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Star Tribune Announces Winners of 10th Annual “Top 150 Workplaces in Minnesota”
MINNEAPOLIS – June 17, 2019 – Star Tribune Media Co., Minnesota’s largest media company, today announced the winners of its 10th annual “Top 150 Workplaces in Minnesota” program, as determined by in-depth surveys of more than 85,000 workers from more than 390 organizations statewide.
The winners were selected following independent research and analysis from Energage, Star Tribune’s longtime partner in the Top Workplaces program, using detailed questionnaires to analyze employee opinions. The surveys captured opinions and perspectives on numerous facets of employers and workplaces, covering such factors such as leadership, company values, organizational culture, compensation, benefits, and employee engagement.
The winners were feted at a celebratory luncheon last week at the Minneapolis Convention Center, featuring a keynote speech from Chris Wright, chief executive officer of Minnesota United FC. In addition, Star Tribune managing editor Suki Dardarian moderated a panel discussion among four elite employers that have appeared in each annual Top Workplaces listing since its inception in 2010: Marsh and McLennan Agency, Mortenson, Right at Home, and UCare.
In the large-company category (500-plus employees), top honors for 2019 went to Bell Bank, the largest independently owned bank in the upper Midwest, which earned a Top Workplaces ranking for the eighth time. SDG, a design/consulting firm, took the No. 1 spot among midsized organizations (150-499 employees) for the second consecutive year. Serenity Couture & Spa, an award-winning salon and spa in Rochester, Minnesota, claimed the top spot among firms of fewer than 150 employees.
“For 10 years now, Star Tribune has been proud to spotlight Minnesota’s top employers,” said Mike Klingensmith, publisher and chief executive of Star Tribune Media Co. “These organizations have set the standard for carefully cultivating the environments that employees consistently value. With today’s fierce competition to attract and retain talented employees, these great employers are demonstrating how to create sustainable, rewarding, and meaningful workplaces for their people. The Top Workplaces program is our way of saluting these organizations that are defining what it means to build vibrant, supportive, engaged, and healthy working environments.”
The 10th annual Top 150 Workplaces in Minnesota also features awards in several special categories:
- Leadership – Jeffery Fetters, Federated Insurance Company
- Leadership – Anne Behrendt, Doran Companies
- Leadership – Diane Bjorkman and Bill Lehman, Gentle Transitions
- Right Direction – Glacial Ridge Health System
- Outstanding Managers – MN Adult & Teen Challenge
- New Ideas – Serenity Couture Salon & Spa
- Doers – sdg
- Meaningful Work – Edward Jones
- Values – Clockwork
- Senior Manager Awareness – Bell Bank
- Communication Excellence – Bluesky Charter School
- Employee Appreciation – Brighton Hospice
- Workplace Flexibility – American Solutions for Business
- Training Opportunities – Sourcewell
- Outstanding Benefits – NovuHealth
The full Star Tribune Top 150 Workplaces listing was published online last week, with a special section distributed in the June 16, 2019, edition of Sunday Star Tribune. The complete rankings, as well as features on many of the Top Workplaces, are available at www.StarTribune.com/topworkplaces.
About the Top 150 Workplaces Survey Methodology
For the 10th consecutive year, Star Tribune and Energage (formerly WorkplaceDynamics) set out to identify the Top 150 Workplaces in Minnesota. Company participation was voluntary. Energage contacted 2,425 employers in Minnesota. To qualify, companies had to have a minimum of 50 employees and agree to allow their employees to take confidential surveys. A total of 393 companies participated and more than 85,000 employees completed the survey. Energage ranked employers within size bands based solely on employee survey responses. The top employers in each size band were selected for inclusion. There was no charge to companies or employees nor was any compensation paid to them.