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2021 Arizona's Most Admired Companies Digital Profiles
Learn more about Arizona’s Most Admired Companies below. This section will be updated daily as more profiles are published.
Here are Arizona’s Most Admired Companies for 2021
A lot has changed in the workplace during the last 20 months. Working from home is no longer just a way to get an early start on the weekend. And living through a pandemic has completely changed the way we live — or don’t live — our lives and do business on a daily basis. And through all of that, 46 companies have risen from the adversity and earned the right to call themselves Arizona’s Most Admired Companies of 2021.
Winners
Axon
Axon develops Taser devices, cameras, and software products for law enforcement and civilians.
To show Axon is just as committed to its employees’ personal lives as to their professional lives, Axon partners with outside organizations and experts to promote healthy living. Benefits at Axon start on Day 1 and Axon offers a flexible work environment, unlimited PTO, parent support networks with expert-led Weldon webinars throughout the year, unlimited 24/7 access to wellness and mental health services, and free legal assistance to employees.
CarMax
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.
CarMax’s culture of innovation, diversity, and inclusion is grounded in its core values, where winning together is driven by embracing and celebrating our differences. CarMax requires all associates to complete diversity and inclusion as well as unconscious bias training. One CarMax associate at the CarMax customer experience center in Tempe said: “The culture is incredible. I love the diversity we have here – no matter you who are, they’ll care for you.”
Charles Schwab
Schwab believes in the power of investing to help individuals create a better tomorrow. Charles Schwab challenges the status quo, innovating in ways that benefit investors, advisors, and employers who serve them.
As the second largest Charles Schwab location, Arizona is home to 18% of Schwab’s employees. The Arizona location contributes significantly to building the company’s national award-winning culture as well as its success in the local marketplace. Schwab is most proud of the fact that the Arizona workforce experiences a low voluntary turnover (7.9%) that outperforms the industry average of 15.4%.
Desert Financial Credit Union
Celebrating more than 80 years in years in Arizona, Desert Financial is the state’s largest local credit union with $7 billion in assets, 350,000+ members and 47 branches.
In 2020, Desert Financial announced its participation in a five-year research project with Filene Institute’s Center of Excellence for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Led by Dr. Quinetta Roberson of Michigan State University, the project aims to improve member experience, facilitate diversity and equal opportunity at all levels, and improve strategic performance.
Farmers Insurance
Since Farmers Insurance began its operations in 1928, its founders instilled values of service and charity that continue to reverberate throughout the organization today.
The Arizona leadership team puts a strong focus on its innovative, proactive on-boarding program for new hires that provides employees with tools to help them succeed, as well as provide support to help welcome them seamlessly into the organization. Leadership’s dedication to employees goes beyond onboarding. One valuable way Farmers supports career development is through mentorship programs. Such programs are designed to assist mentees in expanding their network, cultivating meaningful professional relationships and growing their skillset.
Freedom Financial
Freedom Financial Network strives to nurture an inclusive, caring culture that positions everyone to do their best work. Freedom is passionate about its mission to empower everyday Americans to move forward towards a better financial future and debt-free living.
Freedom feels strongly about diversity, equity, and inclusion and encourages its employees to bring their full selves to work every day. More than 65% of internal career advancement opportunities, promotions, and transfers to new positions are women and 52% are diverse employees. During this past year, a growing focus has been the building of employee-led employee resource groups (ERGs) which are open to all employees, whether a member of the ERG community or an ally of the group.
GoDaddy
GoDaddy is empowering everyday entrepreneurs around the world by providing all of the help and tools to succeed online.
Since its inception in a garage in Arizona in 1997, GoDaddy has evolved into a champion poised to empower everyday entrepreneurs worldwide and a champion for workplace equality. Today, GoDaddy’s employs more than 9,000 people worldwide and its culture has also evolved into an inclusive workplace for all. GoDaddy received a perfect score of 100 percent for three consecutive years on the Corporate Equality Index, the nation’s premier benchmarking survey administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona
Since 1985, Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona has been privileged to build more than1,170 homes, affect more than 2,500 repairs and improve a place called home for more than 3,800 Arizona families.
Leading the charge toward an innovative and sustainable way to increase affordable housing, Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona is building the global housing nonprofit’s first 3D-printed home in the United States.The custom, single-story home is currently under construction on a lot donated by the City of Tempe.
KUBRA
KUBRA is a fast-growing company that delivers customer communications solutions to some of the largest utility, insurance, and government entities across North America.
KUBRA has invested a lot of time and energy into diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in the past few years. These efforts have garnered recognition on numerous high-profile lists, including Best Workplaces for Women (2020 and 2021), Best Workplaces for Mental Health (2021), and Best Workplaces for Inclusion (2020).
Vanguard
Vanguard is an investment management company based in Malvern, Pennsylvania, and this year is celebrating 27 years at its location in Scottsdale, Arizona.
To keep its employees highly engaged, Vanguard has partnered with CultureAmp, an independent survey administrator and research company, to conduct an annual employee engagement survey. Structured planning sessions follow the survey each year, aiming to drive change and continuously increase positive outcomes.
