Sophia Rodriguez was a veteran state of Texas employee who was looking for a start in a new career.

She was talking with a friend one day who worked at Progressive.

"I need to grow," she recalls telling her friend, who replied "Why don't you come here?"

"I had admired Progressive from afar," she said. Finally, about a year ago, it was time to make the change, leaving the security of the state job for a chance to build a new career.

"I was looking for a career opportunity," she says. "In my previous experience with employers, the attitude toward workers was: You are replaceable. At the end of the day, you are replaceable."

"At Progressive, they really make an effort to make you feel irreplaceable. They want to invest in you. You are an employee and we want to work with you and make you happy. I have never really felt that way ever before (at other employers)..

"The culture here really is better than other companies. There is an opportunity for growth. That is the reason I left the state (job). I wanted to build another career for myself where I could grow."

Progressive in recent years has consistently ranked high in the American-Statesman's annual Top Workplaces of Greater Austin project. This year the company, which has more than 2,700 workers in Austin, ranked No. 2 among large employers.

Rodriguez is presently a claims generalist, which means she works with Progressive customers who are filing claims, typically after a car accident.

I investigate the accident and finalize liability and help the customer," she said. "I help them get to the other side of an accident."

The work is challenging but rewarding, she said, because it involves helping people at a time of stress in their lives.

"In claims, the challenge is keeping an open mind and being a good listener," she said. "The satisfaction is being able to show people that you are going to help them get through it. And when you do help them, the people are very grateful and appreciative."

Rodriguez said she lhe likes the job, but she is interested in other opportunities. There is an internal job fair coming up in Austin, where she can ask other employees in different positions what their jobs are like. She said she looking forward to participating in the event.

"Progressive is looking within and they are cultivating a culture of growing people. That is very motivating for people," she said. ""There is so much opportunity to grow and find a career to make you happy. Progressive offers so much opportunity to make you happy."

"I am starting to sound like a Progressive infomercial," she says with a smile.

She talks regularly with friends who are in management positions at other companies and are curious about Progressive's culture and employee programs.

"It's enlightening for my friends who work in management in other companies. I sometimes think why don't more companies do this."

Progressive's strong interest in employee training and development and advancement has long been a part of the company culture.

After all, chief executive Tricia Griffith began work at the company in 1988 as an entry level claims employee.

Other workers at the company say they like the kindness, respect and integrity in how the company treats both employees and customers.

"We are always there to support each other," said Kyle Thomte, a customer relationship manager. "We treat our customers right and we treat our employees well and we are living those core values,"

Some of those values involve giving back to others. The company has nine employee resource groups that serve as opportunities for workers to support one another and the broader community. Those resource groups include: the Military Network; the Network for Empowering Women; the Progressive African American Network; and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Plus support group.

The Military Network is part of the company's Keys to Progress program, which has donated more than 800 certified used cars to military families across the country since 2013.

Kyle Grimshaw, who is U.S. Army veteran, said he appreciates that the company welcomed him back as an employee after his two-year service commitment. He is a coach and mentor who works with newer claims adjusters at the company.

"We treat people the way they want to be treated," he said. "We follow the golden rule and we value integrity very highly.

"Progressive's culture is very inclusive. Everyone here cares about each other."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Progressive's leaders 'want to invest in you,' Austin team members say