Top Workplaces 2019

TOP WORKPLACES 2019 of

G R E AT E R

AUSTIN

Happy is no accident

After 10 years of Top Workplaces surveys, the lessons are clear:

It takes hard work to build a great culture.

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CONTRIBUTORS Editors: Barry Harrell Kirk Ladendorf

TOP WORKPLACES 2019

At Austin’s best workplaces, employees are supported and appreciated

Reporters: Kirk Ladendorf Kara Carlson

Photo editor: Nell Carroll

Photographers: Ricardo B. Brazziell Mark Matson Stephen Spillman

Section design: Jeff Morris, GateHouse Media Center for News & Design

ON THE COVER: Representing some of the top-ranking employers on the American-Statesman’s 2019 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project are, from left: Victoria Spence of Renaissance Austin Hotel; Nehemiah Francis of Progressive Insurance; Amanda Dudley of Realty Austin; Akiko Nagamine of Alegion; and Virna Jameson of the Texas Association of Counties

Board member Nathan Cradduck speaks during a board meeting at the Texas Association of Counties in October. The Texas Association of Counties ranks No. 1 among midsized employers in the American-Statesman’s 2019 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project.

[STEPHEN SPILLMAN/FOR THE AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

By Kirk Ladendorf For the American-Statesman

W

hat are the best places to work in Central Texas?

For the 10th consecutive year the Austin American-Statesman is helping to answer that question.

After surveys were completed at 138

area companies, the American-Statesman has narrowed the list to 100 employers worthy of Top Workplaces designation.

The surveyed companies employ more than 37,000 people in the Austin area. Of those workers, more than 22,000 completed survey questionnaires, The surveys and selection process were conducted by Energage, a

Pennsylvania-based company with longstanding expertise in employee engagement surveys.

The Statesman solicited nominations for Top Workplaces, but the newspaper does not know which companies surveyed did not make the list of ranked employers.

See WORKPLACES, Q11

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C OV E R S T O R Y

Workplace lessons:

Happy doesn’t happen by accident

By Kirk Ladendorf For the American-Statesman

A

fter doing something for 10 years running, you might pick up a few lessons learned.

That’s the case with the AmericanStatesman’s Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project.

This is the 10th year the Statesman has produced the project, which identifies area companies that get high marks from their employees.

The Statesman’s partner company in the project, Energage, has surveyed more than 200,000 Austin-area employees at hundreds of companies during that time.

And Statesman reporters, photographers and editors have put together profiles on

See LESSONS, Q25

CONSISTENT WINNERS Here are the Austin-area employers that have made the American-Statesman’s Top Workplaces rankings eight times or more in the past 10 years:

Large employers Cirrus Logic — 10 years Q2 Software — 9 years Realty Austin — 8 years ARA Diagnostic Imaging — 8 years Teacher Retirement System of Texas — 8 years

Mid-sized employers JB Goodwin Realtors — 9 years SAM LLC — 9 years Big Commerce — 8 years Encompass Health — 9 years

Small employers

Realty Austin co-founder Yvette Boatwright encourages team members during a construction project for Habitat for Humanity in Northeast Austin. Realty Austin staffers gather once a week to do work for Habitat for Humanity.

[RICARDO B. BRAZZIELL/AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

Capitol Services — 10 years The Steam Team —9 years Watkins Insurance Group —9 years Ryan LLC — 9 years St. Gabriel’s Catholic School — 8 years

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GREATER AUSTIN TOP LARGE EMPLOYERS

A staffer gets some work down at Realty Austin’s office in the Triangle development on North Lamer Boulevard. Realty Austin ranks No. 1 among large employers in the American-Statesman’s 2019 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project.[RICARDO B. BRAZZIELL / AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

T O P W O R K P L A C E S W I T H 5 0 0 O R M O R E E M P L OY E E S I N T H E G R E AT E R A U S T I N M E T R O A R E A Rank /Employer / What it does/ Austin-area employees*

8. Indeed.com / Online job search / 2,430

1. Realty Austin / Real estate /590

9. ARA Diagnostic Imaging / Diagnostics, imaging and laboratory services / 860

2. Progressive Insurance / Insurance industry / 1,809

10. SHI International Corp. / Technology products and services / 1,094

3. Cirrus Logic / Semiconductor industry / 802

11. Q2 Software / Financial services software / 865

4. Opcity / Real estate marketing technology / 643

12 Teacher Retirement System of Texas / Public pension fund / 694

5. Silicon Labs / Semiconductor industry / 708

13. Eanes Independent School District / Public school district / 1,198

6. Austin Regional Clinic / Medical group / 1,911

14. Accenture / Public strategy and consulting / 3,359

7. Charles Schwab / Investment management / 2,140

*Number of employees is as of Aug. 16, and is based on information provided by each employer.

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Charity, training set Realty Austin apart

Each September, Realty Austin staff members turn into construction workers, teaming up to help build a home for the Habitat for Humanity program.

[RICARDO B. BRAZZIELL/AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

By Kirk Ladendorf For the American-Statesman

W

hen September rolls around, it’s time for Realty Austin’s real estate sales team to turn into construction workers.

Many of them get together each Wednesday to build a home for the Habitat for Humanity program.

The entire process takes about 12 weeks. Dozens of agents and

employees participate.

Some show up occasionally, but Jeffrey Schnabel, along with some others, makes a point of showing up every Wednesday.

“I went to the first Habitat build and said, ‘This is like therapy! I want to do this again,’” Schnabel said.

So he did. “I am there every week.”

Part of the Habitat custom is that the family that eventually will own the house takes part in the construction effort.

“When you see them at the end of the build it gives you a feeling that you cannot replace,” Schnabel said.

Realty Austin, which started 15 years ago in the home of co-founders Jonathan and Yvette Boatwright, has blossomed into a successful real estate sales organization with more than 550 agents around Austin.

The company ranked No. 1 among large employers in the AmericanStatesman’s 2019 Top Workplaces of

Greater Austin project.

The company prides itself on its training programs, its savvy use of online technology, its collaborative atmosphere — and on its history of giving back to the community. The brokerage is an active supporter of Habitat as well as other nonprofit organizations that provide housing to the needy.

See CHARITY, Q27

TOP WORKPLACES 2019

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Progressive keeps focus on ‘core values’

From left, Pia Sargent, Nehemiah Francis and Jill Nicholson are all Progressive employees. Progressive ranks No. 2 among large employers in the American-Statesman’s 2019 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project. [MARK MATSON FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

By Kirk Ladendorf For the American-Statesman

E

mployees at Progressive Insurance’s big office in North Austin talk easily about the welcoming culture and values that make them happy to work for the nation’s largest automotive insurance provider.

“Progressive has this drive to improve even when things are going well,” said Pia Sargent, who is a centralized claims manager and has

worked for the company in Austin for 14 years. “There is a high level of integrity here. The leadership group is committed to learning about people.”

Progressive ranked No. 2 among large employers in the AmericanStatesman’s 2019 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project.

One of the concepts the company teaches is the notion of “servant leadership” where managers actively coach the employees they work with and help them set goals for advancing their

careers with the company.

“We are here to serve our customers,” Sargent said. “And how we do that well is to make sure employees are being nurtured to grow and develop.

When you do that well, it will help us serve our customers better.”

Workers say they like the company’s relaxed dress standards, the cafeteria and the onsite clinic that offers basic health services at discounted rates.

“What makes Progressive unique is our core values,” Sargent said. “My

dad was in the military and we traveled around a lot. He taught me to treat others the way you want to be treated.

That was something I learned as a child and something I teach my children. It is respecting others.”

That spirit resonates through how people interact based on core values, which include: integrity, the Golden Rule, creating and meeting goals and objectives, striving for excellence and See VALUES, Q30

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Q11

WORKPLACES

area workers explaining in the 2019 survey what matters most to them: “Favor is an incredibly transparFrom Page Q2 ent and feedback-driven company.

It is by far, the best company I have worked for in my career. I always feel That was designed to encourage comencouraged to bring recommendapanies to participate without risking tions, suggestions and feedback. I love embarrassment if they didn’t make the that even as we have grown, we have list. maintained a scrappy mentality.”

Energage asked workers to rate their “My boss allows me to work indeemployers on such issues as leadership pendently and trusts me to do my job and direction, ethics and values and without micromanagement,” said how well employees are treated. an employee at Dosh, which offers Based on the survey results, people automatic cash back for consumers and are looking for much more than a payothers who make purchases with affilicheck when they choose where to work. ated companies. “I love the team that They want employers that support I work with. Dosh hires really great their career growth provide training for people and it shows. I also love the advancement. They want to be part of workspace and the amazing perks that companies that they judge to be “going Dosh provides.” in the right direction.” They want to “I am surrounded by brilliant, motifeel that their work is appreciated and vated individuals who strive to make that management is open to employee the company succeed,” said a worker concerns and ideas. In addition, they at Silicon Laboratories, a semiconwant companies that support a good ductor design company. “I am given work/life balance and that foster good the freedom to take care of my health cooperation among employees from and personal life. The environment various parts of the business. encourages growth in and out of the Here are some examples of Austin workplace.”

Staff members use a meeting space at Realty Austin’s new office in the Triangle development on North Lamer Boulevard. Realty Austin ranks No. 1 among large employers in the American-Statesman’s 2019 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project.

[RICARDO B. BRAZZIELL / AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

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Cirrus Logic ‘keeps upping its game’ for workers

Austin technology company Cirrus Logic has made the rankings in each of the 10 years the Austin American-Statesman has been conducting its Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project. [COURTESY OF CIRRUS LOGIC]

By Kirk Ladendorf For the American-Statesman

M

any of the long-time employers at Cirrus Logic could give you a pretty good estimate of when the semiconductor design company started pushing hard to create a better work environment.

Top management changed in 2007 and the new CEO Jason Rhode convened an internal task force to come up with ideas on how the company could bolster morale and workplace

enjoyment both to retain its talented employees and to recruit the newcomers it would need to grow.

Over time. the company’s entire culture was reshaped to build enjoyment and extraordinary collaboration for its products. It helped, of course, that Cirrus Logic’s business success began to blossom.

Cirrus Logic ranks No. 3 among large employers in the AmericanStatesman’s 2019 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project. Cirrus has made the rankings each of the 10 years

the American-Statesman has conducted the project.

The company’s many changes over the yeas have included leaving a sterile industrial headquarters setting in Southeast Austin and eventually moving to a hip new campus in Downtown Austin on West Sixth Street.

The way forward meant doing more to recognize the good work that employees were doing and giving them the physical and social environment to make the workplace more enjoyable. It also meant providing more advanced

training for employees in everything from highly technical training to public speaking to guitar playing.

It also meant Friday afternoon happy hours where employees and managers could meet and talk with one another in a relaxed setting.

There have been dozens of different steps over the years, including the building of a gym across West Avenue from company headquarters where employees could work out with weights See CIRRUS, Q13

TOP WORKPLACES 2019

CIRRUS From Page Q12

weights or go to yoga classes.

The latest step in the process began early this year with the creation of a company wellness center, where employees and their families could go for health exams, prescriptions, vaccinations and other basic health procedures.

The verdict? Another thumbs up.

“It has been really great,” said David Biven, a longtime Cirrus employee who works in business development. “Now I get to walk across the street to go to the clinic instead of driving across town. The staff there is really nice and the place is great.”

Leslie White, the paralegal in the company’s small legal department, agreed.

“It is amazing how convenient it is,” she said.

Because she suffers from allergies, White got a medication strategy to keep allergies from becoming worse and potentially becoming a respiratory infection.

David Biven, a longtime Cirrus employee who works in business development, praises the company for creating a wellness center, where employees and their families can go for health exams, prescriptions, vaccinations and other basic health procedures.

[MARK MATSON /FOR THE AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

“This company keeps upping its game,” she said. “It is very special that we have the wellness center. It is a great benefit for employees and their families. I don’t know what we can do to up our game any more.

“I don’t know how many people can say that they love their job. I can say that I absolutely love my job. It is like a family here.”

As a paralegal at a technology company, White’s job is heavily in intellectual property law to help the company protect the new technical advances it creates.

She estimates the company has roughly 3,400 pending or granted patents.

Because much of Cirrus’ work is tied to creating chips that deal with lowpower audio technology for mobile devices including cell phones, the company’s culture has a strong audio theme to it. It has a large sound stage in a basement where happy hours are celebrated on Friday to live music. Its engineers who win patent awards are given brightly painted electric guitars.

The company also has become a sponsor of the Austin City Limits music show on public television.

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Sunday, November 3, 2019 13

That commitment to culture hasn’t stopped in Austin. When Cirrus bought Scotland-based Wolfson Microelectronics five years ago, it went to great lengths to transport its collaborative culture to Scotland.

That meant sending dozens of engineers from Austin to Scotland and Scotland to Austin to get a feel for each other and the workplace environment Cirrus was shooting for. It also called for building a new office building in downtown Edinburgh that employees say rivals the Austin headquarters for casual chic. Five years later, the Cirrus operation is rated among the best places to work in Scotland.

Biven’s work with Cirrus in recent years has been centered on business development, which frequently means finding tech companies with strong engineering teams and promising technology that might be good acquisitions. So his team researches the technical advances of prospective acquisition candidates, but it also carefully gauges the potential cultural fit. The company is open to strategic acquisitions, he said, “as long as they don’t screw up our culture.”

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GREATER AUSTIN TOP MIDSIZED EMPLOYERS

T O P W O R K P L A C E S W I T H 1 5 0 T O O R 4 9 9 E M P L OY E E S I N T H E G R E AT E R A U S T I N M E T R O A R E A

Events coordinator Kassandra Gutierrez walks through the lobby of the Texas Association of Counties’ offices in Austin.

[STEPHEN SPILLMAN /FOR THE AMERICA-STATESMAN]

Print services supervisor Dirk Ruedas gets some work down in the print and mail production area at the Texas Association of Counties’ offices in Austin. The Texas Association of Counties ranks No. 1 among midsized employers in the American-Statesman’s 2019 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project.[STEPHEN SPILLMAN/FOR THE AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

Rank. Employer

What it does

1. Texas Association of Counties

Nonprofit

Austin-area employees*

2. Renaissance Austin Hotel

Hotel

215

3. JBGoodwin Realtors

Real estate

428

4. Favor

On-demand delivery service

291

5. Endeavor Real Estate Group

Real estate development and property management

162

6. Bartlett Cocke General Contractors

Commercial construction

166

7. Independence Title

Title and closing Services

347

8. Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union

Credit union

325

168

9. Encompass Health - Home Health & Hospice

Home Health care services

319

10 Westminster

Health care nonprofit

242

11 Abrigo

Banking security software and consulting

172

12 Panda Restaurant Group

Restaurant chain

322

13. RigUp

Digital Marketplace for energy industry

283

14. SAM LLC

Geospatial solutions

375

15. Texas Water Development Board

State government

285

16. RetailMeNot

Online marketing services

367

17. Typhoon Texas Waterpark

Water park

300

18. National Domestic Violence Hotline

Social services nonprofit

156

19. CBRE

Commercial real estate services

202

20. uShip

E-Commerce marketplace

191

21. AWL

Lead generation for insurance industry

436

22. BigCommerce

Software

482

23. Enverus

Software

331

24. Truluck's Seafood, Steak and Crab House

Restaurant

150

25. Amplify Credit Union

Credit union

223

26. Informatica

Software

302 150

27. Alchemy Systems

Training services

28. Embree Group of Companies

Commercial contractor and developer

186

29 Hat Creek Burger Co.

Restaurant chain

245

30 EBQuickstart

Sales and marketing

200

31 People's Community Clinic

Health care nonprofit

257

*Number of employees is as of Aug. 16, and is based on information provided by each employer.

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Collaboration is the watchword for Texas Association of Counties staff

Brian Saucedo works in the print and mail production area at the Texas Association of Counties’ offices in Austin. The Texas Association of Counties ranks No. 1 among midsized employers in the American-Statesman’s 2019 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project.

[STEPHEN SPILLMAN/FOR THE AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

By Kirk Ladendorf For the American-Statesman

T

he Texas Association of Counties turned 50 years old this year, but employees at the nonprofit organization that serves all 254 county governments in the state say they are just hitting their stride.

The association employs more than 160 staffers in Austin who serve as a information resource for county officials. They also coordinate health insurance and benefits programs for many counties and operate a "risk management pool" that covers liability and property insurance needs for

county governments.

The organization also helps the counties track state legislation that could affect their operations and it provides pointers about how and when to contact lawmakers when new legislation is under consideration.

Employees say the association's values center on service and integrity, along with building and maintaining the trust of their statewide membership.

"Those are the things we live by," said Kelly Flores, who manages a team that oversees the risk management pool for counties' liability and property coverage and other insurance needs.

The Texas Association of Counties ranks No. 1 among mid-sized employers in the American-Statesman's 2019 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project.

"I believe in the mission of TAC and I believe in local government," said Haley Click, who is director of education services. "Our members are the salt of the earth. They are so eager to serve it makes you want to help them."

Click, who started work for the association 15 years ago as a college intern, has been given the go-ahead to begin a series of new programs to benefit members. One of them, called Leadership 254, aims to develop the professional and personal leadership

skills of county officials.

“It has been the highlight of my career,” she said. “We work with our members to create the curriculum they need. I love the results we have gotten.

This is a life-changing program for many of our members we are hearing. It is focused on the professional and personal growth. We are trying to break down the barriers for each office in the county courthouse. We are trying to help these officials work together to better do their work.”

She also helped developed the association’s internal program aimed at See TAC, Q29

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For Renaissance Austin, happy staff equals happy customers

From left are Renaissance Austin hotel employees Ali Sweeney, Tony Martins and Victoria Spence. Renaissance Austin is the No. 2-ranked midsized employer in the American-Statesman’s 2019 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project. [MARK MATSON/ FOR THE AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

By Kara Carlson kcarlson@statesman.com

K

eeping a 492-room hotel running smoothly — and its hundreds of daily guests happy — is no small feat.

Keeping its staff wanting to stick around for years might be an even bigger accomplishment.

Employees of the Renaissance Austin say the hotel’s management is able to do exactly that. The hotel, part of the Marriott chain, is the No. 2-ranked midsized employer in the AmericanStatesman’s 2019 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project. It’s the sixth time the hotel has made the rankings, which are in their 10th year.

Tony Martins, a beverage and food

operations manager who has worked at the Renaissance Austin for about a year and a half and has worked for Marriott for four years, said a positive attitude starts with the leadership team. The hotel’s success comes down to Marriott’s culture, which he said is “taking care of the staff so the staff can take care of the guests.”

Orchestrating the hundreds of

employees can mean a lot of flexibility and moving pieces, but employees said management is open and communicative with issues big and small.

Employee also praise a benefits package that goes beyond mainstream offerings like health insurance, paid time off and 401k matches.

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TOP WORKPLACES 2019

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HAPPY From Page Q16

As part of the Marriott hotel group, employees get discounted rooms at more than 3,000 hotels worldwide. That’s on top of perks like discounted meals daily, stock purchase plan, immediate accrual of vacation days, a company credit union and related benefits, and dry cleaning for uniformed associates.

Ali Sweeney, an event manager and meeting coordinator at the hotel, said the company’s employee development options are important to her.

Employees are given career planning, cross-training and development programs to allow them to prepare for promotions at the Renaissance Austin or other Marriott locations.

“I have a great team I work with and I’m trained for whatever I need, and I have the resources I need to get any job done,” Sweeney said.

Sweeney transferred from a Marriott hotel in New Jersey to the Renaissance Austin a couple years ago. Within a See HAPPY, Q21

Victoria Spence Victoria Spence has workd for the Renaissance Austin for five years. “I never thought any company would actually take time and effort to even acknowledge an employee or just the department,” Spence said. [MARK MATSON/ FOR THE AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

Ali Sweeney is an event manager and meeting coordinator for the Renaissance Austin hotel. The Renaissance Austin is the No. 2-ranked midsized employer in the American-Statesman’s 2019 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project.

[MARK MATSON/ FOR THE AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

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Personal touch resonates with team at JB Goodwin Realtors

By Kirk Ladendorf For the American-Statesman

T

yson Hombroek became a real estate agent two years ago after deciding his first career as a structural engineer wasn’t working for him. He was missing the social interaction that he wanted on the job.

Tenchita Marr and Michelle Mohr were both schoolteachers. And both decided to leave the classroom for new challenges and the chance for a better income.

All of them found their way to JB Goodwin Realtors, a brokerage that has become a substantial player in Austin since starting here in the early 1970s.

The agency has more than 400 employees, brokers and agents in Austin.

Hombroek, Marr and Mohr say they picked Goodwin for its reputation, its strong training programs and its supportive culture.

Goodwin ranked No. 3 among midsized employers in the AmericanStatesman’s 2019 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project.

Hombroek said he talked with several brokerages before starting at Goodwin more than two years ago.

“It was the warm welcome that I appreciated,” he said. “They were more personal. They were interested in me being successful. They have a huge continuing real estate education effort.

When you start out, you want that kind of support.

“The relationships I have made here are important to me. I consider these people my friends. We call each other for advice. I have friendships throughout the company both among experienced brokers and newcomers.”

For Marr and Mohr, Goodwin’s strong training and support programs were a big plus. As former teachers, they recognized the value of education and getting questions answered as they were entering a new field.

See HAPPY, Q28

From left, JBGoodwin Realtors staffers Michelle Mohr, Tyson Hombroek and Tenchita Marr. JBGoodwin Realtors ranks No. 3 among midsized employers in the American-Statesman’s 2019 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project.

[MARK MATSON /FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

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GREATER AUSTIN TOP SMALLER EMPLOYERS T O P W O R K P L A C E S W I T H 1 4 9 O R F E W E R E M P L OY E E S I N T H E G R E AT E R A U S T I N M E T R O A R E A Rank. Employer What it does Austin-area employees* 1. Alegion Artificial intelligence 60 2. The Steam Team Cleaning and restoration 65 3. AllPro Hospitality Staffing Hospitality staffing agency 60 4. Power Home Remodeling Group Home remodeling 99 5. Avalar Austin Real Estate Real estate 50 6. Capital Strategies, a Mass Mutual firm Financial advisors 65 7. Firehouse Animal Health Center 2012 Private Veterinarians 52 8. REMAX 1 Real estate 130 9. Ojo Labs Artificial intelligence 71 10. Soal Technologies IT talent acquisition 51 11. LJA Engineering Engineering 97 12. EEA Consulting Engineers Engineering 65 13. Cosential Software 88 14. Ruiz Salon Salon, beauty services 64 15 360Partners Search marketing and lead generation 61 16 Popp Hutcheson PLLC Law firm 61 17. Belco Equities Property management 101 18. Qualia Real estate 90 19. Texas National Title Title insurance 102 20. St. Gabriel's Catholic School Catholic school 81 21. Ryan LLC Tax advisory services 78 22. Pediatric Healthcare Connection Pediatric home health care 121 23. Cultivate Behavioral Health & Education Behavioral health 83 24. Anaconda Enterprise Software 86 25. Vida Clinic Mental health services 65 26. Cornerstone Home Lending Mortgage industry 56 27. Heritage Title Company of Austin Title services 96 28. T-Mobile Telecommunications 120 29. Visio Financial Services Real estate investment 95 30. Watkins Insurance Group Insurance industry 96 31. Talroo Human resources 70 32. Capitol Services Business services 97 33. Aceable Online drivers education and real estate education 95 34. The Zebra Online insurance marketplace and digital agency 101 35. Broadway Bank Banking 50 36. Greater Texas Credit Credit union 110 37. LawnStarter Landscaping and lawn care 55 38. Texas Realtors Real estate industry association 77 39. Scott Felder Homes Homebuilder 70 40. Aspen Heights Partners Housing developer 84 41. Nutrabolt Life sciences 61 42. Halff Associates Engineering and architecture 105 43. Dosh Technology 90 44. The Container Store Retailer 53 45. First National Bank of Bastrop Bank 131 46. Dropoff Logistics 51 47. Austin Recovery Substance disorder treatment facility 95 48. Austin Habitat for Humanity Nonprofit housing agency 75 49. SKG Workplace furniture and technology 62 50. Presidium Property management and investment 75 51. SecurityNational Mortgage Company Mortgage lending 85 52. Kazoo Software 83 53. Chive Media Group Marketing and branding 85 54. Intelligent Logistics Distribution, logistics and freight 57 55. Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons Physicians practice 122

*Number of employees is as of Aug. 16, and is based on information provided by each employer.

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At Alegion, culture creates ‘a fun ride’ for employees

Alegion has more than 60 employees working in a converted warehouse next to the train tracks in East Austin. The funky chic location is a way to conserve funds for the work ahead, the company says. Alegion ranks No. 1 among small employers in the American-Statesman’s 2019 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project.

[RICARDO B. BRAZZIELL / AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

By Kirk Ladendorf For the American-Statesman

W

orkers at some promising tech startups can give off the sort of energy that comes being a part of a team that just might change the world.

At Austin’s Alegion Inc., the employees exude that upbeat vibe.

The company, which two years ago had fewer than 10 employees, now has more than 60 working in a converted warehouse next to the train tracks in

East Austin. The funky chic location is a way to conserve funds for the work ahead.

Alegion is among a pioneering group of companies in the field of “data labeling” and it is collaborating with several big corporations that are developing artificial intelligencebased systems that could transform their business operations. Its work could potentially help clients make a big impact in fields such as retail, manufacturing, financial services and health care.

Employees say they are excited about the company’s potential and by its value system that embraces collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Alegion ranks No. 1 among small employers in the AmericanStatesman’s 2019 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project.

“This is a rare kind of place to be,” said product marketing manager Akiko Nagamine, who moved to Austin from California to work for Alegion.

“We are helping Fortune 500 companies succeed with their AI (artificial

intelligence) initiatives. It is fun because we are working with the most accelerated and advanced technology out there.”

She said she is excited about the company’s sense of mission and its potential impact on big companies and their customers.

“The industry we work in is fun,” she said. “And the people who make up the company are fun.”

The team is working together well in See ALEGION, Q23

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HAPPY From Page Q17

a year in Austin, she was promoted from working at the front desk to her current position, she said.

“I can see myself having an entire career with them — and that is just starting at the front desk,” Sweeney said.

Martins the hotel promotes a team atmosphere between all departments. If one department is busy, co-workers help each other out, he said.

Victoria Spence, a housekeeper for Renaissance Austin, agreed with that assessment.

“We all work together. We all want to make the guests happy all the time, because it should be like a second home

and we want to be treated the same way,” Spence said.

Spence has worked at the hotel for five years, after working in retail for before joining the hotel business.

She said from the start the attention employees get caught her by surprise.

“I never thought any company would actually take time and effort to even acknowledge an employee or just the department,” Spence said.

Employees said there are often events for recognition of specific employees or departments who have put in hard work, or special treat days to reward the staff.

“I don’t think I would ever want to leave the company,” Spence said. “ This is like a second home to me. Even if I’m dealing with personal issues at home, I can always be here.”

Tony Martins is a beverage and food operations manager at the Renaissance Austin hotel. Martins said the hotel’s success is driven by the culture of its parent company Marriott, which he said is “taking care of the staff so the staff can take care of the guests.”

[MARK MATSON/FOR THE AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

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Steam Team employees say they are part of the family

By Kara Carlson

T

kcarlson@statesman.com

he Steam Team describes itself as a family oriented company.

Employees for the Austinbased company say that’s not just a slogan — it’s a reality.

“They still treat us like there are just 10 people,” said Kevin Klaus, who has been with the company for almost three years and manages large loss projects.

Founded in Austin in 1983, the cleaning, restoration and catastrophe management company has about 65 employees in the Austin area. The Steam Team offers a range of services to homes and businesses, both for routine needs like rug cleaning, and emergency services like smoke damage.

The Steam Team is the No. 2-ranked small employer in the AmericanStatesman’s 2019 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project. It’s the ninth time the company has made the rankings, which are in their 10th year.

Klaus, who has worked in the cleaning and restoration industry for 10 years, said he considers the Steam Team to be the “gold standard” in the Austin metro area.

Klaus said a positive culture drives the office to be full of hard workers, and no one at the company is above pitching in when needed, not even the owners.

Klaus said the company’s ownership cares about him as an individual, and company leaders are known to go out of their way to check on their employees outside of the office.

“Most companies ask what you can do for them,” Klaus said. At the Steam Team, “they ask you what they can do for you,” he said.

Myra Austin, an administrative assistant who has been with the company for about a year, said the company’s atmosphere of open communications is part of what drew her to work there.

“Everyone is ready to teach and everyone’s ready to learn,” Austin said.

Austin said the company’s leaders regularly requests feedback and take it seriously.

“Working for good bosses is a thing that’s very rare,” Austin said. “To know that you’re working for a company that is

See STEAM, Q31

From left, Kevin Klaus and Myra Austin are employed by the Steam Team, the No. 2-ranked small employer in the American-Statesman’s 2019 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project. [MARK MATSON/ FOR THE AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

TOP WORKPLACES 2019 | Sunday, November 3, 2019 23

From left are Alegion employees Akiko Nagamine, Yasser Farra and Saurabh Bagalkar.

Alegion ranks No. 1 among small employers in the American-Statesman’s 2019 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project.

[MARK MATSON / FOR THE AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

ALEGION From Page Q20

part because management planned it that way.

Vice president of engineering Yasser Farra was a leader in developing a formal set of company values before Alegion shifted into more rapid hiring.

The company wanted team players who were ready and willing to share and collaborate with co-workers.

“We hire people who are both learners and teachers,” Farra said. “They are passionate about learning new tricks and they also want to teach each other what they know.”

The company fostered a program

called “Lunch and Learn,” where employees give brief talks about technologies that are related to Alegion’s work.

The idea is to promote a sharing of knowledge inside the company. The company also promotes “guilds,” which are groups of employees who share common personal interests — anything from rock climbing to after-work happy hours on Fridays.

The company’s cultural values include: trust, collaboration, passion, autonomy, impact and innovation. Each concept has a detailed explanation.

Because the company formalized its culture at an early stage, “cultural fit” became part of the hiring process.

Alegion’s managers looked for teamoriented collaborators rather than

“go-it-alone” types.

The cultural values of the company resonate with employees.

“We have to maintain the culture. As we grow quickly, we are the stewards of the culture,” said Kris Westlund, the company’s director of customer success.

He said he sees similarities to another Austin startup he worked at, Big Commerce.

“I saw Big Commerce go from 20 to more than 500 people,” he said.

“There is nothing stopping Alegion from having that kind of trajectory.”

Saurabh Bagalka as an engineer involved with computer vision, which involves giving machines the ability to recognize things from the real world.

He made the move from Chicago because he wanted to live in Austin

and because he wanted to work for a young company that was pushing the envelope in computer science.

“The culture of a startup and the amount of learning you have is greater than at a big company,” he said.

He describes his research team as “cool people.”

“It is a very productive environment and it is a completely enjoyable team.

It is a fun ride to be at Alegion.”

Farra has worked managing software teams for both big and small companies in Austin for the past few decades.

He said he likes this team a lot.

“We have been able to recruit and hire great people,” he said. “And people here are engaged and happy.

Top to bottom in every department these are the best people I have ever worked with.”

24 Sunday, November 3, 2019 | TOP WORKPLACES 2019

Flexibility, community vibe keep workers engaged at AllPro Hospitality

Maria Loera has worked for AllPro Hospitality Staffing for six months, and says the company’s flexibility and culture have won her over. “I’ve found what I’ve been looking for in AllPro,” she says. AllPro Hospitality Staffing is the No. 3-ranked small employer in the American-Statesman’s 2019 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project.[MARK MATSON /FOR THE AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

By Kara Carlson kcarlson@statesman.com

F

lexibility is key for Maria Loera, a St. Edward's University student who splits her time between her job with AllPro Hospitality Staffing and school.

As an employee of the temporary staffing agency, she has worked in a variety of positions including server,

bartender and barback at hotels and catering jobs -- and done so on a variety of schedules, all of which she chooses. Employees use an app that lets them pick up the shifts they want, and trade shifts if needed.

"It’s just great for everyone,” Leora said.

Founded in 2017, AllPro Hospitality Staffing focuses on providing temporary staffing services to luxury hotels,

Sergio Vela is director of operations for AllPro Hospitality Staffing. He says flexibility is key to the company’s success. “We’re just trying to provide the best employees in Austin,” he says. “If we care for one another, there’s not one thing we can’t accomplish together.”

[MARK MATSON /FOR THE AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

event venues and gourmet catering operations. It's headquartered in Austin, with 60 Central Texas employees and 250 employees overall.

AllPro is the No. 3-ranked small employer in the American-Statesman's 2019 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project, and its employees praise the company for its welcoming environment and support system.

Loera, who has been with the

company for six months, said flexibility is just one aspect of the culture AllPro provides.

“I’ve been in a couple jobs, and I leave because of the work experience.

I have the work ethic, but when you don’t have that kind of community behind you, you keep looking for other opportunities,” Loera said. “I’ve found See ALLPRO, Q31

TOP WORKPLACES 2019 | Sunday, November 3, 2019 25

LESSONS From Page Q4

dozens of companies that have ranked highly in the survey.

Here are a few insights that have been gained along the way: — Companies with a vibrant culture and happy, motivated workers don’t happen by accident. Top-ranked employers push hard to create and refine programs to enable employees to feel recognized and valued.

— Good companies put a high priority on employee feedback. It lets them know where they are doing well and where they can improve.

— Two-way communication is crucial in a thriving workplace. Employees want to hear important information from management, but they also want the freedom to express their ideas for improvement and be heard.

— There is no time for resting on laurels. The most highly rated companies keep working on making things better every year.

The companies that are veterans of the Top Workplaces survey recognize all those lessons and more.

Here are some of the comments from their top managers: Jonathan and Yvette Boatwright, owners of Realty Austin, and company operations vice president Courtney Lepore:

The 15-year-old real estate brokerage is known for its commitment to branding, online marketing, training and giving back to the community through its involvement non-profit groups such as Habitat for Humanity.

Top Workplaces serves as an annual measuring stick.

“We take the feedback very seriously,” Lepore said. “We plan every year to achieve No. 1 ranking.”

Ranking high in the survey is part of the company’s annual goal of building its brand in Austin both for potential customers and successful agents it would like to recruit.

Based on feedback management received in the past, the agency increased the level of training it was offering agents to take advantage of some of the high-tech social media tools the company has developed for agents to more easily share information with clients and contacts.

Jonathan Boatwright said the company

J.B. Goodwin founded his Austin agency, JB Goodwin Realtors, in the 1970s. He says his staff members are motivated to rank among the leaders in the American-Statesman’s annual Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project. “We are competitive about Top Workplaces,” he said. “If the company doesn’t rank at the top, we say ‘next year, we will be No.1.’”

[AMERICAN-STATESMAN FILE]

keeps adding its number of agents and it keeps building its online tools and training to support those agents.

“We realize we need that additional scale (growth) to continue upping our game,” he said. “Our agents and employees expect more. What we were doing four or five years ago that got us into Top Workplaces wouldn’t necessarily get us there today. Our agents and employees expect more training and they expect coaching and marketing personalized for them. They also expect social media (communications) to be automated to some degree. These are things that we didn’t do as well some years ago.

Yvette Boatwright said ranking highly in Top Workplaces also helps build the company brand, both with real estate clients and in recruiting new agents.

“To be highly rated is another arrow in our quiver,” she said. “It says this is a legitimate place to work. You must be doing something right and you are listening to your people.”

The company keeps close track of “Employee feedback is foundational to the poll results, how it compares with our culture,” Rhode says. “As engineers other companies and the employee say, ‘You get what you comments, both the positive and critimeasure.’ “ cal. Rhode can address poll results in Rhode became CEO of all-hands meetings with workers or Cirrus Logic in 2007. At through other communications. the time, he and other “It is important to let people know senior managers felt like their voices are heard,” he said. “With the company “was not a 1,500 people on board worldwide, there Rhode place where people were are always things you can work on.” proud to work.”

J.B. Goodwin, founder and owner of JB Goodwin Realtors: Because recruiting and keeping talented employees is critical “Top Workplaces is the only indeto technology companies, Cirrus’ pendent third party that comes in and management team set about making surveys our employees and agents. It changes. gives our people the opportunity to “We had to improve our culture and voice their their pleasure or their dishave a vision and goals and values,” pleasure. And it is helpful in planning Rhode said. “And to keep track of that, future initiatives for us. you have to measure.”

Every time the rankings are Cirrus uses two employee surveys, announced, “our people seem to have including the Top Workplaces survey, an abundance of pride. It also helps as a way to gauge what employees like about working there and what they want to change.

See LESSONS, Q26 Jason Rhode, CEO of Cirrus Logic Inc.:

26 Sunday, November 3, 2019 | TOP WORKPLACES 2019

LESSONS From Page Q25

motivate people to want to improve.”

“We are competitive about Top Workplaces.” If the company doesn’t rank at the top, “we say next year, we will be No.1.”

“Top Workplaces is a big part of our culture.

We ask our people to respond and tell the truth.”

— Josh Lasch, CEO of the Steam Team:

The Steam Team, which employs about 65 people, cleans and repairs damaged floors and does repair and restoration work for areas damaged by flooding or fire.

The company uses the Top Workplaces survey and others as a way of spotting and fixing potential problem areas for its workers. For example, the the past year the company has begun offering once-a-month catered breakfasts and barbecue lunches as a way for employees and managers to sit down with one another and chat.

“When we get criticisms from the survey, the managers get together and ask what can we do to make this better,” Lasch said.

“Sometimes it is the little things that you do that get more noticed” by workers.

ABOVE: Steam Team CEO Josh Lasch, center, makes a donation to the Make-aWish Foundation earlier this year. Lasch says his company uses the annual Top Workplaces survey and others as a way of spotting and fixing potential problem areas for its workers. “When we get criticisms from the survey, the managers get together and ask what can we do to make this better,” Lasch said.

[CONTRIBUTED]

LEFT: Realty Austin team members chat during a construction project for Habitat for Humanity in Northeast Austin. Realty Austin staffers gather once a week to do work for Habitat for Humanity.

[RICARDO B. BRAZZIELL/AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

TOP WORKPLACES 2019 | Sunday, November 3, 2019 27

CHARITY

Gretchen Janzow and Rick Robon work at Realty Austin’s offices in the Triangle development on North Lamar Boulevard.

From Page Q8

Agents say the company works hard to build a the brand and provide its agents with the tools and support they need to succeed.

Amanda Dudley, who joined as an agent in 2015, has long had active role as a volunteer for several nonprofit organizations.

She said the Boatwrights’ involvement with such groups was part of what first drew her notice to Realty Austin.

Dudley received the community service award from the Austin Board of Realtors last year and she saod sje believes giving back works to build Realty Austin’s brand as well as her own.

“I spend a lot of time giving back and I am still growing my (real estate) business,” Dudley said.

“It kind of goes hand-inhand. Your clients see you on social media and see you out there giving back to the community and it kind of puts you in front of them in terms of top-of-mind awareness. That has really helped my business.”

Dudley recently changed jobs at Realty Austin and now works as its manager for new talent selection.

Schnabel, who came to real estate after working in the high-tech industry, said he was attracted to the company’s sense of integrity.

“The real estate industry is kind of like the Wild West. There are black hats and white hats.

Gunslingers, gold diggers and all kinds of people in

[RICARDO B. BRAZZIELL / AMERICANSTATESMAN]

Realty Austin staffer Jeffrey Schnabel says he loves that the agency allows him a chance to work with Habitat for Humanity.

“I went to the first Habitat build and said, ‘This is like therapy! I want to do this again,’” Schnabel said.

[MARK MATSON / FOR THE AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

Realty Austin staffer Brian Copland says the agency helps “energize the company through events by interacting with the community. It becomes a team environment where everybody cares about each other. You don’t get that at most real estate offices.”

[MARK MATSON / FOR THE AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

See CHARITY, Q28

Amanda Dudley, who joined Realty Austin as an agent in 2015, said the agency’s involvement with charities and nonprofit organizations help draw her to want to work with Realty Austin.

[MARK MATSON / FOR THE AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

28 Sunday, November 3, 2019 | TOP WORKPLACES 2019

HAPPY From Page Q18

Staff members get some work done at Realty Austin’s offices in the Triangle development on North Lamar Boulevard.

[RICARDO B. BRAZZIELL / AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

CHARITY From Page Q27

this business,” he said.

The Boatwrights, in his estimation, are the the white hats — and their company reflects their values.

It also helps that the company has plenty of organizational talent and technology savvy to help brokers.

Schnabel calls its training programs top-notch and said its top-caliber website and online tools for its agents are the best he has seen.

While agents say the company is supportive and collaborative, it also believes in competition. It has an internal online dashboard that ranks its top sales producers every year.

It has another dashboard that ranks charitable giving.

Schnabel said he is proud that he ranks among the top in charitable giving. He said he has upped his contribution over time to 6 percent of his net sales commission.

“They challenge us to do better.

I want to feel like I am always challenged and I want to do better,” he said.

Some people shift to real estate sales after starting out in other fields of work. But Brian Copland knew his direction early on. He began taking classes to get his real estate license when he was 18 and quickly became a successful leasing agent while going to school at the University of Texas. He started his own brokerage just after graduating from college.

But over time, Copland discovered he had more interest in being a fulltime agent than a broker. He closed his company, Premier Realty, and joined Realty Austin in 2013.

He called the move an eye-opener.

“I thought I knew everything about real estate,” he said. “I found out there were a lot better ways to do everything.”

Copland said he was struck by Realty Austin’s marketing sophistication, its branding and its systematized business processes that extend beyond its use of online technology.

“They energize the company through events by interacting with the community. It becomes a team environment where everybody cares about each other,” Copland said.

“You don’t get that at most real estate offices.”

“They said they would be available to help me and they have been,” Marr said. “At any time of the day, I can get an answer to my question within an hour or so. They have proven themselves. You have to be willing to ask questions and I am not afraid to ask questions.”

Both Marr and Mohr said their backgrounds as teachers, the ability to study, work collaboratively with many people, and organize lots of details, have paid off in real estate.

Mohr said she likes the support she has gotten at Goodwin — and also the chance to build on her success.

“This is my third year now and my ball is rolling,” she said. “All the things I have done done for the past three years are starting to pay off.”

Mohr said she watches the company’s internal scoreboard that tracks its most-productive agents. She talks to high-producing agents to gather their insights on how to build a business.

So do Hombroek and Marr.

“You can see who you should talk to improve,” Hombroek said. “They might have advice on how to grow your business. I have an almost daily absorption of their knowledge.”

Mohr, a former math teacher, said she likes to track her progress and see where she compares to others in the company.

“For me, that is motivating. You like to know where you are so you can get better. I always want to be No. 1 at what I do. I am not No.1 in the company, but I will be some day,” she said with a smile.

Marr also is watching her business grow. She said she expects to more than double her teaching salary this year and keep growing from there.

“I enjoyed teaching and everything I learned from teaching has helped me in real estate,” she said. “Teachers work their tails off. I am not afraid of working 12 hours a day. I can do that.”

Hombroek said he likes the social interaction he gets on the job both from customers and fellow agents and managers.

“I will always be trying to expand,” he said. “I am proud of what I have done so far, but there is always room to grow.

TOP WORKPLACES 2019 | Sunday, November 3, 2019 29

From left are Texas Association of Counties employees Haley Click, Virna Jameson, Kelly Flores and Caleb Sanchez. [MARK MATSON /FOR THE AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

TAC From Page Q15

professional development training for staff members.

The program “continues to evolve,” she said. “There is a thirst for more knowledge here. People are constantly wanting to better themselves and we are trying to help them do that.”

“I have always taken new ideas straight to my boss or to the executive director,” she said. “Nine times out of 10, I have been given permission to run with those ideas.”

Virna Jameson, a business systems specialist who supports the health insurance benefits for member counties, said she also likes the open

attitude around the organization.

“My job is to make the systems we already have here better. My ideas are heard by management.”

Jameson said she started working at the organization in January, about the time Susan Redford became executive director. She said she likes Redford’s approach to communicating with staffers and getting their feedback on how to make things better.

“She wants to hear from us,” Jameson said. “She values our experiences and knowledge.”

Caleb Sanchez, the digital marketing manager, joined the association a year ago after working for about 10 years with several local startup companies.

One of his first jobs was to revamp the organization’s website to make it more modern, more user-friendly and more easily used by members.

He said he was surprised with the openness and support he got from other staffers with the project.

“There is an opportunity here to learn from experienced people and to collaborate with content providers (for the website) and others,” he said. “I was supported by my managers and by the executive director to make major changes to help the organization.”

The new website has become a powerful interactive information resource for members, giving them an organized picture of its various programs and information on potential legislation that affects county governments.

Members can even sign up through the website to participate in the various member-oriented events that TAC puts on throughout the year.

Kelly Flores joined the association 12 years ago and now is supervisor of

a team that oversees the risk management pool to provide risk management data for property, liability and workers compensation insurance for counties and their employees.

Flores said she felt supported from the start to gain the experience she needed to work toward a management position.

Now she heads a team that manages risk management data for member counties. The risk pool promotes best safety practices for county employees and helps deliver cost-effective insurance coverage. The association estimates its risk management programs have saved Texas taxpayers millions of dollars over the years.

“You never lose sight of the fact that our members are the Texas counties and all the work that they do,” Flores said. “You really feel connected to the counties of Texas through this job.”

Q30 Sunday, November 3, 2019

Nehemiah Francis has worked for Progressive in Austin for five years. “My future here is bright,” he said. “My managers are always pointing out different opportunities that we have here. They look at my strengths and it is always a push to go to a higher level of excellence.”

Pia Sargent, a centralized claims manager, has worked for Progressive in Austin for 14 years. “There is a high level of integrity here. The leadership group is committed to learning about people,” she says.

[MARK MATSON /FOR THE AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

Jill Nicholson says she started working for Progressive in 2011, when she was in her early 60s.

“I feel so valued and welcomed here,” she says. “I am glad I made it here.”

[MARK MATSON /FOR THE AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

[MARK MATSON/ FOR THE AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

VALUES From Page Q10

making a profit.

Jill Nicholson said she started as a sales person in 2011 when she was in her early 60s and had worked in many different jobs in business and government.

“At my age (she will turn 70 this year),

it is different to have a company that takes you in and values you and promotes you like I have been valued and promoted here,” she said.

“I feel so valued and welcomed here,” she said. “It is the most unique job experience I have ever gone through. I am glad I made it here. I have been amazed at the quality of the training staff and the quality of the coaching staff. We all work together as a team.”

Nehemiah Francis, who has worked

at Progressive for five years, specializes in talking to commercial customers in small are large businesses that are concerned with covering company vehicles, getting liability coverage and workers’ compensation coverage.

Dealing with a wide range of businesses is challenging and fun, he said. “The atmosphere that Progressive creates is magnetic. I am a people person and everyone here is really engaged” in doing the job

better for customers.

“My future here is bright,” he said.

“My managers are always pointing out different opportunities that we have here. They look at my strengths and it is always a push to go to a higher level of excellence.”

“A lot of my managers and supervisors here are kind of like my family.

They are engaged in making sure that my career development is moving forward,” he said. “They actually care about my needs.”

TOP WORKPLACES 2019 | Sunday, November 3, 2019 31

STEAM From Page Q22

willing to work with you is something that’s really important.”

The Steam Team hosts cookouts and a variety of company gatherings, including a zoo day and spa day, along with a monthly employee appreciation day.

Employees also receive visa cards or gift cards to restaurants to recognize a job well done or for a birthday or anniversary.

Austin said the variety of benefits appeal to different employees, which she said shows the leadership really takes the time to get to know what motivates different people.

She personally enjoys the freedom she has to ask for time off and said she has taken several trips in the past year because of it.

“They really encourage their employees to take advantage of time off and allow them to really flourish.

And they don’t make you feel guilty about it afterwards,” Austin said.

“They want everyone to have a good work life balance.”

Austin said she feels the company’s leaders want to make a difference in the lives of their employees. And it doesn’t hurt that they’re fun to be around, she said.

“When you have a good staff to surround you and good people and make you laugh throughout the day or make you feel important then it definitely makes going to work a million times easier,” Austin said.

ALLPRO From Page Q24

what I’ve been looking for in AllPro.” Sergio Vela, director of operations, said flexibility is important to AllPro’s success. No employees have to take shifts or go back to venues where they don’t feel comfortable.

“We’re just trying to provide the best employees in Austin,” he said. “If we care for one another, there’s not one thing we can’t accomplish together.”

Employees also can take part in perks like team-building retreats, transportation if they need it, performance

Myra Austin, an administrative assistant who has been with the Steam Team for about a year, said the company’s atmosphere of open communications is important to her.

“Working for good bosses is a thing that’s very rare,” Austin says. “To know that you’re working for a company that is willing to work with you is something that’s really important.”[MARK MATSON/ FOR THE AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

bonuses and regular recognition for hard work.

“You get recognized,” Loera said.

“People underestimate what that can do for someone as an employee.”

And while most of the employees spent their time out of the office, when they do stop by they can enjoy complimentary gym access, onsite pool access and a fully stocked break room.

In an industry that's dependent on client needs, AllPro remains focused on its staff and considers employee satisfaction hand-in-hand with client satisfaction, Vela said. With employees who come from different parts of the world, have different cultures, and personalities, Vela said it’s important to get to know staff as people.

Kevin Klaus, who has worked in the cleaning and restoration industry for 10 years, said he considers the Steam Team to be the “gold standard” in the Austin metro area.[MARK MATSON/ FOR THE AMERICAN-STATESMAN]

“We are all AllPro’s biggest fans, what they do with their life and what they want to accomplish,” Vela said.

Loera said it's nice being in a workplace, and knowing her coworkers and bosses care about her more than just the work she does.

“Aside from our work, they just want to know how you're doing, how school is,” Loera said.

Monica Silva, who has worked for AllPro for about a year in catering and chef positions, said even though she doesn’t see her bosses in person all the time, she feels taken care of and that she’s a part of something.

“If there's a problem at my work I can always let them know immediately and I know they will get back to me and

I know they will take care of it,” Silva said.

Employees said the pay at AllPro also tends to be higher than what they've received doing similar jobs for other companies. Loera said within her first few months at AllPro, she was offered a $1 per hour raise, which she said made her feel valued and like the company wants her to grow.

“It means a lot. It’s going to make anyone smile” Loera said.

Silva said everybody who works for AllPro has high standards, from management to hourly employees.

“They have high expectations for everybody,” Silva said. “Everything is done very professionally. I like that high expectation.”

32 Sunday, November 3, 2019 | TOP WORKPLACES 2019