By Lisa Greim, Special to The Denver Post
Placement of a real estate agency at the top of the Midsized Workplaces list should come as no surprise, as home sales in Colorado continue to sizzle.
What is surprising: 8z Real Estate’s mission statement reads, “Real estate is broken, and we’re fixing it.”
How can an industry that moves so much inventory, and that’s making so much money at such a prodigious rate of speed, possibly be broken?
“It doesn’t work,” said Stefan Peterson, chief operating officer of Boulder-based 8z, which has 16 offices, mostly along the Front Range. “People complain endlessly about it.”
Between part-timers and people jumping into the business because the market is hot, “There are just too many unprofessional real estate agents out there,” Peterson said. Given the amount of money at stake in a home purchase or sale, clients expect a level of expertise that they don’t always receive.
8z’s approach centers on hiring experienced, full-time agents – people with a track record of at least 20 transactions a year and $7 million in volume.
“The company employs people based on character and integrity, and then gives you all the training and tools you need to become successful,” one survey respondent wrote.
Co-workers, or “8zers,” as they’re known, reported that they appreciate their company’s flexibility, commitment to training, and “kind, sharp, brilliant, trusting upper management.”
They also appreciate 8z’s commitment to what it calls the Real Estate Good Life. The company handles lead generation, marketing and transaction processing, leaving agents to do what they do best: sell houses.
“They’re not worried about updating their Instagram account,” Peterson said. “They can just focus on their clients.”
Rounding out the rest of the Top Five among workplaces with 150 to 499 people:
iLendingDIRECT
iLendingDIRECT, formerly known as Fleet Financial, offers vehicle-related financial and insurance services to consumers, and a supportive family atmosphere to its 165 employees.
Freedom to organize their workdays, flexible schedules and income potential were all cited as reasons iLendingDIRECT employees love where they work.
“I get the opportunity to help people on a daily basis while also providing my family with a comfortable living,” one survey respondent said. “I love the people I work with, I think this company is going to be huge and I want to be a part of it every day.”
iLendingDIRECT, based near Centennial Airport, markets refinancing for auto loans, lease buyouts, annual maintenance plans, extended warranties, cash-back loans on paid-off cars, guaranteed asset protection (GAP) insurance, and other products. Its team members work with a variety of lenders and insurance providers to create a package of services to meet clients’ needs.
Nancy Fitzgerald took over as CEO after her husband, Fleet Financial founder Patrick Fitzgerald, was killed in a cycling accident in 2014. “She encourages, motivates, and makes us all feel part of a family,” one survey respondent said.
The company’s 165 employees support charities including Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, Joshua School, Autism Society of America, Kempe Center, Climbing for Kids and Children’s Hospital.
Avery Brewing Co.
From Adam and Larry Avery’s seven-barrel operation in 1993, Boulder-based Avery has grown to employ more than 200 “Hop Freaks” and produce 70,000 barrels of craft beer.
In a beer-crazy state, Avery stands out, its workers say, for supportive management, engaged team members and a culture that encourages new ideas.
Perks include family picnics every six weeks at Avery’s brewery, a take-home case every week, free drafts for employees and significant others, and free admission to Avery’s festivals, including the Strong Ale Fest in March, the Sour Fest in June, a 4K run for the Fourth of July, and charity events selected by an employee committee.
“I appreciate the liberal tap room beer policy because it fosters an environment for bonding with employees from every department. You can’t get that anywhere else,” one person said.
It’s a happy place to work, full of committed people, employees report. “When everyone else loves what they do, it’s easier to love what you do.”
PorchLight Real Estate
Denver-based PorchLight Real Estate made the Top Workplaces list for the fourth year in a row. Its 207 employees love the company’s emphasis on training, support structures and work-life balance.
Helping people find a home and supporting them through a major life decision is satisfying work, according to employees. “It allows me to do what I love, make a lot of money and balance life and work,” one said.
PorchLight agents say the company culture encourages thoughtful collaboration among co-workers, rather than employees treating each other as rivals or adversaries. “The business model at Porchlight allows us to develop deep and meaningful relationships, and to be very successful at what we do with all the tools and systems we need,” one respondent said.
Employees at four offices – a fifth will open in Highlands this year – know how to have a good time, with quarterly wellness challenges, team events, and an annual benefit concert to raise money for PorchLight’s charitable partner. On-site yoga classes help everyone relax.
Weifield Group Electrical Contracting
The construction boom on the Front Range means serious growth for electrical contractor Weifield Group, which added 138 employees and opened an office in Cheyenne, Wyo., in 2016. Specializing in sustainable and energy-efficient construction, the Denver firm employs about 300 people.
“What really differentiates Weifield is the high caliber of our employees, which produces the overall character of our company,” the firm says. Recognition, a people-first culture, and a reputation for excellent work put Weifield on the Top Workplaces list for the sixth year in a row.
Employees participate together in serious projects, such as charity events, and fun projects like paintball challenges and the Tough Mudder race. Its philanthropy supports nonprofits that serve at-risk populations, women and children, service members, military families and veterans.
To create new talent in the electrical field, Weifield offers a paid four-year apprenticeship program, paid LEED certification, OSHA training, CPR/first aid certification, and field safety training. The company extended this program to graduates of Stout Street Foundation (SSF), a long-term therapeutic community for people in recovery. Participants can enroll in Weifield’s apprenticeship program to become an electrician.
“We employ 40 electricians from SSF and similar programs to help them make a sustainable life change,” the company says.
