Highroad Communications

Toronto, ON, January 16, 2008 – High Road Communications has been named the No. 12th small- and medium-sized business to work for in Canada, scoring top marks for reputation, motivation and coworkers. The ranking was based on a survey conducted by the Centre for Business Venturing at Queen’s School of Business and Hewitt Associates.  Results of the study, now in its fourth year, are published in the Globe and Mail. 

“Our culture is all about empowerment. We encourage people to take chances, accomplish great things, and we make sure they are rewarded and recognized for their hard work and creativity,” said Mia Wedgbury, President and Co-Founder of High Road Communications. “Because of our constant growth, our people get opportunities not seen at other firms. We know these career challenges motivate our team and drive our success as a company.”

Creating a dynamic agency culture that empowers staff and inspires creativity has been a priority for Mia Wedgbury since she co-founded the agency in 1996. Despite the firm’s continuous growth, High Road has maintained a unique culture of teamwork and collaboration through a combination of employee recognition and mentoring initiatives, work-life balance programs and regular professional development. Built over the last eleven years, the team has one of the lowest turnover rates in the industry, resulting in a work environment which offers a passionate leadership team, consistent accounts and life-long friendships.

“This year, with nearly 10,000 employee and 700 leader survey responses in the study overall, High Road Communications has distinguished itself by having high employee engagement scores and a strong leadership team,” stated Einar Westerlund, Director, Project Development at Queen’s School of Business.  “It shows great commitment and an aligned focus.”

This national awards program recognizes top employers with between 50 and 400 employees. This study mirrors the renowned Best Employer in Canada initiative run by partner, Hewitt Associates; however, caters to smaller businesses. 

The rankings are primarily determined using the results from Employee Opinion Surveys.  Here, 17 key engagement drivers are detailed and analyzed.  The evaluation process also includes the assessment of organization practices and perspectives from the leadership team.  This year, more than 150 companies across Canada registered to participate in the study. 
Study partners include Queen’s School of Business, Queen’s Centre for Business Venturing and Hewitt Associates. More information about the Best Small & Medium Employers in Canada is available online at http://business.queensu.ca/qcbv/sme. 

About High Road Communications Inc.

High Road Communications shapes communications strategies for technology and digital lifestyle companies in the United States and Canada. Since 1996, High Road has pushed the boundaries of traditional public relations with creative ideas and integrated thinking that connects all aspects of marketing and communications. The company has 85 employees in five offices including Toronto, San Francisco, Ottawa, Montreal and Vancouver. For more information on the company and our areas of specialization, please visit http://www.highroad.com.

Contact:
Mia Wedgbury
President and Co-Founder, High Road Communications
Phone: (416) 644-2282
Email: mwedgbury@highroad.com

For media inquiries, please contact:
Sandra Olszowka,
Queen’s Centre for Business Venturing,
Queen’s School of Business
Phone:  (613) 533-3119
Email:  solszowka@business.queensu.ca