We announce today that we have been named a Colorado Company to Watch Winner, an award which acknowledges our drive, excellence and influence in the state of Colorado. Colorado Companies to Watch honors second stage companies that develop valuable products and services, create quality jobs, enrich communities, and create new industries throughout Colorado.
“In a year where things could have been catastrophic, our team pivoted and heavily promoted online solutions to provide distance-friendly certificate renewal options. We are extremely honored to win this Award and are grateful for the hard work of our entire […] team who made this possible. We are dreamers, we are leaders – and this Colorado Companies to Watch Award is a great reflection of our dedication to excellence,” Danaya Benedetto, Founder of BetterCertify.
BetterCertify was chosen as a Finalist for Colorado Companies to Watch out of 1,100 nominations earlier this year. 100 Colorado finalists were chosen as the top tier 2nd stage companies leading in innovation, vision, job-creation and impact. On September 18th at CCTW’s 12 Annual Gala Event, BetterCertify was named a Winner for 2020 along with 49 other prestigious Colorado companies.
“We are pleased to recognize [BetterCertify] as one of Colorado’s 50 most innovative 2nd stage companies,” says Jill Terry, Colorado Companies to Watch Board Chairman. “These companies contribute significantly to the growth and economic independence of the state by developing new services and products, creating jobs, enriching communities and generating new industries.”
BetterCertify is a national company that has been teaching in Colorado and Wyoming since 2007, (although operating under another name at that time). In 2015, BetterCertify Founder, Danaya decided to revolutionize the environmental training industry by completely redesigning antiquated OSHA and EPA curriculums to be more student-focused. This innovative approach resulted in the creation of highly interactive online and Live-Remote courses that emphasize the practicality of federal and state regulations for the hazardous material and construction trades, catapulting them to the top of the industry.
In 2020, BetterCertify stepped up again by embracing the need for more online courses for their students which also included Pandemic Response due to merging regulatory guidance. Historically, live classroom education generated revenue for BetterCertify. Then in March of 202, we experienced 84 cancellations in one day. Our leadership moved swiftly to promote their online class catalog (in a traditionally Live only industry) while also creating two COVID-specific classes for contractors and facility owners to use to navigate infectious disease remediation.
Our adaptation from a standard classroom offering proved successful as their online classes have grown 235% in 2020 to-date, enabling students around the world to maintain their accreditations. Additionally, during the months following March, we accelerated their agenda by receiving two official approvals from state agencies for their online asbestos refresher classes, which total 10 more than our closest competition.
Danaya Benedetto notes, “I see the future of vocational training being as flexible as the job itself requires. Our jobs are rarely 9-5, they can be immediate, and with little notice. Students and enterprises need training and certification solutions that are just as flexible.”
In March, we started working with The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment which manages over the asbestos and lead disciplines in Colorado to author a solution for remote learning and certification renewal. We worked diligently with them to devise the first-ever method of remote learning for this industry utilizing Live-Remote classes via Zoom. BetterCertify is exemplary in shifting classes to this medium providing students an option for learning during the Pandemic. Being named as a Winner for 2020 is in alignment with our dedication to being the number one training solution company in the United States.
