When a Phoenix law firm accepted an industry award in March, leadership made it a point that every member of the team attend, a decision they say reflects the firm’s commitment to in-person mentorship and a tightly knit workplace culture. The firm’s founding partner explained that while many organizations have embraced casual flexibility and remote work, his team has doubled down on deliberate, in-person training as the foundation of rapid professional growth and strong outcomes for clients.
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“We have found that true excellence is forged through high-level, in-person mentorship,” the founding partner said, adding that their workplace is built as a collaborative hub where seasoned expertise meets ambitious talent so that “the nuances of high-stakes trial practice are passed down through direct, daily interaction.” That philosophy was cited as a major reason the firm appears on this year’s roster of the 100 Best Places to Work and Live in Arizona for 2026, a designation earned by the top vote-getters in the state’s annual public balloting for employers and municipalities.
Law‑firm leadership posed in an office — representative of the professional workplaces highlighted in AZ Big Media’s '100 Best Places to Work and Live in Arizona for 2026.'
The list is the product of public voting that identifies workplaces and communities across Arizona that the public regards as desirable places to pursue a career and live. Those named among the top 100 span private businesses and public agencies of many sizes and sectors, and finalists emphasize elements commonly cited by employees as drivers of satisfaction: clear communication, measurable mentorship, shared values and a sense of ownership.
A Phoenix-based media firm on the roster described its culture with a succinct set of operating principles it calls GOHARD — an acronym that stands for going the extra mile, over-communicating, being humbly confident, always improving, being results driven and doing what you say. The firm’s chief executive said this shared language is put into daily practice: it guides decisions, structures feedback and frames how performance is recognized. “These aren’t aspirational statements,” he said. “They’re actively used to guide decisions, give feedback, and recognize performance. We evaluate, reward and hold each other accountable to GOHARD, which creates clarity and consistency across the entire organization.”
Another company singled out the effect of employee ownership on workplace culture. As a 100 percent employee-owned construction firm, leadership said employee-ownership has fostered heightened accountability and pride, with every worker carrying a tangible stake in the company’s outcomes. That ownership, executives explained, shows up in the way teams collaborate, the trust they build and the insistence on cross-functional support rather than siloed work. Mentorship, professional development and hands-on experience were listed as ways the firm invests in its people so they can grow and lead within the organization.
The construction and contracting sector is well represented among the state’s honorees, including a woman-owned commercial general contractor that describes its workplace culture as balanced between core values and an enjoyable day-to-day experience. That company framed its values with the mnemonic CARES — Committed, Accountable, Reliable, Experts and Spirited — and said those values guide how employees show up for each other and for clients. “Culture is not forced or one-dimensional,” company leaders said, adding that a strong workplace includes connection, energy and a sense of fun alongside doing great work and supporting colleagues.
Residents and officials hold a “Thank you, construction workers!” sign at a community park event, illustrating local amenities and civic engagement that contribute to places being ranked among Arizona’s best to live and work.
Across the full list of honorees are institutions familiar to Arizonans as employers and civic anchors: universities, electric utilities, hospitals and credit unions sit alongside law firms, architecture and engineering practices, recruiting and marketing agencies, homebuilders and grocery operators. Among the individual organizations named are ABI Multifamily, ATI Restoration, Aker Ink PR & Marketing, Alerus, Arizona Biltmore, Arizona Central Credit Union, Arizona Financial Credit Union, Arizona Public Service, Arizona State University, Aurora Behavioral Health System, azarchitecture/Jarson & Jarson Real Estate, BMO, BOK Financial, Bashas’ Family of Stores, Bel‑Aire Mechanical, Bennett and Porter Insurance Services, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, Blue Signal Search, Burch & Cracchiolo, CORE Construction and Cachet Homes.
The roster continues with Caliente Construction, Camelot Homes, Canyon State Electric, Capital Asset Management, Cawley Architects and several municipal governments that made the top 100, including the cities of Chandler, Goodyear, Mesa, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe. Also included were Colling Media and Concord General Contracting among others named by voters. Each of these organizations offered a concise explanation of what they believe sets their workplaces apart: from targeted leadership and mentorship programs to clearly articulated values and hands-on opportunities that let employees take ownership of projects and outcomes.
Representatives from the firms and municipalities on the list highlighted different ways they celebrate wins and invest in teams — whether marking project milestones, volunteering together in the community or organizing company sports teams and events. One contractor noted that the company’s “Spirited” value manifests in visible, recurring ways, and said that those practices help build cohesion across office and field staff. Another firm said a defining cultural touchstone for employees is a shared commitment to helping clients succeed through measurable results and a data-driven approach to the work.
The 100 Best Places to Work and Live in Arizona list reflects votes from the public and is topped by the 100 organizations that earned the most support. For the organizations named, the recognition serves as formal acknowledgment of the workplace policies, culture and community engagement that voters found noteworthy. The companies and municipal governments on the list cover a wide cross-section of the state’s economy and civic life, underscoring the range of environments Arizonans identified as desirable places to work and live for 2026.
The complete roster published by AZ Big Media also recognizes Snell & Wilmer, HonorHealth, Delta Dental of Arizona, The CORE Institute, Suntec Concrete, and municipalities including the towns of Gilbert, Queen Creek, and Cave Creek. These entries further illustrate the breadth of public support for diverse employers and civic institutions statewide.
AZ Big Media’s Ranking Arizona program — the public vote that determines the 100 Best Places list — accepts nominations each year from August 15 through May 31, with the public voting period running from August 15 through July 31.
Voters on the Ranking Arizona platform must register and may cast one vote for a company in a given sub-category once per hour; the voting system relies on browser cookies and on-site registration prompts.
Companies pay an administrative listing fee to appear on the ballot ($75 for the first sub-category and $25 for each additional sub-category) and must receive at least 20 votes in a sub-category each cycle to remain listed; entries with fewer votes are removed from the database.