This year, 80 suppliers and distributors were honored as a Counselor Best Place to Work. There were plenty of common themes among the companies: Flexible work environments, a culture of caring and open-door leadership styles were oft-cited perks. But there was much that was unique to each particular firm.
In this episode of Counselor Promo Insiders, our editors sat down with employees from three of the honorees – Sandy Gonzalez, CEO of MadeToOrder (asi/259540) and a member of the Counselor Power 50; Donna Krusznis of Counselor Top 40 supplier Vantage Apparel (asi/93390); and Katie Cain and Amanda Bass of Rad Wear (asi/303195) – to find out what makes each workplace special.
MadeToOrder, for example, is a fully remote company that has an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), and Gonzalez says she made the decision to be “camera on” during meetings to help everyone feel connected. The ESOP, too, helps build connection and buy-in since “everybody has a stake” in the company’s success.
“At the end of the day, it makes a difference to our clients,” she adds. “When they hear that story, they’re very intrigued by it.”
Also in this episode, Krusznis shares how Vantage fosters loyalty and keeps its staff for the long term, while Cain and Bass highlight the caring culture that earned Rad Wear the number-one spot among small companies on Counselor’s Best Places to Work list.
Podcast Chapters:
0:53: MadeToOrder’s remote work transition
13:45: Vantage Apparel’s culture and employee longevity
23:05: Rad Wear’s team experiences and growth
Key Takeaways
• MadeToOrder (asi/259540) CEO Sandy Gonzalez says going fully remote expanded the talent pool and improved collaboration across previously siloed offices.
• Gonzalez emphasizes that remote culture requires intentional effort, including camera-on meetings, regular in-person meetups and a dedicated culture committee.
• The company’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan model gives employees long-term ownership, aligning decisions with shareholder value and increasing engagement and client impact.
• Vantage Apparel’s (asi/93390) Donna Krusznis highlights that long employee tenure (more than 130 employees with 15-plus years) reflects strong loyalty and deep institutional knowledge.
• Social events and shared experiences – from themed parties to holiday gatherings – help bridge gaps between departments and strengthen company-wide relationships.
• Rad Wear (asi/303195) leaders say hiring for culture fit over skill – and genuinely caring about employees’ lives – creates a “family-like” environment where people feel heard and stay for the long term.
