Business news : Outside Magazine Names Osprey Packs, KEEN , Adventure Cycling Association s One of America's Best Places to Work in 2012

Outside’s “Best Places to Work” project celebrates the innovative companies setting a new standard for a healthy work-life balance. The list was compiled with the help of the Outdoor Industry Association and Best Companies Group. The yearlong selection process began with an outreach effort that identified a wide range of non-profit and for-profit organizations with at least 15 employees working in an office in the United States. Participating companies were sent confidential employee-satisfaction surveys and employer-questionnaires to collect information about benefits, compensation, policies, job satisfaction, environmental initiatives, and community outreach programs. The experts at the Best Companies Group then analyzed the results and selected the companies that best enable employees to pursue active lifestyles while also supporting their social and environmental contributions.
 
In past years, Outside has highlighted 50 outstanding companies. This year, Best Companies Group determined that there were so many top-quality applicants that the list needed to be expanded. Outside editors agreed, and doubled the size of the list.

About Osprey
Independent since 1974 and anchored by the design genius of company founder and owner, Mike Pfotenhauer, Osprey Packs has long set the standard for creating innovative, high quality gear carrying equipment. The collection includes packs and bags designed to help adventurers enjoy their outdoor, biking and travel pursuits.

The location of company headquarters in Cortez, Colorado, near the rugged San Juan Mountains on the edge of desert canyon country, provides a constant inspiration and a superb testing ground for Osprey products. Osprey also maintains a product development office in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, near the factories where they manufacture their products, ensuring face-to-face relationships and transparency with their suppliers. In 2009, Osprey opened a design office in Mill Valley, California, a hub of design talent and the birthplace of mountain biking. All three of these offices play a crucial role in creating Osprey gear that lasts a lifetime.

To celebrate its 35th anniversary in 2009, Osprey launched the All Mighty Guarantee, an enhancement of a lifetime warranty that was already one of the most robust in the industry. Free of charge, the company will repair any damage or defect in its product – whether it was purchased in 1974 or yesterday. Every Osprey product reflects the company’s commitment to protect the wild places its customers love to explore. For more information, visit www.ospreypacks.com.

About KEEN
KEEN Inc., manufacturer of original hybrid footwear, bags and socks was founded in 2003. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, KEEN offers innovative hybrid products that enable outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy an active lifestyle. Known for its innovation and creativity, KEEN started with the invention of the first sandal that protects the toe – the Newport. Since its inception, the company has applied that same problem-solving design approach to expand its footwear collection and offer bags and socks. KEEN offers products that allow people to go anywhere: from trekking the wilds of the world, exploring a cool city, heading to work, or skipping to a playground down the street. KEEN’s products are sold in specialty footwear, travel and outdoor retailers, premium-sporting goods retailers and major outdoor specialty retail chains worldwide. In 2010 and 2011, KEEN was named one of “America’s Best Places to Work” by Outside magazine. KEEN strives to demonstrate integrity and leadership while promoting a vibrant, inclusive community. Through its Hybrid.Care giving program, KEEN supports a variety of social and environmental organizations around the globe. Discover more about KEEN at keenfootwear.com, facebook.com/keeninc and twitter.com/keen. Discover more about Recess at recess.keenfootwear.com.

Adventure Cycling Association inspires and empowers people to travel by bicycle. As North America's largest nonprofit member-supported cycling organization with 45,000 members, Adventure Cycling enriches lives and connects communities by creating state-of-the-art bicycle routes and maps, leading unique bike tours and educational courses, publishing the award-winning Adventure Cyclist magazine, and working to improve conditions for bike travel. Offering 41,399 meticulously mapped miles in the Adventure Cycling Route Network as well as extensive online and print resources, Adventure Cycling provides the resources that cyclists need to plan their own bike-travel adventures. Contact Adventure Cycling's headquarters at (800) 755-BIKE (2453), info@adventurecycling.org, or visit www.AdventureCycling.org.

Adventure Cycling Association: Winona Bateman / wbateman@adventurecycling.org / 406.532.2759
Outside Magazine:  Jada Williams / Jada@giantnoise.com / 646.649.4933