'Humble, hungry and smart" qualities sought at top large employer

“Humble, hungry and smart,” said Roy Burr, one of four branch managers in Tucson.

Fairway is ranked number one in the 2025 Tucson Top Workplaces award in the large-size employers.

Based in Madison, Wisconsin, Fairway has about 4,500 employees across the country and about 60 in the Tucson market.

Nominated based on employee feedback, comments include:

“It is amazing how all of our departments work together for solutions and to get loans closed versus other lenders where it is an ‘operations versus sales’ mentality,” and “Constantly considering the employee point of view, always on the edge of innovation, smart decision making and high quality of employees. Such an incredible culture.”

Burr said the recognition from employees “means everything” to Fairway.

“At the end of the day we want to help people build wealth through homeownership,” he said. “In order to do that, we need great people.”

Aside from regular team meetings, the company hosts monthly potlucks and an occasional happy hour to discuss topics that are not just about work.

There are also many one-on-one conversations, Burr said, whether it be to point out where an employee is excelling or maybe needs assistance.

That includes urging employees to point out things managers could do better.

“Be my blind spot,” Burr said of the messaging to workers. “I want to know the problems, the issues, even if it’s something I’m not doing right.”

He said the company works to foster a work environment where people aren’t afraid to make mistakes.

“Own it, learn it, grow from it and know the team has your back,” Burr said employees are told. “We all make mistakes, so have grace when your teammate makes a mistake and be the one who lifts them up.”

Fairway Home Mortgage was founded in 1996 by Steve Jacobson.

When the pandemic sent everyone home, he was worried about employees’ mental and physical health and bought a piece of exercise equipment for everyone who had worked with Fairway at least one year. Employees were able to choose from six different machines which were shipped to their home and assembled.

“At a cost of millions of dollars, we so appreciated his thinking of us and our health and well-being,” employees said.

In the large-size employer category, the Tucson Top Workplaces award goes to White Plains, New York-based Marsh McLennan Agency with 11,400 employees nationwide and 46 in the Tucson area.

Third place goes to Oro Valley-based Roche Tissue Diagnostics with 1,323 local employees.