Rio Grande Among the “Best Places to Work” in New Mexico
Rio Grandeand its 400 associatesgot top marks when Albuquerque
Business First announced the newspaper’s 10th annual “Best Places to
Work” survey results. Rio Grande was one of five businesses
recognized in the Very Large Companies (over 250 employees) division
for 2015. Rio also took home Best Places to Work titles in 2012 and
2010. The achievements are a credit to Rio’s associates, who play a
central role in the jewelry supplier’s success.
One of the world’s largest suppliers to the jewelry industry, Rio
Grande was founded in 1944 by Saul Bell and purchased three years
ago by Richline Group, a Berkshire Hathaway Company. Rio Grande
continues to be led by second-generation Bell family members,
including Alan, Molly and Eddie Bell, adhering to company principles
that are embedded in their unique culture. From its solar-powered
facility in Albuquerque, N.M., Rio proudly manufactures nearly a
quarter of the tens of thousands of findings, tools and equipment
that the company sells.
“Rio Grande has a wonderful and diverse group of associates who are
willing to share knowledge and give each other a hand,” says Teresa
Sexton, a Training Team associate who started in Rio’s Customer Care
center five years ago. “In the onboarding sessions for new hires, we
frequently hear how ‘at home’ people feel here and how amazing it is
that we welcome questions and ideasmany associates have not
experienced that anywhere they have worked. Rio understands that
teamwork is what gets things done, and Rio has it by the truckload!”
Jamie Gros, Creative Director, says Rio’s culture is designed to
bring out the best in associates. “Rio’s culture promotes growth and
the development of exceptional colleagues. In the many, many years
I’ve been with Rio, I’ve worked with some of the most intelligent,
hardest working and dedicated people. This is due to the great
environment Rio Grande has built over the years. The Best Places to
Work award really confirmed what I have come to know from my daily
work.”
Marvin Castillo, an associate in the Distribution Center with 12
years under his belt, agrees. He calls Rio an “environment of
empowermentevery associate truly has a voice in this company.”
A total of 35 small, medium, large and very large companies from
across New Mexico received “Best Places to Work” accolades this
year. Winning scores were derived from confidential third-party
surveys given to employees at participating companies. Rio received
its most recent Best Places to Work statuette at an awards ceremony
held on Dec. 10, 2015, at Hotel Albuquerque.
Albuquerque Business First is a weekly business publication with
more than 16,000 readers across New Mexico. Business First is part
of the Charlotte, N.C.-based American City Business Journals, which
offers local business news from coast to coast via 39 sister
newspapers.
More on Rio Grande can be found at riogrande.com. For
on Albuquerque Business First’s Best Places to Work,
visit bizjournals.com/albuquerque. ###