The 2020 Best Firms to Work For: Coalfire

Consulting Service Lines: IT Consulting

Coalfire emphasizes a supportive, collaborative environment for its employees, where everyone pulls together and cares about their fellow workers. The firm is committed to fostering an energetic culture where people can grow personally and professionally. The Westminster, Colo.-based IT consulting firm made its debut on our Best Firms to Work For list in 2019, and is back again for 2020.

Leslie Jones, Chief Human Resources Officer for Coalfire says the firm has managed to stay among the industry's Best Firms to Work For for a second year for a very simple reason: "We put our people first."

"Taking care of our employees is one of our top priorities. COVID-19 and the challenges that accompanied it gave us a chance to truly demonstrate our commitment to our team," says Jones.

In support of those efforts, in mid-March, Coalfire suspended all travel, and asked all employees to work from home. It was a difficult and disruptive decision, but a necessary one to deliver on its commitment to prioritizing its people.

"We quickly took action to keep team members healthy, safe, happy and productive, and we are proud of what we have accomplished. We significantly increased communications to keep employees informed around COVID-19 and our business and started holding weekly company-wide meetings. We found creative ways to be successful at our jobs remotely while maintaining our ability to collaborate and innovate," Jones says.

One of the cornerstones to Coalfire's culture is encouraging its workers to have fun together. The firm was big on company parties, summer picnics, or team hikes, that is, until Covid hit. The pandemic forced the company to get creative in maintaining that high facetime environment, so they instituted social distancing-friendly alternatives, like Slack social hours, virtual events, and other online get-togethers.

The firm also prides itself on having created a welcoming environment where every employee feels like they belong, and feels comfortable enough to bring their authentic self into work each day.

"Our team of diverse, kind, smart cyber professionals – and the camaraderie that results – makes coming to work fun and engaging. Our employee resource groups, while focused on specific employee populations, are open to everyone so we can support each other. Our executive team is extremely visible and communicates regularly with our employees, emphasizing our values of teamwork and leadership," says Jones.

As for the impact she sees in being named a Best Firm to Work For, Jones calls the honor "a cause for celebration."

"We believe this recognition spotlights the things that make Coalfire unique – our people and our culture. We know Coalfire is a great place to work because we experience our great culture and work alongside great people every day. Winning awards like this is our chance to share our story with the world."

Consulting: What's the top priority over the next 6 to 12 months

Jones: "Over the course of the next year, taking care of our people will remain a key focus for us. We're committed to supporting our employees, keeping mental health a focus, and finding ways to beat stress and address burnout. We're evaluating our strategy as we try to understand what our "new normal" will look like with COVID -19. We have a lot of exciting opportunities ahead of us as we continue to grow and meet the ever-changing needs of our customers."