Peak Capital Partners isn’t your neighborhood Best Company to Work For. The Provo business has some serious coastal cred at work.
“We all grew up in Utah, and we all love Utah,” says Jeff Burningham, co-founder of the residential multifamily investment company. “But in regards to Peak’s culture, we lean toward the Silicon Valley and Manhattan side of things. We’ve got the entrepreneurial spirit of the West and the New York-style pace of the East — all while embracing what we have right here in our Utah backyard.”
That unique office culture is thanks to a unique employee perspective.
“A lot of companies will compare their employees to a family. I understand what they’re saying, but it’s not exactly right,” Burningham says. “I prefer the word ‘team.’ We are team focused here. We’re focused on winning — in business and in life. We move at a fast pace, especially for Provo, and being a family isn’t going to get things done. But being a team will.”
And this is a team of 150 that peaks — over and over again. The company, which manages conventional, affordable and student apartment assets in growth markets across the U.S., has grown 1,200 percent over the past three years, has ranked on the Inc. 500, and has an asset portfolio of more then $800 million.
“This is a team built to win,” Burningham says.
While your interest is piqued, here’s a peek at Peak’s 8 winning perks.
Peak Perk #1: Valuable values
Being a team member at Peak Capital Partners encompasses three values.
Integrity. “We manage a lot of third-party capital, so it’s important our team executes with the highest degree of integrity,” says Jeff Danley, co-founder.
Determination. “We are hard workers here focused on achieving,” Danley says. “We focus on being the best.”
Entrepreneurship. “We’ve tried to foster a culture where everyone is an entrepreneur. We want every team member to take ownership of his or her role in the company.”
Peak Perk #2: Boredom busters
Peak’s fast culture means employees are quick on their feet.
“No one is bored here,” says Jamie Dunn, co-founder. “Lots of studies show employees are burned out because they’re not engaged enough. That’s not our problem here. Our employees go out of their way to innovate and contribute to the success of our organization. They understand our mission, and they go home feeling accomplished.”
Peak Perk #3: The play-by-play
The company prioritizes play.
“We are the way we are — Type-A, driven guys,” Danley laughs. “But as the company started growing, we realized it was important to start having some fun, too. We expect a lot out of everyone, including ourselves, so we work hard to give our employees ways to connect as a team. We continually brainstorm new ways to motivate each other and just have fun. It’s been crucial to our success.”
Peak Perk #4: Good Times
And just how do they have fun? Let us count the ways.
1. Food Truck Fridays.
2. Pies for employee birthdays.
3. Foosball tables at the office.
4. Renting out movie theaters for employees and their families.
5. Company picnics, visits to the Sundance theater productions, trips to the aquarium.
Peak Perk #5: Interns wanted
In 2007, Peak started an internship program that employs five to 10 college interns each year and provides them with finance training in the real estate private equity industry. The goal is to provide real-world training and to help prepare students for careers or graduate studies.
“It’s great to give back,” Danley says. “And it’s downright fun to offer these BYU students a New York-level work experience right here in Utah.”
Peak Perk #6: Lunch shenanigans
The company that works together, lunches together. With their new office neighboring the Shops at Riverwoods, they’re just a hop, skip and a golf cart away from delicious eats and greets.
“We’re surrounded by a dozen restaurants, and we have a stretch Escalade golf cart that we take over to lunch on occasion,” Danley says. “One of my favorite memories is driving over to lunch with a bunch of employees hanging off the side. It was right around BYU graduation, and we were quite the spectacle. Shortly thereafter, Qualtrics bought a bunch of their own golf carts.”
Peak Perk #7: Peak’s got talent
“Talent wins here,” Burningham says. “Period.”
Peak Perk #8: Do as they do
Bottom line: The founders of Peak Capital Partners cultivate what they culture.
“Your culture won’t mean anything if the founders don’t embody it,” Dunn says.
“And it has to be authentic,” Burningham says. “You can’t just follow the corporate culture ‘trends.’ You have to focus on culture, but first figure out who your company is and go from there. Authenticity will take you places.”
“We created this company — it was our vision,” Danley adds. “But our employees are driving the business now. In order for us to continue to be successful, our culture and vision have to be passed down to our team. We can’t micromanage them every minute of the day — and we don’t want to. But we have 150 people out there every day representing us, and they’re giving us their all. We owe it to them — and the company — to give them everything we’ve got in return.”
The absolute worst place to work if you are female. One of the three partners, short, bald, fat one hates women and treats them like slaves. Great place for male yes men!