It’s that time of year in West Michigan for our standout companies to shine bright! On Tuesday, May 12, 2020, the Best & Brightest Companies to Work For® program celebrated regional award-winning companies for best practices  during its annual ceremony. Traditionally held during a luncheon, the event went virtual this year. The program was moderated by Jennifer Kluge, President and CEO of the National Association for Business Resources and owner and publisher of Corp! Magazine, while winners were announced live by Steve Kelly of NewsRadio WOOD 1300 & 106.9 FM.

The Best and Brightest Companies To Work For® awards competition provides the business community with the opportunity to gain recognition, showcase best practices, and demonstrate why each applicant would be an ideal place for employees to work. After being nominated, a company responds to an employer survey and its employees are polled confidentially. The process is designed and audited by the Illinois Institute of Technology’s market research division and surveys are scored by Inquisium, a market research firm out of Virginia. The criteria is determined annually based on market conditions and trends and applied throughout the country. Along with West Michigan, winners are honored regionally in the Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Metro Detroit, Houston, Milwaukee, and San Francisco markets before moving on for consideration at the national level.

By participating in the program, companies realize an exponential increase on their return on investment through profiling reports, continuing education, and essential tools. Along with being named to the list, elite winners are named for each scoring category, meaning they achieved the highest score possible in of their peer group, as well as overall winners in the small, medium, and large business categories.

This year’s elite winners are:

• Best of the Best Large Business—Greenleaf Hospitality Group
• Best of the Best Medium Business—Andy J. Egan Company
• Best of the Best Small Business—Southwest Michigan First
• Communication and Shared Vision—Mill Steel Company
• Community Initiatives—EV Construction
• Compensation, Benefits, and Employee Solutions—Consumers Credit Union
• Diversity and Inclusion—The Wiser Financial Group
• Employment Achievement and Recognition—Greenleaf Trust
• Employee Education and Development— Humanex Ventures
• Employment Enrichment, Engagement, and Retention— Buist Electric
• Recruitment, Selection, and Orientation—Express Employment Professionals
• Strategic Company Performance—Seaman’s Mechanical
• Work-Life Balance—Epitec

While the complete list of West Michigan winners can be found here, those whose names you might recognize for their locations throughout Southwest Michigan are: