Best Bosses

You love your bosses—you really, really love your bosses! OK, we know some local workers may be suffering under tyrannical Scrooges or The Office's Michael Scott-type incompetents. But judging by the record number of entries in our 2011 Best Boss competition, they’re in the unfortunate minority. This year, 160 employees filled hundreds of pages enthusing about the inspiring men and women who lead their teams. Many noted the extraordinary skill and leadership required to successfully navigate through troubled economic waters and to keep employees feeling loyal and motivated when revenues are falling and workloads are rising. Our six 2011 Best Bosses surfaced as savvy, passionate and generous employers, and we congratulate them all. Many thanks to all who nominated and to our Best Bosses judges, Lisa Krouse, senior vice president of human resources and support services at FCCI; Ursula Nixon, assistant vice president of human resources at The Zenith Insurance; and Linda Tiffan of T2 Management Consultants.

Jeff Manley, President, Koala Tee, Inc.

What we do: Screen printing and embroidery for clothing and promotional products

Years as boss: 15

Number of employees: 23

Mentors: Tony Robbins and his father, Jerry Manley

Best tip: “Get your hands dirty. Get on the production line alongside your employees and show them that you respect the job they’re doing. A team atmosphere is built with all of the players helping out whenever and wherever they are needed.”

Jeff Manley, the president of Koala Tee, Inc., is a hero. For example, in 2001, a tornado hit Koala Tee and took off the roof, flooding the entire building. Manley jumped into action, and kept the business running in a temporary warehouse and borrowed office space. “How do you keep a business running with literally no roof over your head?” asked one employee. “I don’t know how, but Jeff did it.”