In 1955, a phone rang at a Colorado Springs military air base. Col. Harry Shoup answered the call and a small voice on the other end asked a question that the colonel didn’t expect — was this Santa Claus?
The colonel quickly assured the child that, yes, he was in fact Santa and that presents were on the way.
As the Colorado-famous story goes, the call came to the Air Force base because of a misprint in a local newspaper ad. The result, though, was what would become a tradition that continues to this day: The North American Aerospace Defense Command, the military operation that began a few years later, took it upon itself to add “Santa’s sleigh” to the list of aircrafts that the branch tracks every year.
Because of the happy accident, kids from around the world can call on December 24 to find out where in the sky Santa is at that exact moment.
The tradition speaks to the kindness of Coloradans; their spirit of holiday joy, whimsy and desire to give back are evident. Built In Colorado found two local tech companies that honor these characteristics by celebrating the holiday season through generosity, service and community.
SambaSafety is a SaaS company headquartered in Denver. The company focuses its tech on logistics, transportation, mobility and driver risk intelligence.
Give us an overview of the holiday season at your company. Are there any companywide celebrations or days off? What are you looking forward to most this year?
The holiday season is truly the most magical time of year, and the cheerfulness it brings is felt throughout Samba. Working alongside such an amazing team while we celebrate the end of the year and a variety of holidays makes me especially grateful for my colleagues. At Samba, we offer unlimited PTO, which many employees take advantage of during this season. Additionally, the company observes Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and even Boxing Day for our UK team, ensuring everyone has time to spend with loved ones and embrace the spirit of the season.
We also prioritize celebrating together. Being local to our Denver office, I’m most looking forward to our upcoming company holiday party. This year, we’ve chosen a fantastic venue and an excellent menu, but I’m especially excited about the games and activities planned. Here’s a little preview; I’ve been practicing my gift-wrapping skills in preparation for our competitive gift-wrapping race, which promises great prizes! Events like this allow us to come together as a team and reflect on all the incredible work we’ve accomplished throughout the year.
How does your company make the holidays inclusive? Can you share a specific example?
At Samba, inclusivity is at the heart of our holiday celebrations. While I mentioned the Denver holiday party in my previous response, it’s important to note that we celebrate across the entire organization. With five physical locations spread across the United States and United Kingdom, each office hosts its own unique holiday or end-of-year party, putting a creative spin on their local events.
What truly stands out is how we include our remote workforce, which makes up a significant portion of our team. This year, Samba is hosting an exceptional remote holiday party with the theme The Art of Suminagashi, an ancient Japanese marbling technique. Through a virtual platform, we will learn and practice this beautiful art form together while connecting with teammates across the country. Our remote events have become so popular and engaging that this year’s party is set to have the highest participation rate we’ve seen in the past three years.
What makes the holiday celebrations a reflection of your company’s values, mission, and/or culture? Are there specific celebrations or opportunities for giving back this time of year?
Samba’s core values — teamwork, accountability and impact — are truly reflected in our holiday celebrations. As we approach the end of the year, we celebrate our collective achievements and the embodiment of these values by each Samban throughout the year. These year-end celebrations, however, particularly highlight impact, fostering a sense of connectivity and collaboration that resonates across the entire organization.
A key example of our commitment to giving back is how we kicked off the holiday season with a volunteer day in honor of Veterans Day. We partnered with local VA centers for a day of service to honor those who have served our country. There’s no better way to begin the season of giving than through meaningful community engagement, and seeing so many of my fellow Sambans step away from their work to contribute was truly heartwarming. This event set the tone for the season and underscored our dedication to service and positive impact.
AdCellerant provides businesses access to high-quality digital marketing technology and solutions through partnerships with media companies and agencies.
Give us an overview of the holiday season at AdCellerant. Are there any companywide celebrations or days off? What are you looking forward to most this year?
The holiday season at AdCellerant is a time of joy, celebration and connection. To ensure our team members can enjoy the festivities, we are closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. It’s a great way for everyone to relax, recharge and spend quality time with loved ones.
A standout tradition is our annual company-wide holiday party, hosted at incredible venues in Denver that bring our team together to celebrate another successful year. These events are always a highlight, filled with laughter, great food and fun memories. From trendy downtown locations to unique event spaces, we ensure the celebration is as special as the team we’re honoring.
On top of that, each team at AdCellerant keeps the holiday spirit alive with their own mini-celebrations. Whether it’s a Secret Santa exchange or a festive happy hour, these gatherings allow teams to bond and share some cheer in their own unique ways.
This year, I’m most excited to see how our creative and collaborative culture shines during the holiday season, both at our big party and within the smaller team celebrations. It’s the perfect way to wrap up the year and get ready for all that’s ahead!
How does AdCellerant make the holidays inclusive? Can you share a specific example?
At AdCellerant, we strive to ensure that everyone feels welcome and valued during the holiday season. Our approach focuses on creating celebrations and opportunities that reflect the diversity of our team, so no matter how our employees celebrate — or even if they don’t — there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
We make the holidays inclusive by focusing on giving back to the community. Through our AdCellerant Gives program, employees come together to support local families in need. This year, we’re filling wishlists for eight families through the Denver Human Services Be-A-Giver drive.
We believe a way to build inclusivity is to provide space for all team members to celebrate and participate in their own way. For example, we offer different ways to contribute to the Be-A-Giver drive, ensuring team members can participate in a way that is most meaningful to them. We offer the opportunity to cash in “team recognition” points to sponsor gifts for the families. We also host a gift-wrapping day at the office for those who prefer to get hands-on. The act of giving brings us together in a shared purpose.
What makes the holiday celebrations a reflection of AdCellerant’s values, mission, and/or culture? Are there specific celebrations or opportunities for giving back this time of year?
Our holiday celebrations emphasize teamwork, giving back and creating meaningful connections. We love celebrating together but also focus on giving back and making an impact, reflecting our commitment to our community.
As mentioned, one of our cherished traditions is collectively participating in giving through our AdCellerant Gives program. Each year, we support families in need through Denver Human Services, learning about the needs and wish list items for caregivers and children alike. This year, we are thrilled to support eight families — three more than last year! This collective effort brings our team together and makes the holidays brighter for those who need it most.
A highlight of the season is our gift-wrapping day at the office, where we gather and wrap piles of gifts for the families. It is a truly heartwarming time! This year, the event will feature an ugly sweater theme, a cozy hot chocolate bar and a holiday movie playing in the background. We always look forward to this day filled with laughter, teamwork and the spirit of giving.
Whether it’s through acts of kindness, opportunities to connect or just enjoying a good cup of hot chocolate — the holidays are special.
