2023 Greater Gainesville’s Best Places to Work
In 1926, Henry Ford fundamentally changed the fate of the workforce with his 40-hour workweek. Nearly 100 years later, the workforce faced another astronomical change: a global pandemic and the introduction of mass remote work. Since then, businesses from all sectors have strived to keep up with the ever-changing professional climate to keep their employees and their customers happy. Guide to Greater Gainesville proudly presents the companies who have done just that, and then some, with the inaugural list of GG’s Best Places to Work.
These companies were nominated by their very own employees who recognize the effort made on their behalf. But more than that, these companies are dedicated to the growth, development and success of not only their employees but also their business and community as well. Greater Gainesville has experienced a boom. With the influx of new businesses, GG is becoming a hub for established companies to set up shop, entrepreneurs looking to start out and everything in between.
Koss Olinger
Koss Olinger
Over half a century ago, Koss Olinger was founded to provide wealth management services in Gainesville, Florida. Today, their 10 advisors and 25 professional support team members serve 300
families in more than 35 states. Koss Olinger operates as a fiduciary, putting their client’s best interests first when navigating their planning, investments and legacy. Koss Olinger employees are their greatest advocates, and their client retention rate of 99% is a testament to the high-touch service they provide their clients daily.
Koss Olinger recognizes and rewards the hard work put in by their team. The company offers flexible working arrangements, with remote work options, PTO and a once-a-month Friday off. Koss Olinger also provides its employees with paid volunteering days, catered staff lunches and funded career development opportunities. Education, connection and fun are promoted with workshops, speakers and special events. Koss Olinger strives to attain a healthy work-life balance and a positive workplace culture while providing stellar customer service to clients.
When Alison Mathena was asked why Koss Olinger is the best place to work, she responded, “In the 31 years I have worked here, Koss Olinger has become family. There is a synergy between the partners and the team members, and we all work to better each other through honest feedback and positive recognition. My colleagues and I truly believe in our mission. I know that I am making a difference in our company and in our clients’ lives.”
Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is a Visitor Relationship Management platform that solves revenue-related challenges for digital publishers by building strong, lasting relationships with site visitors. This includes AI and ML-powered subscriptions, privacy and consent management, ad block revenue recovery, first-party data collection and much more. Founded
in 2015 by graduates of the University of Florida, Admiral is headquartered in GG with employees throughout the country.
Admiral’s tagline is “Relationships Matter.” All relationships, between publishers and their visitors, their team and publishers and the relationships within their own company are important. They do not just focus on their work, but on each other, helping with projects or just meeting for a game night to build friendships. Individual voices and ideas are respected and shared here, and public praise across the organization is encouraged. As any great company knows, communication is key and at Admiral, there is a high degree of transparency, with regular company-wide meetings to discuss progress towards goals in all departments.
Software Engineer Michaela White, when asked about her experience with Admiral, said, “It’s the kind of place where you can ask questions openly. We are a very productive team with a lot of smart people, so it’s a fantastic place to learn. Our mission is an admirable one, and I get to be part of a team that is making that happen.”
CPAmerica
Founded in 1978, CPAmerica is one of the oldest and largest associations of independent CPA firms in the United States. It includes more than 90 firms in 45 states, with more than 870 partners
and 5,500 professionals. Members vary in size from $3 million to over $140 million in revenues averaging $14.5 million with total revenues exceeding $1.3 billion. CPAmerica is uniquely positioned as a member of Crowe Global, the 8th largest international accounting firm network. CPAmerica members are not members of the network, but they enjoy access to international expertise in over 140 countries and cross-border referrals while not subject to the compliance requirements of a network. The foundation of membership is that member firms desire to remain independent and can support this goal by improving through sharing with fellow members.
Yet despite their size and stature, CPA goes out of their way to support and build up their team. Through things like their office’s Halloween costume contest –– congratulations to this year’s winner, Dwight Schrute –– and team building at Painting with a Twist to company-wide recognition, CPA is for their team.
“CPAmerica is truly a place of collaboration and camaraderie. We enjoy each other and the culture is one of belonging –– I can be my authentic self and I am respected and encouraged to bring new and fresh ideas,” said a CPA employee. “Our staff works extremely hard towards a common goal, but we still have the flexibility to experience work-life integration, which is extremely important to me.”
CROM Corp.
CROM Corp.
CROM is a specialty contractor focused on safely building, repairing and restoring essential infrastructure. Their specialties, of which there is no shortage, include concrete removal and surface
preparation, prestressed concrete tank construction, durability inspections and assessments, infrastructure upgrades, high-performance coatings, shotcrete and structural repair. The company also offers Continuing Service Agreements for 24/7 restorative and emergency repairs.
CROM works to guarantee that every facet of a client’s needs can be met easily and with exceptional customer service. They have spent the last 70 years –– Happy Anniversary! –– staying true to their foundations. With the experience and longevity exhibited by their CROM Prestressed Concrete Tank Brand, CROM remains steadfast in its dedication to making good things happen for its clients.
“I really like the work environment here at CROM. I feel like everyone challenges one another to be their best and grow in so many ways,” said one CROM employee. “You can truly see how much people love working here and the knowledge they have about the company, which is why I have already met so many people that have been here for 10-plus years, if not more. It is a company that values team unity. People will drop everything they’re doing just to help you.”
Kinetix Physical Therapy
Not only does the team at Kinetix excel in providing state-of-the-art care, including diagnostic testing and laser therapy,
but they also consistently give back to their community through local food drives, monthly fundraising for a local charity through their Casual Friday/Charity Friday program and hosting free educational workshops.
“I love working at Kinetix for many reasons, but the top reason is the culture and team that stand behind it,” said Katrina Dauphin, Practice Administrator. “It’s rare to find a job that allows for personal and professional growth, while also having the opportunity to grow a business that helps other people. I’m so grateful for my 14 years at Kinetix and look forward to being a part of the future of such an awesome company.”
PHOS Creative
PHOS Creative is a digital marketing agency that is passionate about restoring dignity, purpose and freedom to the lives of women and children impacted by extreme poverty and sex trafficking. They fund that mission through strategic consulting, brand strategy, web design/development and inbound marketing. They are on track for 31% growth this year and have put it to good use for both their clients and employees.
One of the most unique things about PHOS is its volunteer-run Care Team committed to inspiring and elevating a culture of care. They manage a company-funded budget for the sole purpose of caring for their team, their families, clients and community members. The Care Team goes out of their way to help each other whenever they can. Whether it is cleaning up after a hurricane, helping co-workers or clients with moving pains or throwing baby showers to celebrate a new chapter, the Care Team lives up to the name.
“PHOS is a place where I’ve consistently experienced genuine care and support from every team member, fostering a space where I can freely share both personal and professional experiences. Working at PHOS has not only allowed me to flourish as a leader but has also challenged me to evolve as a person,” said a PHOS Creative team member.
Scorpio
Scorpio is a Construction Management firm whose devoted and seasoned team of construction professionals build to enliven communities and beautify cities. From project inception to completion, they seek the most effective, sustainable solutions to construction challenges. Scorpio works to ensure that every building brings enduring benefit to th
e people who use them.
As a family-focused company, Scorpio hosts multiple family events each year, including Family Fun Day at Amber Brooke Farms, Halloween Happy Hour and company tailgates for Gator football games. They have a strong team culture with a clear mission, vision and values. Every Monday, the employees receive an email with one of 33 points from the Scorpio Code, a code that helps the team know their “why,” stay focused, be accountable, eliminate excuses, seek growth and rest and reenergize.
In addition to buildings, Scorpio is committed to building people. There is a clear employee success plan that encourages growth and allows employees to reach their fullest career potential.
“The people who work here genuinely enjoy what they do, and that’s apparent through the amount of laughter in the office each day,” said Neil McKinney. “I 100% believe it’s a product of a company that invests in its employees, and you don’t see that everywhere.”
The Collier Companies
Every day, The Collier Companies works to emulate their mission statement: Proudly making your home the heart of their business. Collier believes in building and growing excellence by their commitment to quality, as well as their everyday exceptional customer service. Their 2X Initiative, to double in size in the coming decade through new development, creates an incredible foundation for their team members and residents to thrive. With a staff like theirs, there is no doubt they will succeed.
Through community initiatives like the Nathan S. Collier Master of Science in Real Estate program at UF’s Warrington College of Business and The Collier Prize for State Government Accountability, Collier Companies prides itself on engaging with the GG and UF communities. As firm believers in continuous and never-ending improvement, they are dedicated to self-improvement, whether through their book clubs or any of their learning platforms.
“One thing that stands out about our organization is the people that work here, and they truly make it a great experience in itself,” said a Collier team member. “We are all a team and work together to complete our goals. I couldn’t think of a better group of people that I would like to work with, which is the reason I hope to be a part of this organization for years to come.”
TradePMR
TradePMR is a technology and custodial services provider for Registered Investment Advisers (RIAs) focused on providing extraordinary support and service. Founded in Gainesville in 1998,
TradePMR has been working hard to treat Financial Advisors like VIPs for 25 years, an experience they believe has been made possible by their amazing team and culture.
Some of the things that make TradePMR a great place to work are its involvement with the community, the fun atmosphere and a focus on fostering a strong work-life balance. As a team, they come together for annual gamedays –– with free tickets to a range of University of Florida events (they have a lot of Gators on staff) –– an annual holiday party that is second to none and many other activities throughout the year.
This year they again partnered with Alachua Habitat for Humanity and helped to build a new home for a very deserving family. TradePMR also continued its long-standing relationship with Lyrics for Life, a pediatric cancer charity started by Gainesville-based band, Sister Hazel.
TradePMR employee Stacia Dukes shared her thoughts on working at TradePMR, “I like the company culture, the President is very generous and they support hiring from within. Someone recently asked me to rate how much I liked working here on a scale of 1-10, and I took them by surprise when I answered with a 10.”
Seacoast Bank
Seacoast Bank is one of the largest community banks headquartered in Florida. Seacoast provides integrated financial services, including commercial and consumer banking, wealth management
and mortgage services.
Seacoast goes above and beyond in its commitment to creating an atmosphere where employees feel welcome and confident bringing their whole selves to work. Inclusion, respect and fairness live at the core of Seacoast’s company culture. The diversity of the associate base and of the communities they serve is another characteristic they believe makes them stronger. To foster this atmosphere, Seacoast has launched five Associate Resource Groups: Women Mean Business, LGBT+, Military Outreach, Black Associates & Allies Network (BAAN) and UNIDOS, which serves as one of the ways to ensure their Latin American and Hispanic associates feel a greater sense of inclusion.
“Gainesville boasts a vibrant community filled with culture and diversity,” said Matt Ryon, assistant banking center manager. “At Seacoast, an inclusive and supportive atmosphere resonates throughout, evident in the backing provided to all Associate Resource Groups, starting from the Senior Leadership team, and extending throughout the organization. It’s my privilege and source of pride to be part of the Seacoast family.”
