Editor’s Note
2021 was a demanding year for both businesses and individuals. However, Terakeet’s leadership and employees doubled down on our commitment to building a supportive and innovative organization where we’re all proud to be.
Last year, several industry and workplace programs recognized Terakeet for this hard work and dedication, whether it was through the lens of our customer impact or internal culture and growth.
We are grateful for every Terakeet employee and the fantastic work they have done. Read below for a full review of our recent, recognized accomplishments.
Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work Award 2021
2021 started on a high note! On January 12, Glassdoor announced that they had selected us for their Best Places to Work Award in the U.S. small and midsize business (SMB) category — ranking us 26th out of 50 small and midsize companies!
As one of the Best Places to Work in 2021, Terakeet is among industry giants like Google, Hubspot, and Microsoft.
The award is part of Glassdoor’s Employees’ Choice Awards and is based entirely on the anonymous input of employees, such as this recent employee review on Glassdoor:
“Everyone at Terakeet is dedicated to their craft and is constantly going out of their way to gain knowledge and help others. I’ve seen a lot of growth in departments working cross-functionally this year and each department is getting larger and larger, which is a great sign that Terakeet is doing all of the right things. I’ve met people here that I would consider some of my best friends and couldn’t have found a better place to work right out of college. You will not feel like a number here, but a true member of a company that is striving to make a difference both professionally and in personal aspects of everyday life.”
We are grateful that Terakeet employees continue to provide us with honest, heartfelt feedback on our Glassdoor page so that we may continue to grow and be the best company we can be.
Glassdoor’s Top CEO Award
CEO and Co-Founder Mac Cummings was named to Glassdoor’s 2021 Top CEOs list. Mac ranked ninth in the US and first in New York State for small and medium-sized businesses, with a 98% approval rating from employees.
The award is based solely on voluntary and anonymous feedback from employees about their CEO’s leadership and their overall experience at work. Some of the reviews that contributed to Mac’s win mentioned his regular communication with employees, including an onboarding meeting he hosts with all new employees and the Coffee with a Founder and “Ask Me Anything” programs that he and CTO and Co-Founder Patrick Danial use to stay connected with employees.
When asked about his thoughts on the recognition, Mac said: “I am honored, and — to be honest — in shock. Terakeet has grown beyond what we ever imagined possible when we started twenty years ago, and it’s because we have the greatest people. This is their company now, not mine. So many years later, it feels like Terakeet’s future, in their capable hands, is only just beginning.”
Fortune’s Best Small/Medium Workplaces in New York
We also placed on Fortune’s list of the top 60 “Best Small/Medium Workplaces in New York.” Being awarded by one of the nation’s most recognizable brands was truly humbling! Our employees’ honest feedback helped us earn the spot amongst some of New York’s best businesses.
Fortune’s Trust Index survey revealed that a culture of inclusivity and teamwork reign supreme at Terakeet, and has recognized us for several years in a row.
As Chief People Officer Lynn Fraas said, “We value employee feedback to improve our workplace and hiring practices. Receiving this national award helps validate our progress, but also reinforces our commitment to continuous improvement.”
MarCom Awards
In October, The Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals named Terakeet a gold winner in their 2021 MarCom Awards program. Terakeet took home the MarCom Gold Award in the Digital Media, Search Performance category for the impact we delivered to a leading mortgage and lending customer.
We were the only winner in the Search Performance category, but other award winners included Amazon, PepsiCo, Nissan, and MetLife.
After learning we had been named a winner, President Mark Kennedy said, “We’re thrilled to be recognized by industry leaders with this award. We’re proud of the effect that our partnership has had on our customer’s business goals and look forward to continuing to expand our innovation and impact as we grow.”
Inc.’s Best Workplaces List
Inc., one of the world’s leading business magazines, honored us by placing Terakeet on their list of the “Best Workplaces for 2021.” This was following a wide-ranging and comprehensive review of American companies that have created exceptional workplaces and company cultures, whether teams are operating in-person or remotely.
Terakeet employees completed an anonymous survey on our management effectiveness, perks, and employee growth. Our benefits were also audited to determine our overall score and ranking.
“The definition of a positive workplace has changed drastically over the past year,” said Inc. magazine editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. “Stocked fridges and nap pods were no longer perks many companies could rely on once work went remote. So, this year’s list is even more important as it reveals organizations that continue to enrich the lives of its employees amid a pandemic.”
We were honored to be recognized, but mostly grateful to our team and leadership for helping maintain a culture of support and individual development!
Titan Business Awards
We were also recognized as gold winners in the Titan Business Awards in the Marketing category for Best Search Engine Marketing Campaign.
Terakeet was the only recipient in the Search category, but other award winners included the NBA, Johnson and Johnson Vision, SquareTrade, and F. Hoffmann-La Roche.
The Titan Business Awards received more than 500 entries from across the world this season, but after evaluation from a jury panel, only honored a select few. “We praise the phenomenal Titan-like accomplishments of a wide range of organizations, from all sectors, and their strong determination to achieve greater heights,” said Kenjo Ong, CEO of The International Awards Associate (IAA), the organizer of the award program. “I am beyond thrilled to witness the upcoming triumph, where the winners of the season set the bar for future businesses to follow.”
Best Places to Work
In September, CNY Business Journal announced that we had placed 6th on their Best Places to Work List in the category of “100+ Employees.” We were recognized among some of Central New York’s top employers for being a business that, “Encourage[s], cultivate[s], and promote[s] a great place to work.”
This was another award determined by anonymous employee feedback on corporate culture, role satisfaction, executive leadership, training, compensation and peer/manager relationships for both remote and in-person teams.
Great Place to Work Certification
2021 marked the fifth year in a row that we were certified as a Great Place to Work. This is a high achievement for businesses across the country. One of the main takeaways from the survey data that accompanied this certification was that Terakeet stood tall in the area of employee satisfaction. In fact, 93 percent of employees said Terakeet is a great place to work! Typical U.S.-based companies see a 59 percent employee satisfaction level.
When asked what one word describes Terakeet, employees had these to say:
We are exceedingly grateful to each team member for making Terakeet a place that so many of us want to work at every day! To learn more about our rankings, check out our data profile on Great Place to Work’s website.
Best Companies to Work For In New York
For the fourth year in a row, The Best Companies Group and Rochester Business Journal recognized Terakeed as one of the “Best Companies to Work For In New York.” This year, we placed 16th in the “Large-Size Business” category. This award recognizes New York companies that display outstanding employee engagement.
Among the reasons we were chosen for this award, our industry innovation, competitive benefits package, employee perks, and remote and flexible options made the top of the list.
“Terakeet really knows how to make remote work, work,” says Sr. SEO Analyst Josh Hinds. “I feel just as connected with this team as I have in any work environment. I really appreciate the growth opportunity that a remote work environment affords me.”
Best and the Brightest
Best and Brightest named Terakeet an employer of choice and included us on their 2021 “Best and Brightest Companies To Work For In New York.” According to Best and Brightest, this recognizes the, “most influential, trend-setting companies,” in each region.
A key feature of this recognition was our extensive benefits package which includes 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave, 401(k) match, a health/wellness reimbursement, and flexible and remote options (just to name a few).
“Our team here is consistently working to make Terakeet a supportive workplace for all employees,” said Lynn. “Over this especially difficult year, we have implemented programs with the goal of increasing flexibility, improving employee health and safety, and expanding our framework for equitable and inclusive hiring practices and internal growth.”
2021: In Review
2021 came with its own challenges, but we’ll remember that it was a year of teamwork, innovation, and learning to grow and stretch in new directions. We cannot say it enough: we are truly grateful for the people of Terakeet.