Corra is a global digital agency that leading B2C brands and B2B organizations trust to accelerate their growth and has won numerous Best Places to Work awards in New York, New Jersey, Bangalore and here in Southern California. A remote-first workplace, some of its many benefits include a volunteer program, wellness program with gym reimbursement, healthy snacks, and pet-friendly offices. The company goes to great lengths to celebrate its diverse culture, hosting many different holiday celebrations representing a variety of traditions, including Culture Day, where employees bring in food that represents their heritage.

Neurelis is an innovation-driven neuroscience company that provides a differentiated approach to target unmet medical needs, particularly for those with epilepsy. Many of its employees have a meaningful connection to epilepsy in their personal lives, fueling the team’s passion for their work. Anytime that passion ebbs, the company provides sponsored biweekly lunches, shuffleboard and other fun activities, and a wellness room with foot massage. Neurelis pays 100% for employee health benefits and offers stock options. It identified alternative ways to unite employees by forming committees such as the “Neurelis Women’s Group,” and the “Culture Crew,” which brings in speakers on topics of interest to staff.

Goal Solutions is a consumer loan servicing and asset management company providing comprehensive and customizable solutions driven by technology, analytics, and industry expertise. Because it wants every employee to feel they are living their best life, the company offers paid sabbaticals, unlimited PTO, flexibility to work from home, and various wellness programs. It hosts fun activities to celebrate various holidays, achievements or just because. Every three years the company will pay employees to use unlimited PTO and go on an unplugged vacation. Employees get 2k for the week plus 1k Sabbatical day to completely unplug and spoil themselves. IT disables their access to prevent them from working.

A fiercely independent, data-driven marketing and advertising agency, Red Door Interactive has been named a Top Work Place by the San Diego Union Tribune for the last four years. The company motto is “Together we create to help each other win,” and they achieve it with a collective culture of open-mindedness and respect. Weekly peer-to-peer education sessions provide all an opportunity to learn from subject experts and a focus on employee wellness is manifested in a host of initiatives like meeting-free Fridays, personal mental health days, fitness competitions, happy hours, and trivia nights to unwind after work.

A best place to work in San Diego the past two years, Optima Office provides fractional, interim, and project Chief Operating Officer, Operations Management, and Strategic Planning consulting services for small-to-medium-sized businesses. With a 4.7 rating on Glassdoor, one review describes the company as “a warm, welcoming, and fun culture… you get to work in various industries, teams and have a flexible schedule. You can reach out to anyone in the firm to provide guidance and advice and educate on new accounting and HR regulations. The company is growing rapidly, and many opportunities are provided to employees.”

Cadence is a global travel company dedicated to the art of taking care of clients, employees, and partners alike. The company recognizes that in order to find strength of purpose together, each individual must be empowered and inspired to add their own unique attributes to the collective. At Cadence, the client comes second. More than anything, what makes it a best place to work is its investment in people, which includes perks like great travel experiences, sponsored lunches, and group activities. A Best Place to Work in San Diego the past three years, Cadence provides full access to remote work.

Pacific Advisors’ motto instilled in all employees is “Do the Right Thing, Elevate Community, Embrace Teamwork, Drive Improvement, Solve the Problem.” The collaborative work culture encourages teamwork, supported by structured meeting tools and fun events for connecting. A Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Task Force drives small group and firm-wide discussions and provides education with a growing library of resources. Pacific Advisors is the first Financial Services Firm in California to be awarded the EDGE Certificate for corporate commitment to gender equality.

Celebrating 102 years as one of California’s premier public works contractors, Pinner Construction is committed to providing the best employee experience possible. In addition to employee recognition and bonus programs, the company has introduced best-in-class benefits at no cost to the employee and their family, and improved the company’s 401k match to an industry-best 50% – an important benefit for its many long-term employees. Pinner is a family atmosphere where company-sponsored pop-up lunches and ugly Christmas sweater contests are just part of life, as is a host of Best Places to Work awards.

A woman-owned minority business that helps clients stay ahead of the technology curve with a wealth of advanced IT and AV solutions, Golden Star Technology has been named a Best Place to Work by numerous regional and national publications. The moment you walk through GST’s lobby, you’ll see their values painted onto the wall. GST follows the ‘ABC’ – accountability, building connections, and character. Each month, GST hosts a minimum of one training event, one community service event, and one team building event. Add in weekly luncheons, massages, competitions, and holiday contests and you have a constant flow of communication among employees and with the company.

Dempsey Construction puts culture first by anchoring itself to the company foundation that “We are a builder of people and places.” All decisions at Dempsey run through that filter. The company even constructed its own office environment to be conducive to conversation, effective project collaboration, and relationship building, a space that serves as another example of its work and the lengths it will go to make a place where people feel comfortable and where they want to spend their days. Dempsey gives its military veterans a day off on Veterans Day and provides company-sponsored lunches and a personal trainer twice weekly.

Bringing together a group of people who are not only passionate about helping customers succeed, but who are also passionate about bettering themselves and their teammates personally and professionally, Ticket Manager focuses on its people first, its product second, and its profits third. What makes it a “best” place to work is transparency from leadership, opportunities for advancement, rewards/recognition for excellent work, and a team/family-oriented environment. That means flexible work options, pets at work, team breakfasts and more.

Vincit is a custom software development and design agency that creates digital services and software applications from idea to market. Powered by a workplace where “Mondays don’t suck,” employees have a voice, feel engaged, take ownership and drive business and client projects further. By focusing more heavily on satisfaction of both staff and clients, success has followed. A four-time Orange County Journal Best Workplace awardee, Vincit gives employees autonomy over their work and schedule, with mentoring programs, mental health counseling and coaching, a dedicated Slack channel to trade ideas, and “Golden Duck” recognition awards.

In the San Diego office of this Fortune 100 financial services company that services clients in every corner of the United States, family is most important. The company provides an extensive list of benefits that demonstrate how much it values employees and provides stability and work-life balance for the team. The collaborative, welcoming culture creates an environment that our team members are hesitant to leave behind. The host of recognition awards is capped by the annual summer picnic at the managing partner’s private club for the entire team and their families.

Seek Capital is an advertising referral service to qualified participating lenders that may provide referrals to lenders, credit repair companies, banks, and trusted partners, Seek was rated the ninth best place to work in 2021 by Glassdoor. The company offers a continual feedback loop of communication, performance-based incentive pay structure and an open-door policy that includes everyone up to the CEO. Seek lives by this truism: Rather than think “What if we spend all this money and time training our staff and they leave?”, they think “What if we don’t spend any time or money training our staff, and they stay?”

Not only is SCI a leader in the lighting manufacturer representative industry, it’s a leader in change and adapting to the current workplace culture. It heavily emphasizes promoting from within, giving employees many different opportunities without having to leave the organization. Value and integrity are two of SCI’s core principles. With quarterly team events, periodic gift boxes and membership in the Headspace mobile app, the company takes care of its employees’ mental health and wellness. Named a top workplace by the Orange County Register, SCI believes it’s more a family than a group of co-workers.

The new employee-centric headquarters of this commercial property management company integrates art, open space, wellness, and feng shui to build trust and embrace Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices, because employees are River Rock’s most valuable asset. RREG became one of the first CRE firms to certify policies and procedures using the Fitwel Viral Response Module, the world’s leading certification system committed to building health for all. Rock U employee training program identifies emerging leaders and offers mentorship for RockStar employees. RREG places a high value on employee participation in community activities, hosting charitable events and paid time off to volunteer.

Inclusion, professional growth, philanthropy, and fun describe M&R’s culture. The firm fosters an environment where everyone has a voice, encouraging healthy internal debate and innovative, strategic thinking. M&R has a vibrant culture fostered by an Event & Social Manager – the firm’s so-called “Ambassador of Fun” – who maintains a company calendar chock-full of bonding events. A sampling of firm events includes weekly in-house breakfasts, quarterly office mixers, holiday-themed parties, including a blowout Thanksgiving celebration and a Secret Snowman gift exchange, staff events like bowling, billiards and karaoke, attorney barbeques, off-site partner retreats, firmwide charitable fundraisers, diversity and inclusion events, and an epic annual year-end holiday party.

An Orange County Best Place to Work the last four years, US Alliance Group offers cutting-edge payment processing solutions for merchants accepting credit card, debit card, mobile, and online payments. It maintains a company culture that values and encourages a work/home life balance, mutual trust, respect, and positive communication. A culture that recognizes each employee’s skillset and celebrates the opportunities for advancement in their career and in their personal life. The company encourages its employees to live a healthy life through a competitive benefits package with insurance and retirement options, bonuses, gym access, supplementary time off, serve projects, team competitions, an inviting breakroom and stocked kitchen, and competitive salaries.

Citadel EHS is an employee-owned Environmental, Health and Safety & Sustainability consulting firm whose defining element is a culture of teamwork. Citadel recognizes, celebrates and promotes wealth creation and profits as the byproduct of doing the right thing consistently. A Best Place to Work six of seven years before now, Citadel offers its employee/owners finance classes and a pet-friendly workplace. By providing services that clearly add value in the world, the company makes it possible for employees to derive a sense of special meaning from their work.

Integral Group is the world’s leading deep green engineering and consulting firm. Working to make the world a better place, the company is committed to Corporate Social Environment Responsibility and improving the lives of its people through employee resource groups for women, members of the LGBT community and more; and councils on wellness, diversity, zero carbon and more. The company gives employees the opportunity to volunteer their time on pro bono services it offers to the community. Various social activities and Cheers for Peers employee recognition complement the mission-driven daily activities.

A technology-driven, employee-owned travel consultant for businesses and individuals, TravelStore is imbued with the built-in benefit of free and discounted employee travel. Employee-owners create a culture of positivity where everyone’s contributions are recognized. The company decked out its new headquarters with everything you need to be productive, from standing desks to state-of-the-art espresso/cappuccino machines, and even a fancy kitchen equipped with convection ovens – “useful when our COO urgently needs to bake cookies for the whole office on a whim.” TravelStore sponsors the education of two teenage students in Kenya and a handful of staff have been fortunate enough to visit them in person.

EVOTEK provides cross-functional solutions between business and IT to facilitate alignment, reduce functional silos, and focus on business objectives. With 43 awards over the last six years covering growth and the workplace, Evotek allows employees to work remotely, meet regularly, get recognized and fit and enjoy each other’s company. Besides staging silly contests and surprise days off, the company’s leadership founded the EVOTEK Giving Foundation which houses a Women in Technology scholarship and program, and Project Gratitude, which focuses on veterans and first responders.

Team members at HITT Construction are beyond dedicated; they’re driven, intelligent, innovative, and reliable. Their devotion translates into an indelible sense of camaraderie and passion that is part of the reason the company is consistently rated a top workplace. HITT’s success as a leader in the industry directly correlates with our investment in the wellness of our team and the tools that will make them successful at HITT and beyond. Not many construction companies offer pet insurance, family caregiver leave, and an annual wellness fair.

PBS Engineers, Inc is a mechanical, electrical, and plumbing consulting firm. Management of the firm knows that there’s work and then there’s your life’s work, the kind that you are unable to stop thinking about, that you wake up excited to walk through the door each morning to do, and they aim for the latter. With a flexible work environment that predated Covid, several recognition programs, and a proud culture built on unmatched service and lasting client relationships, PBS is a best place to work that has won a slew of professional awards as well.

SetSchedule, the marketplace that aggregates leads from multiple sources in real time, has a work hard and play harder motto. The company’s ability to provide a great work environment for employees yet still have fun through company events has catapulted it to a shelf full of workplace, diversity, and fastest growing company awards. SetSchedule understands that employees are its most important resource and because of that, everyday decisions are based on what is best for the team. Bolstered by constant mentorship and training, team building and recognition, and family leave for military spouses, the team is poised to boost the company to new heights.

Corporate law firm Sklar Kirsh is committed to being a friendly, supportive, positive, and safe place to work. Attorneys and staff socialize inside and outside the workplace in a familial culture marked by a year-round casual dress code. The namesake founders are big fans of team-building events like Karaoke and Escape Room Nights and provide staff with the resources to work from home. A Los Angeles Business Journal Best Places to Work this year, Sklar Kirsch has grown from four to 42 attorneys in less than a decade.

BAMKO designs, manufactures, and delivers award-winning merchandise that creates lasting connections between brands and their customers. The company’s highest priority is always the health and well-being of its employees and partners. When a Covid vaccine became available in India, Bamko conducted a vaccine drive at its office, providing free inoculations to employees and their family members. Named one of 2021’s Greatest Companies to Work For In The Promotional Products Industry by PPB Magazine, that followed on the heels of four consecutive Best Place to Work placings here. “The culture is great and you are challenged every day,” says one Glassdoor review.

Working in a family-first environment, employees of the accounting firm Windes never miss any of their children’s events or sporting activities. The company’s long-standing reputation of being one of the best places to work in the accounting industry, with numerous awards to support that, is built on the guiding principles of integrity, independence, continuous improvement, and professional excellence. The firm’s inventory of small gifts is testament to its regular practice of thanking and recognizing staff for anniversaries, birthdays and good work. The costume bowling party is an annual tradition and involves prizes for the best bowlers – and the worst.

SOLV Energy builds and manages state-of-the-art renewable energy systems and storage solutions. SOLV has launched several initiatives that support employees both personally and professionally, including opportunities for employees to spread “good energy” within their communities through volunteering and sponsorships, an end-to-end evaluation of supply chain and building practices to better promote sustainability across operations, resources for personal and professional development and learning, and an in-house Diversity, Equity and Inclusion program. Besides mission-driven work, employees enjoy a manager boot camp and a leadership accelerator supporting professional development.

Commercial Bank of California has a people over profits vision whose goal is to promote life wealth for clients and employees. The bank’s unfathomable net promoter score of 81 is testament to its commitment to being a trusted partner to clients, while employees know they can count on bank management and their co-workers every step of their career journey. The company supports workplace flexibility, and its appreciation and recognition events include eight paid “passion and purpose days” each year for employees to contribute to the community.

SAA interiors + architecture believes that employees are the cornerstone of our business! The basis of all customized employee experience initiatives is rooted in featuring ways for each employee to be the best version of themselves in the workplace. Our firm celebrates each employee’s personality from the moment they join the SAA community by creating an immersive introduction with their onboarding and later offering tools, resources, and employee connections they will need to be successful. SAA is a fun place to work with interactive break rooms and eco-friendly cycling and moped transportation options from the office.

LSL is a CPA firm that strives to provide an environment where everyone’s voice is heard. Members of the LSL team are encouraged and supported in achieving their goals – both professional and personal – and are provided tools that will move their career forward. Examples of this are weekly meetings to share ideas and struggles and hash out issues, employee events and community service, and monthly town hall meetings featuring a Demonstrating Our Core Values award. The firm also creates fun by sponsoring yoga sessions, a weight loss challenge, game nights, trips to Angels games, Margarita Mondays, and karaoke.

Mulligan Funding is a leading provider of financial solutions and working capital to small and medium-sized businesses. The company prides itself on its collaborative, innovative, and customer-focused approach. When the chips were down in 2020 and Mulligan lost most of its revenue, executives rallied the team, emerging from the crisis together, without losing a single team member. Everyone at Mulligan Funding has a voice, to the point that it’s not always easy to discern the corporate hierarchy in the room. Free food is a company staple, along with gym membership to work it off, and team events, including axe throwing – which suggests a certain staff comity.

TCWGlobal is a comprehensive turn-key solution for managing a contingent workforce. It values professional and personal growth, with programs to encourage continuous learning and career development, offering coaching, and an annual coaching retreat in Palm Springs. The CEO hosts a training retreat in Cabo for everyone and provides a dollar-for-dollar donation matches to any nonprofit organization, up to $5,000 per employee. TCW is known for hosting happy hours, events, catered lunches, and onsite amenities. Its office space is designed to feel like a luxury resort, with Fitbits, a free life coach and ergonomic sit-stand desks, and a new building will have a spa, restaurant, two cafes, firepits, a walking trail, champagne bar, and an indoor park.

Knight Law Group is a standout in the practice of California Lemon Law, winning the largest jury verdicts under the Song Beverly Act in 2017 and 2018, and the largest jury verdict for consumer fraud in 2018. A firm where employees fight hard for their clients and are rewarded, say reviewers on Glassdoor. “Amazing leadership team that really takes care of its employees. Very diverse team that brings out the best in one another. Enjoy working here and delivering for clients. Appreciate the focus on client service and employee satisfaction,” reads one review. Knight offers events and recognition, pet insurance, and on-site massages to relieve stress.

Eagle subscribes to these values: commitment to creating personalized, compassionate service for our internal and external members, passion about serving those in need within our local community, commitment to hiring diverse, knowledgeable, relationship-centered professionals who foster innovation, creativity, and learning, recognition of employees for their commitment to providing outstanding service, and support and encouragement for a diverse work culture.

Employees are the heartbeat of the credit union. Employees enjoy work that serves the community, flexible schedules, and time off, tuition reimbursement, and team-building events.

At the Bank of Southern California, the individual and the team are valued for their contributions to the company’s success, demonstrated through verbal recognition, monetary incentives, and additional opportunities to grow. A Best Place to Work in San Diego the past four years, the bank boasts ad hoc free lunches, holiday costume contests, and other small perks of employment. Positive online reviews include this one: “Great culture with lots of ability to learn across different job families and grow in your career; great future outlook with tremendous opportunity; if you work hard, you will be recognized and valued; compensation is very competitive.”

1st Century Bank is a place where employees can have a great work/personal life balance, have fun, build friendships, and advance their careers. The bank encourages appreciation, professionalism, and great working environment. Management has an open-door policy and truly cares about each and everyone. The bank has a culture of “train your own and promote from within.” Starbucks gift cards, lunches with management and monetary rewards are among the methods of recognition massage chairs, and themed breakfasts help make for an enjoyable place to work.

Secure One Capital is a privately held mortgage lender offering mortgages to clients with FICO scores as low as 500. An Inc. magazine 5000 Fastest Growing Companies six of the last seven years, Secure One believes in a work-life balance that includes a Monday Morning Mindset meeting lead by a highly sought-after personal coach and trainer. Numerous recognition and appreciation awards include the opportunity to earn an expenses-paid trip to Cancun for a week of fun in the sun. Management demonstrates an open-door policy and organizes a host of fun events, including an office luau and Friday morning breakfasts, and is committed to training and promoting from within.

A multiple-time Best Place to Work in Orange County, SmartFinancial is a leading insurance marketplace serving the needs of insurance customers across all 50 states. The family vibe, the competitive pay and room for advancement make it a great place to work, complemented by a matching 401K and stock options. The company’s internal Slack channel and time off for volunteering deepen the bonds among employees, leading to one Glassdoor reviewer to say it was the best job they’ve ever had. “Fantastic platform; management is awesome; excellent product; innovative and ahead of the industry.”

The performance marketing agency for software as a service, one of Directive Consulting’s core values is People First. As part of this core value, the company is committed to paying a living wage no matter what country they live and work in. The company is so committed to appreciating and recognizing employees that it dedicates a member of the internal marketing team to send companywide gifts for special events, birthdays, holidays, etc. A fully remote workplace, Directive offers year-end bonuses, a referral award for bringing in new staff and clients, and an annual anniversary trip.

An accounting and data firm that empowers small businesses to make informed decisions through the production of accurate and timely books that yield honest, insightful, and actionable reports., Omega focuses on professional development of employees and providing an exceptional work-life balance. Mondays are fun days at Omega, which breaks out a catered lunch for all staff every week. The company culture prioritizes employee wellbeing and presents an open-door policy that values robust communication and suggestions for improvement.

NuFACE is the pioneer and leading innovator in at-home Microcurrent Skincare. Created 17 years ago in a garage in Encinitas, NuFACE embodies the true meaning of a passionate and fearless female-owned business. With multiple programs in place, NuFACE makes it a priority to keep the team together, morale up with a healthy work-life balance, and honors awards and recognizes employees who go above and beyond. From additional, quarterly “Recharge Days” to Summer Fridays, NuFACE believes a happier employee always works way harder.