About BestCompaniesAZ
We validate and elevate the very best companies in Arizona.
Founded in 2002, BestCompaniesAZ pioneered the intersection of recruiting, human resources, marketing and public relations — today known as Employer Branding or “PR for HR.” BestCompaniesAZ has evolved into an exclusive, niche PR, marketing and employer branding firm that specializes in building and promoting strong employer brands. BestCompaniesAZ is best known for establishing large-scale workplace awards programs and events, including the Best Places to Work in the Valley, Arizona’s Most Admired Companies, Top Companies to Work for in Arizona and several large-scale events designed to support Arizona veterans and spouses and diversity and inclusion.
BestCompaniesAZ specializes in helping corporate clients and community partners develop, strengthen and market their unique employer brands on a regional and national level. With decades of combined leadership experience in organizational culture development, strategic human resources management, employer branding, public relations and talent marketing, BestCompaniesAZ has developed a reputation as the expert for gaining increased exposure in our state.
Our Team
Denise Gredler
CEO & Founder
Denise Gredler is the state’s preeminent thought leader and visionary in employer branding and award consultation. Denise is best known for establishing large-scale workplace awards programs, including the Best Places to Work in the Valley, Arizona’s Most Admired Companies, and Top Companies to Work for in Arizona.
Before founding BestCompaniesAZ, Denise was the vice president of human resources for a commercial finance company headquartered in Arizona. There, she helped to build a human resources department for a small subsidiary into a decentralized human resources function for a public company with more than 1,500 employees nationwide. Working closely with the CEO, Denise nurtured and promoted the company’s dynamic work culture, landing the company in the #12 and #16 spots on Fortune Magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work for in America in 1999 and 2000, the first Arizona public company to top this list. She created work/life initiatives, recruitment and retention strategies, managed HR surveys and employee communications to build an outstanding employer brand.
In 2017, Denise was named as one of the “Most Influential Women in Arizona” published by AZ Business magazine. In 2023, BestCompaniesAZ was recognized as one of the BBB Torch Award for Ethics finalists. Denise also serves on the board for Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona and was nominated to the Executive and Nominating Committees.
In her spare time, Denise likes to travel with husband Karl and son Max, and tries her best to enjoy the workout and healthy eating program she’s committed to.
Kari Trummel
VP of Client Services and Operations
Kari Trummel has worked over 20 years in the marketing and advertising industry helping clients and companies grow their businesses. Her expertise spans from technology and finance, to sports marketing and working with Fortune 100 companies. She has the experience and connections to help take your employer brand and candidate flow to the next level. Kari has proven her ability to help her clients succeed in marketing their businesses in new and innovative ways in Arizona and California. Her many strengths which include process implementation, account management, high attention to detail and excellent customer service skills, will be instrumental in helping all BestCompaniesAZ clients exceed their talent sourcing and employer branding goals for the future.
On a personal note, Kari is a Chicago native and moved to Arizona to attend college at GCU and Arizona State. She has lived in the Valley for over 20 years. When she is not being a mom to her young son, Greyson, you can find her on her yoga mat or hiking one Arizona’s beautiful mountains.
Jenna DiMartino
Talent Brand Strategist
Jenna DiMartino has a B.S. in Digital Marketing from The Dolan School of Business at Fairfield University. She incorporates her natural creativity with her knowledge of the market to attract the right consumers to quality brands on digital platforms. After over a year of internship experience as a sales and marketing assistant, her passion for connecting Arizona’s BEST companies to the BEST talent has kickstarted her full time career at BestCompaniesAZ.
At BestCompaniesAZ, Jenna is responsible for supporting the CEO and VP of Client Services & Operations with account growth and new business opportunities in the Arizona and Texas markets. Jenna uses her knowledge of employer branding, corporate branding, and company awards to execute campaigns each week. She also has an active role in BestCompaniesAZ sales where she always brings new ideas to elevate existing and future clients. Jenna grew up in Connecticut and has recently graduated in this year’s class of 2022. Outside of work, she enjoys painting, drawing, traveling to new places, and snowboarding.
Deborah Peck, PhD.
Strategic Consulting Partner, FOunder of Seity Insight
As a network engineer turned organizational psychologist, Dr. Deb loves turning intuition into science. Those “soft skills” and culture concepts you thought couldn’t be measured? She can measure them, using her own trademarked scientific process.
Dr. Deb’s calming, patient, non-judgmental presence doesn’t mean she sugarcoats her communication, since she’s known for integrity and honesty. She can handle the truth if you can.
Despite her passion for her work, Dr. Deb is most proud of raising a smart and kind son. In her rich and varied life history, she’s traveled Europe on her own, and still looks for opportunities to travel and experience great restaurants. One of Dr. Deb’s simple pleasures is going on long hikes and snuggling with her 80-pound lap dog, Dreygan, a four year old Dobie.
Dr. Deb can help solve complex organizational challenges. To find out more details about her consultation services visit: https://seity.com.
Christine Gannon
Strategic Consulting Partner, Managing Partner of Brightworks Consulting
Christine Gannon serves as a respected exemplary leader in the public, private and non-profit sectors, as CEO of Brightworks Consulting. Leaning on her extensive cross-industry experience, she is an invested architect of change, providing exceptional value and notable ROI for clients. As CEO, Christine is known for her expertise in leadership, business process improvement, collaborative partnerships, and DE&I. Her research is focused on leadership, equity, inclusion and ensuring the workplace is safe, educated, and equitable.
Ms. Gannon is also the Co-Founder of The Foundation for Female Equity and Inclusion. This 501c3 was established in early 2020 with a mission to serve organizations with resources, education and best practices to drive inclusion and equity in the workplace.
Ms. Gannon is a published author and co-author of several books to include: The Excellence Code: 7 Steps to Achieve Lasting Impact™, Constitutional Grit: Using Grit as a Catalyst for Female Equity in the C Suite, along with Executive Women Grit: Powerful Stories of Women Who Earned the Silver Spoon.
Most recently, Christine received the 2021 Phoenix Business Journal Outstanding Women in Business award and was recognized in 2020 by the Capitol Times as a top Woman Achiever of Arizona. She hosts a weekly podcast, Great Companies! Great Leaders! on You Tube and podcasting platforms.
Prior to launching Brightworks Consulting, Ms. Gannon was the Global Leader for Transformation and Change at IBM, as well as Vice President of Business Process Improvement and Lean Six Sigma holding a Master Black Belt certification. Before joining IBM, Ms. Gannon served as a Global Program and Communications Executive at American Express.
Accolades
Is your company one of Arizona's best?
BestCompaniesAZ maintains lists of the best employers in Arizona – are we missing your company? Let us know!
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