For the second year in a row, Outside Magazine has named Hanson Dodge Creative (HDC) -- America’s leading active lifestyle agency known for its work with outdoor brands like Trek Bicycle, Ragnar Relay Series and Outdoor Nation -- among the top companies across the U.S. in its 2013 Best Places to Work list. Selected among 100 finalists nationwide, Milwaukee-based HDC ranked 61st in the list, sharing honors with such companies as Patagonia and Amer Sports, one of the world’s leading sporting goods company with internationally recognized brands including Salomon, Wilson and Atomic. Hanson Dodge Creative is a returning winner. Outside first recognized the agency in its 2012 Best Places to Work list.
Promoting a Healthy Work-Life Balance This is the sixth year that Outside has produced its Best Places to Work ranking, a project that celebrates innovative companies setting a new standard for a healthy work-life balance. The list was compiled with the help of the Outdoor Industry Association and Best Companies Group. The yearlong selection process began with an outreach effort that identified a wide range of non-profit and for-profit organizations with at least 15 employees working in an office in the United States.
Participating companies were sent confidential employee-satisfaction surveys and employer-questionnaires to collect information about benefits, compensation, policies, job satisfaction, environmental initiatives, and community outreach programs. The Best Companies Group then analyzed the results and selected those organizations that best enable employees to pursue active lifestyles while also supporting their social and environmental contributions.
“We are thrilled to be recognized by Outside for the second year running,” said Ken Hanson, HDC founder and chief executive officer. “We've been working hard to be the place where the most talented people want to work. For us, that means giving our employees the opportunity to do the best work of their lives in a positive and healthy environment.”
Hanson noted that HDC’s creative work environment encourages employees to live an active lifestyle each day, offering free, on-site opportunities such as Trek bicycles, kayaks, yoga classes and a fitness center in the building. In addition, the agency and its employees are involved in ongoing community outreach efforts with various nonprofit organizations, often giving their time in the way of volunteerism, pro bono creative work and board positions. (Note: Community Shares of Greater Milwaukee will honor Hanson Dodge Creative at its 24th annual Champions for Change banquet on Sept. 25, presenting the agency with the David Schwartz Business Humanitarian Award in recognition of extraordinary community achievements.)
“We’re thrilled to celebrate all 100 of these forward-thinking companies,” said Michael Roberts, senior executive editor of Outside. “They believe success depends on helping their employees live more active and fulfilling lives. The kinds of benefits they’re providing—free fitness classes, flexible hours, subsidized healthy meals, lots of time out of the office—result in a more productive and engaged staff.”
Outside is America¹s leading active lifestyle brand. For more than 30 years, Outside has covered travel, sports, adventure, health, and fitness, as well as the personalities, the environment, and the style and culture of the world Outside. The Outside family includes Outside Magazine, the only magazine to win three consecutive National Magazine Awards for General Excellence, The Outside Buyer’s Guides, Outside Online, Outside Television, Outside Events, Outside+ tablet edition, and Outside Books. For more information, visit www.outsideonline.com.
Founded in 1989, the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is the premier trade association for companies in the active outdoor recreation business. OIA provides trade services for over 4000 manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, sales representatives and retailers in the outdoor industry. Outdoor Industry Association seeks to ensure healthy and diverse specialty retail and supply chain based on quality, innovation and service. To this end, OIA works diligently to raise the standards of the industry; increase participation in outdoor recreation to strengthen business markets; provide support services to improve member profitability; represent member interests in the legislative/regulatory process; promote professional training and education; support innovation; and offer cost-saving member benefits. Search for outdoor-industry jobs is at OIA’s career center:www.outdoorindustry.org.