Best Places to Work

Transcription

Best Places to Work

Best Places to Work
IN CONNECTICUT 2013
SEE WHY THESE CompaniES RoCk!
American Eagle Federal Credit Union • Bearingstar Insurance • Bingham McCutchen LLP • Burns & McDonnell
CIL• Citrin Cooperman and Company, LLP • COCC • Consigli Construction Co., Inc. • Digitas
Edward Jones • Fiduciary Investment Advisors • Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP • ICON International, Inc.
Keiler • Kforce Inc. • Mountainside Treatment Center • OFI • Primacy (Formerly Acsys Interactive)
Prometheus Research LLC • Pullman & Comley, LLC • QUALIDIGM • Quinnipiac University
Resources Global Professionals • Stew Leonard’s • Tauck, Inc. • The Litchfield Insurance Group, Inc.
Travel Insured International • Turnpike Motors AutoBody • VLink Inc. • Z-Medica LLC
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Best Places to Work in CT for 2013.
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BPTW-2 Hartford Business Journal • March 25, 2013
www.HartfordBusiness.com
Introduction
Best Places To Work In CT 2013
These companies
know how to rock n’ roll
W
elcome to the 2013 edition of Best Places to Work in Connecticut.
The companies highlighted in this special section represent some
of the best and brightest across the state. Of course, they are successful at
their core business, but they often go well beyond the bottom line in order
to create unique work environments thats are welcoming to their employees
and their families.
The description of the rigorous selection process below details the selection system which measures a wide array of company-sponsored benefits
and takes the pulse of employees with an in-depth and detailed survey.
The featured companies represent nearly every industry, including healthcare, information technology, medicine, law, advertising, finance, automotive, construction, manufacturing, and staffing.
In addition to working hard, the companies profiled on these pages also
show that there is a time for celebration, relaxation, reflection, community
service and healthy competition.
Congratulations to all of the 2013 Best Places to Work in Connecticut
honorees.
We hope you enjoy this eighth iteration of the Best Places to Work in Connecticut section.
Watch our website — www.HartfordBusiness.com — for details on how to
participate. We look forward to seeing you in this section next year!
Ranked #1
Large Company
Category
page
4
Ranked #1
Small /Medium
Company Category
page
5
The List:
Large Company Category
page
16
The List:
Small / Medium Company Category
page
17
– John A. Lahtinen
Special Project Editor
How the ranking process works:
Now in its eighth year, the Best Places to Work in Connecticut program was
created by the Hartford Business Journal and Best Companies Group to identify
and recognize best places to work in the state of Connecticut. The program is
managed by Best Companies Group, a third-party research firm that manages
similar “Best” programs all over the United States and in Canada.
The Best Places to Work in Connecticut program was open to all publicly or
privately held organizations, either for-profit or not-for-profit. To be eligible for
consideration, companies must have had a total of 15 or more employees working
in the state of Connecticut. Companies with headquarters in another state, but
with 15 or more employees working in Connecticut, were also eligible. Participation in this program required organizations to go through a workplace assessment process, which included surveying their employees, as well as taking an
inventory of the company benefits, policies and offerings. The information was
processed and analyzed by Best Companies Group and then used to determine
the Best Places to Work in Connecticut.
All participating companies went through a two-part workplace assessment process. Part one of the assessment (worth 25 percent of the evaluation)
consisted of a employer benefits and policies questionnaire about benefits,
policies, practices and other general information. Part two of the assessment
(75 percent of the evaluation) consisted of a 72-question, confidential employee engagement and satisfaction survey. This comprehensive, two-part assessment allowed the workplace experts at Best Companies Group to perform an
in-depth analysis of each company’s strengths and weaknesses and ultimately
determine which companies deserved to make the list. Susan Springer, Best
Companies Group Director of Workplace Assessments, managed the overall
analysis process.
Companies also received the in-depth employee feedback report, which
showed the percent of positive responses for each of the 72 questions, along with
the percent of positive responses within seven demographic categories (gender,
age, ethnicity, duration of employment, full- or part-time status, job role and
department). Companies also received state benchmarking reports in which they
could compare themselves against list-making companies and all participating
companies.
More information about Best Companies Group is available at www.BestCompaniesGroup.com. Information on the Best Places to Work in Connecticut
program can be found at www.bestplacestoworkinct.com.
This special edition produced by:
Hartford Business Journal (ISSN 1083-5245) is
published weekly, 53 x per year including three special
issues — one in September, one in November and one
in December — by New England Business Media LLC,
15 Lewis Street, Suite 200, Hartford CT 06103.
Periodicals postage paid at Hartford, CT.
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March 25, 2013 • Hartford Business Journal BPTW-3
Ranked #1 Large Company Category
Consigli enjoys long history of market success
By John A. Lahtinen
Special to the Hartford Business Journal
S
ince its founding in 1905 as a masonry
contractor, family-owned Consigli
Construction has become a leading
construction manager and general contractor with clients and offices across New England and New York.
Michael Walker has been a project executive at Consigli for 14 years, the past four as
Connecticut area manager in the company’s
Hartford office.
Walker says there’s no such thing as a “typical” day at the office. On any day of the week,
he can find himself at the office working on
budgets, proposals, approving contracts and
creating estimates, or be out of the office at
client meetings or at job sites.
For Walker, working with the diversity of
people he comes into contact with everyday
— employees, clients, architects and subcontractors at all levels of experience and
of all ages — is the most interesting aspect
of his job.
“I may be working with someone young
enough to be one of my
children or a seasoned
contemporary,” Walker
says. “I enjoy helping others to build or restore
buildings and although
I am not the one who’s
actually doing the construction, I enjoy being
involved in the process
which results in an end
product that will stand
the test of time.”
According to Walker,
the company’s mission –
“Consigli will be the most
desired contractor to
work with and for” – not
only defines the commitment to providing worldclass treatment for the company’s employees
and clients, it also underscores Consigli’s
focus on building a culture based on accountability and creating fans both within and outside of the company.
“We are a hard-working group of individuals who possess different talents, and while
we are competitive, we’re also conscious of
the fact that we’re a part of a team,” Walker
says. “Our management style does expect our
employees to go above and beyond at work,
but we realize that maintaining balance is
critical to success and encourage and support employees’ focus on their personal lives,
including family, health and fitness, and giving back to the community.”
Consigli, headquartered in Milford, Mass.,
with offices in Hartford, Williamstown,
Mass., and Portland, Maine, has more than
650 employees with 20 in the Hartford office.
The company generated nearly $650 million
in global revenue in 2012.
The company takes an active role in
engaging its staff and keeping them energized
about their work.
Consigli holds an annual off-site retreat
for all employees to discuss measurements
and metrics from the previous year. Employees are asked to provide feedback on what
Above: Members of the Consigli team reviewing some blueprints. Left: Members of the Consigli team
enjoy a Peer Group Outing at Catamount Aerial Park last fall. Below: Enjoying some down time at a
local restaurant.
could be done differently to better serve clients. Awards are given to honor employee
achievements and the projects that represent
the very best of what Consigli has built during the year.
In addition, the company frequently posts
intranet articles that highlight employee promotions, performance, achievements, life
events and new hires.
The Hartford office holds “Cocktails with
Consigli,” seasonal networking events for
employees, clients, architects and engineers.
The events serve to continue developing relationships within the organization and with
the company’s business partners.
“Our commitment to staff is long-term,”
Walker says. “We offer extensive in-house
training, mentoring and an inclusive, teamoriented environment. The people at Consigli care passionately about the quality of the
work that is done; meeting and exceeding
client expectations; and they are genuinely
there for each other.”
Melissa Roy, who manages Consigli’s business development efforts in Connecticut and
Western Massachusetts, certainly echoes
those sentiments.
“Every time you walk through the door to
one of our offices, you can feel the passion
for building in the air – building structures,
building relationships, building careers,
building a legacy,” Roy said.
“The spirit of teamwork, the universal
commitment to quality work, the ingenuity,
and integrity that permeates each and every
jobsite and in each of our offices makes going
to work exciting.”
As a manager, Walker must of course deal
with any problems that arise, but he says
when things are going well, it is rewarding
to see Consigli’s work result in buildings that
last and create a legacy.
“We restore and bring back to life historic
places for generations to come and create
new spaces where people live and work,” he
said. “It’s very satisfying to be part of a team
that makes such an imprint on our society.
And it’s great to be working with people who
feel the same way.”
●
▶▶ ‘The people at Consigli
care passionately
about the quality of
the work that is done.’
– Michael Walker, Connecticut area manager,
Consigli
Ranked #1 Small/Medium Company Category
Qualidigm dedicated to clients, employees
By Karen Sackowitz
T
ake a look at the calendar of events on
the Qualidigm website and you will get
an idea of just how active a company
can be when it believes in the message it’s
promoting. Focused on a mission to advance
the safety and cost-effectiveness of health
care for companies and organizations, this
Rocky Hill-based research and consulting
firm provides education and resources for
provider network members in the public
and private sector, offering services in data
analysis, health information technology,
patient safety, quality improvement, and utilization review. The company services clients
throughout the country and has seen corporate growth at a time some might consider
economically unlikely.
“When I first came here, I was impressed
that there were such opportunities for growth
at a time when most companies were cutting
corners or downsizing,” says Nickie Fazzi,
who joined the staff in January 2012 as the
company’s event planner. “We just built up
the communications team in the last year.”
In her position, Fazzi handles logistics
and marketing for all Qualidigm events,
which include educational forums, webinars, and other outreach
efforts. Many of the programs are designed to
help medical practitioners wade through the
intricacies of Medicare
and Medicaid. Fazzi
says her ability to interact directly with forum
attendees gives her a
unique perspective on
the impact her company
can have and strengthens her belief in Qualidigm as a tremendous
place to work.
“I like providing
people with the information they are so eager to
obtain, and to see how
much they are looking forward to taking it
back with them to share at work or with their
patients,” she says. “Time and time again I
hear people comment on how beneficial our
program is. They tell me how much they love
it, and that they can’t wait for the next one.”
Satisfaction in the work they are doing is a
big motivator for Qualidigm employees, who
look out for each other and put forth their
best efforts regardless of job title or status.
“It’s a great culture here. The CEO is very
approachable, it’s very open door, and nothing is tier-based,” Fazzi says. “There is always
work to be done, which makes it challenging,
but it’s also rewarding. We have a lot of fun.”
Qualidigm also makes an effort to stay
actively involved in community work.
Recent initiatives have included the collection of suits for military veterans reentering
the workforce and “adopting” area families
at Christmas time by providing all of their
gifts. The company also sponsors a variety of
campaigns and events in an effort to further
promote good health, such as the Go Red for
(Above) Qualidigm’s “Team Treasured Chests” participated in the American Cancer Society Making
Strides Against Breast Cancer walk. (Below right) Qualidigm executives flaunt their food serving skills to
show their appreciation to employees at the company’s annual employee appreciation day. (Below left)
Qualidigm’s “Fall Fiesta” featured a catered lunch from Moe’s Southwest Grill.
Women event in February, for which it produced a video series for hospitals focused
on cardiac issues. Employees also jump into
cause-related events with both feet – often
literally. A Qualidigm team participating in
the Hartford Making Strides Against Breast
Cancer Walk last October raised $1000 for the
American Cancer Society.
According to Fazzi, Qualidigm staffers
demonstrate an enthusiasm in and out of the
office that is not often found in a business
setting.
“Even though we have 50 employees, it’s
a family environment,” she says. “The atmosphere and camaraderie is phenomenal.”
In addition to creating a positive work
environment, Fazzi says that collective dedication is what makes the company’s business
model successful as well.
“Everyone wants to be here; everyone
wants to do good work,” she says. “If something comes up that requires extra hours, no
one bats an eye. We all want to keep the mission going.” ●
▶▶ ‘Everyone wants to be here;
everyone wants to do good work.’
– Nickie Fazzi, event planner, Qualidigm
Support, flexibility keys to RGP success
By Karen Sackowitz
W
hen a consultant position opens at
Resources Global Professionals,
there is no shortage of candidates
knocking at the door.
“We usually get about a hundred resumes,
interview 10 people, and hire one or two,”
says Mark Mangino, managing director of the
firm’s Stamford office. “There is a vetting process to find the right people; those who understand our culture and our business model.”
Work flexibility, professional development, and long standing client relationships
are just some of the benefits afforded an RGP
consultant. The flipside, of course, is that
they only get paid when they work, and as
such are accountable for their own success.
It’s a trade off that Mangino says works well.
“We are not commission based, but we are
very, very entrepreneurial,” he says. “If you
prove yourself, we will work with whatever
makes you more productive, because in the
end that makes everyone more successful.”
RGP helps companies grow by sharing
expertise in the areas of finance and accounting, information management, internal audit,
legal and supply chain. With offices around
the world, they serve clients in 66 countries.
In Connecticut, 85 consultants, managers,
and support personnel operate out of offices
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in Stamford and Hartford. Consultants, seasoned professionals who are often brought in
as referrals from other consultants, have the
ability to accept or decline suggested projects.
“We offer ‘work choice’,” Mangino says.
“Nothing is dictated. They can turn down
projects for their own reasons and not have
it held against them.”
When a consultant does move forward
on a project, they can rest assured that the
next one is already in the works, thanks to
the dedication of the office staff.
“They have an entire team working behind
them, going after new business,” says Marcia
Formica, senior director of client services
for the company’s Hartford office. “We will
deploy the whole team to keep consultants
where they want to be.”
Those efforts can sometimes be enlisted for
personal reasons, Mangino adds, thanks to the
close-knit atmosphere of the Stamford office.
“If we see a consultant rolling off a project, and we know he or she has two kids in
college, we’ll spend the time to make sure we
get clients for them.”
The personal attention found at RGP is
seen in times of need as well. In the days following Hurricane Sandy, the company chose
to compensate consultants whose pending
projects were unable to reach completion.
They also donated office space to clients
and consultant teams who lost theirs in the
Members of the Resources Global Professionals team showing off some book donations at a 2012 teambuilding event.
storm, and pooled funds to help those personally impacted at home.
In terms of professional development,
RGP offers a robust in-house academy for
continuing education, in which courses
offered are most often dictated by consultant
and client needs. “If there is a demand for a
certain skill set, we will do the research and
add it to the academy, which operates at zero
cost to the employee,” Mangino says.
“I have never seen anything like it,” adds
Formica. “They can quickly structure training curriculum for clients, client service
teams, and consultants. The academy has
mobilized in amazing ways.”
RGP exemplifies the notion that employees who are given the freedom and flexibility
to create their own work flow, the opportunity to learn and expand, and the support
of an equally dedicated business staff will
bring success to the bottom line... and enjoy
doing it.
“Before RGP, I was with a company where I
got to work at 7 a.m. and was out at work functions at least three nights a week,” Mangino
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VLink stresses work-life balance
By Kathryn M. Roy
V
Link, a provider of IT consulting and
systems integration services, is faced
with an ongoing challenge: with dozens of employees and independent contractors spread all over the country, how does
the South Windsor-based company create a
positive work environment and bring employees together? With just 17 employees based
in South Windsor and the remainder of the
100-plus employees in other locations, VLink
makes it a priority to value employees and
their contributions through recognition, benefits and special perks.
The company has three different business
lines, plus a contingency search division for IT.
Michael Mueller, senior vice president of
sales and operations, said VLink plans to
open up an office in Boston in 2013, where
VLink has done work virtually, and possibly
expand into New York City and/or Washington D.C. in the fourth quarter of 2013 or the
first quarter of 2014.
“Many of the folks that we hire are through
referral from others that work for us, which
is probably the best compliment we can get
from our internal employees,” he said. “The
reason people come and stay is really the way
we engage and treat our employee population. It’s challenging to do that because we’re
all over the country.”
Mueller said in order to keep far-flung
employees interested and engaged VLink has
instituted several initiatives to keep employee communication consistent. Such initiatives include regular employee surveys, gift
cards for birthdays and training programs.
“Right now I’m looking into enhancing our
programs to a new online training program,”
Mueller said. “I need to not only think locally,
but nationally, and how I’m going to engage
those folks.”
Mueller said flexible work schedules serve
to keep employee motivation high.
“I think most people here work from home
one day a week,” he said. “It breaks up the
monotony. Work-life balance is really important here, and we don’t just talk about it – we
really do it.”
VLink’s paid time off and sick leave policies
are competitive, with three weeks of vacation
to start. And while many companies are reducing benefits or raising health care premium
costs for employees, VLink has held the line.
“This year, we were able to increase
some of our health care offerings,” Mueller
said. “We’re offering two programs through
Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and the new
program offers even more benefits.”
Life insurance offerings have also
increased and Mueller said it’s all about keeping employees happy.
VLink employees getting ready to head off to a company lunch.
“We’ve actually increased our benefit coverage,” he said. “Why? We have to retain our
employment levels. IT unemployment levels
are at less than two percent right now.”
Despite the fact that employees are spread
throughout the country, VLink makes an
effort to bring everyone together regularly.
There are quarterly get-togethers to allow
people to see each other face-to-face, often
when they have only ever spoken to each
other by phone. The most recent event, a
New Year’s celebration held in January, was
attended by about 100 people.
“It was an opportunity for us to not only
meet each other, but also to meet families,
because we invited spouses and we invited
children as well,” Mueller said. “It was a
complete family get-together, because we
really try to treat people as a VLink family.”
Ajay Sharma, senior director of delivery
services at VLink, said the commitment to
work-life balance is a great perk.
“I live eight minutes from the office, but if
there is snow or the kids’ schools are closed,
we don’t have to work in the office,” he said.
“If you cannot come in, you just need to stay
in touch.”
Sharma said he feels valued.
“Management is so approachable; they’re
so transparent,” Sharma said. “It feels like a
family; we call this another family.”
Sharma said he and other employees feel
supported, and contributions are recognized
appropriately.
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Digitas gives back to the community
By Kathryn M. Roy
A
t digitally-led, integrated brand advertising agency Digitas, they don’t just
talk the talk, they walk the walk. Community service is a major part of the work
culture at the 40-employee Stamford office,
allowing staff to give back while at the same
time, giving their all on the job.
“Digitas has a long-standing tradition of
community service,” said Alexis Bates, a
media planner in the Stamford office. “We
host an annual community service day,
where the office is closed down for the entire
day. We try to encourage all employees to
leave work for the day and spend the entire
day giving back.”
Employees have participated in neighborhood beautification programs, volunteered at
the Boys & Girls Club and helped out at a local
soup kitchen.
In an effort to expand upon the company’s
annual community service day, Digitas started the “Hearts in Action” program.
“Now we have weekly or monthly community service projects,” Bates said. “In the
six months since we kicked it off, we’ve done
about 10 projects already. Putting our hearts
into action isn’t just a day of giving; it’s a way
of living.”
When employees aren’t out in the
community volunteering, they’re working
hard to improve the work they produce. The
Digitas Mentor Program fosters learning and
development, and encourages the sharing of
experiences between junior-level and seniorlevel employees.
Digitas is committed to professional
development and has a learning and development department dedicated to that task.
The topics are all-encompassing, working
to strengthen software, communication and
management skills.
Outside of work, Digitas supports
employees looking to further their education
through undergraduate or graduate school
classes by way of a tuition reimbursement
program. Employees are also reimbursed for
externally-based training, seminar and conference attendance.
Paul Dalton, senior vice president of
media in the Stamford office, said he has been
on the job for 13 months and is well ingrained
in the positive culture.
“I talked to people about what it was about
the company that kept them here so long and
each person said it’s truly an amazing culture
(focusing on) attracting the best people and
retaining the best people,” Dalton said.
Dalton said he hit the ground running
when he was hired.
“I was immediately given a large project to
handle,” he said. “When you come into a large
Digitas employees participate in a recent Stamford Community Service Day.
organization, you have this fear that the work
can take over your life. (I was happy with)
the time they took to enable me to take on a
considerable amount of work and provided
me with clear direction as I transitioned into
the role, and recognized (my) hard work.”
Dalton said employees with a passion for
something, such as community service, are
supported in their outside interests.
“That gives people a sense of balance,”
he said. “I’m a big fan of community service
because it brings all of the employees out of
the office. I think that builds a huge sense of
camaraderie within the team.”
Digitas also has environmentally friendly
initiatives in place, such as the reduced use
of disposable cups. The office has provided
all employees with Digitas mugs and reusable
plastic cups.
Dalton said employees enjoy coming to
work each day simply because they feel supported and valued.
“We have a phenomenal focus on encouraging people to share ideas on a daily basis.” ●
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An idea from
For Z-Medica, it’s all about saving lives
By John A. Lahtinen
Z
-Medica – founded in 2002 by Frank
Hursey, a veteran of the Apollo Project Breathing Air Team – is a medical
device company that develops fast acting,
easy to use hemostasis products that stop
bleeding wherever it occurs, making it possible to both save lives and improve patient
outcomes.
The Wallingford company, with 50
employees in Connecticut, manufactures and
markets a portfolio of QuikClot hemostasis
products for use by healthcare professionals,
first responders, law enforcement officers,
consumers and the military.
In 2007, the company launched its third
generation QuikClot product based on Kaolin,
a naturally occurring inert mineral that accelerates natural coagulation resulting in more
rapid blood clotting, particularly beneficial on
the battlefield. In fact, QuikClot Combat Gauze
is the only hemostatic dressing recommended
by the Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care for the Department of Defense and
for use by all U.S. military forces as the first line
treatment of traumatic bleeding.
“Z-Medica is an exciting and growing company, facing many challenges and opportunities,” said David Dean, chief operating
and financial officer. “We have a strong and
dedicated team that is committed to quality
and addressing bleeding needs of all kinds.
We produce a product we are all very proud
of; Z-Medica products serve many needs but
probably none more rewarding than saving
lives.”
While Dean spends much of his day
addressing sales opportunities, evaluating
new strategic opportunities, communicating with distributors and suppliers, pursuing production and operating efficiencies,
and addressing financial and administrative
demands and needs, he gets the most enjoyment hearing the testimonials about the lives
Z-Medica helps save.
“Our product is the only hemostatic
device specifically endorsed by the U.S. military,” Dean said. “This honor is a testimonial
in and of itself as to the strong belief in our
products’ ability to stop bleeding fast as
bleed-outs are the major cause of death for
our troops involved in conflict.”
While Z-Medica is enjoying success, it
is not immune to the global economic challenges many companies face. But, due to the
company’s small size and a business strategy
that addresses challenges, Dean says Z-Medica is able to adjust quickly to a changing
business landscape.
“Competition makes our lives challenging,
but also exciting and interesting,” Dean said.
“We don’t back down from challenges.”
Members of Z-Medica’s hard-working manufacturing team.
Company social events, both big (holiday
parties) and small (hot dog vendor truck visits for lunch on occasion) serve to engage
Z-Medica employees and aid in the teambuilding process.
“We have found that even the smallest or
most incidental event/investment can have
huge paybacks in terms of commitment and
furthering the environment that shows we
care about our employees,” Dean said.
Tracy Mingione, manager of marketing
events and services, echoes those sentiments.
“The people that work at Z-Medica are
highly educated, willing to teach, approachable, and most of all eager to succeed,” Mingione said. “Working with these types of
people makes for a great way to learn and
have continued growth both personally and
professionally. Z-Medica is a place where I am
certain anyone would enjoy working.”
●
Bearingstar Insurance is proud to be
one of Hartford Business Journal’s
Best Places to Work in Connecticut,
for the third year in a row.
W W W. B E A R I N G S TA R . C O M
Meet the Winners
#4 Tauck
#6 Citrin Cooperman
This Norwalk-based travel agency may be in the hands of a fourth generation of Taucks, but
all employees are included in the family. During Hurricane Sandy’s widespread power outages,
staffers were offered three hot meals a day for themselves and their own families. Outside of
company walls, Tauck holds community involvement days at locations like the Beardsley Zoo,
Ellis Island, and Boston’s Old North Church. Tauck vacationers help too, working on preservation-focused projects in places like the Grand Tetons. In the words of one employee, “We
are privileged to work here and help people enjoy truly memorable experiences in their lives.”
Staff from Citrin Cooperman’s Connecticut office participate in a day of service helping the Feed the
Children charity.
Employees enjoy some down time at a recent Tauck party.
#5 Edward Jones
Edward Jones has nearly 60 branches in Connecticut and is always looking to open more
with the help of talented hires. The firm is well known for transforming recruits with little to
no financial background into successful financial advisors with the opportunity to work up
to partnership level. Flexible hours and a choice of local offices — or remote work — allow
for work-life balance, while a robust training program matches established advisors with new
recruits to offer mentoring and field training. The company’s success is everyone’s success: a
good year can yield bonuses three times a year and annual profit sharing.
Mark Fagan, managing partner of this New York-based CPA firm’s Norwalk office, says
giving employees a voice is priority number one. Open meetings, input solicitation, and transparency across the board encourage communication, while opportunities to take part in
planned and spontaneous cause-related activities enhance spirit. Accountant Sally Maybruch,
a 28-year employee, has used the company’s mentoring program to elevate her career, while
receiving all the support she needed to raise three children as a working mom. One rarity? A
paid sabbatical program; use some of the time to write essays on suggestions for the company
and projections for your career, and the month is yours.
#7 COCC
COCC, a provider of industry-leading complete technology services to banks and credit
unions, is a mutual company offering a high level of customer service for its shareholders.
COCC works to empower clients by giving them a voice in determining their technology future,
insisting on open communication, sharing best practices and involvement in COCC’s strategic
initiatives.
COCC President and CEO Richard A. Leone said the company prides itself on its positive
environment.
“Being named one of Connecticut’s Best Places to Work demonstrates that we are growing the right way, with all our employees focused as one team to deliver the highest service
levels to our customers,” Leone said. “This award crowns the strongest decade in our 45-year
history and I couldn’t be more proud.”
New Edward Jones financial advisors and their spouses attend their first summer regional meeting –
where they are required to sing for all the other attendees.
The COCC Customer Service team shows off its team spirit at a recent team-building activity.
Meet the Winners
#8 Burns & McDonnell
#10 Bearingstar Insurance
The Burns & McDonnell New England office, located in Wallingford, is home to more than
170 employees specializes in program management, project controls, information technology,
electrical transmission and distribution, design-build, business consulting and nuclear plant
construction. Burns & McDonnell Senior Vice President Brett Williams said the company strives to have
a positive culture in the office.
“For the past four years, we’ve been honored to receive this prestigious recognition as a
top place to work in Connecticut,” said Williams. “Having happy and motivated employees
has enabled our company to thrive, and we recognize the importance of continuing to raise
the bar each year in order to recruit and maintain the very best talent.”
Burns & McDonnell offers on-site fitness and dining facilities and other employee
perks. Employees also enjoy regular company involvement in the community.
Bearingstar team members present a check to Mourning Parents ACT, a nonprofit organization seeking
to eliminate tragedies caused by inexperienced drivers through awareness, education and legislation.
Bearingstar Insurance, a member of the Arbella Insurance Group, specializes in risk identification and protection serving the needs of individuals, families and businesses with 11
locations across the state.
Bearingstar represents many industry carriers, including American Modern, Safeco,
Chubb Group, Progressive and Travelers.
Bearingstar is always finding ways to give back to the communities it serves with involvement in school, youth and sports programs such as the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic
Conference championships, educators’ night at the New Britain Rock Cats and the Connecticut Association of Schools annual volunteer recognition event.
Burns & McDonnell employee-owners (Team Courage) competed in the Pan-Mass Challenge, a 190-mile
bike ride in honor of Ethan, a local cancer survivor. The team raised more than $130,000.
#9 Kforce
Kforce is a professional staffing and solutions firm specializing in the areas of technology,
finance and accounting, and health information management for commercial and government
organizations. Founded in Florida in 1962, Kforce now provides staffing services and innovative solutions through more than 60 offices in the United States, and one in the Philippines.
Melanie McNeely, Kforce managing director for the Connecticut area, said the company is
honored to be recognized for its positive work environment.
“Kforce has a continued commitment to provide our employees with an exceptional workplace,” McNeely said. “This award truly recognizes our great people and demonstrates why
Kforce stands out as one of the top companies in the Connecticut area.”
Members of the Kforce Hartford Team participating in the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center 5k
Walk last summer.
#11 H inckley, Allen &
Snyder LLP
Hickley, Allen & Snyder, founded in 1906, provides legal counsel and industry knowledge
in several practice areas, including bankruptcy and insolvency, commercial and real estate
finance, venture capital, intellectual property, state and federal taxation, securities law, health
care law, construction law, corporate law, gaming law, municipal restructuring and real estate
law.
The New England law firm, with more than 140 attorneys, supports a multitude of charities
and focuses on three areas of giving, including pro-bono legal services, commitment of time
to community organizations, and charitable giving to community organizations. The firm is
based in Boston with offices in Hartford, Providence, Concord and Albany.
“We are honored to receive this recognition,” said Marc Crisafulli, managing partner of
Hinckley, Allen & Snyder. “Everything we do is aimed at creating positive outcomes for the
people and communities we serve. Hinckley Allen has a daily focus on providing workplace
excellence and enabling our employees to perform at their highest level.”
Hinckley, Allen & Snyder partners serve breakfast to employees during a Staff Appreciation Day.
Meet the Winners
#12 A merican Eagle
Federal Credit Union
#14 Bingham
McCutchen LLP
For the fourth-straight year, national law firm Bingham McCutchen appears on the best
places list.
The Hartford office, with more than 100 attorneys and staff, encourages the strengthening
of relationships with after-hours events and promotes professional development with in-house
legal training.
In addition to the thousands of hours Bingham McCutchen attorneys devote each year
in pro bono work, the firm’s Pro Bono Fellowship Program allows two associates to work
exclusively on pro bono projects for one year, while staying with the firm.
Lawyers and staff members also devote a great deal of time in an effort to improve the
quality of life of underserved children and families, focusing on four major areas – organizations that provide legal services for the poor, innovative after-school programs, primary and
secondary education, and arts and culture.
American Eagle’s 2012 Fall Festival-Texas Style. In addition to everyone dressing western style, guests
participated in Scarecrow Decorating, a Chili Cook off and Line Dancing contests.
The largest community credit union in Connecticut with more than 100,000 member-owners and $1.3 billion in assets, American Eagle Federal Credit Union was founded in 1935 and
now operates 17 branches in Central Connecticut.
The credit union has a long track record of community involvement in Hartford, Middlesex
and Tolland counties in the areas of education and youth, basic human needs, and community
development.
In addition, the Credit Union has established a Donor-Advised Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving that serves as its primary source of charitable giving and provides
opportunities for the Credit Union, its members, and strategic partners to give back to the
community.
#13 Stew Leonard’s
A mainstay on many best places to work lists for years, Stew Leonard’s has grown from a
small dairy store founded back in 1969 to a $400 million business juggernaut with four stores
— three of which are in Connecticut — employing nearly 1,500.
With a corporate culture centered upon S.T.E.W. — Satisfy the customer; Teamwork gets it
done; Excellence makes it better; WOW makes it fun — Stew Leonard’s cares for its employees
with a comprehensive benefit plan that includes on-site medical screenings, competitive pay
and profit sharing. In addition, the company provides full-time employees with a minimum
of 50 hours of training yearly.
Bingham participates in an annual firm-wide initiative that provides backpacks to homeless children residing in shelters. Hartford coordinators are, from left, Maria Mercaldi, Susan Peterson and Chris Gioscio.
#15 Quinnipiac University
Quinnipiac, a private, coeducational university with 6,200 undergraduate and 2,300 graduate students that is regularly ranked among the best universities in the country, was founded
as a small New Haven college back in 1929. The school transitioned to a university in 2000 and
is now comprised of eight schools and colleges and three campuses – Mount Carmel, York
Hill and North Haven.
Quinnipiac has a nearly $260-million annual impact on the state’s economy.
The university is a firm believer that service and civic engagement are crucial components
of education and social change; Quinnipiac students are involved in community service programs, volunteer work and fundraising that benefit the local community.
“I am so pleased that our employees recognize the specialness of this empowering environment, where every employee on each of our three campuses, no matter the role, strives and
contributes to Quinnipiac’s excellence in higher education,” said Ron Mason, Quinnipiac’s
vice president for human resources.
Everyone at Stew Leonard’s believes that happy team members make happy customers.
Part of the university’s wellness program, QU on the Move Walking Program Winners.
Meet the Winners
Small/Medium Company Category
#4 Litchfield Insurance
Group
#6 Pullman &
Comley LLC
The satisfaction and longevity of staffers at Pullman & Comley – one of whom recently
celebrated her 47th anniversary with the company – is a testament to the positive work environment promoted at this regional legal services firm. Within the community, employees can
be found supporting any number of charitable and public service endeavors, including the
annual March for Dimes Walk for Babies and the Hartford Arts Council’s United Arts Campaign. While in the office, Dress Down Fridays have morphed from a fun distraction to a successful fundraiser, raising thousands of dollars for local charities nominated by employees.
The firm has offices in Hartford, Bridgeport, Stamford, Waterbury and White Plains, N.Y.
Litchfield staffers participate in an Earth Day community cleanup.
The Litchfield Insurance Group has Connecticut roots which trace back to its beginning in
1917. Now with operations in 22 states and 25 foreign countries, Litchfield leaders still count
their employees as the company’s greatest asset. Among these are the 18 Torrington-based
staffers who focus on improving the wellness and safety of their clients while striving to live
the company’s driving philosophy of Safe@Work, Safe@Home. Despite being part of such a
large organization, employees enjoy the feel of a family business and the support it offers them.
In February, the firm’s employees wore red as part of the National Wear Red Day celebration to support
the fight against heart disease in women.
#7 Primacy
Primacy (formerly Acsys Interactive) is an award-winning, independent agency in Farmington known for creating digital experiences with impact. With work in the consumer, education, financial services, health and manufacturing industries, Primacy recently announced a
13th consecutive year of growth. Revenue has increased 24 percent, 18 new employees have
been added, and 12 new clients have come on board. Primacy strives to promote a healthy work/life balance for all employees by offering flexible working arrangements, a health and wellness program, a company-paid personal fitness
trainer, employee development courses and weekly employee-led beer and wine clubs. “I’m honored to receive this recognition for the second year in a row,” said Stan Valencis,
Primacy’s president. “We’re fortunate to have a great mix of people at Primacy who not only
work hard, but come together to create a unique and fun culture.”
CIL specializes in real estate development, construction and property management services for not-forprofit organizations.
#5 CIL
The cause is the draw for staffers at Hartford-based Corporation for Independent Living
(CIL), a not-for-profit organization specializing in real estate development, construction and
property management services for other not-for-profit entities, as well as affordable home
options. “It feels good to work for a company with such a wonderful mission,” says Fran
Mazzarella, housing developer and 25-year employee. “Everything we do here is focused on
helping others in our community. Our organization recognizes that, and in return provides a
supportive and collegial working environment.” CIL employee perks include flexible hours,
an in-house exercise facility, team-building exercises and an annual Block Island outing.
The team from Primacy sponsored the Xtreme Scramble 5K Series in Hartford.
Meet the Winners
#8 ICON International
ICON International is a specialized finance company engaged in corporate barter to help
companies restore value to underperforming assets and fund existing budgeted corporate
expenses. A subsidiary of Omnicom Group, Stamford-based ICON works with companies to
use corporate barter, trading assets for goods and services to allow companies to realize up
to 100 percent of the economic value of underperforming assets. ICON’s positive work culture includes outings, several company sports teams, an employee
interests and recognition focus on the intranet, and philanthropic support.
“At ICON, our greatest asset is our people,” said John Kramer, ICON’s CEO. “Together we
have built ICON into what it is today – over 27 percent of the company has been here for more
than 10 years.”
#10 F iduciary Investment
Advisors
The firm plays a very active role in Greater Hartford, sponsoring annual golf tournaments and supporting local charities.
Hungry competitors make ready to do battle in a pie-eating contest.
Windsor-based Fiduciary Investment Advisors — with assets under advisement totaling more than $23 billion — is an independent, employee-owned investment consulting firm
founded in 2006 that specializes in working with fiduciary clients including retirement plan
sponsors, nonprofit organizations and wealthy families.
Through its Community Service Committee, the firm plays an active role in Greater Hartford. In addition to sponsoring annual golf tournaments and supporting local charities, the
company selects a nonprofit organization to focus on each quarter. Past beneficiaries have
included The Kacey Rose Foundation, The First Tee of CT, Hands On Hartford and The Bridge
Family Center.
The firm has raised more than $100,000 for Connecticut Children’s Medical Center through
its participation in the Hartford Marathon.
#9 Prometheus Research #11 T urnpike Motors
Prometheus Research offers integrated data management services, consulting and software customization. The New Haven firm’s work supports some of the largest and most ambitious behavioral research studies in the world, and they directly or indirectly manage more
autism-related data than anyone else in the U.S.
“We’re nerds who can talk to people,” said CEO Dr. Leon Rozenblit. “We’re at the forefront
of an emerging industry, in which technical brilliance must be matched with impeccable client service to be successful.”
Prometheus’ positive work culture features conference rooms named after Monty Python
skits, a kitchen stocked with free snacks, and team building outings such as “whirleyball,”
skeeball and trivia games. Autobody
For more than 40 years, Turnpike Motors in Newington has been repairing just about
every type of automobile on the road as well as motor homes, tri-axle trucks, school buses,
even fire engines.
But, the Turnpike team is involved in so much more than just fixing cars. The company is
adamant about giving back to the communities it serves through donations and sponsored events.
“I think this is a great honor and testament to the satisfaction the employees get from working together at Turnpike Motors,” said Doug Fernandez, Turnpike president. “It speaks to their
relationships and at the core their ability to communicate and solve problems together. I am
proud of them and grateful for the culture they have created.” Prometheus donates $1,000 to Roses for Autism to support a meaningful employment model for individuals on the autism spectrum and locally owned small business.
Turnpike Motors team members compete in a dragon boat race.
Meet the Winners
#12 M
ountainside
Treatment Center
#14 Travel Insured
International
Mountainside Treatment Center, a drug rehab and alcoholism rehabilitation facility located
on 60 acres in Canaan, boasts what they call “an ideal location for individuals to heal in mind,
body and spirit and to become empowered.”
Mountainside’s services include intermediate to long-term treatment, a family wellness
program, continuing care/after care and intervention.
“It’s a great feeling to have confirmed what management set out to accomplish 14 years
ago; create a place that makes a difference in our client’s lives while employing people with
passion for that mission who love to come to work each day,” said Matthew Eakin, senior vice
president, marketing and admissions.
“If our team is not excited or feeling validated about what they do, that can hinder our ability to create positive change and give hope to our clients. I am so proud about the response
from our staff.”
Travel Insured employees enjoying time at a holiday party.
The team from Mountainside offers many services, including intermediate to long-term treatment, a
family wellness program, continuing care/after care and intervention.
#13 K eiler
East Hartford-based Travel Insured International is one of the largest privately held travel
protection companies in the country and the preferred supplier to more than 5,000 travel
agents, travel consortiums and wholesalers in the United States and abroad.
Peter Gehris, who founded the company nearly 20 years ago, said he is proud that Travel
Insured has remained family-owned and deeply committed to providing dependable coverage,
value and satisfaction to its customers.
The company is active in several charities, including the American Liver Foundation, the
Arthritis Foundation, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
#15 OFI
Since its founding in 1973, Farmington’s Keiler has delivered communications and marketing services to nearly 300 companies for an average of more than six years each. Its motto is
“aptitude without attitude.”
Keiler provides advertising, branding, design, public relations, interactive, strategic services and media services to a host of clients, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford,
Deloitte, Lockheed Martin Corp., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun.
Managing Partners Bill Smith and Lynn Taylor oversee a team of 50 employees.
The OFI team at the company’s annual End of Summer picnic.
Founded in 1968, OFI in Newington has been providing interior environments for years,
assisting owners and the architecture and design market by offering a full range of professional services, including: design support, project coordination, installation, refurbishing
and repair.
Specializing in serving clients in the education, healthcare, corporate, and government
arenas, OFI prides itself on working in partnership with its clients to establish strong, longterm relationships.
OFI’s signature line, Herman Miller, is a global leader in sustainable office products. A fitting relationship as OFI promotes a “green friendly” office.
Keiler staffers enjoy a WNBA Connecticut Sun game.
The List
The best places to work in Connecticut, large category
(200 or more U.S. employees)
Rank
Company
# Employees in
U.S.
# Employees in
CT
Industry
Helen Novak
Public Relations Manager
508-458-0478
hnovak@consigli.com
718
20
Construction
N
n/a
Kathleen Thomas
Operations Coordination
203-326-7483
kathleen.thomas@resourcesglobal.com
366
53
Consulting
N
n/a
Dora Eang
Associate, Human Resources
203-905-2193
dora.eang@digitas.com
1,710
40
Advertising/Public
Relations/Marketing
Y
L-5
Meressa Condon
Human Resources
203-899-6647
mcondon@tauck.com
217
215
Other – Tour Operator
Y
S/M - 2
Cheryl Downey
Consultant
562-433-3176
mediaconsultant@mindspring.com
36,619
119
Financial Services Other
Y
L-2
Claudia Santiago
HR Generalist
914-949-2990 x3332
csantiago@citrincooperman.com
460
21
Accounting Consulting
Y
L-7
Primary Contact
Partipated in Made the list
2012
in 2012?
1
Consigli Construction Co., Inc.
100 Allyn Street, Hartford, CT, 06103
508-458-0478; www.consigli.com
2
Resources Global Professionals
300 Atlantic Street, Suite 502
Stamford, CT 06902
203-326-7483; www.resourcesglobal.com
3
Digitas
107 Elm Street, Stamford Plaza 4, Suite 900
Stamford, CT 06902
203-905-2193; www.digitas.com
4
Tauck, Inc.
10 Norden Place
Norwalk, CT 06855
203-899-6647; www.tauck.com
5
Edward Jones
Multiple Connecticut Locations
562-433-3176; www.edwardjones.com
6
Citrin Cooperman and Company, LLP
37 North Avenue, Norwalk, CT, 06851
914-949-2990 x3332;
www.citrincooperman.com
7
COCC
135 Darling Drive, Avon, CT 06001
860-674-5364; www.cocc.com
Steve Guglietta
HR Specialist
860-674-5364
steve.guglietta@cocc.com
345
345
Technology - Data
Processing, hosting &
related services
N
n/a
8
Burns & McDonnell
108 Leigus Road, Suite 1100
Wallingford, CT 06492
203-949-2338; www.burnsmcd.com
Marisol Velazquez
HR Generalist
203-949-2338M
Velazquez@burnsmcd.com
3,620
170
Engineering Consulting
Y
L-6
9
Kforce Inc.
111 Founders Plaza, Suite 1501
East Hartford, CT 06108
860-291-6822; www.kforce.com
Melanie McNeely
Managing Director
860-291-6822
mmcneely@kforce.com
2,086
42
Staffing
Y
L-9
10
Bearingstar Insurance
Multiple Connecticut Locations
617-328-2649; www.arbella.com
Chris Carter
HR Manager - Agency Relations
617-328-2649
chris.carter@arbella.com
908
85
Insurance (nonhealthcare) - Property
and Casualty
Insurance Agency
Y
L-4
11
Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP
20 Church Street, 18th Floor, Hartford, CT
06103
860-331-2684; www.haslaw.com
Jennifer O'Toole
Office Administrator
860-331-2684
jotoole@haslaw.com
290
41
Legal
Y
L - 12
12
American Eagle Federal Credit Union
20 Western Blvd., Glastonbury, CT 06033
860-568-2020; www.aefcu.com
Susan Bushnik
VP/HR
860-568-2020
susan.b@aefcu.com
278
278
Other – Credit Union
Y
L-8
13
Stew Leonard's
100 Westport Ave., Norwalk, CT 06851
203-750-6157; www.stewleonards.com
Karen Mazako VP,
Human Resources
203-750-6157
kmazako@stewleonards.com
2,001
1,312
Retail
Y
L - 14
14
Bingham McCutchen LLP
One State Street, Hartford, CT 06103
212-705-7177; www.bingham.com
Susan Peterson
Firmwide Director of Communications
212-705-7177
susan.peterson@bingham.com
1,713
70
Legal
Y
L-1
15
Quinnipiac University
275 Mount Carmel Ave.,
Hamden, CT 06518
203-582-5257; www.quinnipiac.edu
Anna Spragg
Associate Vice President of
Human Resources
203-582-5257
anna.spragg@quinnipiac.edu
1,183
1,183
Education
N
n/a
Source: Individual companies. Note: This survey process and ranking were managed by the Best Companies Group in Harrrisburg, Pa. A two-part assessment was used, including an employer
questionnaire and an employee survey. The scores were combined to determine the final ranking.
The List
The best places to work in Connecticut, small/medium category
(15-199 U.S. employees)
Rank
Company
Primary Contact
# Employees in # Employees in
U.S.
CT
Industry
Partipated Made the list
in 2012?
in 2012
1
QUALIDIGM
1111 Cromwell Avenue, Suite 201
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
860-613-3696; www.qualidigm.org
2
VLink Inc.
701 John Fitch Blvd,
South Windsor, CT 06074
860-247-1400
www.vlinkinfo.com
3
Z-Medica LLC
4 Fairfield Blvd, Wallingford, CT 06492
203-774-7922; www.z-medica.com
Tami LaPlante
Director of Human Resources
203-774-7922
tlaplante@z-medica.com
4
The Litchfield Insurance Group, Inc.
P.O. Box 1127
Torrington, CT 06790
860-618-1101; www.litchfieldins.com
Doran Lamond
Senior Vice President
860-618-1101; dklamond@litchfieldins.com
18
18
Insurance (nonhealthcare) Insurance
(healthcare)
5
CIL
157 Charter Oak Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106
860-509-6747; www.cil.org
Donald Neel
Vice President, Administration and Finance
860-509-6747; dneel@cil.org
24
22
Non-Profit - Real
estate development
N
n/a
6
Pullman & Comley, LLC
850 Main Street, 8th Floor
Bridgeport, CT 06604
203-330-2006; www.pullcom.com
Shirley Veillette
Human Resources Coordinator
203-330-2006; sveillette@pullcom.com
148
148
Legal
Y
S/M - 1
7
Primacy (Formerly Acsys Interactive)
1577 New Britain Ave.
Farmington, CT 06032
860-404-3359; www.theprimacy.com
Debra Peterson
VP HR & Organizational Development
860-404-3359; Deb.Peterson@theprimacy.com
77
77
Advertising/Public
Relations/Marketing
Y
S/M - 4
8
ICON International, Inc.
107 Elm Street, 15th Floor
Stamford, CT 06902
203-328-2633; www.icon-intl.com
Dawn Montelione
Director of Human Resources
203-328-2633;
dmontelione@icon-intl.com
195
190
Financial Services Other
Y
S/M - 7
9
Prometheus Research LLC
55 Church Street, New Haven CT 06510
203-672-5849;
cheryl@prometheusresearch.com
Cheryl Liane Stephenson
Executive Assistant
203-672-5849; cheryl@prometheusresearch.com
27
19
Technology Bioinformatics
Y
S/M - 12
Kristen Klaus
Marketing Consultant
860-697-7457; kklaus@fiallc.com
37
37
Financial Services Investment
Consulting
Y
S/M - 8
Marty Smith
Controller
860-666-3319; msmith@turnpikemotors.com
33
33
Other – Automotive
Y
S/M - 3
N
n/a
10
Fiduciary Investment Advisors
100 Northfield Drive
Windsor, CT 06095
860-697-7457; www.fiallc.com
11
Turnpike Motors Auto Body
2550 Berlin Turnpike
Newington, CT 06111
860-666-3319; www.turnpikemotors.com
12
Mountainside Treatment Center
187 South Canaan Road
Canaan, CT 06018
860-362-5011; www.mountainside.com
13
Keiler
304 Main Street
Farmington, CT 06032
860-674-3887; www.keiler.com
14
Travel Insured International
52-S Oakland Ave.
East Hartford, CT 06128
800-243-3174 x180; www.travelinsured.com
15
OFI
28 Garfield Street
Newington, CT 06111
860-257-5352;www.myofi.com
Joanne Draper, Vice President, Human Resources
860-613-3696
jdraper@qualidigm.org
40
40
Non-Profit Healthcare Quality
Improvement
Consultants
N
n/a
Ajay Sharma Sr.
Director - Delivery and Client Services
860-247-1400 x101
ajay.sharma@vlinkinfo.com
140
49
Technology - IT
Staffing and
Software Consulting
Y
S/M - 5
66
49
Other – Medical
Device
N
n/a
N
n/a
Nancy Degree
VP, Human Resources
860-362-5011; nancy.degree@mountainside.com
62
62
Healthcare Provider Substance Abuse
Treatment Facility
Lynn Taylor
President/CEO
860-674-3887; lynnt@keiler.com
50
50
Other – Advertising
N
n/a
Sherry Sutton
V.P. of Marketing
800-243-3174 x180; ssutton@travelinsured.com
73
73
Insurance (nonhealthcare)
Y
S/M - 11
Joanna Kress
Marketing Coordinator
860-257-5352; jkress@myofi.com
44
44
Other – Furniture /
Office Environments
N
n/a
Source: Individual companies. Note: This survey process and ranking were managed by the Best Companies Group in Harrrisburg, Pa. A two-part assessment was used, including an employer
questionnaire and an employee survey. The scores were combined to determine the final ranking.
The Rankings: Process
Revealing by survey
Meet the man and the
company behind “Best Places”
By John A. Lahtinen
B
est Companies Group (BCG) in Harrisonburg, Penn.,
was created in 2004 with the mission to identify and
recognize great places to work through the creation
and management of “Best Places to Work,” “Best Companies”
and “Best Employer” programs. The company, using stateof-the-art surveys and technology, partners with publishing,
business and human resource organizations to publicize the
opportunity and encourage participation.
“Not only do we produce credible lists through this process, but we also provide participating companies with useful
actionable feedback reports,” says Peter B. Burke, BCG president and co-founder. “These reports allow organizations to
use the data we collected to improve. BCG is not a consulting
firm but rather a workplace research firm delivering valuable
and credible information to its publishing partners and the
participating companies.”
Connecticut joined with Best Companies back in 2005,
with the Hartford Business Journal unveiling the “Best Places
to Work in Connecticut,” in 2006. The yearly list features the
state’s top employers who have created environments where
employees love to come to work. The program is open to all
publicly or privately held organizations, either for-profit or
not-for-profit. To be eligible for consideration, companies
written comments, and the benchmarking data from the participating and winning companies.
Burke says one of BCG’s biggest goals is to make the entire
process as efficient as possible for participating companies.
“We are constantly revising our process, walking the fine
line between collecting enough information to make credible
assessments, while at the same time not creating a process
that is cumbersome and overly time consuming,” he said.
With employers soliciting employee feedback at an unprecedented rate these days, Burke says more and more companies are recognizing that focusing on employee engagement
is going to give them a competitive advantage.
“More companies are making higher employee engagement a corporate goal,” Burke said. “I see these programs
being more and more significant. Recognition will have a big
impact for all who appear on the list.”
Burke feels that there will be an increase in the number
and quality of the employment applications and that, as BCG
data suggests, voluntary turnover for winning companies will
fall significantly, particularly for first-time winners.
Occasionally, as with any set of rankings, a company feels
that it wasn’t rated highly enough. Burke is always happy
to spend a few minutes reviewing the Employee Feedback
Report with them taking time to look at the benchmarks to
see where they fell short.
“People will sometimes think they already know if an
organization is a great place to
work or not,” Burke said. “This
is usually based upon things
they have heard. Our process
involves asking the employees what they think across the
organization. Sometimes, the
real story from the employee
perspective is very different
than the anecdotal stories that
may have been heard.”
There are often many similarities the top-rated companies share from year to year.
Burke says the current trends
include:
• Flexibility = work life
balance. More companies are
focusing on employee production or performance and less
on how much time they are
spending in the office.
• More companies are dissecting what drives employee engagement.
•The relationship between associates and their managers
is as important now as it has ever been and organizations are
focusing on it.
Burke says that being a great place to work is much more
than just adding fun benefits, rather it is a commitment to a
way of managing that prioritizes the employee experience.
Ultimately, the process is truly a labor of love for Burke
and his team at BCG.
“Identifying and recognizing workplace greatness is really
rewarding,” Burke said. “With so much negativity around us
these days, it’s so refreshing to celebrate something good.
We are on the cutting edge of what will undoubtedly be the
core competency needed for business success now and for the
foreseeable future.”
●
Peter B. Burke, Best Companies Group president and co-founder.
▶▶ ‘With so much negativity around us these days,
it’s so refreshing to celebrate something good.
We are on the cutting edge of what will
undoubtedly be the core competency needed
for business success now and for the
foreseeable future.’
– Peter B. Burke, Best Companies Group president and co-founder
must have at least 15 employees working in Connecticut.
BCG manages the entire “Best Places to Work” survey
process.
Part one of the assessment (three-quarters of a company’s score) consists of a confidential 76 question Employee
Engagement & Satisfaction Survey used to evaluate the
employees’ workplace experience and the company culture.
Part two of the assessment (one-quarter of a company’s
score) involves The BCG Employer Questionnaire, used to
collect information about each company’s benefits, policies,
practices and other general information. The combined data
provides an in-depth analysis of the strengths and challenges
that exist in each company. The strongest companies make
the list and are then compared to one another and ranked in
different size categories.
Every company that participates in the process receives
an Employee Feedback Report from BCG that includes a summary of the employee data collected, transcribed employee
John Lahtinen is a freelance writer based in Farmington.
Reach him at editor@HartfordBusiness.com.
z-medica, llc
Z-MEDICA, home of the QuikClot ® Family of
hemostatic products, is proud to be
recognized as one of
Hartford Business Journal’s
Best Places to Work in Connecticut
“QuikClot has an established history of
saving lives on the battlefield and it is now
being adopted in the USA and around
the world by healthcare providers, first
responders and consumers. It is a
privilege to be a part of a company that
is saving lives every day.”
~Z-MEDICA Employee
www.z-medica.com
www.z-medica.com
Be a part of CT’s largest annual
business event! Don’t miss it!
Connecticut
Thursday,
Business
Connects
on June 6 !
CT Convention Center • Hartford
J u n e 6, 2013
Connecticut Convention Center • Hartford, CT
Show: 9am-5pm; Networking Event: 5pm-7pm
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• Educational Events • B2B Theater
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Presented By:
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treme!
Platinum Level:
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Congratulations to the Winners
of Best Places to Work 2013!
PRESENTED BY:
founded in
1956
A leader in the business community
for more than 55 years.
Looking back,
our firm was founded when:
• A new car cost around $2050
• Norma Jean Mortenson changed her name to
Marilyn Monroe
• A gallon of gas was 22 cents
• The cost of a loaf of bread was 18 cents
• Dwight Eisenhower was President and Richard
Nixon was Vice President
• 1956 World Series: New York Yankees vs. Brooklyn
Dodgers (4-3)
• Elvis Presley made his first television appearance
• Gold was $35.00 an ounce
• The cost of a first-class postage stamp was 3 cents
• Minimum wage was $1.00 per hour
Over the ensuing years we have seen H&H grow from a local
actuarial firm into a full-service consulting firm, that today serves
the retirement needs of employers throughout the entire Northeast.
Benefits Consulting | Executive Benefits | 401(k) Plans | Pension Plans | Municipal Retirement Plans
HOOKER & HOLCOMBE, Inc.
HOOKER & HOLCOMBE
HOOKER & HOLCOMBE
Retirement Services, Inc.
Investment Advisors, Inc.
West Hartford, CT
info@hhconsultants.com
hhconsultants.com
phone: (860) 521-8400

Best Places to Work

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