SHRM lists best small & medium companies to work for

Badger Mining Corp. of Berlin, Wis., and software company and defense contractor Analytical Graphics Inc. of Exton, Pa., have respectively been named the No. 1 "Best Small & Medium Companies to Work for in America." This is the third annual release of the list recognizing the top 25 small companies (50 to 250 employees) and the top 25 medium companies (251 to 999 employees) to work for in America.

The rankings were released by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) during the SHRM 58th annual Conference & Exposition in Washington, DC. The companies were selected and ranked by the Great Place to Work Institute Inc. (GPTW). The list and related stories appear in the July 2006 HR Magazine and online at www.shrm.org/hrmagazine.

"Open, clear communication is essential. Tell your employees what you expect, and listen to what they have to say," said SHRM president and CEO Susan R. Meisinger, SPHR. "That's not always easy, but the companies that made this list understand that it's the best way to tap the talent of their workforce."

Great Places to Work Institute cofounder Robert Levering said, "These companies stand out because their employees find them to be places where they can trust the management, have pride in their work and have fun at work. Other companies have much to learn about how to both be productive and do right by their people."

Each of the 50 companies is dedicated to communicating clearly with employees and encouraging staff to voice their opinions. In addition, these companies provide generous salaries and benefits packages. As a result, their employees are motivated and invested in the organization- making these companies some of the most successful small businesses in their industries with high profit and low turnover.

Analytical Graphics, Inc. (AGI) is ranked the best medium company to work for in America after taking the top spot among small companies the previous two years. AGI, an information technology company, employs peoples who can understand and anticipate customers' needs, understand the technology available to meet those needs and make informed decisions. AGI also stresses open communication. The organization holds annual business review meetings for all employees, quarterly town hall meetings and weekly Story Time meetings where departments share information about what's happening around the company. The company also provides an on-site gym and free meals to make employees' lives easier.

Badger Mining Corporation is ranked the number one small company to work for in America. Badger Mining is family-owned and privately held and produces a million and a half tons of specialized sand each year for industrial use. All employees can participate in a profit-sharing arrangement; they are not charged any premiums for standard health coverage or basic long-term-care coverage; and everyone receives $200 in personal finance advice each year. Badger Mining dedicates 10 percent of its budget to safety training and, as a result, has the lowest incident rate in its industry.

  2006 Best Small & Medium Companies to Work for in America

  25 Best Small Companies

  1. Badger Mining Corp., Berlin, Wis.

  2. Pacific Service Credit Union, Walnut Creek, Calif.

  3. The RightThing Inc., Gurnee, Ill.

  4. Insomniac Games Inc., Burbank, Calif.

  5. Northeast Delta Dental, Concord, N.H.

  6. McMurray Inc., Phoenix, Ariz.

  7. Dixon Schwabl Advertising, Victor, N.Y.

  8. Professional Placement Resources, Jacksonville Beach, Fla.

  9. Bridge Worldwide, Cincinnati, Ohio

  10. Johnston McLamb, Chantilly, Va.

  11. Urban Innovations Ltd, Chicago, Ill.

  12. Triage Consulting Group, San Francisco, Calif.

  13. Ribelin Sales Inc., Garland, Texas

  14. MATRIX Resources Inc., Atlanta, Ga.

  15. Schleuniger Inc., Manchester, N.H.

  16. B.I.N. Sales & Marketing Inc., Norwalk, Conn.

  17. Dolphin Quest, Middleburg, Va.

  18. Kahler Slater, Milwaukee, Wis.

  19. InsureMe, Englewood, Colo.

  20. Root Learning Inc., Maumee, Ohio

  21. DigitalGrit Inc., Boonton, N.J.

  22. archer>malmo, Memphis, Tenn.

  23. Runzheimer International, Rochester, Wis.

  24. Landrum Human Resources Company, Pensacola, Fla.

  25. The Brattle Group, Cambridge, Mass.

25 Best Medium Companies

1. Analytical Graphics Inc., Exton, Pa.

2. Holder Construction Company, Atlanta, Ga.

3. Ultimate Software, Weston, Fla.

4. Sage Products Inc., Cary, Ill.

5. ACUITY, Sheboygan, Wis.

6. Hypertherm Inc., Hanover, N.H.

7. EILEEN FISHER INC, Irvington, N.Y.

8. Professional Veterinary Products Ltd., Omaha, Neb.

9. The Integer Group Denver, Lakewood, Colo.

10. Future Network USA, Brisbane, Calif.

11. Lincoln Plating, Lincoln, Neb.

12. Michigan State University Federal Credit Union, East Lansing, Mich.

13. Digital Federal Credit Union, Marlborough, Mass.

14. The Hospice of Marion County Healthcare Alliance, Ocala, Fla.

15. Eastern Financial Florida Credit Union, Miramar, Fla.

16. Grand Circle Corp., Boston, Mass.

17. Rackspace Managed Hosting, San Antonio, Texas

18. Pioneer Financial Services, Kansas City, Mo.

19. Wescom Credit Union, Pasadena, Calif.

20. Graniterock, Watsonville, Calif.

21. CXtec, Syracuse, N.Y.

22. Plantronics Inc., Santa Cruz, Calif.

23. AMX Corp., Richardson, Texas

24. Mitretek Systems Inc., Falls Church, Va.

25. Pinnacol Assurance, Denver, Colo.

To learn more about the eligibility requirements and nomination process for the 2007 list, visit www.shrm.org/bestcompanies or www.greatplacetowork.com.

About SHRM

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is the world's largest association devoted to human resource management. Representing more than 210,000 individual members, the Society's mission is to serve the needs of HR professionals by providing the most essential and comprehensive resources available.