The SCOOTER Store Named One of FORTUNE's 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2010

A National Honor for America's Leading Provider of Power Mobility Equipment

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas, Jan. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- FORTUNE magazine today named The SCOOTER Store one of the top 100 places to work in America, citing the company as the 38th Best Place to Work For in 2010. This is an extraordinary honor for the nation's leading supplier of power mobility equipment.

In honoring The SCOOTER Store, FORTUNE cited the company's employee-friendly celebrations, including quarterly theme rallies, as well as recognition of birthdays and anniversaries. In addition, FORTUNE was impressed that 40 percent of employee-owners are salespeople who earn commissions based on their performance.

"On behalf of my fellow employee-owners, we are proud that our unique culture has earned national recognition for providing our employees a great environment to work in," said Doug Harrison, founder, president and CEO of The SCOOTER Store. "In turn, our employee-owners are committed to helping seniors and people living with physical disabilities, some of the most vulnerable people in our society, regain their freedom and independence with power mobility equipment."

With this award, The SCOOTER Store is featured with the other winning companies on the FORTUNE magazine Web site, as well as the Great Places to Work Institute® Web site. A list of all the award-winning companies for 2010 will also be published in FORTUNE's February 8 issue, which will be available on newsstands January 25.

Six years ago, The SCOOTER Store was also cited by the magazine, earning the #58 spot on the 2004 list of 100 Best Places to Work For. At that time, The SCOOTER Store earned recognition for a policy of having department managers assemble their employees daily morning "huddles" to discuss each day's goals and objectives. FORTUNE also noted that employees own 40 percent of the company through an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), a program still in place today.

Harrison, who founded the company 18 years ago, maintained that the honors are confirmation of the success of the company's six core ideologies: always do the right thing, be phenomenal, focus on the customer, achieve financial success, grow aggressively, and have fun.

"The judges for Great Places to Work Institute discovered what our employee-owners have known for years: The SCOOTER Store is a great place to work," Harrison said. "We greatly appreciate this honor. It demonstrates that companies can provide a pleasant workplace for its employees, yet still accomplish the business objectives of the company. In our case, that means extending a helping hand to seniors and others who need power mobility to improve their quality of life."

Based in New Braunfels, Texas, The SCOOTER Store is the largest provider of power wheelchairs and scooters in the nation. It currently operates more than 70 facilities coast-to-coast, with approximately 2600 employee-owners. In 2009, the company expanded its service to include all manufacturers' brands at all its locations, expanded its Managed Care division with several large national and state contracts, and expanded its complex rehab division, Alliance Seating & Mobility.  

About The SCOOTER Store

Since 1991, The SCOOTER Store has helped provide freedom and independence to more people with limited mobility than any other company in the nation. Forty percent employee-owned, the company primarily offers power mobility equipment, including power wheelchairs, scooters, lifts, ramps, and accessories, in 48 states and Puerto Rico. The SCOOTER Store currently holds more than 30 percent of the current U.S. market in the power mobility industry and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care. The goal of The SCOOTER Store is to create an opportunity for every American senior to live their entire life safely and confidently at home.

SOURCE The SCOOTER Store