Ingredients for a Best Place to Work: At Counselor Top 40 supplier Sportsman Cap & Bag (asi/88877), employees are encouraged to take ownership of their ideas. President Dan Saferstein plays a big role in setting that tone. “He knows what we need to do to stay ahead of the curve,” says Morgan Leonard, logistics manager. “When Dan has an idea he thinks has potential, he lets us run with it.” That openness creates an environment where employees feel comfortable contributing ideas and improving how things are done across the company.

Employees at Sportsman Cap & Bag (asi/88877) are encouraged to contribute ideas and make improvements at the company.

The culture is also shaped by the people who’ve been there the longest. Leonard, who joined the company nine years ago picking orders in the warehouse before moving into logistics leadership, says he learned the business from colleagues who had been with Sportsman for more than 40 years. “When you learn from people who’ve been here that long, you realize pretty quickly why things work the way they do,” he says. That blend of experience and openness to new ideas has helped create a workplace where employees feel invested in the company’s success.

Leadership encourages employees to try new things. Brand Manager Max Leonard, who first worked summers in the warehouse before joining full-time after college, says hands-on exposure to multiple parts of the business – from logistics to traveling the country educating distributors about headwear brands – has shaped his experience. “Ownership works closely with all of us and is always looking for opportunities for people to try new roles,” he says. Whether it’s pitching a new hat style based on what’s trending on the golf course or experimenting with marketing campaigns, employees feel they have a real voice.

Top Benefits & Perks: The Sportsman Cap & Bag team spends plenty of time together outside the warehouse too. Employees often attend local sporting events together, with tickets provided by the company.

Parting Tip: It’s important to empower employees to speak up and solve problems together, Morgan Leonard says. “You’re never going to feel like nobody’s going to listen to your opinion,” he adds. “If you think something needs to change, you can say it – and people will hear you out.”

If Sportsman Cap & Bag Were a TV Show, It Would Be Modern Family. “There’s a lot of different personalities here, and we’re together a lot,” Morgan Leonard says, noting that co-workers often attend sporting events and other extracurricular activities together.