On the forefront of sustainable business practices and creative company models, Denver’s “cowtown” days are a distant thing of the past. So, in a fit of shameless self-congratulating, we present — in absolutely no particular order — some of the finest companies the Centennial State has to offer.

THE GENIUS
Baby Einstein/The Safe Side —
Lone Tree
Julie Aigner-Clark is just too smart for her own good. In 1996, the stay-at-home mom grabbed her camcorder and her 18 month-old daughter and headed to the basement to record the first video in what would become the multi-million dollar Baby Einstein enterprise. The videos, which combine music, art, language and poetry to stimulate educational growth in children, became a national phenomenon practically overnight. In just five years, her company would earn more than $23 million in gross sales and would become too much for Aigner-Clark and her husband to handle. The couple sold the rights to Baby Einstein in 2001 to The Walt Disney Company for more than $22 million. Aigner-Clark stepped out of the national spotlight for seven years and in 2004 became a breast cancer survivor. Now, rejuvenated and refocused, Aigner-Clark has partnered with John Walsh from America’s Most Wanted to produce a new series of videos aimed at teaching pre-teen children about stranger safety. All of the proceeds from the new venture are donated to charitable organizations.
thesafeside.com

THE INNOVATOR
Chipotle — Denver
It used to be a Dolly Madison ice cream parlor, that is, until Steve Ells purchased the building on Evans near the University of Denver in 1993 and began making burritos. It has only been 15 years, but with more than 730 restaurants serving more than 200 million meals each year, Chipotle is the “little burrito maker that could,” raking in $305.3 million in revenue for the first quarter of 2008. The success comes from a philosophy that Ells calls, “Food With Integrity.” Since its introduction in 2001, Ells has catapulted Chipotle into the national spotlight by serving great-tasting, all-natural, über-fast food. The burrito chain is the first national restaurant company to serve 100 percent naturally-raised chicken and pork. In December 2007, the restaurant chain became the first to serve dairy products made exclusively with milk from recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH)-free cows and continues to push the natural limits by offering organically-grown beans and naturally-raised beef in several of its stores.
chipotle.com

THE ENVIRONMENTALIST
New Belgium Brewing Company — Fort Collins
An electric engineer hops on a bicycle in 1989 and begins to ride through the quaint European valleys that make up Belgium, finding inspiration along the way. A social worker and mother of two begins to bottle that inspiration and the first Belgian-style beer brewed in the United States, known as Fat Tire Ale, is born. Since the New Belgium Brewing Company’s inception in 1991, the husband-and-wife team of Jeff and Kim Lebesch have turned their tiny basement operation into the ninth-largest brewery in the country while staying environmentally sound. Almost every stage of the brewing process keeps Mother Earth in mind, from the energy-efficient brew kettle to electricity generated by processed wastewater. In 1998, New Belgium became the first wind-powered brewery in the United States when the employee-owners voted to take a cut in their profit sharing to implement the practice. The company is working with Solix Biofuels to create bio-diesel from algae and with the recent addition of recyclable can production to its line of best-selling bottles, New Belgium continues to grown greener by the year.
newbelgium.com

THE PIONEER
Vail Resorts, Inc. — Broomfield
Five dollars could buy a lift ticket to Vail Mountain in 1962, however, with only one gondola running and a few trails to choose from, Vail was far from the international ski resort it is today. In 1957, Colorado native Earl Eaton and World War II veteran Peter Seibert climbed Vail Mountain together. Aware of skiing’s growing popularity as a recreational sport, the duo saw the potential Vail had. In need of financial backing, Seibert and Eaton recruited the support of lawyers Bob Fowler and Jack Tweedy. With a $1 million investment, the foursome bought and licensed the land from local ranchers, opening Vail Mountain in December 1962. Since, Vail has grown to become a publicly traded company, changing its name to Vail Resorts, Inc. in 1996. Vail Resorts has won numerous accolades applauding its efforts to achieve sustainability through wind power.
vailresorts.com

THE FASHIONISTA
Jiberish — Denver
The cool and funky clothing by Jiberish, the Denver-based hip-hop and snowboarding company, is founded on the philosophy that artwork shouldn’t be left on a canvas — it should be worn around town. The clothing is made from natural materials and each item is unique to its designer, allowing young artists to re-create masterpieces and integrate them into the fabric. The Jiberish line can be found in high-end boutiques in Vail and Breckenridge and in competitive marketplaces in California, Finland and Switzerland, creating a new medium of expression for artists.
Jiberish.com

THE GODFATHER
MIllerCoors Brewing Company
— Golden
You know this story: A 21 year-old German orphan arrives in America by stowing away on a cargo ship in 1868. The man, armed only with the skills he learned as a brewer’s apprentice makes his way West by railroad and settles down in Denver, eager to open his own brewery. Three years before Colorado became the 38th state, the young man found the $20,000 necessary to buy an abandoned tannery located in the Clear Creek valley east of Golden. The beer this young man produced would stand the test of time, persevering through prohibition, two World Wars and spanning four generations. Even if you don’t know the story, you know the name of Adolph Coors and the family who has been brewing beer in the Rocky Mountains for more than 130 years. Since the days of producing 3,500 barrels of beer, Coors has sales of $1.36 billion. The MillerCoors’ merger became offical July 1st. The company continues its high-profile sponsorships, including being the official ethanol provider for the 2008 Democratic National Convention by converting waste beer to fuel the General Motors fleet of flex-fuel vehicles.
mILLERcoors.com

THE CLASS PRESIDENT
ProLogis — Denver
Denver’s ProLogis is a juggernaut, albeit a kinder, gentler force bent on world domination. The company has been named one of Fortune magazine’s most admired companies in America two years in a row and is operating in more than 121 markets around the world. It has more than $38 million in assets with clients, which include Adidas, General Motors and 4,900 other manufacturers. You may have never heard of the real estate investment trust that is headquartered near Denver International Airport. Founded in 1991, ProLogis is the leader in the development and operation of giant distribution facilities that cover more than 526.3 million square feet (around 7,000 football fields) across the globe. The success ProLogis has seen the past two decades is because of its original approach to customer service and the relationships it has with the communities in which it operates. The company focuses on community outreach and environmental sustainability. In 2007, it became the first U.S. real estate company to issue a sustainability report to investors and its world headquarters is a LEED-certified building.
prologis.com

THE TRENDSETTER
Crocs, Inc. — Boulder
Comfort met style when Crocs created its famous durable and water resistant shoe. While most style-conscious people consider the flat, spongy foam clog-esque shoes a fashion faux pas, it certainly became a trend that would morph into a cultural symbol. Three men in Boulder developed a shoe that was designed specifically to accommodate boating and outdoor activities. The colorful shoe gained popularity among celebrities. When the business model began penetrating foreign markets, it was time to go public. In February of 2008, Crocs generated $109 million in international sales, up from $34 million a year before. Crocs has recently expanded its product line, now offering a designer brand. While still comfortable and maintaining the “look” that made crocs so popular the new line of Crocs have the fashion-savvy re-considering their foam aversion.
crocs.com

THE MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED
Smashburger — Denver
The idea is simple really; take a half-pound patty of fresh Certified Angus Steak, slap it onto a hot grill and then “smash” the hell out of it to sear the meat and stop the juices from pouring out of the finished product. Offer the customer countless combinations of cheeses, veggies and condiments and their choice of a butter-toasted egg bun (for the purist), a spicy chipotle bun (for the adventurous) or the multi-grain bun (for the hippies). Call the burger something catchy like Build-A-Burger — or better yet, Smashburger — and wait for the phenomenon to begin. Not even a year old, Smashburger is generating attention with four stores throughout the Denver area. With the help of private equity and concept development firm Consumer Capital Partners (to the tune of $15 million), Smashburger hopes to expand to 500 restaurants in 30 markets. That kind of growth potential is, well — smashing.
mysmashburger.com

THE GOLD DIGGER
Newmont Mining Corporation — Denver
One of the world’s largest gold producers, Newmont Mining Corporation employs a global workforce of close to 34,000 men and women, controls approximately 28.5 million acres of land and trades on the New York, Australian and the Toronto Stock Exchanges. Founded by Col. William Boyce Thompson in 1921, with the objective to invest in worldwide minerals and oils, Newmont began mining for gold in California in 1929 and a decade later was operating 12 gold mines in North America. At the end of the 2006 fiscal year, Newmont disclosed gold reserves of 93 million ounces over five continents. Joining thirty-nine states, eight Canadian provinces, three Indian tribes, six Mexican states and the District of Columbia, Newmont Mining Corp. is one of the first 100 to commit to The Climate Registry, a nonprofit organization created to measure and publicly report greenhouse gas emissions across industry sectors.
newmont.com

THE HOMEBODY
RE/Max – Denver
Transforming how real estate companies approached the industry, RE/MAX experienced paramount success by giving responsibility back to the agent and licensing franchises to individuals. Since its inception in 1973, Dave and Gail Liniger, who still own and direct the company, have remained steadfast leaders in the residential industry even through turbulent times.
RE/MAX has burgeoned, infiltrating foreign markets by using state-of-the-art technology and commercial investment, both which preserve employee loyalty and keep competitors at bay. Brand recognition is half the battle, so the Linigers use a colossal floating bubble to promote RE/MAX. The staple air balloon is often found at festivals, flying above more than 65 events each year — adding nearly 6,400 hours of advertising — making it one of the hardest-working advertising agents in the country.
remax.com