Top Workplaces 2018 by Statesman Media

Top Workplaces 2018 of GREATER AUSTIN

SPECIAL SECTION

statesman.com | austin360.com | Sunday, November 4, 2018

PERKS AT WORK

COVER STORY: From free lunches to unlimited time off, many of Austin's best places to work offer a slew of company-paid perks to keep employees happy and engaged. Page 4

TOP: From left, Sarah Mendiola, Roger Chavez, Alex Koshy and Meg Nidever are employees at Favor. ABOVE: Orlando Quiros works for Q2 Software. LEFT: Trung Vu and Samantha Cheifetz are employees at Dosh. RIGHT: Zuleima Rodriguez works for Progressive Insurance. All four companies are 2018 Top Workplace award winners. [PHOTOS BY MARK MATSON FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

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Sunday, November 4, 2018 Top Workplaces 2018

CONTRIBUTORS EDITORS: Barry Harrell Kirk Ladendorf

REPORTERS: Kirk Ladendorf Nicole Cobler Sebastian Herrera

PHOTO EDITOR: Nell Carroll

PHOTOGRAPHERS: Ricardo B. Brazziell Mark Matson Stephen Spillman

DESIGNER: Katherine Silvia, GateHouse Media Center for News & Design

Progressive Insurance is the No. 1-ranked large employer in Austin, Texas with a on-site gym with a personal trainer, a on-site medical clinic. [RICARDO B. BRAZZIELL / AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

METHODOLOGY • Overall, 1,060 employers were nominated by employees, customers or themselves. Of those companies, 158 agreed to let their employees be anonymously surveyed by Energage. • Only companies with at least 50 employees were surveyed. • At least 35 percent of all Austin area workers at a company had to complete their surveys for the results to be considered valid. • Employees were asked to rate their companies on issues such as leadership, direction, workplace environment and pay and benefits. • Energage ranked the employers in three categories — small, medium and large — on the basis of their Austin area employment.

In the best workplaces, some common traits shine through By Kirk Ladendorf

For the American-Statesman

hat are the best places to work in Central Texas? For the ninth consecutive year, the Austin American-Statesman is helping answer that question. After surveys of more than 23,000 workers at 145 Austin area companies, the American-Statesman has narrowed the list to 100 employers worthy of the Top Workplaces designation. The surveyed companies employ nearly 38,000 workers in the Austin area. The surveys and selection process were conducted by Energage, a Pennsylvaniabased company with expertise

in employee engagement surveys. The company says it has surveyed 17 million employees at 50,000 companies and other organizations since 2006. For this year’s AmericanStatesman Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project, Energage conducted the anonymous employee surveys, analyzed the results can came up with the ranked list of Austin-area employers. The Statesman solicited nominations for employers, but the paper does not know which companies did not make the list of ranked employers. That was designed to encourage companies to

Operations lead Michael Brashear, left, and product manager Elon Weiss work in the one of the meeting rooms named after famous assistants at Favor’s headquarters in downtown Austin on Sept. 20. [STEPHEN SPILLMAN / FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

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Employee perks take some workplaces to the next level By Kirk Ladendorf For the American-Statesman

n Austin’s vibrant economy, companies often make a considerable effort to show employees they are appreciated and valued. The effort involved goes beyond offering good pay and basic benefits like health insurance, and into the realm of “extras.” Those extras can include unlimited personal time off or on-campus gyms, or healthrelated programs. Some tech companies offer “Beer Friday” events late in the week for employees and managers to get together in an informal setting. Others provide free meals on a regular or an occasional basis. Free coffee, drinks and snacks are common in some companies. Many of these extra features come under the heading of “perks,” which is an informal term for perquisites. BusinessDictionary.com defines perks as extra privileges beyond pay and standard benefits. They are done for a reason: To show workers they are appreciated. Some companies, including Progressive Insurance, have programs where employees can recognize coworkers’ efforts that go above and beyond. Progressive calls such rewards “Pro Points” and they can be redeemed for merchandise at the company story. Q2 Software and other companies have similar programs. Many companies work hard to show employees they care. Companies like Austin-based chipmaker Cirrus Logic and software developer Q2 Software have designated culture officers, whose job focuses on driving shared company values and employee-centered programs.

Fitness Trainer Adam Reardon helps an employee work out at Progressive Insurance’s Austin campus on Sept. 27. Progressive Insurance is the No. 1-ranked large employer in the AmericanStatesman’s 2018 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project. The company’s Austin campus includes an on-site gym with a personal trainer, and a medical clinic. [RICARDO B. BRAZZIELL / AMERICANSTATESMAN]

Jo-Dee Benson, vice president and chief culture officer at Cirrus Logic, says the company expends great effort to help employees feel they are part of an extended family. Many of Cirrus’ perks are family centered, including annual company trips to the Schlitterbahn water park, a company holiday party focused on kids, and a Cirrus Kids Club, that promotes reading, science and other activities for the children of employees. At Q2 Software, CEO Matt Flake estimates that

20 percent to 30 percent of his job “involves driving the culture” that is based on employee engagement and involvement both on their jobs and on volunteering for community organizations. Culture is a broader subject than mere perks, but employers and employees see them as intertwined. Cirrus conducts Friday afternoon happy hours, but they aren’t just social events. Employees notice that top managers in the company use the events to conduct numerous one-on-one

Marketing manager Donald Smolik, left, visual designers Dakota Pendley and Roger Chavez play an arcade game at Favor’s headquarters in Austin on Sept. 20. [STEPHEN SPILLMAN / FOR AMERICANSTATESMAN]

conversations with employees, which is in keeping with the company’s culture of openness and transparency. Cassie Davis, a recruiter at Progressive, says the

company’s perks and employee rewards fit with the company’s culture of inclusion.

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A game room is one of the employee perks offered by Austin-based Dosh, the No. 1-ranked small employer in the American-Statesman’s 2018 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project..

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“You are not just a number (here). You have a voice,” she said. Perks are pieces of the puzzle in making employees feel like valued contributors, but surveys by workplace experts such as Energage, which conducted the Top Workplaces survey for the Austin-American Statesman, show that employees look beyond just perks when assessing their workplaces. The Energage questions that drew the strongest positive responses in its latest Austin workplace survey included: “My job makes me feel like I am part of something meaningful,” and “I feel genuinely appreciated at this company.” Employees like perks, but what appears to drive their job satisfaction appears more tied to company values and the sense that they are contributing to a larger cause.

[RICARDO B. BRAZZIELL / AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

“We are working at a place where we can make things change,” said Roger Chavez, a veteran operations manager for Favor Delivery. “You can take ideas and run with them and create change. That is very liberating and very rewarding.” At Dosh, sales director Samantha Cheifetz says she loves the company’s spirit of collaboration and its mission of giving consumers cash back from their purchases with participating merchants. And she also likes some of its perks — unlimited

personal time off — which is something she hadn’t experienced in previous tech sales jobs. “That is extremely meaningful,” she said. “It shows me that Dosh really cares about my time.” At Cirrus Logic, software engineer Franz Weller is more attracted to company’s facepaced, collaborative work culture in chip design, than its considerable array of perks. “What is important to me is that the company makes an effort (to show appreciation) and that the employees value it,” he said.

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participate without risking embarrassment if they didn’t make the list. Energage asked workers to rate their employers on issues such as leadership and direction, ethics and values and how well employees are treated. Based on the survey results, workers are looking for much more than a paycheck when they choose where to work. They want to employers that support their career growth and training and companies that they believe are “going in the right direction.” They want to feel that their work is appreciated and that management is open to employee concerns and ideas. In addition, they want companies that support a good work/life balance and that foster good cooperation among workers and departments. Here are some examples of employees explaining in their

survey what matters most to them: “Aceable inspires me to be my best self every day and to constantly embrace challenges and pursue growth in my work,” wrote an employee of the startup company. “My manager consistently demonstrates that I am a deeply valued individual for not only the results of my work, but the impact I am able to have on our team’s culture and the ideas I am able to bring to the table. “You are not just another worker bee doing a job. You are a real, authentic, genuine human being who is valued and respected from day one.” “I am proud to tell my family about where I work or to show it to them,” said an employee of Q2 Software. “I feel valued here.” An employee at Favor said: “I feel like what I do matters. I have the ability to make a positive impact. I started at the very bottom of this organization and I grew into a leader.”

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GREATER AUSTIN TOP LARGE EMPLOYERS TOP WORKPLACES WITH 500 OR MORE EMPLOYEES IN THE GREATER AUSTIN METRO AREA:

Rank

Company

What it does

Austin-area locations

Austin-area employees

Progressive Insurance

Insurance

1,600

Cirrus Logic

Semiconductor industry

823

Q2 Software

Software

713

Silicon Laboratories

Technology

665

Charles Schwab

Investment management

1,926

Indeed.com

Job search

1,600

ARA Diagnostic Imaging

Health care

843

Austin Regional Clinic

Health care

1,775

Cisco Systems

Information technology

614

SHI International

Technology products and services

1,045

All Web Leads

Lead generation for insurance industry

603

HomeAway

E-commerce

1,563

eBay

E-commerce

647

Accenture

Public strategy, data, consulting

2,705

Electronic Arts

Video game technology

655

Progressive Insurance is the No. 1-ranked large employer in Austin, Texas with a on-site gym with a personal trainer, a on-site medical clinic. [RICARDO B. BRAZZIELL / AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

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Progressive drives culture with ‘servant leadership’

By Kirk Ladendorf

For the American-Statesman

assie Davis, an employee recruiter at Progressive Insurance in Austin for the past two years, likes to get feedback on her job. And feedback is something she and other employees at the company get on a regular basis. “Progressive is known for being very feedback-driven,” she said. “If you want to get better, you are getting feedback on what you do well and what you can do differently. It is focused in a positive way in looking at successes and how we can be better. Your leadership is almost a partner to help solve the hurdles you come up against.” At Progressive, the company’s feedback structure is based on a concept called “servant leadership.” It is designed to create partnerships between managers and employees to push for growth and improvement. The interactions between people at the company is based on its core values, which include: integrity; the Golden Rule; creating and meeting goals and objectives; striving for excellence and making a profit. Lots of companies have core values, but Davis and other employees at Progressive say the company walks the talk. Progressive ranks No. 1 among large employers in the American-Statesman’s 2018 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project. “The company truly lives, breathes and eats those values,” Davis said. “You are taught to speak and act with

integrity and to treat others how you would like to be treated. Those values are at the forefront of everything we do. They are present in meetings and conversations and they sort of drive you. It kind of makes everyone on the same page.” “The core values are what drew me to Progressive and that has stayed true for 15 years,” said Jessica Galvan, who joined the company as a sales representative and is now site manager for its customer service team in Austin. “Servant leadership is something that my team and I talk about a lot and we hold each other to that standard. Our core values are our North Star. They are something that guides every decision that we make. Every single person knows that it is our foundation.” Ohio-based Progressive employs 33,000 workers across the company, including about 1,600 in Austin, where many of its employees work in call centers for customer service, sales and claims and operations. The company provides insurance for millions of vehicle owners. Employees say they like the company’s training and development programs, its flexible work arrangements — a sizable percentage of employees work from home — and its friendly, diverse atmosphere. They speak highly of the Austin campus, which includes a cafeteria, a gym with exercise classes and and a health services clinic that offers discounted health care for employees. “The biggest shock for me PROGRESSIVE continues on 33

Employees work at the Progressive Insurance campus in Austin on Sept. 27. Progressive is the No. 1-ranked large employer in the American-Statesman’s 2018 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project. [PHOTOS BY RICARDO B. BRAZZIELL / AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

“You are taught to speak and act with integrity and to treat others how you would like to be treated. Those values are at the forefront of everything we do. They are present in meetings and conversations and they sort of drive you. it kind of makes everyone on the same page.” EMPLOYEE RECRUITER CASSIE DAVIS Progressive Insurance

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Cirrus Logic keeps building family atmosphere

By Kirk Ladendorf

For the American-Statesman

irrus Logic’s ongoing campaign to make its employees happier stretches back at least 11 years. That’s when Jason Rhode, the company’s then-new CEO, met with other senior managers to map out a plan to boost employee morale by frequently recognizing their contributions to the company’s success. What has grown up since then is a full menu of programs aimed at recognizing and assisting workers and their families and promoting a culture of collaboration and openness. The program ranges from Friday afternoon beer sessions at the company where workers talk freely with management, to the Cirrus Kids Club, that encourages children of employees to get more engaged in reading, science and other activities. “It’s about building relationships,” said Jo-Dee Benson, company vice president and chief culture officer. “We really are a family.” Cirrus Logic ranks No. 2 among large employers in the American-Statesman’s 2018 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project. The company has ranked among the top 10 large employers in each of the nine years the AmericanStatesman has produced the project. Even though the chip design company employs more than 1,500 people worldwide, it prides itself on having many of the best elements of a startup — the informality, the team spirit, and the fast pace of work.

The exterior of Cirrus Logic’s corporate headquarters in Austin. [CIRRUS LOGIC]

For Franz Weller, a software engineer at Cirrus, the Austin company is his ninth tech employer in a career that stretches back to the 1980s. He has worked for big companies and small startups. He joined Cirrus in June after friends recommended the company to him. Weller credits Cirrus for being a big company (more than $1 billion in annual revenue) that moves with the speed of a startup and that openly encourages

“Everyone is just really supportive here. It is amazing. Everyone is very earnest about getting things done and they are very earnest about helping everybody near them get things done.” Franz Weller | software engineer

collaboration and teamwork. “Everyone is just really supportive here. It is amazing,” he said. “Everyone is very earnest about getting things done and they are very earnest about helping everybody near them get things done.”

There is a good reason for that. Creating a new chip design is a painstaking, complex process that can involve many different engineers and technicians involved with separate parts of the design. Every element of the chip

must be ready before the project can be completed. “The work is demanding and exciting and it moves fast,” Weller said. “I like the

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As it grows, Q2 Software holds firm to culture of service

By Kirk Ladendorf

For the American-Statesman

op workplaces don’t happen by accident. And they don’t keep going on autopilot. The companies that reach that level know they have to keep winning the battle for happy employees one day at a time. And that is what Q2 Software appears to be doing. The 14-year-old company, which is four years past its initial public stock offering, keeps pushing hard to strengthen a culture of teamwork, collaboration and a commitment to good service even as it pushes past 1,000 employees this fall. CEO Matt Flake estimates 20 percent to 30 percent of his job “involves driving the culture.” “What keeps me up at night is how we keep the culture of engagement and involvement of our employees” as the company grows, he said. Q2 Software earned the No. 3 ranking among large employers in the 2018 American-Statesman’s Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project. The company’s corporate mission is to strengthen small to mid-sized banks, credit unions and other financial companies by giving them the advanced software platform they need to deliver digital banking services to customers. The company began by focusing on community banks and credit unions as potential customers. That’s shifted slightly as the company has also targeted online financial services. The company offers a number of perks to its

Anthony Hagood, Sarah Handlos and Orlando Quiros work for Q2 Software, a 2018 Top Workplace award winner. [MARK MATSON FOR AMERICANSTATESMAN]

employees including free trips for top performers, along with broader benefits that include tickets to concerts and athletic events, unlimited personal time off and an employee stock ownership program. A big part of the company culture involves organizing events to support nonprofit groups and causes in town. Early this fall, employees were planning a company dodgeball tournament to raise funds to support the juvenile diabetes program. Other events

have supported such groups as the Humane Society, which shelters abandoned pets, and LifeWorks, which assists young people coming from troubled environments. Sarah Handlos, a creative strategist in the company’s marketing department, said Q2 Software’s sense of mission about helping communities is something employees can rally behind. That, in turn, develops teamwork and collaboration from workers across the company. “Everyone has bought into

our mission and believes in it,” Handlos said “We work hard to create and maintain a culture that gives people opportunities to get involved where they want.” The company has created a program called Your Cause that tracks employees’ volunteer hours and enables them to earn gift cards to contribute to the nonprofit group of their choice. Handlos said she was moved deeply by her involvement in planning an event with LifeWorks, which assists

young people from troubled backgrounds. Q2’s volunteer efforts start from the ground up. Employees make up a culture board that comes together to decide what nonprofit causes the company will support and what sorts of employee events will be created to rally support for those causes. Orlando Quiros, a software implementations engineer at the company, said he was part of a group that organized

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GREATER AUSTIN TOP MIDSIZED EMPLOYERS TOP WORKPLACES WITH 150 TO 499 EMPLOYEES IN THE GREATER AUSTIN METRO AREA: Rank

Company

What it does

Austin-area locations

Austin-area employees

Favor

On-demand delivery

186

Realty Austin

Real estate

484

Marriott International

Hotel

167

JBGoodwin Realtors

Brokers

499

Endeavor Real Estate Group

Real estate development

158

Parsley Energy

Oil & Gas

282

Adnoh Inc., dba Howdy Honda

Auto dealership

175

Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union

Credit union

290

Westminster

Nonprofit health care

236

Procore Technologies

Construction

191

Informatica

Software

267

Encompass Home Health

Health care

229

Independence Title

Title and closing services

329

Four Hands

Wholesale furniture

229

Opcity

Real estate marketing technology

403

RateGenius

Financial services

277

Drilling Info

Oil and gas

250

Embree Group of Companies

General contractor and developer

188

Amy's Ice Creams

Restaurant

203

Onnit Labs

Fitness and supplements

198

WellSky

Software

199

BigCommerce

E-commerce software

405

UShip

E-Commerce marketplace

203

ShipStation

E-commerce software

195

Texas Water Development Board

Government

272

TrendKite

Private PR Analytics

185

SAM

Geospatial technology

317

Planview

Software

268

Lifesize

Information technology

220

The SAFE Alliance

Nonprofit

360

Favor’s headquarters is at 1705 Guadalupe St. in downtown Austin. [PHOTOS BY STEPHEN SPILLMAN / FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

The rooftop of Favor’s headquarters in downtown Austin.

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Favor keeps running with high-energy work environment

By Kirk Ladendorf

For the American-Statesman

t Favor’s company headquarters on Guadalupe Street in downtown Austin, the company’s brief core values are boldly displayed. Those values include: “Community First.” “Good Vibes. “Keep Running.” Five years after its founding, Favor is still running hard. It has grown into a major food delivery service in Texas that is powered by a group of innovative mobile applications to keep things moving smoothly. The company celebrated its 10 millionth delivery this year. Favor is the No. 1-ranked mid-sized employer in the American-Statesman’s 2018 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project. Favor contracts with thousands of drivers, called “runners,” who work primarily for customer tips. And, according to veteran workers, almost everyone in the company runs Favors once in awhile just to keep in touch with the company roots when it was a relative handful of people working out of a small house in the Brykerwoods neighborhood in Central Austin. The ownership of the company changed early this year when Favor was bought by Texas-based grocery company H-E-B for an undisclosed amount. H-E-B is providing the resources for faster growth at Favor. It also helped Favor launch a beer and wine delivery service exclusively from H-E-B stores. “H-E-B wanted us to operate as we operate now,” said Roger Chavez, a regional

Content quality team members Travis Tyler, Sana Rashid and Sarah Mukaty work together at Favor’s headquarters in downtown Austin. [PHOTOS BY STEPHEN SPILLMAN / FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

Brand director Rob Pennington works at Favor’s headquarters in downtown Austin.

Communications manager Catherine Nissley works from her station at Favor.

operations manager for a swath of Texas that includes Austin and stretches north nearly to Waco and south to the Rio Grande Valley, which was just added as a new service area for Favor in August.

The company operated in 50 cities in Texas at the start of 2018 and has expanded to 38 other Texas markets this year, including Corpus Christi, Beaumont, Waco, Abilene and Lubbock.

Chavez, who has worked for Favor almost since the beginning, says the company’s energy level remains very high. “You can take ideas and run with them and create change for the company,” he said.

“It is liberating and rewarding. We haven’t let go of our roots.” “When we have a special project,” Chavez said, “we are like soldiers going into battle. Having everyone striving for the same goal will light a fire under you. You are surrounded by a lot of winners. We all want to win. It creates an environment that is electrifying and contagious.” Despite the company’s rapid growth, employee Sarah Mendiola says Favor still runs “like a tight-knit family.” “We have a group of people who all want to be successful and they are open and honest. That has kept me here,” said Mendiola, who is the company’s team lead for vendor accounts and content. H-E-B’s decision to acquire Favor was “extremely validating” for the employees, she said. “It’s a confirmation where someone says this is a product that works. They are behind us to reach the goals we already had in place. What has changed is that we now have somebody behind us to back us up. “We still think of Favor as a startup. We are able to keep that scrappy mentality and do things on the fly,” she said. “It has been a challenging and profound learning experience. It has been very cool to see.” As the company has expanded, its underlying software technology has gotten smarter, better and easier to use, employees say. Meg Nidever has worked for a little over a year as product designer helping Favor improve the online user FAVOR continues on 32

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Support, strong tech culture drive Realty Austin’s workforce

By Sebastian Herrera sherrera@statesman.com

elissa Roberts had heard about Realty Austin’s success before becoming a realtor there five years ago. But the reality of working there was even better than what she expected. Within the first year of joining the agency, she says, her sales doubled. “I wish I had gotten there sooner,” Robert said. “They just fully support the staff.” For the seventh consecutive year, Realty Austin was voted by its staff among the metro area’s best places to work. The agency ranks No. 2 in the AmericanStatesman’s 2018 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project. Employees said the company’s staff support and equal treatment to all, coupled with cutting-edge real estate technology and philanthropic opportunities, make Realty Austin a leading workplace. “They have a database that they plug us into that can keep track of our clients. It’s with that database that I doubled sales,” Roberts said. “They make us better.” Realty Austin, which was founded in 2004, now has a website that reaches more than 315,000 visitors per month. Staff members say accessible leadership and a technologyfocused culture helps them stay on top of the competition. Realty Austin’s website is easy to use, agents said, and their client database organizes agents’ customers in a way unlike staff members have seen anywhere else. Leadership “actually sees you and talks to you and are genuine,” said Lisa Muñoz, a realtor who has been at the agency since 2011. “Everybody is connected and made to feel special.” Muñoz said besides having top-tier communication, Realty

Melissa Roberts, Romeo Manzanilla and Lisa Muñoz (below) work for Realty Austin, a 2018 Top Workplace award winner. [PHOTOS BY MARK MATSON FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

“Most of the decisions made (at other agencies) benefits the corporation and are based on the corporation’s perspective.” But at Realty Austin, “it’s different. We are family oriented.” Romeo Manzanilla | broker in charge

Austin’s leadership regularly plans staff gatherings such as parties or happy hour mixers. This helps create a family-type of environment where staff members get to know each other, she said. Beyond that, staff members also said the company’s desire to engage in philanthropic work reflects the agency’s giving character. Realty Austin said it works hand-in-hand with charitable organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Foundation Communities and the Austin Children’s Shelter.

Romeo Manzanilla, broker in charge at Realty Austin, said the company’s philanthropic efforts make the workplace fulfilling, “and it gives back to the community.” The agency’s culture doesn’t allow egos to rise or unethical behavior to happen, Manzanilla said. “Most of the decisions made (at other agencies) benefits the corporation and are based on the corporation’s perspective,” Manzanilla said. But at Realty Austin, “it’s different. We are family oriented.”

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Jill O’Neal, left, Cruz Hernandez and Jeffery Luong work for Marriott International (Renaissance Austin), a 2018 Top Workplace award winner [MARK MATSON FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

Positive work environment makes Marriott employees stick around By Nicole Cobler ncobler@statesman.com

arriott International is a staple in any major city, but the company’s Renaissance Austin hotel stands out among the city’s top employers. Marriott ranked No. 3 among

midsized employers in the American-Statesman’s 2018 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project. The company’s Renaissance Austin, a luxury hotel near the Arboretum in Northwest Austin, has more than 240 employees. More than half of those employees have been with the hotel for more

than 10 years, according to Jill O’Neal, human resources director for the hotel. O’Neal has been with Marriott for 12 years — and she attributes that to the company’s culture of teamwork and fun. “It’s more than pay and benefits,” O’Neal said. “I think that it is providing people opportunities to learn and advance every year.”

Lots of companies offer medical insurance and other benefits, but workplaces must go above and beyond to keep employees around for the long term, O’Neal said. The Marriott management team organizes cookouts for employees, and also offers discounts at Marriott MARRIOTT continues on 31

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GREATER AUSTIN TOP SMALL EMPLOYERS TOP WORKPLACES WITH 149 OR FEWER EMPLOYEES IN THE GREATER AUSTIN METRO AREA: Rank

Company

What it does

Austin-area locations

Austin-area employees

Rank

Company

What it does

Austin-area locations

Austin-area employees

Dosh

Technology

Reilly Realtors

Real estate

142

Cultivate Behavioral Health & Education

Behavioral health

Allpro Hospitality Staffing

Employment and staffing agency

Cornerstone Home Lending

Mortgage lending

MKS2

Technology

The Steam Team

Cleaning and restoration

Rogers-O'Brien Construction

Construction

114

Capital Strategies, a member of the MassMutual Financial Group

Financial advisors

Meritage Homes

Homebuilder

114

Scott Felder Homes

Homebuilder

Broadway Bank

Banking

Aceable

Online education services

Alchemy Systems

Training services

143

Avalar Austin Real Estate

Real estate

SecurityNational Mortgage Company

Mortgage lending

7 8

Re/Max 1

Real estate

121

Talroo

Human resources

Popp Hutcheson

Law firm

Sendero Health

Nonprofit

The Zebra

Online insurance marketplace

SKG

Firehouse Animal Health Center

Veterinarians

Office furniture and architectural products

38 39

Zengistics

Logistics

Jask

Cybersecurity software

Microchip Technology

Technology

118

Signpost

Software

Landscaping and lawn care

Halff Associates

Engineering and architecture

Moving and storage marketplace

Capitol Services

Business services

Intelligent Logistics

Logistics and freight

Tax Advisory services

EEA Consulting Engineers

Engineering

CS Disco

Software

Belco Equities

Property management

115

LJA Engineering

Engineering

74 63

360Partners

Search Marketing and lead generation

20 21

Bartlett Cocke General Contractors

Construction

St. Gabriel’s Catholic School

School

Better Business Bureau

Nonprofit

Texas National Title

Title insurance

Griffis Residential

Real estate investment

Chesmar Homes

Construction

LawnStarter

SpareFoot

Ryan LLC

Lithium Technologies

Software

135

Watkins Insurance Group

Insurance consultants and brokers

First National Bank of Bastrop

Bank

122

Austin Emergency Center

Health care

Care.com

Payroll services

George P. Johnson Experience Marketing

Marketing

146

147

Greater Texas Credit Union

Credit union

107

AMM Collision

Automotive collision repair

CBRE

141

100

Commercial real estate services

Wunderman

Advertising

Heritage Title Company of Austin

Title services

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As Dosh booms, company insists: ‘People here come first’

By Kirk Ladendorf

For the American-Statesman

t Dosh, a two-yearold financial services startup, business growth is accelerating and employees are excited. The company has developed a digital financial platform that lets merchants offer instant cash back to consumers when they make purchases with an expanding array of stores, restaurants and service providers. Now it is stepping on the gas, expanding its workforce and building its executive after securing a $44 million Series A investment round in the spring. Many of the new employees have come from other Austin tech companies, including Home Away. Dosh ranked No. 1 among small employers in the American-Statesman’s 2018 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project. Dosh executives say they want to enable millions of consumers to receive billions in cash rebates delivered through its online platform. The company says it already has given back $32 million to nearly 2 million consumers who are members of its program. Employees say they like the company’s energy and fastpaced style. They also like its clear consumer-oriented mission, its big vision for the future and its collaborative culture. “It is great to work for a company that genuinely cares about consumers and merchants. This is the best place I have ever worked,” said company sales director Samantha Cheifetz. “People here come first. We have a very supportive group

ABOVE: CEO of DOSH Ryan Wuerch updates his employees on the progress of the company. Dosh, a No. 1-ranked small employer for the 2018 Top Workplaces. RIGHT: Employees at Dosh look on during a meeting. [PHOTOS BY RICARDO B. BRAZZIELL / AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

of people who are extremely collaborative,” she said. The Dosh platform was developed to offer high security and ease of use to consumers and ease of tracking for merchants, who can see the details of how the cash-back program through Dosh enables them to attract new customers and make added sales. “I am selling something that I truly believe in and we can truly prove the return on

investment is huge,” Cheifetz said. “At the very least, we will provide a 10 times return on advertising spending.” The Dosh platform continues to expand its capabilities to make it more valuable to both merchants and consumers, she said. “What we have already is incredible,” she said. Trung Vu, a senior software developer, said he likes the DOSH continues on 38

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‘Collaborative environment’ keeps Reilly Realtors humming along By Sebastian Herrera

sherrera@statesman.com

amon Brown says he was first attracted to Reilly Realtors seven years ago because of the local realestate agency’s website, which he said is one of the best he’s seen in helping realtors to find customers. When he became a full-time realtor there, he said, he realized there was even more to like, such as the collaborative workplace environment and accessible leadership. Reilly Realtor’s top leaders “look at their agents as clients,” Brown said. “It’s very much an open line of communication, and they value that. They are also quick to implement new ideas.” Reilly Realtors ranks No. 2 among smaller employers in the American-Statesman’s 2018 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project. It’s the fifth consecutive time Reilly has made the rankings Team members said they like working at Reilly Realtors because of the company’s marketing and advertising strategies, promotion of agents, family environment and philanthropic efforts. “It’s a collaborative environment,” Brown said. “People are quick to give ideas on what’s working for them, and what’s not.” Founded 12 years ago, Reilly now has more than 140 staffer members. In the past five years, the company’s annual sales revenue has grown five-fold to $500 million. In the real estate world, personalized websites can be crucial. At Reilly Realtors, agents say that is one of the top draws of the company. Reilly Realtors also offers strong home listing presentations, newsletters, social media content and other help for realtors navigating the crowded Austin marketplace. And employees say they receive REILLY REALTORS continues on 37

From left, Damon Brown, Audra Burtch and Jackie Horton work for Reilly Realtors, a 2018 Top Workplace award winner. [MARK MATSON FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

Top Workplaces 2018 Sunday, November 4, 2018 29

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From left, Rey Funez, Kate Higgins and Derrick Bryant work for AllPro Hospitality, a 2018 Top Workplace award winner. [MARK MATSON FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

AllPro Hospitality workers say passion drives company performance By Nicole Cobler ncobler@statesman.com

fter just one year in Austin, AllPro Hospitality Staffing has made it onto the American-Statesman’s 2018 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project. The boutique hospitality company, led by Turgay Yuksel and Christopher Parkes, provides

staffing around Austin for hotels, event venues and gourmet catering operations. The company ranked No. 3 among small employers in the annual project. That’s pretty impressive considering that AllPro employees are rarely in their office on East 7th Street. They’re out serving food, bartending or setting up events. Despite the realities of the constantly changing hospitality

staffing business, director of operations Kate Higgins said the company is employee-oriented, so it’s no surprise that they are ranked so high. “We really care about our employees,” Higgins said. “We really know our folks and when you walk in the door you get a hug. It’s who we are.” Higgins said she spent 27 years in information technology before realizing that it was time to get

back into the food and beverage industry. “There’s just something about it that once it’s under your skin, you never get over it,” Higgins said about the industry, adding that she missed the camaraderie and the feeling of helping put on a beautiful event. “I get a lot of gratification out of it.” Higgins began as an hourly ALLPRO HOSPITALITY continues on 36

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MARRIOTT continued from 22

hotels around the world and an employee appreciation week each year. “We want to attract people who love traveling, who get out and experience the world,” O’Neal said. Jeffery Luong, a lead cook at the hotel, has worked at the Renaissance for five years and said he appreciates Marriott’s benefits. But more importantly, Luong said, he appreciates that his employer trusts him to do what he loves. “I’m not here to push frozen food,” Luong said, adding that the hotel’s executive chef encourages him to build menus and create dishes. “That’s very satisfying to me.” Cruz Hernandez, food and beverage team lead and coffee shop barista, said she enjoys having the chance to meet people from all walks of life. Hernandez previously

“It’s more than pay and benefits. I think that it is providing people opportunities to learn and advance every year.”

“We’re always helping each other. It can get hard sometimes — lines of people waiting for coffee or food — so I think the relationship we built in our departments is an awesome relationship.”

Jill O’Neal Human resources director

Cruz Hernandez Food and beverage team lead/coffee shop barista

worked in the cafeteria of the American-Statesman, where the same employees would show up at the kitchen each day. But at the Marriott, her

customer base changes daily, and she meets people from different cultures, ethnicities and the occasional celebrity. “It was different because

over here you deal with different people,” she said of the always changing customers. “You get to learn about their culture.”

Sunday, November 4, 2018

Hernandez started working for the company nine years ago at the Courtyard Marriott Austin hotel. She moved to the Renaissance Hotel six years ago, starting as a server before working her way up to food and beverage lead. Hernandez said she’s stuck around because of the hotel’s management and staff. “We’re always helping each other,” she said. “It can get hard sometimes — lines of people waiting for coffee or food — so I think the relationship we built in our departments is an awesome relationship.” And the perks — like the company’s discounts at Marriott hotels worldwide — don’t hurt, said Hernandez. “Employees need to have that appreciation,” Hernandez said. “I think for a lot of people, that’s what they’re looking for when they come to a company — the benefits, the way they take care of their employees.”

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FAVOR continued from 18

experience for customers, runners and the restaurants and other businesses that partner with Favor. She and her team get steady feedback from customers, runners and business partners about what they like about their online link to Favor and what they want to change. Her team works with the programming team to steadily update, expand and improve the applications. “We have to have strong technology to enable great service,” she said. From her start with the company, she said, she was impressed with how many smart people were working to improve look, feel and capabilities of Favor’s underlying technology. “I am always intellectually stimulated here,” she said. “There are so many smart people here and everyone is positive and we are always looking at some big problem that we are trying to solve. “We are informal, high-energy, creative and fast-paced. We still have all these lofty goals we are trying to meet. But we have fun too. We laugh all day long. But we work really hard, but you can laugh too. It is nice to be in a job where you are excited about coming to work. They hire really smart people here and then they put full trust in them.” Senior software engineer Alex Koshy noticed Favor not long after he moved to Austin in 2015. He says he liked the delivery service and, as a mobile app developer, he liked the company’s apps. He left his own business as a software developer to join Favor last year. “The big thing for me was being part of a team that was really driven and coming to work every day with people who are really motivated,” Koshy said. “The amount of work we have gotten done

Favor’s headquarters in downtown Austin. [PHOTOS BY STEPHEN SPILLMAN / FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

The kitchen and dinning area of Favor’s headquarters.

with a small team is incredible. The company has developed mobile applications for customers, for its runners and for participating merchants and restaurants. And it also has developed a software “dashboard” that enables managers to keep track of what is

happening in the fast-paced delivery business. The software continues to evolve and grow with the business. And Koshy’s team works to incorporate changes, some of them recommended by customers, merchants or runners.

Marketing manager Donald Smolik, left, visual designer Dakota Pendley and Roger Chavez play an arcade machine built by Favor employees.

As a software developer, he regularly interacts with co-workers in marketing, branding and operations.

“The company still feels like a startup,” Koshy said. “It feels like a rocket ship that is changing over time.”

Top Workplaces 2018 Sunday, November 4, 2018 33

From left, Nathan Callahan, Jessica Galvan, Cassie Davis and Zuleima Rodriguez are employees of Progressive Insurance.

PROGRESSIVE continued from 10

was the relaxed dress code,” said Zuleima Rodriguez, a claims adjuster who has worked with Progressive in Austin for a little over a year. “They don’t tell you how to dress. You can wear tennis shoes. She can be comfortable or dress it up. Some days I want to dress up and other days I don’t.” Rodriguez said she enjoys the company’s diverse workplace and that Progressive encourages its employees to form friendships with co-workers. Its employee resource group program allows workers with common interests to meet together at work. Rodriguez helped start a book club with co-workers that they called the Pedantic Pandas. She describes such groups within the company as a sort of “buddy system.” “They are trying to bring people together,” she said. “I love that.” Nathan Callahan, a senior claims representative, has worked with Progressive for two year. He is now part of a leadership development

program where he works with new claims representatives and helps them get acclimated to being a claims adjuster. New claims representatives start out at a more gradual pace and get feedback from coaches like Callahan after each telephone claims report they handle. The caseload for new adjusters is increased over a period of several weeks as new workers become more efficient. “There is a steep learning curve and I get to manage that,” Callahan said. “I get to see a lot of personal growth. I get to see the light bulb in

their eyes when they use the training.” Callahan also is active in a few employee resource groups, including Toastmasters, which encourages people to become more accomplished public speakers, and a group called LGBT Plus, which is focused on issues related to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-sexual communities. Callahan said he prizes the company’s openness and support of diversity in the workplace. “I can bring my whole self to work,” he said.

The Progressive Insurance campus in Austin includes a private lactation room for employees. Progressive is the No. 1-ranked large employer in the American-Statesman’s 2018 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project. [PHOTOS BY RICARDO B. BRAZZIELL / AMERICANSTATESMAN]

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CIRRUS LOGIC continued from 12

efficiency (of his team) and the humility. I like the skill level — the skill level here is very high. There is no coasting — not by them and not by me.” For Javier Robles, a manager for global tech services, Cirrus is his first tech employer. Robles previously worked in IT support in higher education and in the health care industry in Pennsylvania, before being hired by Cirrus two years ago. Robles said what impresses him about Cirrus Logic is the openness of management and the company’s heart, which touched the lives of his family and relatives in Puerto Rico. Robles was born and raised in New Jersey, but his parents were from Lares, a mountain town in Puerto Rico. When Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in 2017, Robles’ parents were caught in the storm as they visited their families on the island. It took days for them to get to the airport in San Juan and get back to New Jersey. Once back on the mainland, they worked with their church to gather supplies for their family in Lares, but there was no way to transport the needed supplies to the village, because the storm had destroyed much the island’s transportation infrastructure. Robles called top managers at Cirrus to see if they could help. The company contracted with a courier company and arranged for the supplies to be picked up in New Jersey and air-freighted to Puerto Rico and then trucked to Lares. The company also bought and shipped a gasolinepowered generator to Lares, because most of the electrical system in the island was ruined. The generator powered a refrigerator that kept vital medicines cool and provided ice for Robles’ family and their neighbors. Finally, the company bought

Franz Weller, left, and Javier Robles work for Cirrus Logic, a 2018 Top Workplace award winner [MARK MATSON FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

“It is different here. At other companies, you are not empowered by leadership to talk with leaders and make something happen. At Cirrus they encourage a dialogue and a conversation to make things happen. They empower you to resolve problems.” Javier Robles | manager for global tech services

food, baby supplies and other needed personal items and shipped them to Lares. Cirrus also sent supplies to help the Puerto Rican families of other company workers. “My family (in Puerto Rico) shared with their neighbors. There was no money to buy food and no electricity,” Robles said. A family member on the island texted Robles and said they were

overwhelmed by the help they received. “You don’t understand how grateful they are. They (typically) don’t get help like this.” The help that Cirrus gave to his family when it was in dire need made a huge impact on Robles. He got emotional when he talked about his family’s plight and the help they got from Cirrus. “I have been trying to find

a way to thank the company (and the people involved at Cirrus),” he said. “There was no publicity” or taking credit. “The selflessness of the act by the company and everyone involved — that to me was what made the difference.”

Robles said his experience demonstrates the accessibility of management to employees. “It is different here,” he said. “At other companies, you are not empowered by leadership to talk with leaders and make something happen. At Cirrus they encourage a dialogue and a conversation to make things happen. They empower you to resolve problems.”

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Q2 SOFTWARE continued from 14

an employee event at a local brewery to sponsor a kennel at the Austin Humane Society to deliver vaccinations and housing for animals. The project involved learning more about the work the Humane Society does and spreading the word to coworkers. “We had a tally (of contributions) at the end of it and we surpassed our goal,” he said. “I always have had a love for just helping people out. I like the community aspect of bringing employees together and the opportunity to get to know other employees.” On the job, Quiros is part of a technical team that conducts stress tests on new software being installed at its customer’s businesses. It’s important work, because banks, credit unions and other financial organizations can’t afford to have glitches

“We are happy employees and we are the ones taking care of the customers.”

“We work hard to create and maintain a culture that gives people opportunities to get involved where they want.”

“Everyone on my team is superhelpful with one another. I can depend on my coworkers.”

Anthony Hagood

Sarah Handlos

Orlando Quiros

customer support manager

creative strategist

software implementations engineer

that threaten reliability. Quiros said he enjoys the technical challenges of programming software fixes and the team aspect of his work. “Everyone on my team is super-helpful with one

another,” he said. “I can depend on my coworkers.” Anthony Hagood, a customer support manager, is part of a team that assists customers in running Q2’s software system. His work puts him

in touch with coworkers throughout the company as he hunts for answers to customer questions. Part of Q2’s philosophy is that employee happiness translates into good customer

service, which is critical to its success. “It absolutely works,” Hagood said. “We are happy employees and we are the ones taking care of the customers.”

36 Sunday, November 4, 2018 Top Workplaces 2018

Derrick Bryant | Events captain

“We really care about our employees. We really know our folks and when you walk in the door you get a hug. It’s who we are.”

Rey Funez | Event captain

Kate Higgins | director of operations

ALLPRO HOSPITALITY continued from 30

employee for AllPro before being promoted to director of operations at the beginning of September. Despite the promotion, she said she’s still ready to jump on any job, even if that means washing dishes if an employee can’t get to work right away. And Higgins said all the staff members are trained to be just as professional as the full-time employees at a hotel or wedding venue. “These folks really own it,” Higgins said about the AllPro staff. “Even if they are not employees of The Line or whatever hotel it is, they work like they are.” AllPro Hospitality is made up of 55 employees, but there are

more than 200 seasonal or on-call employees, according to Parkes, the company’s managing partner. One of those employees is Derrick Bryant, an events captain for AllPro. Bryant moved to Austin a year ago to work part-time and manage a local band. He previously worked for a paint retailer for eight years before making the switch to the food and beverage industry. Bryant started working parttime for AllPro, and after just six months on the job, he was promoted to a full-time position as an event captain. “It’s truly night and day,” Bryant said about the transition to AllPro, adding that he feels valued “100 percent.” That starts at the top, according

to Bryant. The two managing partners — Yuksel and Parkes — have decades of combined hospitality experience in the hospitality industry. Yuksel, the company’s founder, has 15 years of hospitality experience in the city and was ranked No. 1 in the world for customer satisfaction during his time at the W Hotel Austin. Parkes worked in managerial positions at the RitzCarlton, Four Seasons Hotel and Hilton. “Every time I see those guys it’s always a handshake and a hug,” Bryant said. Rey Funez, who is also an event captain for AllPro, said it’s the leadership and quality of AllPro’s staff that makes him excited to go to work.

“The kind of attitude (Yuksel and Parkes) bring to the company makes you want to work for them,” Funez said of his bosses. The kitchen is always stocked at AllPro’s building, but employees are rarely in the office since they work around town for events. For those in the office, the company offers complimentary gym access, onsite pool access, a fully stocked break room and more. And although perks are the new buzzword in business and technology, the AllPro staff doesn’t seem to be focused on freebies. At least they’re not on Bryant’s mind while working for AllPro. “It’s not important to me,” Bryant said. “It’s more about, ‘Hey man, we really appreciate you for what you’ve done for this client.’”

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REILLY REALTORS continued from 28

some financial incentives or gifts if they surpass home sale goals. “At Reilly, we are able to promote our own business and brand,” said Jackie Horton, who became a realtor at Reilly Realtors 10 years ago. “They’ve provided more of an opportunity for potential clients because of our website. We have some of the best SEO (search engine optimization) programs.” It’s not just what Reilly Realtors does inside its office, however, that makes the company popular. The agency also said it gives a portion of its revenue to organizations such as Capital Area Food Bank, Austin’s SAFE Alliance and the Austin Animal Center, and it volunteers at other charitable programs. Reilly Realtors also recently formed volunteer-led committees for educational, social, and philanthropic

“There’s a lot of work that is done behind the scenes. That allows us to do what we do best, which is to sell homes.”

“At Reilly, we are able to promote our own business and brand. They’ve provided more of an opportunity for potential clients because of our website. We have some of the best SEO (search engine optimization) programs.”

“It’s a collaborative environment. People are quick to give ideas on what’s working for them, and what’s not.”

Audra Burtch

Damon Brown Jackie Horton

purposes. The committees schedule educational classes, team lunches and happy hours and volunteer efforts.

Audra Burtch, a realtor who began working at the company more than four years ago, said Reilly executives’ willingness

to go beyond their real estate duties is why people continue to think highly of the agency. “There’s a lot of work that

is done behind the scenes,” Burtch said. “That allows us to do what we do best, which is to sell homes.”

38 Sunday, November 4, 2018 Top Workplaces 2018

Dosh, a No. 1-ranked small employer for the 2018 Top Workplaces.

Pomi Fowler speaks with Brad Brodigan in a meeting area at Dosh. [PHOTOS BY RICARDO B. BRAZZIELL / AMERICAN-STATESMAN] DOSH continued from 26

quality of the engineering team as well as the company’s mission. “I get to work with some of the best engineers in Austin and impact peoples’ lives,” he said. “There is a level of openness and mission and transparency here. And we are striving to be better every day.” Because the company is moving so fast, new employees are given mentors who help acclimate them to the pace and culture. Vu said he buys into Dosh’s long-term vision. “I plan to stick to it here until we become a $10 billion company,” he said. “That is a round number that we use to motivate ourselves.” James Fenelon, the company’s director of product, said he appreciates Dosh’s leadership and its clear communications with employees and customers. “It has a clarity of purpose that resonated with me. That provides focus for us. It gives everyone a touchstone

to understand where they add value in what we are trying to accomplish.” His job involves interacting with talented and motivated co-workers who are all moving fast to push the company forward. “You are expected to get in the boat and row,” he said. “You have to make sure you are keeping up. We have a lot of ambitious, talented hardworking people here.” All three employees pointed to transparency from the company’s top leadership. At the company’s all-hands meetings every Thursday, employees get to voice their own ideas and ask questions. “People are definitely heard here,” said Cheifetz, “and they definitely have an impact on the company.” Because employees all want to push hard to promote the company’s success, the allhands meetings can generate lively discussions. “There is going to be a healthy debate about things and you have to be ready

James Fenelon Director of Product

for these debates,” Fenelon said. “Everyone is trying to take things to a higher level. That requires a certain balance between inventiveness and rigor” about dealing with financial transactions that involve consumers and merchants. He said the openness and energy of the company’s employee meetings is an result of its strong leadership and clear mission. Feedback from coworkers, Fenelon said, provides important feedback to make things better. “I am loving it,” he said. “I intend to ride it out as long as they will have me.”

Andrei Faji speaks with Marcy Comer in a meeting room at Dosh.

CEO of Dosh Ryan Wuerch updates his employees on the progress of the company.

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40 Sunday, November 4, 2018 Top Workplaces 2018