SBJ unveils 2009 Choice Employers

Springfield Business Journal announced its 2009 Choice Employers during a breakfast event Friday morning at DoubleTree Hotel in Springfield.

Honorees were divided into four categories based on the number of employees: 5 to 24 employees, 25 to 100 employees, 101 to 300 employees, and 301+ employees. The companies were rated based on incentives, family-friendly atmosphere, people development and corporate culture. Missouri State University's College of Business Administration verified the results.

The top companies in their respective categories:

GeoEngineers Inc. took top honors in the 5-to-24-employee category. The company was cited for the fact that it pays 100 percent of employee insurance premiums and offers bonuses from company profits. Also honored in the group were Sapp Design PC, GHN Architects, Jack Ball Architects and Dunton & Associates.

In the 25-to-100-employee category, the No. 1 spot went to Kirkpatrick, Phillips & Miller CPAs PC. The company's scheduling flexibility and internal advancement opportunities were part of what earned it the top spot. Additional honorees in that category were American Dehydrated Foods/International Dehydrated Foods, Ollis and Co., Arvest Bank and Environmental Works.

UnitedHealthcare was tops among the 101-to-300-employee group, based in part on benefits such as flexible scheduling and reimbursements for dependent care.

"We're a service business," said Site Director Doug Stewart, "and we all understand and appreciate that it's our people that make us what we are."

Also honored were Commerce Bank, BKD LLP, The Track and Turblex Inc.

In the largest category, for companies with 301 or more employees, the top spot went to T-Mobile USA Inc. The company, according to General Manager Mark Conrad, espouses a "best place to work, best place to perform" philosophy.

"Our 800 employees here make T-Mobile what it is," Conrad said. "It is truly about our employees, and that's why this honor goes to them."

Also honored in the large-company category were St. John's Health System, ANPAC, CoxHealth and Wyndham Resorts.