At Moses Anshell’s hip warehouse-style office Downtown, it’s not uncommon to see four-legged office workers or to wind down with a liquid refreshment from the Friday-afternoon beer cart.

HOME-GROWN

Bashas’
bashas.com
The time of the quaint corner grocer may be gone, but when it comes to the concept of family-owned, one Arizona company still has the corner on that market. Founded by Ike and Eddie Basha Sr. more than 75 years ago, Bashas’ Supermarkets has infused the concepts of family and community into its business practices. Now the seventh-largest employer in Arizona with more than 14,200 employees, Bashas’ says many employees have worked for the grocery chain for their entire careers, including company President and Chief Operating Officer Mike Proulx, who started with Bashas’ as a bagger in the 1960s. The grocer was honored as one of the top places to work in 2007 and 2008 by the Phoenix Business Journal and BestCompaniesAZ. Bashas’ has more than 160 locations throughout Arizona, including brands such as Food City, AJ’s Fine Foods, Sportsman’s Fine Wine & Spirits, Ike’s Farmers Market, Eddie’s Country Store, and both Bashas’ and Bashas’ Dine supermarkets.


SRP
srpnet.com
Few of Arizona’s largest employers have a story as rich and as full of heritage as Salt River Project. Established in 1903 under the National Reclamation Act by local landowners, ranchers and early Phoenix pioneers, SRP has grown to become the nation’s third-largest public power utility company and one of Arizona’s largest water suppliers. The company powers a 2,900-square-mile service territory in central Arizona and has employed multiple generations from the same families, including many who had relatives who helped dig the first SRP canals. But beyond legacy, SRP competes in today’s job market by offering flexible scheduling and perks such as dry cleaning services and on-site classes through Western International University. The company also takes employee recreation outlets to a new level with facilities in Phoenix, Page, St. Johns, and Saguaro and Roosevelt lakes, and amenities such as swimming pools, sports leagues, lakeside house rentals and fitness centers. SRP employs a little more than 4,400 people and is regulated by the state Legislature.

FINANCIAL

Edward Jones
edwardjones.com
With regional headquarters based in Tempe, this investment firm stands apart from others in the financial industry in at least one significant way: While many were making headlines in 2007 due to a struggling economy and bad investments, Edward Jones was giving employees 6.5 percent raises and opening 1,000 new offices throughout the country. Ranked No. 4 on Fortune’s top-companies-to-work-for list (its ninth consecutive appearance on the list), Edward Jones is the largest financial services firm with limited or general partnership opportunities open to all employees. Translation: Everyone has a chance to own a piece of the pie. The company also invests greatly in employee training and education (2005 company numbers showed that associates received just under 100 hours of training each for the year). Founded in 1922, Edward Jones has two main headquarters – in Missouri and Tempe. The Tempe office houses more than 700 employees.