Innovation, quality and service are the tenets of Raymond Corp, a subsidiary of Toyota that manufacturers forklift/lift truck/pallet jack/and reach trucks. The 98-year-old company has logged a number of firsts over the years, including the hand pallet (1939), the electric narrow-aisle forklift (1949), automated lift trucks (2012).

But that doesn’t mean resting on its laurels. Tuition reimbursement of 100% for qualifying coursework, and skills contests in areas like quality inspection and welding (with the winners traveling to Japan to compete with other top Toyota performers), have helped create a dynamic work environment at Raymond’s main manufacturing facility in Greene, New York, which has 1,700 employees.