A lot has changed in the workplace during the last 20 months.

Zoom is now used more as a noun than a verb. Working from home is no longer just a way to get an early start on the weekend. And living through a pandemic has completely changed the way we live — or don’t live — our lives and do business on a daily basis.


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And through all of that, 46 companies have risen from the adversity and earned the right to call themselves Arizona’s Most Admired Companies of 2021.

“Most Admired Companies is the most comprehensive and prestigious annual corporate awards program in Arizona,” said Denise Gredler, founder and CEO of BestCompaniesAZ, who co-founded the Most Admired Companies program with the team from Az Business magazine. “To win, a business must demonstrate excellence in its leadership; corporate culture; innovation; customer relations; community engagement; and diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and programs.”

AZ Business magazine presents the Most Admired Companies program each year and the primary goal it to find and recognize those organizations that excel in these six key areas:

• Customer opinion

• Diversity, equity, and inclusion

• Innovation

• Leadership excellence

• Social responsibility

• Workplace culture

Based on those six pillars of excellence, a selection committee comprised of Az Business magazine’s editorial board, BestCompaniesAZ’s leadership team and professionals from a wide range of industries rated and selected the most accomplished and prestigious companies in Arizona.

With hundreds of nominations representing the most innovative, impactful and successful companies in Arizona, being one of Most Admired Companies of 2021 shows that these companies truly represent the best in Arizona business. The Most Admired Companies for 2021 will be honored at an awards dinner Oct. 7, 2021, at Pointe Hilton Resort Tapatio Cliffs in Phoenix. Title sponsors for the Most Admired Companies awards are WaFd Bank and Taylor Morrison. For sponsorship information, email Amy.Lindsey@azbigmedia.com. For information about the event honoring the Most Admired Companies, email Lynette.Carrington@azbigmedia.com or click here.

Here are the Most Admired Companies for 2021

(In alphabetical order)

Adopt Technologies

American Express

Axon

Banner Health

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona

Blue Yonder

Burch & Cracchiolo

CBRE

CHASSE Building Team

CarMax

Charles Schwab

CopperPoint Insurance Companies

Cresa Global

DP Electric

DPR Construction

Desert Financial Credit Union

Digital Air Strike

Farmers Insurance

Fennemore

First Bank

Freedom Financial Network

GoDaddy

Greenberg Traurig

Habitat for Humanity of Central Arizona

Homeowners Financial Group

Isagenix International

JE Dunn Construction

Jennings, Strouss & Salmon

KUBRA

LAVIDGE

Lovitt & Touché, A Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC Company

Mercy Care

Microchip Technology

Mortenson

OneAZ Credit Union

Quarles & Brady

Sonora Quest Laboratories

Spear Education

Sundt Construction

TBConsulting

Taylor Morrison

TriWest Healthcare Alliance

USAA

United Healthcare

Vanguard

Wilde Wealth Management Group