Going on 37 years, the ColoradoBiz Top Company Awards are older than some of the founders whose businesses are now vying for the award.

It’s a distinction that hasn’t gotten any easier to win since the Top Company program was introduced in 1987 – nor any easier to judge.

In the end, 45 companies hailing from 18 Colorado cities were honored as either winners or finalists in 14 industries, plus the Startup category for companies five years old or less.

All the companies that put themselves out there and entered the competitive arena deserve credit for helping to keep Top Company the coveted honor it’s been for decades.

WINNER

Plumbline Services | Centennial

Plumbline Services has benefitted from the construction boom and increasing focus on eco-friendly practices that are driving growth in HVAC.

But the trend is not without its challenges — by 2027, projections indicate there will be a shortage of 550,000 technicians. Plumbline’s strategy to combat this obstacle is to ensure it maintains a skilled workforce through its industry-leading apprentice program. The company has a state-certified plumbing instructor on staff.

Plumbline isn’t satisfied with just maintaining its five-star service — it’s poised for growth. It’s built a strong foundation in Castle Rock and has successfully expanded into Northern Colorado. Now, it has its sights set on serving more areas throughout the state.

With growth, Plumbline hopes to achieve two things. First, more people will receive the customer experience Plumbline offers, and second, it will provide opportunities for employees as the needs of the company grow.

Giving back to the community is important to the company. For the last nine years, its Christmas On Us program Plumbline Gives has donated $1,000 each to 10 families selected by employees from the 300 to 500 nominations it receives annually.

It works with Shield 616 to raise money for All-Day Rifle Protection for law enforcement and has sponsored its golf tournament. It also participates for Flags for Fallen Veterans and Wreaths Across America at Fort Logan National Cemetery.

FINALISTS

Continental Sausage, dba Charcutnuvo Organic and Natural Sausages | Denver

Continental Sausage sources organic beef from ranches and farmers who work to return the land to its natural state. That’s earned it the distinction of being the world’s first sausage company to be certified both Regenerative and Organic.

The company manufactures handcrafted small-batch products while most competing brands use large co-packers to produce lower quality and heavily salted products.
The company, which adheres to the mantra “Cleaner, Kinder, Better,” ranks as the No. 8 brand in the natural and organic dinner sausage category nationwide, up from No. 16 in 2023 and No. 32 in 2022.

Customers purchase Charcutnuvo because of its healthy nutritional panel, flavor and quality. The company doesn’t use sugar in its sausages, which contain half to two-thirds of the sodium its competitors use.

Continental Sausage’s goal is to become the No. 1 natural and organic dinner sausage in the country, which it thinks it can achieve by 2030. But its growth must be sustainable and consistent because growing too fast could strain the company’s culture, equipment and processes.

Continental Sausage is active in the community with a focus on youth education, health and wellness. CEO Eric Gutknecht has been in the board of the Colfax Marathon for more than seven years, including as chairman. The company has relay teams that raise money through the marathon each year to benefit Denver Kids Inc.

Gutknecht recently joined Wish for Wheels, a local nonprofit that provides free bikes and helmets to second-graders.

American Outdoor Products Inc. | Boulder

American Outdoor Products has been creating gourmet adventure meals since 1951 with a focus on healthy sustainable ingredients.

The high-quality, easy-to-carry and easy-to-prepare meals meet the demanding needs of outdoor adventurers and aspiring astronauts alike. They offer great taste and nutrition even in the most challenging environments.

Owned by three generations of the Smith family, its brands include Backpacker’s Pantry and Astronaut Foods, which is marking the 50th anniversary of NASA asking it to bring a taste of space to the masses on Earth by introducing space food to millions of kids and parents.

While COVID-19 created supply chain challenges for American Outdoor Products, the pandemic also provided an opportunity to expand its market presence and reach new audiences as the popularity of camping and hiking surged, leading to increased demand for its Backpacker’s Pantry products.

American Outdoor’s commitment to the planet is evidenced by its 1% for the Planet program where it commits 1% of sales to support public land conservation, freshwater conservation, environmental education and access and food security. The company’s office and manufacturing facility in Boulder is 100% solar-powered by 391 rooftop solar panels.

The company’s philanthropic giving always exceeds its 1% of sales commitment. It has donated more than $500,000 over the last five to six years and will donate more than $125,000 in 2024. It also offers volunteer paid time off for its employees.