEN INITIATIVES
For our educational resources and materials, LiveStrong uses FSC-certified paper and an eco-conscious printer whenever possible (this translates to 99.9 percent of our printed pieces). We subscribe to Austin Energy's “GreenChoice” program. Austin Energy also receives electricity from several solar installations and three landfill gas projects in Austin and San Antonio. Our HQ is on target= to receive the Gold Rating by the LEED Program and a four-star rating by the Austin Energy Green Building Program. Ninety-five percent of the building materials were reused or recycled.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
We have a staff-driven Recognition Committee that leads initiatives such as the “Yellow Jersey Recognition Program,” which allows staff to nominate fellow employees who have gone above and beyond. The quarterly winner is recognized and rewarded, and congratulated by the CEO at an all-staff meeting. From larger quarterly awards to everyday peer-to-peer recognition, our staff and executive team recognize our dedicated staff at all levels. We recognize birthdays and work anniversaries monthly, and continually look at years-of-service and other initiatives to improve and recognize success in consistent and innovative ways. We plan various parties, events and social gatherings to show our appreciation of our employees' efforts throughout the year.

31. Timberland

ABOUT

Timberland is a global leader in the design, engineering and marketing of premium-quality rugged, outdoor-tested, environmentally-conscious gear for men, women and kids who value the outdoors and their time in it. Timberland product is sold in nearly 90 countries around the world under the following brand names: Timberland, Timberland PRO, SmartWool, Timberland Boot Company, howies, and iPATH.

FLEXIBLE HOURS

Timberland has Friday-flex which was implemented in 1997 when a new summer work schedule was announced. Employees could leave work at 3:00 on Fridays. When Labor Day rolled around no one wanted to give up Friday Flex so the program was extended year round. Employees may also request a compressed workweek, which is any full-time work week that does not fall under the standard five-day workweek. For example a schedule that condenses a standard workweek into fewer but longer days.

FITNESS BENEFITS
The Timberland Fitness Center is a full service, on-site gym with locker room and shower facilities. There is no charge to use the center, and it is available to employees before, during and after work. Currently we provide Yoga class after work in which employees share the cost for the instructor. Total Balanced Life (TBL) is a multi-dimensional lifestyle program designed to educate and assist employees in improving their lifestyles and those they care about. The program focuses on health, wellness, nutrition, parenting, physical fitness, mental health and finances. Through our insurance program our employees are reimbursed $150 a year if they join a fitness center. Being an outdoor company we support outdoor recreation by providing canoes, kayaks and snowshoes on loan.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
The Path of Service program provides employees with 40 hours of paid time off annually for community service. We sponsor two global service days, Earth Day and Serv-a-palooza, which focus on Community Greening projects. We have a sabbatical program for qualifying employees to serve with a non-profit for up to six months. We sponsor a Dig It campaign that improves communities through tree-planting events.

GREEN INITIATIVES
Headquarters is under renovation to achieve LEED certification. All our distribution centers receive the majority of their energy from renewable sources. In addition we have renewable energy installations at our headquarters and at our manufacturing facility in the Dominican Republic. Currently, over 12 percent of our global energy comes from renewable sources. Timberland provides special parking spaces for employees who carpool, bike to work and drive hybrids. We use recycled plastics in our footwear, such as PET linings and laces and recycled rubber outsoles. With the launch of our Design for Disassembly (DFD) line this fall, we will be using materials we've recycled from our old shoes to make new shoes. One of the largest environmental impacts footwear manufacturing has is the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). We were a pioneer in the development of low-VOC, water-based alternatives.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
Our many employee awards include the Summit Award, recognizing co-workers who exemplify our Core Values, the Yellow Boot Award, recognizing employees at milestone years of employment beginning at five years, and the Carden Welsh Environmental Excellence Award, recognizing individuals whose actions lead to a sustainable improvement in the company's environmental footprint.

30. Patagonia

ABOUT
Patagonia is a designer, distributor, and retailer of high-quality, technical outdoor clothing, lifestyle clothing, and travel gear for men, women, and kids. Our primary industry focus is the specialty outdoor market and our customers are outdoor enthusiasts. We use environmentally preferred fabrics—such as recycled polyester, organic cotton, hemp, and organic wool—and seek to serve as a model of sound environmental and business practices.

COMPANY CULTURE
Patagonia's Mission Statement and Core Values are the foundation of the company's organizational success and cultural uniqueness. Every business decision is based on these critical building blocks. Our mission statement, coupled with our core values (Quality, Integrity, Environmentalism, Not Bound by Convention) has led to Patagonia's success and position of leadership within the global business community. The culture promotes a sense of “we're all in it together.” Patagonia's company HQ has visible evidence of an uncommon company culture supported by its employees, be it the rack to store personal surfboards by the building's back door, the annual Halloween parade where company operations are suspended while children from the Child Development Center Trick-or-Treat throughout the campus, or the publication by employees of a weekly “Green Tips” e-mail created to help everyone reduce their environmental footprint, both at work and at home. Patagonia's unique culture fosters employees to celebrate all the roles they have in their lives, be it as a parent, a community organizer, an athlete, or an activist. This is not a workplace where one has to shed those responsibilities when walking through the front door. Rather, those attributes are celebrated and respected by the culture.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
Patagonia staff are encouraged to visit their children during the workday, take a longer lunch break if the surf is good, or come in later in the morning after a hike or backcountry skiing, knowing they'll put in extra hours later. Being able to pursue physical activities during the day, or pop out for a cuddle with an infant child, works wonders for managing stress. Patagonia offers flex time, compressed work weeks, telecommuting, and job sharing to employees when needed. Patagonia offers flexible work schedules because employees cannot schedule when good surf or powder days happen, but can trust their employees to figure out a schedule that allows them to play, get their work done, and take care of themselves and their families.

FITNESS BENEFITS
Patagonia has yoga, Pilates, and aerobic classes during the work day for employees at no cost. Employees are encouraged to take their lunches and leave work on time to enjoy outdoor activities like riding bikes, walking, running and skiing. Patagonia works with local climbing gyms, fitness centers, and ski areas to provide reduced membership discounts for employees. We provide basketball, sand volleyball, and access to local trails in Ventura and Reno. Employees who walk, bike, or carpool to work at least three times per week earn credits to purchase Patagonia products at employee only sales.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Employees have the opportunity to take a fully paid leave of up to two months to work full- or part-time for a nonprofit environmental group of their choice. Patagonia matches dollar for dollar employee donations to any nonprofit charitable organization of their choice. Patagonia co-founded 1% for the Planet, a nonprofit organization that donates one percent of sales to environmental organizations of their choice. Patagonia co-founded The Conservation Alliance and has an Environmental Grants program. Patagonia and our employees donate food, toys, clothing, coats and volunteer time for local communities.

GREEN INITIATIVES
In keeping with our mission statement—”build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm”—we're getting closer to our goal of 100 percent recycled content by 2010. Eighty-three percent of Patagonia's apparel styles are recyclable through our Common Threads Recycling program and 65 percent of all styles are made with at least 35 percent environmentally-conscious fibers. We've only used 100 percent organic cotton since 1996. The Ventura HQ has a 66kw solar installation and our Reno facility has a 20kw solar array. The Reno warehouse is 75 percent illuminated by daylight using mirrored skylights, and is cooled with night mountain air. Ventura HQ uses wind energy purchased through Renewable Energy Credits and Reno purchases REC's from Bonneville Environmental Foundation. Patagonia works with architects that specialize in sustainable design and we choose to use existing buildings and renovate rather than build new buildings when opening new stores. When renovating, we use zero VOC paints, reclaimed or FSC certified wood, and reduced energy and water saving technologies where available.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
Individual efforts of our employees are acknowledged in a variety of ways. Some examples include gift certificates for meals or travel, departmental or company-wide parties, and public recognition at company meetings. We award $1,000 after ten years of employment, and $2,500 after 20 years, and we have parties to celebrate these anniversaries. Last year, nine 20-year anniversaries and twenty-three 10-year anniversaries were celebrated throughout the company.

29. Aspen Skiing Company

ABOUT
With lodging properties, restaurants, retail shops and four world class mountains nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains—Snowmass, Aspen, Buttermilk, and Aspen Highlands—Aspen Skiing Company (ASC) operates some of the world's premier winter sports destinations. For over 60 years, ASC has welcomed millions of skiers and snowboarders from around the world. ASC is values-driven, owned and operated by people who share a common appreciation and respect for each other and for the pristine environment in which we live.

COMPANY CULTURE
Quite simply, employees of Aspen Skiing Company sincerely embrace and are inspired by the simplicity and power of our Guiding Principles. Written by and for our employees, our Guiding Principles influence both day-to-day and strategic decisions. No matter where our employees work (our four world-class mountains, our AAA Five Diamond and Mobil Five Star resort, or our residence club), the employees of ASC uphold a culture that fosters trust and rewards excellence while at the same time remaining responsible stewards of our pristine mountain environment.

OFFICE FACILITIES
On-site locker/shower facilities are available to ease the transition from outdoor recreation to work. Throughout all ASC business units, commuter bicycles are provided for those who need to run a short errand, or simply for day use.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
During the summer months, departments may engage in numerous actions that encourage our employees to enjoy the great outdoors. Shifting to a condensed or flexible workweek, extending lunch breaks, on-mountain meetings and hikes are a few examples of our message to employees to enjoy the outdoors while balancing their workload.

FITNESS BENEFITS
ASC offers reduced membership fees at a number of our on-site fitness centers. ASC, however, considers and promotes the “Great Outdoors” as the best resource for optimal fitness routines. Bike and helmets are available for use after hours, weekends, during lunch, or meetings. Skis, snowboards, wrist top computers including heart rate monitors and geocaching equipment are available for employees. Stability balls are an alternative option to desk chairs. On-site offerings include monthly health awareness campaigns, an ASC-sponsored Health Fair, and conditioning and yoga classes.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Each year a volunteer group of paid employees support numerous environmental clean-up projects across the Roaring Fork Valley. Senior staff and salaried managers are encouraged to actively participate in our community, serving on boards as diverse as the Aspen Buddy Program, Roaring Fork Valley Community Health Plan and Roaring Fork Leadership. ASC gifts $1.4 million annually to hundreds of local non-profits. Community service initiatives include an ASC-sponsored community-wide Health Fair. All ASC employees are encouraged to volunteer their time in various community service programs.

GREEN INITIATIVES
ASC purchases in excess of 200 tons of green office supplies and earth-friendly disposables, such as Greenseal-certified and EPA-compliant facial tissue, paper towels, napkins and toilet paper containing significant recycled fiber. Buildings built or remodeled utilize recycled carpet or rubber products and seek to divert all waste to productive uses. Vehicle shops utilize waste-oil heaters to dispose of used oil and recycle anti-freeze. ASC created the industry's first green building protocol and built one of the first LEED-certified buildings in the world, the Sundeck at Aspen Mountain. ASC now has four LEED buildings in the ski industry, and is working on more. Employees who regularly ride their bikes to work are recognized and rewarded.

28. Keen

ABOUT

Keen, Inc., manufacturer of hybrid footwear, socks and bags, is an outdoor brand that delivers innovative hybrid products, enabling all outdoor enthusiasts to live an active lifestyle. The company strives to demonstrate integrity and leadership, especially on social and environmental commitments, while promoting an inclusive outdoors community.

COMPANY CULTURE
It's one of the few places to work where your personal values of creating, playing, and caring for people and the planet and the company's philosophy are one in the same. Keen continues to take a fresh and progressive approach to business, work and the work environment, which helps create its culture. Here are just a few of the most unique aspects of Keen: random acts of Keenness (the company randomly does something good for someone or something in the community or the world); Friday bagel breakfast (every Friday in the great room); Keen sun days (closing early to enjoy the sun!); kids and dogs welcome in the workplace (when other care options aren't available).

We also have the Hybrid Learning Lounge (a new multi-media employee training and development environment); the Keen living room (the hub of the workplace for community and communication with ping-pong, foosball, disc golf, Wii, and movies); Keen jam band (impromptu jam sessions by Keen CEO and employees with Keen musical instruments); and Keen Ambassador visits (Bobby Kennedy, Alison Gannett, etc.) to discuss pressing social or environmental issues with employees.

OFFICE FACILITIES
Our new headquarters features the Hybrid Learning Lounge and the Keen living room. We provide locker room and shower facilities to promote employee commuting to work as well as fitness during the workday. We provide bikes to employees to ride during the lunch hour, after hours or to daytime appointments. Bike racks are also available in multiple locations at the office.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
Every summer, from Memorial Day through Labor Day, Keen officially closes the office at 3:00 for “Hybrid Fridays.” Most jobs at Keen also provide the opportunity for employees to work flexible hours within a given day.

FITNESS BENEFITS
Keen encourages its consumers and its employees to “play outdoors.” Employees are given the choice of a half-hour or an hour lunchtime to allow for exercise during lunch. For those who prefer a gym, Keen “buys down” the cost of a local gym (within a block from the office). We also offer deep Keen product discounts and discount “hook-ups” with other outdoor or athletic companies so employees can purchase the gear they need to be active at a very reasonable price.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Keen provides 32 hours per year of “service leave” to employees. During this time they may volunteer for a non-profit or community organization of their choice. We provide dollar-for-dollar charitable gift matching, offer regular opportunities to participate in company-sponsored community service projects during working hours, and make the office space and employee time available to non-profits in the community. We provide close to one percent of our profits annually to a variety of non-profits, community groups and volunteers around the world.

GREEN INITIATIVES
Every Keen product has a re-purpose or recycle feature. We re-grind rubber to reuse in soles, collect fabric scraps off of the production facility floor to make bags, and recycle bike tubes to make sandals. Our “green” manufacturing processes focus on several initiatives, including reducing and eliminating materials that contain toxins. Keen is purchasing renewable energy certificates (RECs) certified by Green-e to offset 100 percent of the electricity used at our headquarters in Portland, Oregon. Our purchase of Bonneville Environmental Foundation's RECs is supporting the production of renewable energy across the U.S., which includes wind, solar, geothermal, hydro and biomass renewable energy sources. We pulled timber out of the Columbia River to make tables and desks and used soy-based foam and recycled textiles to make office furniture. We also use low-VOC paints and carpets, natural finishes and repurposed materials when renovating. Keen offers every employee the opportunity to choose between a free annual all-zone, all-mode public transportation pass ($900 value) in lieu of semi-subsidized monthly parking.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
We recognize and reward our employees on many different levels. This includes saying “thank you” for their efforts every week by providing them with breakfast on Friday, saying congratulations with a party at the birth of a first child, publicly acknowledging individual efforts and contributions at all-company meetings, and hosting annual summer and holiday parties for employees and their loved ones. We use “Random Acts of Keenness” to show our gratitude to our employees. This may be “disc golfing for dollars” in the great room for employees to earn money for a charity of their choice, or the CEO and the Keen jam band serenading newlyweds.

27. River Design Group

ABOUT
River Design Group is a private consulting firm specializing in river, stream and wetland restoration projects in the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West states. To effectively address the interdisciplinary nature of these projects, our staff includes hydraulic engineers, fluvial geomorphologists, hydrologists, biologists, surveyors, and geographic information specialists. In addition to restoration work, our services extend to river surveys, geomorphic assessment, watershed assessment, dam removal, and fish passage.

COMPANY CULTURE
Our culture and our people are focused on conserving and restoring natural resources. All of our employees enjoy river-based activities and outdoor adventures that connect our company with the natural environment.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
We have an informal overtime policy so that employees can take time off when they exceed 40 hours a week. Our projects include both office work and field work. We strive to balance these efforts to maintain employee morale. Employees who work over 40 hrs a week or have been on the road for work are granted flex time in the summer. Employees are also given flex time during the winter ski season when RDG's workload is less frenetic.

FITNESS BENEFITS
RDG recognizes and encourages the pursuit of healthy lifestyles by all employees and shareholders. RDG pays for enrollment fees and 50 percent of the health club membership fee. If the employee elects to participate in the health club membership, he/she is responsible for the remaining 50 percent.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
We typically support local community groups, including Corvallis little league baseball (team sponsor), Whitefish adult softball, Glacier Cycling competitive adult biking team, historical Conrad Mansion preservation, Whitefish Children's House Montessori, O'Shaughnessy Performing Arts Center, Whitefish Lake Institute, Whitefish Rotary, and the Whitefish High School Science Program.

GREEN INITIATIVES
We use recycled paper products. Our Corvallis, Oregon office is enrolled in the Blue Sky wind power program with Pacific Power. We remodeled an old building for our Corvallis, Oregon office. The remodeling included installation of fluorescent lights and a new HVAC system with a smart thermostat and high efficiency heat pump. We replaced the windows in our Montana office with double paned insulated windows in 2009. An energy efficient AC system was also installed.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
As a small company, we rely on the excellent work of our employees to remain competitive in our field. We reward our employees with semi-annual bonuses.

26. Pacific Market International

ABOUT
Pacific Market International manufactures, markets and designs innovative food and beverage solutions for busy lifestyles across the globe. PMI's two most recognizable brands, Stanley and Aladdin, are both nearly 100 years old. Guided by principles of sustainability, community and integrity, PMI has extended these beloved brands into the future while remaining rooted in their past.

COMPANY CULTURE
PMI has seen a lot of changes in 25 years of business. What hasn't changed is our distinct company culture based on the belief that every individual matters and has something unique to contribute. We're committed to engaging, educating and empowering each other, and it's evident as soon as you step through our doors. Our company purpose is made up of four principles: Innovate, collaborate, serve, and succeed.

OFFICE FACILITIES
We have an on-site shower room with storage so when employees bike to work or work out during the day they have some place to shower and change. We also have a dedicated bike room with racks for bike commuters to store their bikes safely.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
The typical workweek is 45 hoursweek. While there are core hours, PMI provides a flexible work schedule to enable employees to workout and/or attend other activities between 9-6 as needed.

FITNESS BENEFITS
The company pays the initiation fee at one local health and fitness club and the club offers employees a discounted monthly membership fee. This is paid for by the company and deducted from the employees paycheck. We have an annual month-long Health & Fitness Challenge that includes a health fair, healthy living lunch seminars, and exercise groups.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
PMI has a longstanding tradition of supporting local, national and international non-profit corporations focusing on children, education and environment. We carefully assess opportunities by collecting information and considering the merit and impact of the organization and then take a company-wide vote. Not only do we give resources, we also volunteer time. All of our employees, from the newest team member to the CEO, are personally involved with our philanthropic activities. We encourage and expect all employees to volunteer at least one day per year and offer one day of paid leave per year. We have lots of organized volunteer opportunities each year.

GREEN INITIATIVES
Our goal is to offer our partners and customers sustainable products from sustainable factories via sustainable offices. This is evident in our Aladdin Sustain products made with eCycle, a proprietary mix of recycled plastic made from 100-percent recycled materials with 25-percent post-consumer content. It's also recyclable where [5] plastic is collected. Since '08 we've recycled 2,229,110 lbs of unwanted plastic into new eCycle products. Our factories and supply chains meet or exceed standards for waste reduction, reclaiming energy, recycling water, environmental management, labor laws and international certifications. Many of our factories have been certified (ISO 14001) and conform to international standards, and we require our partner factories to implement Environmental Management Systems.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
Each month at our staff meetings we “ring the bell” for employees who have gone above and beyond their regular job responsibilities. All employees are free to nominate anyone in the company. We give out quarterly Thumbs Up Awards. The winners are posted on a plaque that forever hangs in our hallway. Each winner also receives a monetary reward. We have bi-annual entrepreneur awards and annual Entrepreneur of the Year awards, as well as 10, 15, and 20-year service awards. We have a weekly company sponsored golf group and monthly night ski group.

25. Wilderness ���ϳԹ��� at Eagles Landing

ABOUT
We're a year-round adventure center offering tailored adventures for anyone. The 500-acre base camp has three lodges. Amenities include a sauna and full-service gourmet kitchen with meals prepared on request. There are one-to-four-week summer courses for kids eight to 18. Or, you can create a custom adventure for any size group. Activities include climbing, kayaking, canoeing, mountain biking, caving, ropes course, climbing wall, 900-foot zip line, and more.

COMPANY CULTURE
We all live, work, and play together. There's a family dynamic. Many of the staff form bonds and friendships that they keep for a lifetime. Over 17 couples have formed and eventually married. We work hard and we play harder. On any given day there is some activity going on, whether it's a trip to go bouldering, a mountain bike excursion, or just a rainy day movie marathon in our staff lounge.

OFFICE FACILITIES
There is a gym in the basement of the main lodge and employees are encouraged to take 30 minutes of personal exercise time every day at the end of their workday. We have kayaks, mountain bikes, hiking trails and much more available.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
We encourage all staff to take weekly and daily time off to pursue things they enjoy. Ninety-five percent of the staff live and work here at Wilderness ���ϳԹ���. We encourage staff to get out and become part of the outside community in Roanoke or Newcastle. We sponsor time off for staff to try something new that will benefit them. All employees can take off 30 minutes early daily to pursue any outdoor activity they wish.

FITNESS BENEFITS
We provide gear or equipment for new employees to try new outdoor sports or activities. Two of our facilities have small fitness centers on site. Most of these facilities also offer on-site access to outdoor sports facilities, such as volleyball and basketball courts, soccer fields, and walking trails. Many of our plants have on-site showers. Adjacent to one of our sites we have a recreation area that includes a volleyball court, softball field, running and hiking trails.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Employees are responsible for their work and can arrange their work week to fit outside events and volunteer programs into their schedule. We support many local organizations and provide entertainment and educational classes to organizations that wish to use us.

GREEN INITIATIVES
Ninety-five percent of our staff lives on base camp and walks to work every day.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
All staff, from directors to cooks, share all tips that are given to the company. We also use portions of tip funds and company-sponsored money to hold events for all staff, whether it be renting boats for a long weekend and treating the staff to meals or planning trips to the National Whitewater Center. We also take trips to The New River Gorge for climbing. On occasion we do something as simple as getting ice cream.

24. Redspin

ABOUT
Redspin delivers the independent Information Security Assessments through technical expertise, business acumen, and objectivity. Redspin customers include leading companies in the industries of healthcare, financial services, hotels, casinos and resorts, as well as retailers and technology providers. Some of the largest communications providers and commercial banks rely upon Redspin to provide effective technical solutions tailored to their business context, allowing them to reduce risk, maintain compliance and increase the value of their business unit and IT portfolios.

COMPANY CULTURE
Our culture is that of work hard and play hard. While our clients don't see us at play, our work product indicates how the two go hand-in-hand.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
We live and work in Central California, so our summer is all year round. Our employees' working hours are flexible to reflect that—no punching a clock.

FITNESS BENEFITS
Redspin provides space for working out on-site and around the office. On-site, Redspin offers bikes, surfboards, paddleboards, Swiss balls, etc. The biggest incentive is our at-your-service, company-paid personal trainer. One of the sessions is before work and one is at lunch. Both sessions are held within biking distance of work. Office space for bikes and boards is an incentive as well. We take time to play beach volleyball.

23. Chesapeake Energy Corporation

ABOUT
Chesapeake Energy is one of the largest producers of natural gas in the nation. With approximately 8,500 employees and an enterprise value of approximately $30 billion, Chesapeake intends to continue leading the industry in developing greater supplies of U.S. natural gas.

OFFICE FACILITIES
Chesapeake has four on-site restaurants that serve gourmet meals at discount prices, subsidizing almost $2.00 per employee. Healthy food options are priced even lower. We also supply every break room with healthy snacks, which include: wheat crackers, low fat peanut butter, popcorn, and fruit cups. We also provide the following beverages: coffee, hot chocolate, tea, bottled water, and a variety of Crystal Light, Propel, and Gatorade drink mixes.

FITNESS BENEFITS
Chesapeake offers a 72,0000-square-foot Fitness Center at our corporate headquarters with two complete cardio rooms, two strength and conditioning rooms, an Olympic-size swimming pool, a rock climbing wall, one full-size basketball court, one half-size basketball court, an outdoor sand volleyball court, three racquetball/squash courts, an outdoor walking track, an interactive arcade, and three large group exercise rooms. We support and encourage all employees to live active lifestyles by offering recreation leagues, tournaments, and community running/cycling events by covering all team expenses and entrance fees. In addition, our Fitness Center offers hundreds of classes each year. Unique examples include: skydiving, flight certification, scuba diving, art class, Tai Chi, meditation, martial arts, pilates, boot camp, sailing, golf, archery, rowing, kayaking, fencing, and dance classes.

Employees can earn up to $1,500 per year through our Living Well program. Employees can earn $300 by participating in activities, $300 for taking a comprehensive health screening, $300 for exercising at least three days per week, $500 for maintaining a healthy weight, and a $100 bonus for completing all four.

22. Nau

ABOUT
We design, manufacture, market and sell sustainable urban and outdoor apparel.

COMPANY CULTURE
We're a small team. We spend a lot of time together, always talking, testing things out, sketching, asking, heckling, critiquing, and revising. It usually gets too loud. We work hard. We play hard. We like to go outside. A lot of us ride bikes. We also ski, snowboard, climb, surf, run, make music, see music, take pictures, grow food, eat food, stay out late, have families, and have dogs who clack around and sleep at our feet. Collectively, we go through a lot of prosecco, dark chocolate, and beer. And we keep coming back to our Portland office, early in the mornings, until pretty late at night, because we're stuck on an idea: to redesign fashion and to redefine business so that each become a powerful force for change.

OFFICE FACILITIES
We have bike racks and a shower at work to encourage bike commuting and exercise.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
Nau's work/life balance is supported by the culture and location of the office in a fun, urban, hip area. Due to a flexible culture, employees will skip out to go run or walk at various times of the day or maybe even take some time and ski/board up in the mountains. The starting or ending times for work is earlier for some and later for others, depending on the choices the employee makes in order to accommodate family and exercise needs.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Individuals may volunteer for an organization or cause they believe in with the approval of a supervisor. As a company we send volunteers on Search for ���ϳԹ��� (SFA) trips. This is an adventure travel program that takes developmentally disabled adults on vacations to places like the Appalachian Trail or a Colorado dude ranch. Most volunteer efforts are paid, some opportunities are monthly and some occur periodically throughout the year. We provide financial support to community partner organizations working to create lasting, positive solutions to some of our planet's most compelling environmental, social and humanitarian problems. Two percent of all sales go to Mercy Corp, Kiva, EcoTrust, Ashoka, and the Breakthrough Institute.

GREEN INITIATIVES
We use natural, renewable fibers produced in a sustainable manner, synthetic fabrics that contain high recycled content, and managed toxics in all product finishes and dyes. We have a closed loop system where all our products can be recycled after their useful life. We use salvaged and recycled materials for our retail fixtures. We take an extraordinarily considered approach to product design and development. We're not satisfied to just buy a roll of “sustainable” fabric and make a garment in the same old way. When we look at the materials, we ask ourselves a number of questions from how and where the fiber was produced (goal: no virgin petroleum products), how close is the mill, to are there any dyes used on our restricted substance list? Each of these questions has a significant effect on how we approach the design and manufacturing process. We also purchase carbon offsets. We use re-usable packaging and ship product to customers in post-consumer recycled or FSC-certified materials.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
As a small team we do our best to recognize hard work. Every month at the company meetings we have three awards given (we can all make suggestions before the meeting as to who should be awarded). We recognize for “Above and Beyond,” “Spirit,” and “Leadership.” This comes as verbal praise. However, we all have the random 'thank you' awards which consist of everything from fresh flowers and chocolate to gift certificates for a local eatery.

21. Max Borges Agency

ABOUT
The Max Borges Agency is the nation's leading technology-focused public relations firm. In addition to public relations, the agency performs various other marketing and social media marketing services. We've changed the industry standard to provide our clients full transparency and measurable results. In a nutshell, we generate press. Tons of it.

FITNESS BENEFITS
Each employee is given $100 on a yearly basis to enter any races of their choosing.

GREEN INITIATIVES
All of our client reporting is done electronically and via teleconference. We do very little traveling for client meetings.

20. NatureBridge

ABOUT
NatureBridge educates the next generation to respect the natural world, understand the scientific principles that govern it, and preserve it for future generations. Our mission is to inspire personal connections to the natural world and responsible actions to sustain it. In partnership with the National Park Service, our four campuses in Yosemite National Park, Olympic National Park, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area provide residential field science education for grades K-12, youth leadership, and teacher training programs to over 40,000 participants each year.

COMPANY CULTURE
NatureBridge is extremely mission-driven: to educate the next generation of environmental stewards. This makes us a very tight-knit community, even though we are spread out between four campuses and a national office. We are a team in every sense of the word. NatureBridge involves the staff in the decision-making of the organization. The lack of significant hierarchy makes exposure to Board Members or Senior Staff easy. A job at a NatureBridge campus allows you to live and work in a National Park. You can't beat that.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
Employees are eligible to apply for a sabbatical of up to three months after seven years of continuous employment. New full-time campus and national office staff will accrue 17 vacation days and have a separate sick time from the day of hire. Flexible work schedules are available to accommodate family needs or personal time.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Stewardship of the natural environment is a core element of our program. We participate in local Clean-up Projects. We wash pots for the Native Plant Nursery to reuse. We pick up bags of garbage from our beaches and trails and compost buckets of food waste in an effort to lessen our impact in landfills. We also clear many square meters of exotic, invasive plants from the parks.

GREEN INITIATIVES
At one campus, we use hydroelectric power; another campus uses solar in a number of buildings. All of our campuses are based in historic buildings for classic reuse. When possible we upgrade facilities with low flush toilets, solar power, CFL lighting, programmable thermostats, insulation, recycled carpet and flooring and VOC paint. We recently built a straw-bale house for new staff housing at Yosemite Institute. We encourage employees to use pre-tax dollars with a transportation benefit. National staff also have access to City Car Share cars for meetings off site so they don't have to drive into San Francisco when they have meetings, and can rent a City Car Share hybrid instead.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
The Bishop-Marcus Award of $1,000–3,000 is awarded annually and provides opportunities for staff to enhance their professional development, expand their personal horizons, and bring part of what they learn and experience back to NatureBridge. The Matt Baxter Memorial Fund honors former Yosemite Institute Instructor Matt Baxter, with a grant of up to $5,000. The Joie Armstrong Scholarship Program honors and gives prestige to two educators who lead 12 young women on an annual summer trek for 14 days.

19. Eddie Bauer

ABOUT

Established in 1920, in Seattle, Eddie Bauer is a specialty retailer that sells casual sportswear and accessories for the active outdoor lifestyle, as well as expedition-class mountaineering gear.

COMPANY CULTURE
We believe strongly that you don t really live life unless you get out of your comfort zone. We reward our associates for trying new things, pushing themselves, and discovering what they re really made of. Our founder, Eddie Bauer, asked “Where can one think more clearly than nature?” We believe good ideas aren t born in cubicles; they re born outside. A hero of ours, Jim Whittaker, the first American to summit Mt. Everest, says “If you re not living on the edge, you re taking up too much space.” That sums us up.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
Our “Get ���ϳԹ��� Days” give associates the ability to work with their managers to schedule an afternoon or a day off in any week so that they can get outside and play. Managers are accountable for working with associates to manage workflow and programs so that associates can take advantage of this program. We also arrange and subsidize monthly “Get ���ϳԹ���” trips, open to associates and their families. These have included skiing trips, kayaking, snowshoeing, sailing, whitewater rafting, and a variety of other activities.

FITNESS BENEFITS
Every associate gets $100 per year to spend towards an outdoor activity. Our new-hire orientation program includes a half-day outdoor activity. The company sponsors or subsidizes outdoor trips, such as kayaking, biking, hiking, canoeing, snowshoeing and skiing. In our Associate ���ϳԹ��� of a Lifetime competition, associates enter to win a climb up Rainier with Ed Visteurs and Peter Whittaker. The company also runs an annual program sponsoring teams of associates to try an outdoor adventure for the first time, and provides on-site fitness and wellness classes and discounts to local gyms.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Eddie Bauer and its corporate and retail associates partner with local and national charities to give back to the communities in which we do business. Some of our partners have included United Way, Treeswing, and American Forests. We encourage our employees to participate and provide time for community service. We sponsor and participate in trail restorations, park and wetlands cleanups, quarterly blood drives and an annual coat drive.

GREEN INTIATIVE
Eddie Bauer started Heroes for the Earth” in the 1980s, a program designed to recognize and support people and organizations making a difference. The program is the umbrella for our Green product initiatives company-wide. In our retail stores, we offer products made from recycled fleece for men and women. We use paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) in our catalog, signs, and direct mail. We are also investigating ways to use less packaging, alternative sources of energy for our stores, and corporate buildings and greener processes for our clothing production. We support various environmental initiatives, including a long-standing support of Global ReLeaf, an organization dedicated to reforestation in various areas of the world. To date, with support from our customers, we ve planted over five million trees with Global ReLeaf.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
Eddie Bauer has a very robust recognition program that ties in with our corporate culture encouraging employees to get outside and stretch their limits. The Clipped In program is our day-to-day recognition program and recognizes associates who are going above and beyond what we call “Everyday Excellence.” The pinnacle award program at the company is Best of Bauer. Nominees are flown to headquarters for an all-expenses-paid trip that culminates in an award ceremony where winners are announced. Winners and a guest are invited on a five-day adventure trip. The winners in 2008 traveled to Banff, Canada, for an adventure in the Canadian Rockies. Winners from 2009 will be traveling to Alaska in 2010 and go on a four-day adventure through the Kenai Peninsula.

18. SmartWool

ABOUT

SmartWool offers a full range of Merino-based apparel, socks and accessories, satisfying the comfort and performance needs of the active mountain life. SmartWool fiber is a renewable resource that naturally controls moisture, temperature and odor. SmartWool Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Timberland Company.

COMPANY CULTURE
SmartWool is driven by its employees. Employees have created the culture that makes SmartWool so special. SmartWool is a company that is extremely progressive, pro-employee, and promotes a balanced life.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
Employees are encouraged to take a powder day and breaks to stay physically and emotionally fit and to embrace the outdoors. On Fridays, our office closes at 3 pm and people are allowed to leave early so they can get a jump-start on their weekend. No meetings are scheduled after noon on Fridays during the summer. SmartWool encourages and allows flexible schedule for powder days, skiing during work hours, and working out and healthy activities.

FITNESS BENEFITS
We offer on-site health-related seminars, along with monthly online health seminars. SmartWool provides each employee reimbursement money to purchase an activity pass such as a ski pass, health club membership, golf, or other activity-related pass not to exceed $950.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Each employee is encouraged to dedicate 40 hours a year toward community service. This is paid time off for volunteer community service. This year the SmartWool team helped to build a mountain bike trail at one of our local bike-riding facilities. We also worked in partnership with the local USFS to deliver firewood to local families in need. And we helped to landscape a local respite house for people who are terminally ill.

GREEN INITIATIVES
SmartWool's primary raw material, New Zealand Merino wool, is natural and renewable. SmartWool uses soy-based ink for all its sock, apparel, and accessory packaging. All retail signage, packaging, and print collateral is printed on recycled paper products. SmartWool's Spring 2008 trade show booth was built with 65 percent LEED certified materials. From a manufacturing perspective, SmartWool partners with and assists key vendors to encourage and formalize sustainability efforts within each facility. We offset all energy consumption at the headquarters and all corporate travel with wind energy credits. Our Boulder office is a PACE-certified, zero-waste office with a full composting program.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
The SmartWool Values Award recognizes individuals and teams who exemplify the five values driving SmartWool: Humanity, Humility, Integrity, Excellence, and Commitment. Individual recipients receive $1,000, a two-day resort activity vacation, and a recognition plaque. Team recipients each receive $500, a recognition plaque, and a team building activity arranged by the SmartChange Team. Individual/team recipients and a guest are invited to a celebratory dinner sponsored by the SmartWool President. The SmartWool Hiking Sock Award recognizes employment anniversaries with cash and products.

17. Alaskan Brewing Company

ABOUT
Alaskan Brewing Co. has been bottling the unique character of the “Last Frontier” with historic recipes, local ingredients, and glacier-fed water in Juneau, Alaska, since 1986. Our lineup has expanded to eight year-round and seasonal beers available in ten western states.

COMPANY CULTURE
We work hard and play hard. We have regular events and activities with our crew, whether it's our annual Brew Crew Cook-Off, holiday decorating contests, crew Happy Hours, the Spring Fling, or cleaning up local beaches and watersheds with our nonprofit, Coastal Code. Everyone from the CEO down has their week of break room cleaning duty, and it's not unusual to see employees working outside their normal departments.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
We try to accommodate the needs of our employees wherever possible, allowing earlier start times, or Tuesday through Saturday schedules.

FITNESS BENEFITS
During the summer we offer a lunchtime walking group, outdoor recreation program (hiking, kayaking, and biking) and sponsor Bike To Work Day. We facilitate the yearly purchase of a shared season pass at our local ski area, Eaglecrest. We usually have at least one brewery camping trip each year. We also sponsored a six-week fitness challenge this year, which involved working out at a local gym. The winner received additional paid time off added to their leave bank.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Our staff is paid to assist with non-profit fundraisers in all our markets. We pay employees to participate in beach cleanups and fundraisers as part of the Coastal Code nonprofit founded by Alaskan Brewing and funded by one percent of proceeds from Alaskan IPA. Each year, the Alaskan Brew Crew donates more than $100,000 in time, product, and monetary donations to hundreds of nonprofit groups. All of the tips collected at the brewery's tasting bar each year (more than $10,000) are donated to a crew-selected local nonprofit.

GREEN INITIATIVES
Our corrugated and chipboard case packaging materials use varying percentages of post-consumer materials. We were also the first craft-brewery in the U.S. to capture the carbon dioxide from fermentation to be reused in packaging. This prevents the release of nearly 800,000 pounds of CO2 to the environment each year, and eliminates the need to purchase fossil-fuel sourced CO2 gas for use in production. We operate in Juneau, Alaska, where all the electricity is generated by nearby hydroelectric plants.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
We recognize our longer-term employees and acknowledge their contributions at our annual meeting, where they receive awards based on longevity that include customized plaques, additional paid time off, and free airline travel—a much treasured perk given the remoteness of our location. Employees also receive individualized recognition after each decade, such as a flight-seeing tour and dinner with the founders at a remote wilderness lodge. During the year of their tenth anniversary with Alaskan, employees are sent to represent us at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado. We reward every employee with a yearly Christmas gift. We have crew parties and events on a regular basis, from Halloween-costumed bowling night, to beach crab feeds, to Nordic skiing across a glacial lake.

16. W.L. Gore & Associates

ABOUT
Gore applies the science of fluoropolymers to create innovative, technology-driven solutions. Gore products include everything from consumer items such as ELIXIR guitar strings and GORE-TEX fabrics to toxin-destroying filtration products and life-saving medical implants. The company's technical agility makes it a leader in diverse consumer, industrial, electronic, medical and surgical markets. A unique corporate culture fosters inventiveness.

COMPANY CULTURE
Perhaps one of the most well-known facts about Gore is that we don't have corporate hierarchy. We have no bosses, executives, or employees; we are all associates. The lack of titles reflects the flat organization that one of our founders, Bill Gore, believed would create a more energizing and innovative work environment. We're convinced that this approach contributes directly to our business success.

OFFICE FACILITIES
Our facilities are typically clustered on campuses, an arrangement which provides ample space for walking and running, as well as for Gore soccer fields and volleyball and basketball courts. Most plants also have showers, making it easier for associates to exercise during the workday. One Gore site is home to a volleyball court, softball field, hiking trails and large recreational pavilion.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
Most associates enjoy latitude in managing their own time at work. It's a flexible approach that easily accommodates personal commitments and interests, whether that means arriving an hour earlier or later than standard start time each day, reorienting one's schedule during the summer months, or just working from home one afternoon to make it easier to get to an appointment. This approach is so prevalent that the full extent of flexible scheduling at Gore is difficult to track.

FITNESS BENEFITS
Our onsite occupational health centers provide work-related health services such as inoculations required for travel. We also have a team that assesses ergonomics for individual associates, both in office settings and on the production line. We have numerous Gore sports leagues. Associates in our Fabrics Division also volunteer at (and some participate in) the GORE-TEX Trans Rockies Run and similar events. Many Fabrics associates are hands-on product testers, regularly enjoying mountain climbing, camping, running, skiing, snowboarding, etc.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Teams of associates often participate in walk or bike-a-thons; fix-up or clean-up days at local institutions; and food, clothing and toy drives. Each plant chooses a holiday philanthropy project. Our Volunteer Support Grant program provides financial grants to non-profits in which associates volunteer—from scout troops to hospices to environmental organizations—giving associates the power to direct the flow of corporate contributions.

GREEN INITIATIVES
Our collection of consumer fabric laminates this year includes, for the first time, polyester fabrics made with recycled content (bottles). Separately, where we can, we also recycle materials within our own internal supply chain, using excess or scrap material from one product in the manufacture of another, for example. Most of our facilities pre-date the LEED system, but we have used LEED-inspired practices in the design of our newest manufacturing site in Arizona. Examples include rainwater harvesting, plug-in points for electric vehicles, and an energy-efficient HVAC system centralized for multiple buildings.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
Most celebrations and recognition events are organized at a plant or business level. They come in all shapes and sizes. All associates in a plant may join in a celebration of an entire team's achievements. A team may hold an impromptu celebration of an individual team member's accomplishment. Gift certificates, special parking spaces or t-shirts may be awarded. On an individual level, a number of programs recognize associates who model the Gore culture. In one plant, associates receive “culture bucks” for actions that reinforce the culture. The bucks qualify them for a monthly prize drawing (prizes include gift certificates, clothing, etc.). Every other month, all U.S. facilities now honor a “watercarrier,” an associate who contributes to the perpetuation of the culture. Several plants have ongoing “gotcha” awards that recognize associates who go the extra mile, as nominated by their fellow associates, with preferred parking spaces and gift certificates. And finally, there are a number of awards for associates who suggest cost- or time-saving ideas.

15. Carmichael Lynch

ABOUT
Founded in 1962, Carmichael Lynch has earned worldwide recognition for creating devotion to brands through inventive ideas in advertising and in digital and public relations. The agency boasts a passionate staff that consistently delivers powerful ideas for an envied portfolio of clients including Harley-Davidson, Subaru of America, Jack Link's Beef Jerky, Seventh Generation, Trane, and Calphalon. One of its key strengths is the ability to build brands across multiple consumer touch points with big, emotionally driven, category-changing ideas. The agency's collaborative approach has helped turn Harley-Davidson into one of the world's top five brands, Jack Link's into a fixture in popular culture, and Subaru into the fastest growing car brand in America.

COMPANY CULTURE
Carmichael Lynch's culture is driven by creativity, inventiveness, collaboration, and passion. The agency's talent congregates in downtown Minneapolis to do their career-best work for an enviable list of clients. Being so creatively productive and pushing the limits of strategic research and insights can be demanding and draining. That, plus the deadline-driven nature of the business, means employees need to blow off steam, have fun, and refuel often. Rooftop parties, the occasional Friday-afternoon beer cart, the infamous O'Gong Show (every St. Patrick's Day, those new to the agency must perform a skit, song, or act—one act wins acclaim as O'Gong Show champion and joins other O'Gong Show legends), and the rotating art display keep things vibrant and inspiring.

OFFICE FACILITIES
Carmichael Lynch's office is an old converted warehouse in downtown Minneapolis with large, energy-efficient windows and low walls to flood the space with natural light. The agency has a full locker room and towel service used by those who work out during the day. The locker room is also used by those who bike to work. Bike storage in the agency, near an employee's desk, is encouraged.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
We have a long tradition of a “Summer Time Off” program where employees work longer days during the summer months, which allows for seven Summer Time Off (STO) days. Essentially employees receive seven additional days off during the summer, on top of their regular vacation days every year. It's cold here in the winter; employees need to take full advantage of the warm months!

GREEN INITIATIVES
Carmichael Lynch holds EPA Green Power Partner status, and we use wind power to fuel our space.

14. The DREAM Program

ABOUT
DREAM pairs college student mentors with children from affordable-housing neighborhoods. These positive relationships allow children to recognize their options, make informed decisions, and achieve their dreams. DREAM accomplishes this through an innovative approach to mentoring, community development and summer programming that is complemented by a residential summer camp and an adventure-based teen program.

COMPANY CULTURE
DREAM is a young company. More than three-quarters of the employees are under 30. This offers fresh and new ideas to an ever-changing company. DREAM often hires mentors after they graduate college to help build experience, continue their DREAM passion, and make a difference. Everyone in the office has freedom to work on personal projects for DREAM, whether it may be learning how to build a structure at camp, write grants for new cameras, or program a “barbershop” fundraiser. One of DREAM's core values is contagious energy. We use this energy to pump up mentors for retreats, Fridays, trainings, etc. DREAM is mentor-driven and the office encourages the mentors to run their programs.

OFFICE FACILITIES
We work on college campuses to support our mentors. One may work at home if sick or if no meetings. Coffee shops, bakeries, outside, camp, or a DREAM satellite office are all places of work for DREAM.

FITNESS BENEFITS
DREAM owns a camp. Once a month, office staff participate in a camp work day. This time is used to prepare camp for our programming activities, like Winter ���ϳԹ��� Camp, Summer Camp, and other retreats. While at camp, staff cross country ski, swim, hike, canoe, mountain bike, and more. DREAM organizes staff ski-days, retreats that include hiking, biking, sledding, and games. DREAM also works with the mentors to create programs during the summer in our communities that revolve around being outside (e.g., sailing on Lake Champlain, and the infamous daylong beach trip to Maine).

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Employees can volunteer up to two hours a week during paid work time. On MLK day, DREAM staff volunteers as a group in the community with other Americorps.

GREEN INITIATIVES
DREAM maintains a car and bus that run on vegetable oil to transport staff, mentors, and mentees. And everyone gets a bus pass!

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
Each employee is celebrated a number of different ways. Celebration of our work occurs on adventure-training days (days half-filled with something educational, half-filled with enjoying each other and talking about our work), and the end-of-the-year celebrations where employees are recognized. There are numerous small awards/surprises throughout the year. To help keep employees engaged, we “raid” each other. If our development director, for example, has been working hard to address and mail out all of our annual appeal letters, a few office staff may show up in crazy costumes with ice cream, a snack, or beer, and sing “I'm a maniac” to him to cheer him up and let him know what solid work he is doing.

13. USANA Health Sciences

ABOUT
USANA Health Sciences develops and manufactures high-quality nutritional supplements, healthy weight-management products, and personal-care products, which are marketed by independent associates (distributors) in 14 international markets. With these science-based health products, USANA creates a rewarding financial opportunity for its associates, shareholders, and employees.

COMPANY CULTURE
USANA was one of 21 Utah companies to receive a WorkLife Award in 2008 from the Utah Department of Workforce Services and the Office of Work & Family Life, in recognition of the company's outstanding work-life balance for employees. We are willing to work with individuals' personal needs in order to provide them with a positive work-life balance. Aside from creating a supportive and friendly work atmosphere, USANA invests a great deal in a truly unique wellness program that helps employees achieve their personal health goals.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
Several departments, including our manufacturing department, are working a compressed workweek of four 10-hour days. This cuts down on our carbon footprint, saving both commute emissions and the energy costs of manufacturing on Fridays.

FITNESS BENEFITS
We have a 2,500-square-foot strengthcardio area that includes 25 strength machines, dumbbells/free weights, functional training equipment, and six cardio machines. We offer a Nintendo WiiFit and full locker room facilities. We also have an indoor basketball court/group fitness instruction area that will include yoga, aerobics, and kickboxing classes once the sound system is installed. Two personal trainers work in the gym to assist employees. Employees and their families may enjoy the facility 24 hours a day.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
USANA has two community service initiatives: Kennedy Junior High (KJH) and Children's Hunger Fund (CHF). Employees donate their time to the kids at KJH by tutoring or playing sports. Employees may buy dress-down stickers for $2, which helps buy coats for the kids at Kennedy and to the Utah Food Bank. USANA's partnership with CHF has raised more than $9 million since 2001 from corporate, employee, and distributor donations.

GREEN INITIATIVES
USANA's solid-waste recycling plan includes systems for recycling confidential office paper, cardboard, fiber drums, plastics, aluminum, and glass from office operations. In 2008, USANA recycled more that 34 tons of office paper, 12 tons of cardboard and nearly 3,000 fiber drums. USANA installed solar panels on its warehouse in 2008 to provide green power to its building. USANA also implemented three training modules aimed at training employees on approaches to energy conservation, solid-waste recycling and reducing office paper use. USANA has also switched over to a more cost- and energy-effective shipping line.

12. Osprey Packs

ABOUT
From its humble beginnings building custom backpacks and sleeping bags in Santa Cruz, California, to its current recognition as an industry leader, Osprey has always flown its own course. Our mission is to create innovative, high-performance gear that reflects a love of adventure and a devotion to the outdoors and the environment. Based in Cortez, Colorado, Osprey has more than 35 years of technical pack-making and design experience.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
Osprey strives to achieve a healthy work-life balance by providing Team Members with a floating “powder day” holiday, allowing people to time this day off with a big snowstorm.

FITNESS BENEFITS
Discount ski passes are offered to Osprey employees, and all employees were awarded bikes in 2007. There are company-supported daily stretch and walking breaks, as well as lockers, bicycle parking, and shower facilities offered to every Team Member. Plus our unique location near world-class trail systems allow for trail runs and biking direct from Osprey Headquarters. Osprey pays for rec center and outdoor pool passes, allowing free access to these facilities. We also offer free and discounted ski passes at Telluride Ski Resort and Osprey Outings Team organizes several free, multi-day outdoor trips per year, including ski hut trips, river rafting, climbing or cycling trips.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
The Osprey Volunteer Incentive Program allows every Osprey Team Member eight paid hours per year to volunteer either on company-organized volunteer projects or on approved volunteer projects under their own volition. Osprey also encourages its Team Members to go above and beyond, building a true culture of volunteerism. 2009 saw the program complete eight separate and varying volunteer projects, donating approximately 240 hours of community service.

GREEN INITIATIVES
Our Sustainable Transportation Initiative pays $1 per day, encouraging Team Members to walk, run, or bike to work.

11. Fitness Anywhere

ABOUT
Fitness Anywhere Inc. produces and sells Suspension Training equipment and programs to trainers, athletes, the military, and active individuals.

COMPANY CULTURE
1. Dogs are sometimes more plentiful than people. 2. Lululemon pants, Asics sneakers and Under Armour shirts are the norm. 3. If you wear a suit to work, people think you are going for a job interview. 4. Swiss Ball to Desk Chair Ratio is 10:1. 5. Spontaneous Beer Fridays aren't quite so spontaneous. 6. We've taken a bikram yoga class together. 7. If an f-bomb doesn't drop at least once in a company meeting, there's something wrong.

FITNESS BENEFITS
Our Company is all about promoting a balanced life. We work hard, play hard, and we know how to unwind. Fitness is a key component in our lives and we make it a priority to exercise and sweat out our stress. We also compete together: The three-day Wildflower Triathlon/Camping Trip and the JP Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge are annual events we all do together. For those less inclined to run a race, we still have a healthy Fantasy Football competition every year. And daily lunchtime workouts are run by various employees. In addition, the company recently implemented the BalanceWorks program, a work/life balance initiative that provides outside support and resources to help you locate stores, doctors, and daycare to ensure you are able to manage your job and your life.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Fitness Anywhere provides $5 from every online sale of the TRX FORCE Kit to the TRX Warrior Fund. The Fund provides equipment, training, and ongoing education to injured service members and challenged athletes. In addition, Fitness Anywhere works with a multitude of volunteer and non-profit groups—including the AIDS Life Cycle, AVON Walk for Breast Cancer, and the LiveStrong foundation—on free training classes and discounts on products at our training facility in San Francisco.

10. Paradigm Group

ABOUT
Paradigm Group is an employee-benefits, retirement-services, and human-resources consulting firm.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
One of our core values is work/life balance. Flexibility and support by our president to balance work- and personal-life demands make it possible for employees to pursue a healthy blend. One of his frequent sayings is, “We take our work seriously, but we don't take ourselves seriously.” That attitude supports employees' ability to manage their own schedules and fosters a spirit of fun in the office. Our schedule is flexible all year round, for whatever purpose.

FITNESS BENEFITS
A private, personal-training studio is located on the same floor as our offices. Employees may pay for memberships via payroll deduction and may work out during company time. The company provides a bountiful, healthy breakfast each Monday morning when the staff gathers for a staff meeting. The leftovers provide for snacking throughout the week.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Community participation is strongly encouraged. We participate in United Way campaigns, and contributions can be made by payroll deduction. Part of our holiday gift to clients each year is a substantial donation to the Heart Association.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
Employee appreciation is for the most part informal and woven into the fabric of our work lives. The president is an extremely generous person, both materially and with praise and appreciation for good work and commitment to our clients. A huge reward is being treated like a professional with ownership and accountability for our jobs. One of our core values is “excellence,” so a high level of performance is expected, but he often will provide cash bonuses for outstanding contributions. He is also generous with opportunities—formal and informal—for professional growth and experiences. More formally, key anniversaries are recognized and celebrated in a way that is thoughtfully tailored to each person's taste. For one ten-year anniversary, he paid for gym membership for a person who is a dedicated exerciser. For another, he purchased original art that reflects love of gardening for an avid outdoors person. Each person also gets a celebratory lunch with coworkers. The profit-sharing program is also a powerful appreciation tool.

9. Seventh Generation

ABOUT
We are committed to becoming the world's most trusted brand of authentic, safe, and environmentally responsible products for a healthy home. Products include: non-chlorine bleached, 100-percent recycled paper towels, bathroom and facial tissues, and non-toxic, phosphate-free cleaning, dish and laundry products, etc.

COMPANY CULTURE
For 20 years, the closely held Burlington, Vermont-based company has been at the forefront of a cultural change in consumer behavior and business ethics. As part of this standard, we consider our company as a place for people to seek not only material growth, but spiritual growth as well. We work to create a corporate culture in which people are energized and fulfilled as members of an intentional community. One of the country's first self-declared “socially responsible” companies, Seventh Generation is a business that operates according to a new and different set of principles and values that in many ways are a marked departure from those long considered “traditional.” Its business practice is focused on offering people avenues to express their idealism, passion, and commitment to causes larger than themselves at every point along its supply chain.

OFFICE FACILITES
Our offices are on the shores of Lake Champlain and provide immediate access to beautiful parks and the Burlington Bike Path. In 2009, we built out a green roof deck with wireless for employees to work outside when the Vermont weather permits.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
We encourage employees to flex schedules as needed. This encourages the same benefits of summer hours, year round.

FITNESS BENEFITS
Our fitness reimbursement program is designed to encourage our employees to lead a more active life. We want to empower employees to invest in themselves. We reimburse for up to $600 in fitness-related expenses each year. This reimbursement is for anything that employees feel will keep them physically fit. Some examples are: gym memberships, ski passes, snowboarding or cross-country ski equipment, and running sneakers. We also provide a corporate membership to a nearby fitness center for employees to use.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Each full-time SVG employee is offered 16 hours of paid time off per year to volunteer in the community. We also sponsor 2-4 employees to take part in national/international volunteer efforts offered by kindred companies. In addition to our volunteer program, we dedicate ten percent of our profits to non-profit community, environmental, health, and responsible business organizations working for positive change. We have four donation partnerships: Children's Literacy Foundation, Committee On Temporary Shelter, Whole Planet Foundation, and Youthbuild.

GREEN INTIATVES
Seventh Generation is also committed to supporting their employees in their efforts to reduce their individual impact on the environment by providing them with the following benefits: Energy Efficiency Reimbursement for up to $500 each year for expenses associated with improving the energy efficiency of their home; public and alternative transportation reimbursement for $50; a Carbon Reduction Program that offers employees the opportunity to receive up to three forgivable loans to support the cost of making carbon emission improvements in their lives (each loan is for a maximum of $5,000).

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
Some of our more informal practices include frequent public recognition during community gatherings, giving gift cards as Thank Yous for extra effort or a project well done. Also, on-site, ten-minute chair massages are offered to all employees once a week.

8. LeBootCamp

ABOUT
LeBootCamp is a proven weight-loss program, endorsed by the media, famous athletes, and medical professionals. With daily, personalized support at the heart of the program, LeBootCamp is based on the concept of making gradual lifestyle changes in order to lose weight permanently, without having to take sudden, dramatic steps. IT has been designed with many interactive tools in order to make the client's journey enjoyable and successful.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
LeBootCamp offers its employees a 100-percent flexible work environment, allowing them to make their personal life a priority, so that work is something that fits perfectly into your schedule. They can literally take their work to the location of their choice, allowing them to go on a holiday, enjoy the great outdoors, spend time with family, etc., all while earning a salary and feeling fulfilled. At LeBootCamp, your personal lifestyle and needs are never compromised.

FITNESS BENEFITS
Our very company is an on-site service focused on health, exercise, and fitness. Naturally, our employees have full access to our interactive weight-loss and healthy-living coaching programs, as well as personal communication with certified weight loss and fitness coaches, support groups, and face-to-face meetings.

7. Tabar

ABOUT
Tabar is an OEM supplier of high-quality technical glove, mitten, gaiter, and accessory products to leading brands in the outdoor-sports, tactical, hunting-and-fishing, motorcycle, bicycle, and alpine-sports markets. Technical gloves and mittens as well as other accessories are researched, designed, developed, prototyped, and manufactured to client specifications.

COMPANY CULTURE
The underlying spirit is that Tabar is a company that does the right thing because it's the right thing to do. We allow for flex time and staggered work hours to help employees with long commutes or young children to care for. We encourage employees to exercise during work hours and allow them freedom to come and go during the day as they please. Emphasis is on doing a good job and not spending eight hours chained to a desk. We celebrate birthdays in each office with small celebrations for each employee.

We are completely open door and anyone can address the senior management on any issue at any time. We also hold world team meetings in various locations every other year. Past locations have included Cancun, Mexico; Vail, Colorado; Mount Hood, Oregon; the Catskill Mountains, in New York; and Scottsdale, Arizona.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
We have summer hours for those who choose to participate from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Any employee who wishes to participate extends Monday through Thursday by 30 minutes and we close at 2:00pm on Fridays.

6. Rally Software

ABOUT
Rally is the leader in Agile application lifecycle management ((ALM), dedicated to making distributed development organizations faster and leaner by dramatically cutting the time, cost, and effort needed to deliver high-quality applications.

COMPANY CULTURE
One of Rally's core values is to “create your own reality.” Employees are not hired to fill rigid job roles, but rather are encouraged to develop as individuals. Employees are encouraged to change roles or even change departments as much as once every quarter, based on their personal or professional goals. As a result, Rally frequently has employees express a desire to build a new skill set or launch a new career path and subsequently take on a new role in the company. Some of the other practices that promote a healthy work-life balance: quarterly company celebrations such as ski days and Rockies baseball games and a fully loaded game room for breaks, complete with everything from old-school arcade games to Ping-Pong to Nintendo Wii.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
Another core value at Rally is work-life balance, which means that employees are encouraged to work hard and play hard—on their own schedules. Employees have the ability to telecommute and work on adjusted schedules so they can effectively maintain balance between their personal and professional lives.

FITNESS BENEFITS
Rally employees can sign up for biking and running email lists that are used for coordinating lunchtime/after-work outings. We also have an on-site workout facility complete with locker rooms, on-site Yoga classes, and offer health-club membership reimbursement for all employees.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Rally is one of four founding members of the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Colorado, for which companies commit one percent of the company's future profits to support local philanthropy. Rally also extends the one percent concept to its employees by allowing them to give one percent of their hours worked to support volunteer activities in the community. In 2009, Rally employees contributed a total of 2,300 hours to 90 non-profits.

5. Amer Sports Winter & Outdoor

ABOUT
Amer Sports Winter & Outdoor (ASWO), with its brands Salomon, Atomic, and Suunto, is the world's leading manufacturer of winter and outdoor products. ASWO's core sports are alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, hiking, cycling, trekking, trail running, and diving.

COMPANY CULTURE
The casual atmosphere of our company enables team members to feel at ease and comfortable in the environment in which they work. A healthy work environmentlife is supported by our “open-door” policy. Team members and leadership are able to go to each other, at any time, with any issue without feeling shut out or unimportant. Many meetings include using the company bikes in the summer months. The benefit of no mandatory overtime also increases morale. ASWO is located just 30 minutes from various ski resorts. Close by, prolific hiking and biking trails offer opportunities for team members to enjoy non-motorized sports and our products. Bouldering fields, various crags, and the awesome mountains create the perfect environment for rock climbing.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
Summer hours begin in May and continue through August. Team members flex their time worked during the week to receive Friday afternoons (or an alternative day) off. The philosophy behind the summer-hour program is to enhance team members' outdoor experiences. ASWO encourages the team to get into the environment by hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, trail running, diving, and golfing—and utilizing the ASWO sports brands' products. Snow days are also provided for the team members. On these days, team members have the opportunity to spend their “paid” hours outside. Many go skiing or riding. Flex time is also provided to team members to take time off for family needs or community projects.

FITNESS BENEFITS
Fitness is very important to the companyteam members. On-site locker/shower facilities are available to ease the transition from outdoor recreation to work. Bikes and helmets are available for use after hours, on weekends, or during lunch. Skiing and snowboarding equipment, wrist-top computers, and heart-rate monitors are available for all employees. All team members are eligible to receive a company-paid Salomon Center Gold's Gym Membership. A minimum use of three times per month is required to maintain the pass. Discounted passes are also offered to team members' families.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
ASWO's social responsibility is just as important as being the world's leading sports equipment company. Initiatives that ASWO partakes in include the Ogden Nature Center, Weber Pathways, Boy Scouts, Vertical Challenge, High ���ϳԹ��� Mountain Film Festival, and the Sustainable Ogden Committee, among others.

GREEN INITIATIVES
ASWO products, when created, developed, and manufactured, are geared toward responsible solutions. These are part of the different “sustainable” initiatives that we have launched to help protect the environment: bamboo layers in skis and snowboards, organic fibers in apparel, shoe boxes out of recycled cardboard, and recycled rubber for footwear. Every desk has a blue recycling bin. On-site glasspaper/cardboard/plastic/tin/aluminum recycling bins are provided. And as a Visionary partner in Rocky Mountain Power's Blue Sky Program, ASWO purchases credit that develops energy from wind power sources.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
Team members have the opportunity to nominate others for a Team Member of the Quarter award. The winner receives a $200 certificate for Amer Bucks, money to be used to purchase our products. Once a year, team members have the opportunity to nominate a co-worker for Team Member of the Year. Team members are nominated based on their performance and how they follow our values—determination to win, team spirit, fair play, and innovation. The winner receives a $1,000 certificate in Amer Bucks, a parking spot for the year, eight hours of flexible time off, and their photo is displayed on the ASWO Wall of Fame bulletin board.

4. Smith Optics

ABOUT
Smith Optics designs, develops, manufactures, and distributes snow goggles, motorsport goggles, sunglasses, snow helmets, prescription/ophthalmic eyewear, and ballistic eyewear. Based in Ketchum, Idaho, with manufacturing, warehousing, distribution and warranty services in Clearfield, Utah, Smith Optics sells its products directly in the United States and Canada, and through distributors in over 60 countries worldwide.

COMPANY CULTURE
Smith is not a normal corporation. As employees, we are very close. Our building is a friendly and open place where people can bring their dogs to work and gather at any time to talk about work and life. We have a foosball table, keg-0-rator, BBQ, and other things that bring our employees together. We take ski breaks during the ski season and have annual parties for Christmas, spring break, ski day, and other one-off events. We are a company that looks out for each other: The president is the guy who wants you to skip out and go skiing; the VP of sales eggs you into a bike ride; the VP of marketing wants to have the last hour of the week at a bar. We have fun and we get things done.

FITNESS BENEFITS
Smith has a complete locker room and gear storage/repair shop. We are literally located within minutes of world-class downhill skiing, Nordic skiing, mountain biking, trail running, hiking, fishing, and ice skating/hockey. Smith is all about healthy lifestyles. We get out there because we need to do the stuff we sell products for. You get a ton of grief for not taking advantage of what we have.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
At Smith, it's flex-time all of the time. You have to work it out and get your business done, but we realize that we work in an irreverent business climate, and the more we recognize that, the more productive and happy we are.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Smith is a big part of the local community. This year, Smith Optics was recognized as one of the top three corporations in Idaho for volunteerism. We support the Sun Valley Ski Ed Foundation, Wood River Bike Coalition, mountain rides, adaptive sports, Blaine County Rec, LiveStrong, Special Olympics, and a number of other local and national groups.

GREEN INITIATIVES
All of our goggles use minimum ten-percent and up to 90-percent recycled urethane. All packaging, catalogs, order forms and other print/paper materials are made using recycled and 100-percent FSC-certified paper/card stock. We also have a unique program called Evolve which replaces petro-based urethane with castor-plant-based resins packaged in 100-percent FSC-certified recycled materials. For commuters, we offer bus passes, bike racks, a company bike, and a rideshare board.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
Each week employees may take a two-and-a-half-hour lunch break to ski, run, bike, fish, etc. We give each employee $750–$1,500 to offset the costs of recreation. We have a complete locker room and gear room facility. We allow compressed schedules as well as adjusting hours to take care of family and life issues. Our basic premise is get your work done and do a great job, and you can make your own plan.

3. Clif Bar & Company

ABOUT

Clif Bar & Company is a leading maker of all-natural and organic foods and drinks, including the organic certified Clif Bar energy bar, delivering nutrition for sustained energy, and LUNA, the whole nutrition bar for women. Committed to sustainability, Clif Bar & Company works diligently to reduce its footprint on the planet from the field to the final product.

COMPANY CULTURE
Clif Bar & Company believes that people should come to work as their “whole selves” and encourages employees not only to bring their professional expertise to their daily responsibilities but also their authentic selves their values, their uniqueness, and their passions. This allows us to connect on an emotional level to the company's five aspirations: sustaining our business, sustaining our brands, sustaining our people, sustaining our community, and sustaining the planet.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
Employees may opt to work a 980 schedule. In a 9/80 schedule, employees work 80 hours in nine days and take every other Friday off. This schedule assumes nine and a half hours worked Monday through Thursday and eight hours worked on every other Friday.

FITNESS BENEFITS
Employees enjoy an on-site, fully-equipped fitness facility, which includes a danceyoga studio, a massage room, showers, and towel service. Clif Bar offers employees a menu of 32 complimentary fitness classes per week, including spinning, yoga, Pilates, boot camp, circuit training, and seasonal classes such as ski conditioning. Employees enjoy free personal training and receive two and a half hours of paid workout time per week. We also offer: nutritional counseling; life coaching; subsidized massage services; an annual health fair with preventive health screening tests and info on holistic health options; wellness seminars, with topics like healthy eating, stress and holistic health; and an athletic-event reimbursement up to $350 a year.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Employees are encouraged to volunteer to the community through “Project 2080.” Employees volunteer at the organizations of their choice for as many hours as they like. In addition to local efforts, Clif Bar selects and sends volunteers to special development projects in places like India, Poland, and Romania. From 2007 2009, volunteers went to New Orleans to help rebuild communities still affected by the hurricane.

GREEN INITIATIVES
We have recycling bins throughout the office for paper, glass and aluminum, and each employee has desk-side recycling. We recycle packing materials and plastic wrap, and offer on-site battery and electronic recycling. In addition to our recycling efforts, we have compost bins in each kitchen and have “worm bins” in our warehouse. Through these efforts and others, Clif Bar & Company has diverted approximately 60 percent of our waste from landfills.

2. New Belgium Brewing

ABOUT

New Belgium Brewing brews eight year-round beers, four seasonal releases, and a host of organic and more esoteric offerings. Fat Tire Amber Ale is our flagship brand. We are based out of Fort Collins, Colorado, with distribution in 26 states.

COMPANY CULTURE
At New Belgium, we are encouraged to be our best selves every day. We create world-class beer, care about our impact on the planet, and have fun while trying to spread a little joy and thoughtfulness in the world. New Belgium was founded by a social worker and an electrical engineer and those two disciplines greatly inform our culture and who we are. On the engineering side we have always worked to produce world-class beers in an environmentally friendly fashion. That element of always seeking to do things in a more efficient manner gives each of us a greater sense of purpose in our day-to-day workflow. We feel that not only are we making something good that enhances people's lives, but we are doing so in a fashion that might help show other businesses a more elegant way of going about their business.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
For non-shift workers, we allow flextime to compress hours into four-day weeks or slide hours to allow for exercise. Shift workers have rotating schedules so that everyone gets options between day and night.

OFFICE FACILITIES
We have showers and lockers for runners and bike commuters. We have on-site yoga classes, two volleyball courts, a climbing wall, and an outdoor cross bike track.We have an advisory committee that supports and steers the wellness program. We offer a smoking cessation program, six health club memberships and sports scholarships (i.e. entry fees to races/events). Other benefits include sponsorship of a cross bike race series for community and families on site, entry fees paid for co-worker runners/riders through our wellness program, an annual health fair for employees and their families with screenings and flu shot availability, and passes to a local gym.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
We give one hour paid time off for every two hours volunteered to community service. In 2009, New Belgium co-workers contributed more than 1,600 hours of community service. As a company, we give more than $1 million annually in philanthropy through 1% for the Planet. We partner locally with Wish for Wheels, building and donating 500 bikes over the last two years to kids from low-income families.

GREEN INITIATIVES
We're the first brewery in the U.S. to commit to wind energy; 15 percent of our on-site electrical power is generated from the capture of methane from our process-water treatment facility; we have the largest private solar array in Colorado; brew an organic beer, Mothership Wit; and we have a steam-recovery system in our brewing process that creates a closed heat loop. Employees are given a cruiser bicycle at one year's employment and encouraged to bike commute. We offer covered bike parking, showers, and are working on a reimbursement program for tubes, tires, and other bike materials, as well as prize incentives.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
At New Belgium we try to recognize each other's contributions every day. We have online and hard copy “kudo” boards where any co-worker can give thanks for another individual's achievements. At one year's employment, co-workers are enrolled in our employee ESOP program, thereby becoming owners of New Belgium. We practice open-book management so that everyone gets full fiscal transparency, which allows people to take an active role in decision-making. Perks also include a shift beer at the end of every day, a take-home 12-pack a week, and an all-expenses paid trip to Belgium at five years employment with your colleagues hired the same year. At seven years employment you are fully vested as an owner. At ten years, New Belgium plants a fruit tree in your honor in our orchard on site. But most of all, we try to recognize each other in small ways all the time. If a project goes well, you take the team to the tasting room and raise a glass.

1. Natural Habitat ���ϳԹ���s

ABOUT

NHA arranges the world's greatest nature expeditions with an aim towards preserving species and protecting fragile habitats. By bringing interested travelers into close contact with nature, and by carefully leaving tourist dollars in the hands of local people who are motivated to protect their local environments, NHA educates visitors and creates an industry designed to change the way humans think about our planet.

COMPANY CULTURE
NHA is, by design, based on fun and adventure. Our daily existence tends to be exciting since we are selling and providing a fun product. With that in mind, NHA gears our daily lives towards fun whenever possible: beer on tap, Friday afternoon clubs, Thanksgiving and Holiday parties, Winterfest (a company ski day by motor coach with families, music, BBQs, and friends), Summerfest (this year it was a three-day Green River rafting trip for staff and family), and more. Additionally, as a company based on meritocracy, management is focused on allowing employees to succeed without the common restraints and restrictions of a normal company. Employees strive to do well on their own, knowing they will be rewarded. By minimizing the daily need to manage tasks, the office and field staff are able to bond as a group of friends and co-adventurers rather than languish as a company of employees and managers.

FLEXIBLE HOURS
Consistent with our normal policy of simply requiring staff to complete their work rather than sit in our office for the sake of being there, we often allow employees the chance to switch their hours in order to take advantage of good ski conditions or the beautiful summer weather here in Colorado. We encourage parents to take at least some time to work from home in order to be closer to their children. Many staff members take advantage of this.

FITNESS BENEFITS
Natural Habitat has a full health club with locker rooms, cardio equipment, weights, showers, etc. We offer daily yoga, Pilates, and exercise classes as well as on-site chiropractic care and subsidized healthy meals at our cafeteria.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
NHA donates to Greenhouse Scholars (provides scholarships for college students), World Wildlife Fund, Maine Audubon Society, Watershed School, St. Benedict's Health, ByKids (encourage arts in youth), Camp Pendleton (supports families of injured or killed soldiers), Boulder Country Day School, Sustainable Travel International and American Red Cross.

GREEN INITIATIVES
One-hundred percent of Natural Habitat's printed materials are made from 100-percent post-consumer recycled paper and printed with soy inks. Over 90 percent of our Natural Habitat Gear is made from recycled plastics and nylons backpacks, duffle bags, hats, etc. All cotton items are made of 100-percent organic cotton. Originally the building was not constructed to be renewable but we custom fit solar panels to create 75 percent of our energy from the sun. Furthermore, all furniture and fittings were purchased refurbished or created from previous materials. All counter tops are made from sunflower seed shells and fast-generating cork.

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
Natural Habitat ���ϳԹ���s is a meritocracy whereby employees are promoted and compensated based on merit rather than just tenure and the number of degrees they hold. As an adventure travel company the success of each trip is gauged by the travelers in their online trip evaluation forms, which are submitted and immediately distributed to all employees involved in the operation of that trip, resulting in immediate feedback.