OUTSIDE, America’s preeminent active and adventure lifestyle brand, reveals the best places to work in the U.S. in 2017. Not only are winning companies great workplaces for employees, but they respect the environment and encourage a balance between work and enjoying life in the great outdoors. For a second year in a row Shine United has been ranked #5 out of 100 companies that made the list and has been included in the top 100 for five consecutive years.

“Companies from across the country entered a rigorous two-part survey process to make the winning list,” said Jonah Ogles, Articles Editor at OUTSIDE Magazine. “The Best Companies Group evaluates each nominated company's workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems and demographics. There’s also an employee survey to measure personal experience.”

The winning companies are those that value productivity in combination with an active, eco-conscious lifestyle, for a fulfilling experience inside and outside the office. This is OUTSIDE’s tenth year providing the Best Places to Work and Shine United’s fifth year being ranked in the top 100.

"At Shine, we understand that our people are the backbone of the agency," said Curt Hanke, founding partner and CEO of Shine United. "As such, we treat them with respect and fairness, give them room to run and grow, and work hard to make sure that they're always taken care of and well-compensated. Being named the fifth best place to work by Outside Magazine in back-to-back years is a wonderful acknowledgement of a workforce that's committed, confident and high-performing on behalf of the clients we serve."

Shine United is located in a renovated historic downtown building in the heart of Madison, Wisconsin. The space features an open floor plan with several communal areas that accommodate Shine’s collaborative work style. Beyond the workspace itself, Shine’s benefit package stands as one of the best in the country. Shine pays for 100% of its employees’ health, dental and life insurance premiums, provides paid parking and home Internet service, offers competitive salaries, and for those reaching their 10-year work anniversary, a $10,000 bonus vacation.

Culturally, Shine boasts half-day summer Fridays, free bagel Wednesdays, and weekly happy hours. The agency calendar is peppered with extracurricular activities such as the annual summer picnic and a monthly birthday lunch to feed the work-play balance — and ultimately help fuel the creative process. Shine United also strives to play an active role in the community by supporting the American Family Children’s Hospital, University of Wisconsin Athletics department, the Overture Center for the Arts, and Outreach for World Hope.