Arizona Diamondbacks ranked No. 1 sports organization to work for

PHOENIX — For job seekers looking to get started in the sports industry, the climb to the top is not easy.

There are few sports companies that open their door to new staff members — and even fewer that have a high employee turnover rate.

In an article published by Forbes.com, the Arizona Diamondbacks were ranked the best sports organization to work for.

And if that were not enough, “Ranking Arizona” also ranked the Diamondbacks the best small business in the state in its annual list of the “Best Places to Work.”

Some of the features taken into consideration were leadership, community contribution, perks and benefits for employees, and the overall culture.

Travis Rockey, a business intelligence developer for the Diamondbacks, said he began fixing seats for the organization in 2004 and has worked his way up to a job he loves.

“At every level, I had a boss that encouraged me to work hard and never settle,” Rockey said in an interview with Forbes. “Never once has that hard work not been rewarded. I owe my career and any success I have in the future to the Diamondbacks and the people with which with I have worked.”

Tiffanie Tallman, a member of the Diamondbacks’ corporate partnerships department, said the value of the company lies in the culture it has created.

“It’s the specific programs we have developed that prove how unique our company culture is to me: The D-backs Give Back League, the monthly all-employee meetings including ‘On the Couch with DHall,’ and the Most Valuable Partner Awards are just a few examples of our entire organization coming together to enhance the culture of the most amazing company I can ever imagine,” Tallman told Forbes.

Derrick Hall, president and CEO of the Diamondbacks, attributed the company’s success to the importance placed on its employees.

“We’re in an industry where early entry jobs are extremely difficult, the turnover is devastating and so you have to create a culture where your employees, not the customers, comes first,” Hall said to Forbes. “If the employee feels respected, developed and promoted, he or she will in return treat the customer the same way.”

Other highlights in the Forbes list were the Cleveland Cavaliers at No. 2, Ohio State University Department of Athletics at No. 4, National Football League at No. 6 and RSE Ventures at No. 10.