How 3 Colorado Tech Companies Get Outside as the Weather Warms Up

by April Bohnert
May 23, 2018

As spring warms into summer, it becomes especially tough to be cooped up in the office all day. Coloradans are notorious for their love of outdoor activities, and come five o’clock on a late-May afternoon, just about everyone is itching to get outside. Some local companies go a step further by planning outdoor activities for the whole team.

We talked to three Colorado tech companies to see how they take advantage of the good weather by getting outside as a team and how that translates once they’re back in the office.

 

Vertafore outdoor activity employee perks Colorado
Photo courtesy of Vertafore.

Vertafore, which provides software for the insurance industry, relocated to Denver last May. Since then, the office has grown to nearly 500 local employees. Senior technical program manager Tyler Rhodes shared how the company helps employees break down departmental barriers and bond over outdoor rec sports.

 

How are you getting outside to enjoy the warm weather as a team?

“Work hard, play hard” is not a cliché here! When our headquarters moved to Denver last year, we staffed up our recreation leagues as soon as we had enough interested employees to form teams.

Since then, we’ve organized basketball, flag football, volleyball, soccer, softball and kickball teams to participate in local leagues. For employees who don’t want to commit to organized sports, we’ve got ping-pong and foosball tables in the office and hold periodic lunch-break tournaments.

Working here is great for those with a competitive spirit, and that translates to our sports teams as well.” 

What are some of the benefits your team sees by bringing everyone together outside the office?

Working here is great for those with a competitive spirit, and that translates to our sports teams as well. While our workdays are busy, sports leagues give employees the chance to bond with teammates from across the company on a personal level and forge relationships that lead to a greater sense of community inside and outside of work.

 

How does your teamwork inside the office translate to the way you work together outside the office — or vice versa?

We’re a pretty large company, with nearly 500 employees in our Denver headquarters alone! We also have been growing and hiring a ton over the past year. Any opportunity for employees to meet people who they wouldn’t normally come into contact with in the course of their workday is a great thing. In another vein, our values include “win together” and “say it, do it,” which are promises we make to each other as employees and also prove vital to success in team sports.

 

Mobile Solutions outdoor activities employee perks Colorado
Photo courtesy of Mobile Solutions.

Brightfin’s SaaS platform helps businesses manage their mobile devices, carriers and plans — all from one portal — making mobile management more scalable. We talked to wellness coordinator Alex Hart about how he takes a holistic approach to health, assisting his team with things like nutritious meal plans, comprehensive exercises for all fitness levels, or daily stretches and walks.

 

How are you getting outside to enjoy the warm weather as a team?

During the week, we take daily walks as a team. We also participate in mid-day stretching sessions to further ease the tension that sitting at a desk brings. We have departments that will organize Top Golf outings as well.

In the coming months, we plan to do a weekend workout at Red Rocks and some outdoor yoga classes. We also have a group of employees who are going to participate in the Tough Mudder in August.

Every year we participate in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Throughout the year, we raise money through donations. It is a great time for us to support a great cause and come together with others.

The biggest benefit is the sense of family we all share.”

What are some of the benefits your team sees by bringing everyone together outside the office?

It blends different teams and areas of the office that may not interact in a working capacity daily. The biggest benefit is the sense of family we all share. We enjoy getting out of the office to spend time together.

 

How does your teamwork inside the office translate to the way you work together outside the office — or vice versa?

Our company already promotes and embraces a culture of trust and teamwork, so we really see that exhibit itself, whether we are working together inside the office or doing team building events outside.

 

What are some other unique perks your company offers employees in the spring/summer?

One of the most popular events of the summer is Food Truck Fridays, which normally run from June to the end of August. We host a different food truck each week, and the proceeds go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, which leads us to our annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. This event allows the company to come together and support the community.

In addition to these, the company offers a gym membership that employees can take advantage of to promote a healthy lifestyle, whether it be indoors or outdoors.

 

Registria outdoor activity employee perks Colorado
Photo courtesy of Registria.

Marketing tech company Registria delivers a platform that helps businesses find and win new customers through the use of customized buyer journeys. Account-based marketing manager Derek Schilson shed some light on the team initiatives that bring people together outside the day to day.

 

How are you getting outside to enjoy the warm weather as a team?

One way we soak up the warmer weather is with our Wednesday Walking Club. Our “Be Present” committee organizes the weekly walking event at 1:30 p.m., and it’s been a great way for us to take a breath, leave our phones and computers behind, and enjoy some fresh air together for about 20 minutes. It’s not mandatory, but people join in on the walk as their Wednesday schedule allows and come back to the office feeling refreshed.

We also have other great outdoor adventures planned, like a group fourteener, Rockies games, a family-affair picnic and Denver Civic Center Eats days!

When we get outdoors some of our most creative thinking surfaces.” 

What are some of the benefits your team sees by bringing everyone together outside the office?

When we get outdoors some of our most creative thinking surfaces. We solve problems and we get to know each other better. While we’re out and about, we talk a lot about our out-of-the-office outdoor pursuits like hiking, camping and cycling, since many of us are your tried-and-true Colorado outdoor enthusiasts. Plus, we fully recognize that we’re lucky to work in such an outdoor-friendly place like Denver, and it’s a fantastic draw for great people to join Registria.

 

How does your teamwork inside the office translate to the way you work together outside the office — or vice versa?

One of our motto’s — as cliché as it sounds — is “work hard, play hard.” We’re growing fast and collaboration is key. One of the best ways to be at our best is to build that camaraderie outside of the office to establish those personal connections. It’s been crucial to our growth that we come together as one Registria family, inside and outside of our walls.

 

What are some other unique perks your company offers employees in the spring/summer?

The company picks up the tab for refreshments and snacks in our break space, and with the warmer temperatures, we expand the La Croix flavors and fresh fruit options. We also make room for all the bikes that line our office walls, as more people opt to commute by bicycle in the summer months.

 

Jobs from companies in this blog

Colorado startup guides

LOCAL GUIDE
Best Companies to Work for in Denver & Boulder
LOCAL GUIDE
Coolest Tech Offices in Denver & Colorado Tech
LOCAL GUIDE
Best Perks at Colorado Tech Companies
LOCAL GUIDE
Women in Colorado Tech