Trailblazers are the pioneers of the world. They lead us forward to reach new heights in innovation, creativity, and more. We researched and selected the 100 Best Arizona Companies and divided them into six categories. Our first group to showcase are the Trailblazers, which we’ve identified as:
“Companies that have pioneered and sustained their exceptional performance by all metrics over 20 years, representing the best of the best.”
These Trailblazers have had a significant impact over many years on our Arizona community, their employees, and the economy. Here are the 15 most influential companies on our list.
Meet Arizona’s Most Influential Companies: The Trailblazers
- American Express
- Axon
- CarMax
- Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
- Dignity Health Arizona
- Cox Communications
- Deloitte LLP
- Desert Financial Credit Union
- Freedom Financial Network
- GoDaddy
- Goodmans Interior Structures
- Homeowners Financial Group
- HonorHealth
- Intel Corporation
- Jennings, Strouss & Salmon, P.L.C.
- Mayo Clinic
- Medtronic
- Quarles & Brady LLP
- USAA (United Services Automobile Association)
- Vanguard
American Express
American Express may be a global company, but its commitment to employee growth and happiness is felt at the micro-level. Life at American Express is built on a mission of inclusivity and purpose. Colleagues thrive in a diverse culture that rewards and supports professional growth and encourages further learning.
Building great leaders is just one of the things that sets American Express apart. For nearly two decades, it has continuously ranked as a top Best Companies to Work For. American Express has also been named among the 2021 Arizona Most Admired Companies, as published by BestCompaniesAZ and AZ Big Media — a 12-year feat that explains just why this company made the Trailblazers list. From exceptional customer service innovation to top-tier colleague recognition, American Express is paving the way for future Trailblazers.
Join #TeamAmex and lead the way together. Visit the American Express careers site to learn more about open roles.
Axon
More than a company that builds code, Axon creates the technology that empowers those who keep the world a safer place to live in. The company is known for its entrepreneurial approach to work, fostering a team-focused environment that supports collaboration and the well-being of employees.
For almost three decades, Axon has been making the world a safer place. At the forefront of innovation, Axon works endlessly to provide an expansive ecosystem of products and software designed to make public safety more effective. They’ve saved well over 258,000 lives from serious injury or death with their Taser Devices. That’s why we’re honored to call Axon one of our most influential companies.
Join Axon and be a Force for Good. Now hiring for finance and accounting, engineering , sales, and more!
CarMax
It’s no surprise that CarMax is on our list of Trailblazer companies — how many other companies can say they’ve been named a FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work for status for 17 consecutive years. And let’s not forget that CarMax is a part of the Arizona Most Admired Companies in 2021.
CarMax is the nation’s largest retailer of used autos and offers a truly personalized experience with the option for customers to do as much, or as little, online and in-store as they want. From February 2020 to February 2021, CarMax sold more than 750,000 used vehicles and more than 425,000 wholesale vehicles.
Employees experience an award-winning workplace with a culture based on transparency, integrity, and an unwavering focus on doing what’s right.
Want to join this incredible workplace? CarMax is now hiring across the state, from Tempe to Tucson. Check out open positions in customer service, auto repair, and sales.
Desert Financial Credit Union
Over eighty years ago, Desert Financial Credit Union was founded by 15 courageous educators who pooled together all of the money they had – a collection that amounted to just $78.75. Since then, Desert Financial has bloomed to become Arizona’s largest locally based credit union.
Desert Financial also has created two Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO) subsidiaries during its exponential growth. SwitchThink Solutions, an IT services CUSO, helps more than 70 credit unions nationwide safeguard their data and maintain, develop, convert and update mission-critical systems and technologies. Define Mortgage Solutions, a mortgage services CUSO, provides mortgage lending services to connect homebuyers with a home loan that’s right for them.
In the more than eighty years of business, Desert Financial has earned the honor of being named one of Arizona’s Most Admired Companies in 2021. AZ Business Angels magazine has also named them an Arizona Business Angel. With $7 billion in assets, 350,000+ members, and 47 branches, this influential company has more than earned the Trailblazer name.
Are you an out-of-the-box thinker with an insatiable zest for learning, a passion for helping people, and unmatched problem-solving abilities? Desert Financial is currently hiring for Customer Service, Technology, Mortgage Loan Officers, and more at their Phoenix office locations.
Freedom Financial Network
This influential company has just hit a major milestone — 20 years in business! In addition to this exponential win, Freedom Financial Network has earned a #1 spot on the 2021 Best Places to Work list by the Phoenix Business Journal. All this excitement has revved up their innovation and made them a Trailblazer in our eyes.
Freedom Financial Network is a leading digital personal finance company, built to help people. They do what traditional banks don’t: Put people first. At Freedom, you’re more than just an account number. With 2,400 employees across California, Arizona, and Texas, they’ve served more than 1 million customers, resolved more than $15 billion in consumer debt, and originated $6.5 billion in loans over their 20 years in business.
Build a lucrative and lasting career with Freedom Financial Network. Freedom is hiring immediately for Customer Service, Sales roles, and more at their Tempe office. If you are driven to help improve the financial lives of those around the country, check out openings with Freedom Financial today!
GoDaddy
Since its first appearance on the Best Places to Work list in 2004, GoDaddy has made its way onto state and national lists year after year, including Arizona’s Most Admired Companies in 2021 list for the 10th year in a row. This influential company is on a mission to empower entrepreneurs everywhere by giving them all the tools and assistance they need to grow.
GoDaddy is the world’s largest web services platform. With 20 million + customers worldwide, GoDaddy is the place people come to name their idea, build a website, attract new customers, and manage their work.
Interested in joining the innovative team making entrepreneurs’ dreams come true? GoDaddy is currently hiring for a variety of roles, including Technical Sales Representatives, Inbound Sales Representatives, and more in Arizona
Goodmans Interior Structures
Goodmans Interior Structures, a 12-time winner of the local Best Place to Work in the Valley program and a Great Place to Work certified company (2021-2022), is a true Trailblazer. They’ve embraced innovation for the past 68 years, making a difference in both the community and the lives of employees. From inventive but humble beginnings three generations ago to today’s commitment to balance purpose against profits, Goodmans continues to provide an example through an inspiring mission, vision, and values.
Recently, Goodmans publicly acknowledged an unconscious bias that contributes to the scourge of systemic racism. Although the company has a clean EEOC record and passes annual diversity compliance audits, Goodmans discovered an insidious, unconscious mechanism called “occupational sorting” that effectively discriminates against people of color. Goodmans published their findings in the local newspaper and challenged other companies to conduct a similar analysis.
Since then, Goodmans has invested tens of thousands of dollars to dismantle their occupational sorting. The process involves benchmarking, assessments and training so that people of color can have a clear path to any role in the company.
Goodmans believes their purpose to “change the community” compels them to inspire other businesses to reflect on their own complicity in structural racism. This purpose also fuels many innovative programs that leverage the surplus assets, talent, and resources of Goodmans for the benefit of the greater community.
Vanguard
Vanguard made its first appearance on the Best Companies to Work for in Arizona list back in 2003 and has continued to live up to that honor ever since. With awards and honors such as being named a 2021 Arizona Most Admired Company and earning a spot on the Fortune World’s Best Employers list, Vanguard is truly a Trailblazer in the industry.
As one of the world’s largest investment companies, Vanguard offers a major selection of high-quality, low-cost mutual funds, ETFs, advice, and other similar services. For over forty years, Vanguard has kept one focus at the center of all they do — helping investors achieve their goals. The experienced team at Vanguard can help you make the best decisions every step of the way.
Looking to change the way the world invests? You’re in luck! Vanguard is currently hiring for roles on their Client Services team. You’ll have the opportunity to make a real difference in every client’s life each time you walk through the door.
