Nos. 6–10 & Honorable Mentions, five–24 employees

Dr. George Graham is the only male employee in his six-person dental office. To that end, he offers working hours that provide family time for his employees.

“Our hours are seven to two, and a lot of our employees are moms, so that allows them a lot of time with their families,” said Business Administrator Robbin Graham, George Graham’s wife. “That makes it easier for moms to be moms.”

The flexibility continues to the days worked – the office works for three weeks and then is closed for a week each month, as opposed to most dental offices that work four days a week every week.

The company offers other attractive benefits as well. Medical, dental and long-term disability insurance premiums are fully paid by the company, and up to $1,500 is spent per employee annually on training.

No. 7: Custom Manufacturing & Polishing Inc.

Custom Manufacturing & Polishing Inc., 2958 E. Division, Ste. B, in Springfield, scored high in family friendliness, offering flex time and six-weeks of fully paid maternity leave. Nearly 20 percent of employees take advantage of the flex time.

The stainless steel and exotic alloy materials company’s appeal in people development and corporate culture is evident in the facts that more than 90 percent of managers were promoted from within and retention rates are high – less than 5 percent of employees left the company on their own initiative in 2005.

“CMPI is a Best Place to Work because we have the best people working together as a team,” said Kathy Garton, controller. “Every person is valued and respected for their expertise.”

No. 8: The Team Inc.

The Team Inc., 5250 N. Towne Centre Drive in Ozark, pays 100 percent of its employee’s health insurance premiums. That offering played a major role in the company’s high score for the incentives it offers its 12 employees. The advertising company also takes care of its employees financially, giving average bonuses that often exceed $1,000. President Jeff Johnson says the company’s distinction as a Best Places to Work is due to its ability to not take itself too seriously.

“So many companies today try to overblow their accomplishments, experience, specialties and importance,” he said. “If you spend time trying to pat yourself on the back, you’re going to either throw out your shoulder or not have (your hand) out to meet someone new or shake someone else’s hand that is doing a great job for you.”

No. 9: Sign Designs

At Sign Designs, 1108 W. Fourth St. in Joplin, company growth comes from within. More than 90 percent of the firm’s managers were promoted to their positions. It stands to reason that people development was its best category. Sign Designs offers a tuition reimbursement program for any continuing education, an employee-mentoring program and spends between $501 and $1,500 on training per employee. The result: a team concept.

“My employers have created a team environment in which they participate on every level, qualifying them as people I work with as well,” said Kris Zerbonia, a designer in the production department. “No job is too small, and they lead by example.”

No. 10: Bn'T Loan LLC

Bn’T Loan LLC offers flexibility to its employees. That flexibility shows employees that the company thinks of them as family.

“We’re a small family-owned business, and most of the people that work for us are friends and people that we care a lot about, so we’re very flexible with regard to flex time, time off, hours that they work,” said owner Jeffrey Baker.

Employees also have the opportunity to take advantage of tuition reimbursement for work-related continuing education, as well as more than 10 vacation days and five personal days annually for starting employees.

Honorable Mentions

Choice Marketing

Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield

Elite Promotions