A Whitefish-based technology firm has been named one of the top places to work by Outside magazine.

The ZaneRay Group ranks No. 82 on the magazine’s “Best Places to Work 2015” list that recognizes U.S. companies that help their employees strike the ideal balance between work and play. This marks the third time ZaneRay has been selected to the top-100 in the last five years.

Established in 1994, ZaneRay is a web design and software development firm with 25 employees at their office in the Railway District of Whitefish.

“They work for a company that offers good benefits, flexible schedules, and the same diversity and challenge that one would find at a firm in a major metro area, but they live at the gateway to Glacier National Park at the foot of Whitefish Mountain Resort,” Outside praised of ZaneRay. “Morning powder runs, lunchtime trail runs, and after-work mountain bike rides tip the scales in ZaneRay’s favor.”

ZaneRay president and founder Reed Gregerson said a happy workplace leads to better business.

“As with any business, we are faced with the realities of payroll, cash flow, competition and making sales,” said Gregerson. “And sometimes we have work that isn’t the most thrilling. But we’ve learned that we can deal with those realities and still look forward to work. We have great customers because we go out of our way to retain them. Flexible work hours don’t really cost us anything, but they are invaluable to folks with kids or those that want to mountain bike mid-day. It does help that we live in Montana, where skiing or fishing are practically out the front door. We have a couple profit incentive plans that give us all motivation. A good place to work means employees stick around longer, which is also good for business: our customers appreciate a familiar voice on the phone every time they call.”

Other Montana companies to make the list include Foundant Technologies, Montana Wilderness Association, MercuryCSC, and Ecology Project International.

The entire list of winners appears online at http://www.outsideonline.com/2034286/100-best-places-work-2015.