Fort Collins Otterbox Named Best Place to Work

Otterbox, the company that makes protective cases for cell phones and other digital devices, and one of the biggest companies in Fort Collins, has been named to he Great Place to Work^® annual 2012 Best Small & Medium Workplaces list, published today in FORTUNE magazine.

If you have a cell phone, chances are you've heard of Otterbox, because you've probably shopped for a protective case. If you live in Fort Collins, you may have already heard about the company that uses state of the art technologies, great benefits, and offers a slide-or-stairs option to go from one level to another of their Old Town offices.

“As much as we seek to be a leader in providing protective solutions for mobile technology, we also strive to be a best-in-class employer,” said OtterBox President and CEO Brian Thomas. “Our employees, or ‘otters’ as we call them, are responsible for making this company one of the fastest growing in the nation and in order to attract and keep top talent, we’ve focused on creating a culture that fosters innovation and inspires passion. We’re honored to be included among the top workplaces in the nation and will continue to prioritize culture because having a great workplace is not an expense, it’s an investment.”

OtterBox was selected among hundreds of companies vying for a place on the list this year. This is the second year OtterBox has participated in the Great Place to Work survey process and the second year it has landed a spot on the national ranking, up from No. 22 last year.

“As much as we seek to be a leader in providing protective solutions for mobile technology, we also strive to be a best-in-class employer,” said OtterBox President and CEO Brian Thomas. “Our employees, or ‘otters’ as we call them, are responsible for making this company one of the fastest growing in the nation and in order to attract and keep top talent, we’ve focused on creating a culture that fosters innovation and inspires passion. We’re honored to be included among the top workplaces in the nation and will continue to prioritize culture because having a great workplace is not an expense, it’s an investment.”

OtterBox takes a well-rounded approach to creating a great place to work - from itsstate-of-the art facilities and top-tier benefits to its philosophy of employee engagementand corporate social responsibility. OtterBox corporate headquarters embodies the company culture with a professional yet fun environment. The lobby features a spiral slide as well as self-service latte machine and soda fountain. Throughout its eight Northern Colorado facilities are pinball machines, massage chairs and plenty of informal meeting areas for impromptu collaboration. The company also emphasizes giving back through its charitable arm the OtterCares Foundation and 24-hours of paid time off for volunteer activities.

Great Place to Work has found that employees believe they work for great organizations when they consistently trust the people they work for, have pride in what they do and enjoy the people they work with. Now in its ninth year, the competition is divided into two categories, small (50-250 employees) and medium (251-999 employees). Applicant companies opt to participate in the selection process, which includes an employee survey and an in-depth questionnaire about their programs and company practices. Great Place to Work then evaluates each application using its unique methodology based on five dimensions: credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie.

“The Best Small & Medium Workplaces list grows more competitive every year and this list represents the best of the best,” said Susan Lucas-Conwell, Global Chief Executive Officer of Great Place to Work. “While each company is unique, what they have in common are strong cultures that support positive workplaces.”

Organizations named on the list see many benefits that include better financial performance, less employee turnover, higher levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty, more innovative and creative thinking, higher productivity and enhanced public perception.

To see the full 2012 Great Place to Work Best Small & Medium Workplaces list, visitwww.greatplacetowork.com orhttp://money.cnn.com/gallery/news/companies/2012/10/25/best-medium-companies.fortune/7.html.

Additional information about OtterBox can be found at www.otterbox.com or on its winning Great Place to Work company profile at www.greatplacetowork.com/2012-best-workplaces/otterbox.