Idaho companies honored for top workplace culture in Treasure Valley

The simple concept emphasizing that “the conversation is the relationship” is one that wise leaders of successful businesses fully embrace.

Similarly, in her book “Fierce Conversations,” author Susan Scott clearly outlines how relationships, particularly those in the workplace, succeed or fail one conversation at a time.

The strategies of business leaders listening to employees and fostering a workplace culture that builds prosperous teams and increases productivity served as major focal points during the recent Top Companies in Treasure Valley award ceremony hosted by Idaho Business Review May 12 at Boise Centre. The program is run in partnership with Best Companies Group.

The fifth annual gathering paid tribute to 13 Idaho companies from a variety of industries in three categories – small, medium and large – highlighting the cohesive bonds and team-oriented methodologies company leaders use to help drive success.

“It’s a great honor to receive this honor on behalf of our employees,’” said Shane Roe, vice president of operations for Andersen Construction, an outfit that took home the top spot in the large company category, those employing 150 or more workers.

“A project manager recently told me how some of his best friends work here. As an operations guy, that is all I need to know about the culture and health of our company.”

Founded in 1950, Andersen, an employee-owned firm, ranks as one of the top 100 U.S. contractors specializing in technically complex projects in the fields of health care, technology and education.

In the medium-size category (50-149 employees), Wright Brothers, The Building Company was named the overall winner. Established in Rupert, Idaho, in 1956, Wright Brothers has now landed in the Treasure Valley with its headquarters in Eagle.

The company consistently manages as many as 30 active projects at any given time. With an employee count of 102 staff members, Wright Brothers boasts having “zero” voluntary turnover in its operation.

First place honors in the small category (15-49 employees) was awarded to SRA 831(b) Admin, a local business consulting and risk management operation. Founded in 2009, the company is now considered the largest plan administrator in the 831(b) micro-captive insurance space, and a leading industry advocate for shaping federal policy around this section of the tax code.

To be recognized as an IBR Top Company honoree, businesses must employ a minimum of 15 workers and have at least one year of operation on the books.

Additionally, company nominations must include a submission of a benefits and policy questionnaire, as well as a 40% employee survey completion rate, with an 80% positive response rate to this survey.

The annual event also featured a lively panel discussion on key workplace topics focusing on transparency, growth opportunities, benefits beyond medical coverage and actions leaders implement to help improve a business.

However, at the forefront of the engaging discussion was the importance of transparency, a prime element for success, the panel members agreed, and one tool necessary across all levels of an organization from top to bottom.

That was the message from panelist Windi Martin, partner-in-charge for Sorren, an accounting firm and large-company nominee that prides itself on investing in its people in ways that reflect its company values.

“For us this includes being willing to tell our people ‘we’re not exactly certain about something’ and what we tell you today may change based on the information we have today,” Martin said. “And that may change, but we remain committed to be timely with our communication, something our leadership team remains focused on.”

Representing Allied Business Solutions, a nominee in the medium-sized category, panel member Lisa Mesenko, senior vice president of HR, Marketing and Strategic Growth, stressed that along with maintaining a commitment to transparency with employees at all levels, the idea of aligning values company-wide is also a high priority for the firm, which houses offices in Boise, Pocatello and Idaho Falls.

“Alignment for us means getting all of our teams focused on the same initiatives,” Mesenko said. “We run on what we call the EOS system, or Entrepreneurial Operating System, that helps us to ensure every employee is speaking the same language, understands the same vision and direction of the company, and allows our leadership to tell the ‘why’ behind what we are doing.

“We’ve learned that if you can share the why with all those affected by a decision, the transparency needed, and how a team aligns, especially to handle significant growth, is what helps us succeed.”

As CEO and managing member of Tamarack Grove Engineering, a consulting firm of structural engineers, and a small business category honoree, Brian Sielaff echoed the transparency theme of his fellow panelists, and the important role the concept plays in maintaining the organization’s reputation as one of the most productive structural engineering firms in the region.

“Back around 2019, I had never really heard of the concept of open-book management and how you run a business with your staff,” Sielaff said. “That same year we also started what we call a townhall, an annual event where we go offsite and entire business works on the business.”

Sielaff also pointed out the need to share information helps to keep a company’s message universal.

“What we’ve found is that a lot of people within a business will go out and create their own narrative if you don’t share the facts,” he said. “Full transparency has been a huge success factor for us the past several years.”