Ingredients for a Best Place to Work: Asked what makes Stowebridge (asi/337500) a great place to work, one employee responded: “The owners make us feel valued and we know that we’re important and an integral part of making the company successful.”

The Arizona-based distributorship is cognizant of the needs of its people, and it’s reflected in what employees described as a great work-life balance that recognizes “what we do here is important, but also what we do outside of work is equally important,” a staffer shares.

Perhaps it’s because of that atmosphere that employees happily work so hard and effectively when on the job. They do so in support of each other and the company’s collective success. “It’s a very collaborative environment,” says Stowebridge President Kathy Finnerty Thomas. “Everyone that works here brings something unique to the table. We’re fully in office, and our work model has been successful because we’re able to collaborate in real time about projects, bouncing ideas off each other.”

Top Benefits & Perks: Employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package and generous vacation time. There are birthday lunches to celebrate staffers throughout the year, and holiday activities like pumpkin-carving and a white elephant gift exchange that enhance camaraderie and a sense of togetherness. “We also like to sprinkle in surprise days off when we’ve been extremely busy to help everyone reset,” says Finnerty Thomas.