Company Culture: For those who want, every day of work at Identify Yourself (asi/232242) can feel like a walk on the beach. That’s because the distributor, located in Kitty Hawk, NC, is just a stone’s throw from the popular sandy shores of the Outer Banks.

Of course, a hefty dose of salt in the air doesn’t by itself make a great place to work. Having grown into a full-service agency since its founding in 2002 (in response to the huge merch demand for the 100^th anniversary of the Wright Brothers’ first flight), the family-owned company takes its cues from its mission. “We treat our colleagues and clients with the highest degree of professionalism, honesty, integrity and respect,” says co-owner Alex LeFevre. He says the company’s 11 employees love the family atmosphere, team bonds and flexibility.

COVID Changes: “Wow; what a roller coaster,” LeFevre recalls. “Go in, stay home, show up, don’t come, please come, maybe not, are you going in, not today.” The company started remote work at the beginning of the pandemic for those who wanted it, and since then employees work from home about 90% of the time, meeting virtually two or three times a week to catch up on work and social agendas. (The distributor will maintain its offices but is continuing to work remotely for the foreseeable future.)

The flexibility has paid off big with the firm’s employees, who are spread throughout North Carolina, Virginia and Florida. “We’ve offered the flexibility of getting your work done remotely and on your time with most of the effort during normal business hours,” LeFevre says, “and we’ve found that this accommodation is producing the same or better results than performing from the office.”

Parting Tip: “Create an environment,” says LeFevre, “where employees excel and deliver sustainable growth in all areas of the business and their personal lives.”