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BestCompaniesAZ Timeline - Celebrating 25 Years!
For 25 years, BestCompaniesAZ has been dedicated to elevating and promoting the best companies in Arizona. “We knew that encouraging a better work culture would not only benefit the lives of employees, but would also create better communities, and more profitable businesses,” says CEO and Founder, Denise Gredler.
Generations of Leadership
For 25 years, Denise Gredler has been a pioneering force in elevating workplace culture and employer branding in Arizona. She helped introduce Arizona’s first Best Places to Work award program in 2003, in partnership with the Great Place to Work Institute — bringing national-level workplace recognition to employers across the state. AZ Business’ Generations of Leadership recognizes mentorship, fresh ideas and shared experiences that create stronger companies and a more resilient economy.
2024
Denise Gredler was honored as a Civilian Veteran Champion at the 2024 Women Who Lead Summit for her dedication to supporting Veteran job seekers. Since 2014, she has partnered with Career Connectors to host “Vet Talks,” an annual event connecting Veterans with military-friendly employers. Her efforts have helped thousands secure meaningful careers, earning her the Civilian Veteran Champion Award for making a lasting impact on Arizona’s Veteran community.
2023
BBB Torch Award for Ethics, Small Business Finalist
BestCompaniesAZ named finalist of the 2023 BBB Torch Award for Ethics 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 workforce, veterans and spouses and diversity and inclusion. Recognized for it’s mission to collaborate and support the Arizona community in connecting great talent with great companies.
2022
BestCompaniesAZ Regional Website – Ranking #1 for AZ
BestCompaniesAZ is the #1 driver of traffic to our client’s career portals outperforming many national and local branding platforms such as Glassdoor, Recruit Military, ZipRecruiter, and local media channels.
Join us today!
2020 – 2021
AZ Business Angels Award – Supporting the COVID Crisis
BestCompaniesAZ and Career Connectors partnered with the state’s workforce development teams helping to support the high unemployment crisis caused by COVID. In March 2020, BestCompaniesAZ added a section to our website that served as a portal to showcase all hiring companies in Arizona at no cost to the employer. BCAZ and CC hosted weekly virtual events for job seekers to offset the negative impact coronavirus has had on the job market. We also partnered with many cities in supporting their respective communities.
2021
BestCompaniesAZ was selected by InBusinessMagazine as one of Arizona’s “21 Businesses You Must Know.” (More Here)
2018
BestCompaniesTexas Launched
BestCompaniesAZ expanded into Texas to help support the hiring and growth goals of Arizona clients with offices inTexas. Texas was paused in 2020-2021 due to COVID, and will be revitalized in Q3, 2025. (Learn More)
2017
15th Anniversary BestCompaniesAZ
BestCompaniesAZ celebrated 15 years of recognizing Arizona’s Best Companies with the selection of the 100 Best Companies in Arizona. (More Here)
2015
Diversity Talks – Networking & Career Events (2015 – 2022)
BestCompaniesAZ and Career Connectors launched the first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Career Event with the goal of connecting Arizona job seekers with Corporate Equality award-winning companies. (More Here)
2014
Military Career Event – Vet Talks (2014 – 2023)
BestCompaniesAZ launched the Military Career Event in partnership with PGATours/Birdies for the Brave and ASU Pat Tillman Center. This event brings together Arizona’s award-winning, military-friendly companies with veteran business professionals. (Learn More)
2013
Top Companies to Work for in Arizona
BestCompaniesAZ was selected as the local branding and consulting partner to help launch the 1st statewide program in collaboration with azcentral and Best Companies Group (2013 – 2020). In 2021 the publisher changed to AZ Capitol Times.
(See winners)
2012
BestCompaniesAZ’s 10th Anniversary
BestCompaniesAZ celebrated our 10th anniversary and Arizona’s Centennial with the release of the 100 Best Companies in Arizona commemorative magazine, in partnership with Republic Media.
(See winners)
2011
Arizona University Career Mixer
BestCompaniesAZ co-founded the inaugural 3-in-1 Arizona Career Mixer in partnership with the University of Arizona (UA). This event brings together talented students from UA, ASU, and NAU.
2010
Inaugural Arizona Most Admired Companies (2010 – Present)
BestCompaniesAZ co-founded the most prestigious award program in Arizona, in partnership with AZ Big Media and AZ Business Magazine – Arizona’s Most Admired Companies (MAC). This award recognizes Arizona companies that excel in all 5 pillars of MAC: workplace culture, leadership, social responsibility, customer opinion, and innovation. (See current and past winners)
2009
Career Connectors Partnership, nonprofit 501(c)(3)
During the great recession of 2009, BestCompaniesAZ partnered with Career Connectors helping to connect job seekers with AZ’s BEST employers. (More here)
2003
Inaugural “Best Companies to Work for in the Valley”
BestCompaniesAZ is the visionary and creator of the first ever Best Companies award program brought to the Metro-Phoenix area. The inagural program was launched in partnership with the Great Place to Work Institute (Fortune Magazine’s research partner) and published by the Phoenix Business Journal. (See inaugural list)
As the founder of the most respected workplace award programs in the Southwest, BestCompaniesAZ knows what it takes to win workplace awards.
Ready to get the recognition your company deserves?