Ruby was in the top three among medium-sized businesses on the “100 Best Companies to Work For” list for the third year in a row, coming in at #3 and #1 in the benefits and compensation category. In the twentieth anniversary of Oregon Business’ list, over 13,000 employee surveys, supplemented by a benefits report from each company, generated this year’s rankings. Ruby grew significantly in the last year, and our employees’ passion for making personal connections and creating a happy workplace is why we’re thriving!

Ruby Receptionists was recognized as the #1 Best Small Company to Work for in the nation for 2012. Published in FORTUNE Magazine, the list recognizes companies that have exceptional workplace cultures. Great Place to Work_® evaluates companies using a unique methodology based on five dimensions: credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie. Among hundreds of applicants, Ruby was the standout for fostering happiness and keeping meaningful connections alive and well.

Ruby Receptionists has made the “100 Fastest-Growing Private 100 Companies” list for five consecutive years, earning us the prestigious Portland Business Journal Lighthouse Award! This was one of the toughest years since 2007 for companies to earn their spot on the list, and we not only made it, but cracked the top 50 fastest growing for our fifth straight year, coming in at #43. We’re extremely proud and grateful for this award, and it’s truly a testament to what an impact spreading happiness can make and how much people hunger for real, meaningful connections in an increasingly virtual world!

In our third feature on KGW in as many years, Founder and CEO Jill Nelson shared with fellow Entrepreneurs’ Organization members Ruby Receptionists’s success story. ”Practicing WOWism” – spreading happiness and connecting with clients on a meaningful, personal level — isn’t just good for the soul, it’s good business.

Our green virtual receptionist service has once again made Oregon Business’s top “100 Best Green Companies to Work for in Oregon!” Our third time on the list in three years, Ruby came in at #79 out of more 431 companies and nonprofits across the state. We’re especially thankful to Ruby’s Green Team for being our eco-conscience and spearheading sustainable initiatives like reusing paper to make DIY notepads, recycling, and clothing swaps and donations. We can’t wait to see where what other green practices we put in place in the coming year!

Ruby Founder and CEO Jill Nelson was featured in Portland Monthly Magazine‘s as their April Rainmaker. In the article, Jill imparts how Ruby came to become the friendly, professional virtual receptionist service we are today, and she goes on to share her thoughts on the importance of the human connection in business. Read the full article here!

Ruby’s video, produced by innovative branding agency Sockeye, has won an Oregon ADDY_® award in the internet commercial category! The video portrays Ruby’s unique vision of customer service: creating meaningful, personal connections in a virtual world. Featuring both animation and documentary-style video, it shows an animated portrayal of a typical call — complete with a real receptionist as the voice of Ruby – and the testimonial portion features Ruby clients and several of our virtual receptionists. Watch the award-winning video on our homepage or on YouTube!

Our third year on the list, our virtual receptionist service earned the #3 spot on Oregon Business magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work for in Oregon” list. Fifty of our virtual receptionists and staff attended the event and proudly marched on stage to accept the award. We were also honored to be named second in the categories of “Management and Communications” and “Decision-Making and Trust.” We’re extremely thankful for all the hard-work and creativity that everyone brings to Ruby and are grateful to have such wonderful clients who make this such a special place to come to work!

To further support our unique Core Values, we are incredibly excited to launch a new paid sabbatical program at Ruby Receptionists: the “Five at Five!” For every five years at Ruby, our virtual receptionists and supporting staff members will receive five weeks paid time off to explore our Core Values and apply them to a dream that they might not otherwise have had the opportunity to realize. To help them succeed Ruby will also provide $1,000 grants and individual coaching with positive psychology experts Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener and Positive Acorn. We’re excited to see what each of our bright virtual receptionists will do with her Five at Five!

Ruby is proud to announce two new additions to our Leadership Team: Kevin Gillam, Director of Marketing, and Paddy McCaffrey-Allen, Director of Human Resources. Kevin was previously our Business Development Ambassador in charge of fostering partnerships, and he brings more than 20 years of sales and marketing experience to his new role as Director of Marketing. Paddy was one of Ruby’s first employees and has thrived in various roles in the human resources field for over a decade, including Director of Human Resources at a Portland-based creative agency. We’re excited to welcome them to Ruby’s Leadership Team!