Peachtree Planning Corp. LLC and Edward Jones took top prizes at Business Alabama Magazine’s 2019 Best Companies to Work for in Alabama awards ceremony July 29 at The Woolworth social club in Birmingham.
For the third time in five years, Edward Jones won first place in the contest’s large company category for those with at least 250 employees. Peachtree Planning was a first-time winner in the small-to-medium category for firms with 15 to 249 employees.
Twenty-two companies with headquarters or regional offices in Alabama competed in this year’s event. Peachtree Planning is a Birmingham-based financial planner with offices in Nashville and Atlanta. The national financial services company Edward Jones’ regional office in Foley participated in the contest.
Business Alabama Magazine held the competition with The Best Companies Group (BCG), a workplace research firm in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. BCG selected the 22 competitors based on its assessment of each company.
Twenty-five percent of the assessment came from the employers who answered questions about benefits and policies as well as perks such as casual Fridays and flex time. The other 75 percent came from BCG’s anonymous employee engagement survey that polled workers on how much they enjoyed coming to work each day, opportunities for career advancement and whether they felt valued by their employers.
“This recognition is based on employees who consistently have great days at work,” Peter Burke, BCG’s president and co-founder told the audience. “There’s so much that needs to go right in order to create an engaged workforce. There are 1,000 paths to get there. But the winners in this group have figured out their path, and we’re honoring them for it tonight.”
Business Alabama Magazine Editor Erica West delivered the opening remarks and presented the awards at the ceremony. WIAT-42 co-anchor Sherri Jackson was mistress of ceremonies.
Before the awards ceremony began, employees and their bosses gathered for a reception inside The Woolworth’s bar and recreation space, which featured foosball and bumper pool tables and tabletop shuffleboard. Some attendees even took turns Duckpin bowling on the club’s eight lanes.
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Small-Medium Employer Category
First Place: Peachtree Planning Corp. LLC accepted by Andy Meehan, President
Second Place: Rabren General Contractors accepted by Stewart Bray, Project Manager
Third Place: Wilkins Miller LLC accepted by Erin Jones, CPA, Partner
The Other Small-Medium Nominees (In Alphabetical Order)
The American Equity Underwriters Inc., accepted by Michael Lapeyrouse, President and CEO
Avadian Credit Union, accepted by Linda Cencula, President and CEO
Byars|Wright, accepted by Lacey Rae Visintainer, Brand Manager
Crow Shields Bailey Pc, accepted by Joey Bailey, CPA and Shareholder
Eagle Eye Outfitters Inc., accepted by Mark Anderson, Co-Owner
Hartmann, Blackmon & Kilgore Pc. (Representative not available due to a shareholders meeting.)
Roberts Brothers Inc., accepted by Daniel Dennis, President, and Sara Roberts, Director of Marketing
United Bank accepted by Bob Jones, CEO
WaveLink Inc., accepted by Tamela Gibbs, President and CEO
White-Spunner Construction Inc., accepted by Adrienne Freeman, Executive Director of People and Culture
Large Company Employer Category
First Place: Edward Jones, accepted by David Greer, Financial Adviser
Second Place: Jack Henry & Associates Inc., accepted by Mackenzie Kizer, Senior Manager, Technical Product Management; and Rene Perez, Senior Manager, Technical Product and Project Management
Third Place: America’s First Federal Credit Union, accepted by Kyle McDougal, Brand Management Officer
The Other Large Company Nominees (In Alphabetical Order)
Alabama Credit Union, accepted by Niki Mathews, Branch Manager
BBB Industries, accepted by Don Bigler, Vice Chairman
Max Credit Union, accepted by Sandra Stenger, Chief Talent Officer
SH Enterprises Inc., accepted by Michelle Hodges, President
Total Quality Logistics, accepted by Chad McMillen, Group Sales Manager
Warren Averett, accepted by Jennifer Duren, Marketing Manager
