W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., today announced it has again been selected as one of Fortune's "100 Best Companies to Work For." Gore is ranked 12th in the magazine’s January 12, 2004, feature story.
The annual list is compiled by authors Robert Levering and Milton Moskowitz using criteria which they introduced in their best-selling book, 100 Best Companies to Work For in America. Gore is one of only five companies to be included in their three hardbound and seven subsequent magazine rankings.
Selection and ranking was based on a review of more than 45,500 responses to a randomly distributed employee survey, written survey comments, company responses to a "people practices" questionnaire, and company literature. In all, over 300 companies were evaluated.
According to Gore President and CEO Chuck Carroll, the selection reinforces Gore’s commitment to key values. "We work hard at maximizing individual potential, maintaining an emphasis on product integrity, and cultivating an environment where creativity can flourish," Carroll said. "It is a tribute to our associates and their efforts that we have been honored once again."
Gore's innovative products and marketplace success are directly related to the company’s unique culture. Since its inception in 1958, the company has avoided traditional hierarchy, opting instead for a team-based environment which fosters personal initiative, encourages innovation, and promotes direct, person-to-person communication among all "associates," as employees are known.
Perhaps best known for its consumer products like GORE-TEX® fabric and ELIXIR® guitar strings, Gore is a leading manufacturer of thousands of advanced technology products for the electronics, industrial, fabrics and medical markets. The company is headquartered in Newark, Delaware, and employs approximately 6000 associates at 45 facilities throughout the world.