Outside Names Osprey as one of America’s Best Places to Work in 2012
Osprey Packs Inc. was named to Outside Magazine’s fifth annual “Best Places to Work” list. Osprey was ranked No. 76 of 100 selected companies.
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Cortez, CO – August 2, 2012 – Osprey Packs Inc, a leader in creating top quality, high-performance, innovative packs to comfortably and efficiently carry gear, today was named to Outside Magazine’s fifth annual “Best Places to Work” list. Osprey was ranked No. 76 out of 100 selected companies. Profiles of the top-ten-performing small, medium, and large companies will be published in the September issue of Outside magazine, available on newsstands August 14, 2012. The full list of 100 will be available August 2 at outsideonline.com.
Outside’s “Best Places to Work” project celebrates the innovative companies setting a new standard for a healthy work-life balance. The list was compiled with the help of the Outdoor Industry Association and Best Companies Group. The yearlong selection process began with an outreach effort that identified a wide range of non-profit and for-profit organizations with at least 15 employees working in an office in the United States. Participating companies were sent confidential employee-satisfaction surveys and employer-questionnaires to collect information about benefits, compensation, policies, job satisfaction, environmental initiatives, and community outreach programs. The experts at the Best Companies Group then analyzed the results and selected the companies that best enable employees to pursue active lifestyles while also supporting their social and environmental contributions.
In past years, Outside has highlighted 50 outstanding companies. This year, Best Companies Group determined that there were so many top-quality applicants that the list needed to be expanded. Outside editors agreed, and doubled the size of the list.
“Osprey has been an independently owned and operated company from the get go, and we take pride in doing things differently. We strive to make this work-life balance a priority for our employees and to give back to our community,” said Erik Wegner, Osprey director of human resources. “We’re so proud to be recognized for these efforts for the fifth year in a row.”
“We’re thrilled to celebrate all 100 of these forward-thinking companies,” says Michael Roberts, senior executive editor of Outside. “They believe success depends on helping their employees live more active and fulfilling lives. The kinds of benefits they’re providing—free fitness classes, flexible hours, subsidized healthy meals, lots of time out of the office—result in a more productive and engaged staff.”
Called out by Outside in their “Best Places to Work” feature article is Osprey’s environmental commitment including the brand’s corporate office building with extensive green upgrades, like heliotropic skylights and deciduous trees for landscaping that provide cooling shade in the summer and heating sun in the winter. Osprey’s Volunteer Incentive Program was highlighted for allowing each team member paid time off to participate in a wide range of local, state, or national volunteer opportunities. Other aspects of Osprey’s positive workplace culture that stood out for Outside include generous vacation time that builds into sabbaticals at 10, 15 and 20 years, a “Powder Day” in winter, an “Outings Holiday” to participate in an Osprey backcountry trip, weekly fitness flex time and a free cruiser bike after one year. 

About OspreyPacks
Independent since 1974 and anchored by the design genius of company founder and owner, Mike Pfotenhauer, Osprey Packs has long set the standard for creating innovative, high quality gear carrying equipment. The collection includes packs and bags designed to help adventurers enjoy their outdoor, biking and travel pursuits.
The location of company headquarters in Cortez, Colorado, near the rugged San Juan Mountains on the edge of desert canyon country, provides a constant inspiration and a superb testing ground for Osprey products. Osprey also maintains a product development office in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, near the factories where they manufacture their products, ensuring face-to-face relationships and transparency with their suppliers. In 2009, Osprey opened a design office in Mill Valley, California, a hub of design talent and the birthplace of mountain biking. All three of these offices play a crucial role in creating Osprey gear that lasts a lifetime.
To celebrate its 35th anniversary in 2009, Osprey launched the All Mighty Guarantee, an enhancement of a lifetime warranty that was already one of the most robust in the industry. Free of charge, the company will repair any damage or defect in its product – whether it was purchased in 1974 or yesterday. Every Osprey product reflects the company’s commitment to protect the wild places its customers love to explore. For more information, visit www.ospreypacks.com.
About Outside
Outside is America’s leading active lifestyle brand. For more than 30 years, Outside has covered travel, sports, adventure, health, and fitness, as well as the personalities, the environment, and the style and culture of the world Outside. The Outside family includes Outside magazine, the only magazine to win three consecutive National Magazine Awards for General Excellence, The Outside Buyer’s Guides, Outside Online, Outside Television, Outside Events, Outside+ tablet edition, and Outside Books. Visit us online and on Facebook.
ABOUT THE BEST COMPANIES GROUP
Best Companies Group works with national and local partners around the country to establish and manage “Best Places to Work,” “Best Companies,” and “Best Employers” programs on a national, statewide, and regional basis. Through its thorough workplace assessment, utilizing employer questionnaires and employee-satisfaction surveys, BCG identifies and recognizes companies who have been successful in creating and maintaining workplace excellence.
ABOUT THE OUTDOOR INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
Founded in 1989, Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is the premier trade association for companies in the active outdoor recreation business. OIA provides trade services for over 4000 manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, sales representatives and retailers in the outdoor industry. Outdoor Industry Association seeks to ensure a healthy and diverse specialty retail and supply chain based on quality, innovation and service. To this end, OIA works diligently to raise the standards of the industry; increase participation in outdoor recreation to strengthen business markets; provide support services to improve member profitability; represent member interests in the legislative/regulatory process; promote professional training and education; support innovation; and offer cost-saving member benefits. Search for outdoor-industry jobs is at OIA’s career center:www.outdoorindustry.org.
