From its humble beginnings in 2016, Pure Project Brewing has strived to be more than just a manufacturer of quality beer. The Miramar-based interest is a One Percent for the Planet company, regularly contributes money and manpower to charitable efforts and campaigns focused on environmental betterment. Additionally, ownership has put an emphasis on creating a close-knit, enjoyable, equitable company culture for its employees. The latter was recently recognized by the San Diego Business Journal when it presented Pure Project with a Best Places to Work Award.
A highly anticipated annual feature of the publication, the awards recognize “outstanding companies whose benefits, policies and practices are among the best in the region.” Awards were given to 100 companies in four categories: mega companies (2,000 or more U.S. employees), large companies (250-1,999 employees), medium companies (50-249 employees) and small companies (15-49 employees). Pure Project ranked twelfth out of 36 awardees in the small-companies category, and it was members of their 40-member strong workforce that nominated the company for consideration of this honor.
“Having our employees nominate our company for this list has to be one of the proudest moments in my professional career,” says Managing Partner Jesse Pine. “When [fellow partners] Mat Robar, Winslow Sawyer and I started this company, we always said we wanted to build something we could look back at and be proud of; a place our employees can make careers out of. But most importantly, a place where all of us enjoy coming to work every single day.”
Honest feedback from surveyed employees played just as significant a role in the judging process as factors like benefits and employee retention. The judging panel, which consisted of executives from local companies including Sony Electronics and C3 Risk & Insurance Services, also considered the gender and ethnic breakdowns of nominated companies’ workforces, efforts to recruit members of underrepresented ethnic groups and age demographics, and diversity training programs. A progressive business in myriad respects, Pure Project scored high across the board.
In the end, an award of this nature means little if it doesn’t mirror the way a company’s employees honestly feel about their employers. Judging by the tightknit sense of family they exhibit on a daily basis and even during laborious all-hands-on-deck events like Pure Project’s annual anniversary festivals, it would seem SDBJ’s judges got this one right.
“I’m grateful to work for a company that believes in me as much as I believe in our team and shared mission,” says Beertender and Sustainability Lead Cassie Dexter Torti (pictured above). “I love working for a company that has the motto, ‘do the right thing.’ It is seen throughout the work we do and in the company culture as a whole.”
“I love working at Pure because my opinion and experience is valued and considered,” says Brewer Tyler Potter. “It’s apparent that ownership truly cares about employees and puts us first, and that, to me, is priceless. Also, the beer is fire.”
Pure Project’s Miramar brewery and tasting room is located at 9030 Kenamar Drive, #308, its Bankers Hill tasting room and cross-street biergarten is located at 2865 Fifth Avenue, and its Carlsbad tasting room is located at 2825 State Street