INDIANAPOLIS) -- Companies with strong workplace practices -- rooted in respect, teamwork and good communication -- were recognized tonight at the Indiana Roof Ballroom as the Indiana Chamber unveiled rankings for the 70 companies from throughout the state that made the 2010 Best Places to Work in Indiana list (which was released February 22).

Carmel-based Software Engineering Professionals (SEP), which develops new software systems and products for business, data and safety critical applications, topped the small to medium-sized employer category.  Taking first place among large employers: Centier Bank, with more than 40 locations in Lake, Porter, LaPorte and Marshall counties in Northern Indiana. For both, 2010 marked the first time in the top spot; and for SEP, this was its inaugural year participating.

The program honors the top companies in the state, as determined through employer reports and comprehensive employee surveys.  Winners were selected from two categories: small to medium-sized companies of between 25 and 249 employees (in Indiana or total nationally if there is a parent company) and large-sized companies consisting of 250 or more employees (in Indiana or total nationally if there is a parent company).  Out-of-state parent companies were eligible to participate if at least 25 full-time employees are in Indiana. 

The Best Companies Group handled the selection process and oversees similar programs in 19 other states.

"SEP and Centier Bank, along with all of the organizations on the list, are first-rate employers because they understand that making employees feel valued goes hand-in-hand with the success of the business," states Indiana Chamber President Kevin Brinegar.  "We are pleased to acknowledge their efforts for fostering a positive and productive work environment." 

More information about the Best Places to Work companies is available via a special section of the May/June issue of the Indiana Chamber's BizVoice® magazine, a statewide publication released tonight and accessible online at www.bizvoicemagazine.com.

At the dinner, representatives from all designated companies were presented with Best Place to Work awards of excellence. In addition to the BizVoice® magazine feature, honorees were also recognized through the statewide media resources of Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick. 

All companies that participated in the 2010 Best Places to Work program receive an in-depth evaluation identifying strengths and weaknesses according to their employees.  In turn, this report can be used in developing or enhancing employee retention and recruitment programs.  For more information on the Indiana Chamber's Best Places to Work program, go to www.bestplacestoworkIN.com. You can sign up to be notified by e-mail when application details for the sixth annual competition are announced this summer.

Companies ranked in all five years of the Best Places to Work in Indiana program: Ash Brokerage Corporation (Fort Wayne); Columbus Regional Hospital; Crowe Horwath (Indianapolis); Edward Jones (multiple locations); Fort Wayne Metals Research Products Corporation; Katz, Sapper & Miller (Indianapolis); and KPMG LLP (Indianapolis).

Best Places to Work in Indiana program sponsors for 2010: Bamberger, Foreman, Oswald, & Hahn, LLP; Blue Chip Casino; Castle Wealth Advisors, LLC; Crowe Horwath LLP; Energy Systems Group, LLC; Image Air Charter; Matrix Integration, LLC; Mussett, Nicholas & Associates; Purdue University; Smithville Telephone Company; Tilson HR; and Trilogy Health Services. 

The full list of the 2010 Best Places to Work in Indiana companies by ranking:

Small to Medium-sized Companies (25-249 employees)
Rank / Company / Primary Location
1 Software Engineering Professionals / Carmel
2 Indesign, LLC / Indianapolis
3 Schmidt Associates / Indianapolis
4 Bingham McHale LLP / Indianapolis
5 Contact by Design / Bloomington
6 Harding Poorman Group, Inc. / Indianapolis
7 MJ Insurance, Inc. / Indianapolis
8 Benefit Associates Inc. Indianapolis
9 Energy Systems Group LLC / Newburgh
10 Somerset CPAs / Indianapolis
11 Bamberger, Foreman, Oswald and Hahn, LLP / Evansville
12 United Consulting / Indianapolis
13 J.C. Hart Company, Inc. / Carmel
14 Bernardin, Lochmueller and Associates, Inc. / Evansville
15 Employment Plus, Inc. / Bloomington
16 Allegient, LLC / Indianapolis
17 Gordon Marketing / Noblesville
18 Krieg DeVault LLP / Indianapolis
19 International Medical Group, Inc. / Indianapolis
20 Fusion Alliance, Inc. / Indianapolis
21 First Harrison Bank / Corydon
22 Design Collaborative, Inc. / Fort Wayne
23 Matrix Integration, LLC Jasper
24 Eli Lilly Federal Credit Union / Indianapolis
25 Milestone Contractors, LP / Indianapolis
26 Communications Products, Inc. / Indianapolis
27 Public Safety Medical / Indianapolis
28 Indiana Organ Procurement Organization (IOPO) / Indianapolis
  
Large Companies (250 or more employees) 
Rank / Company / Primary Location
1 Centier Bank / Merrillville
2 Microsoft Corporation / Indianapolis
3 ExactTarget / Indianapolis
4 Shiel Sexton Company, Inc. / Indianapolis
5 Turner Construction Company of Indiana, LLC / Indianapolis
6 Edward Jones / Plainfield
7 WestPoint Financial Group / Indianapolis
8 Ogletree Deakins Law Firm / Indianapolis
9 St. Joseph Hospital / Kokomo
10 Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company / Fort Wayne
11 Hendricks Regional Health / Danville
12 Hall Render Killian Heath & Lyman PC / Indianapolis
13 The Capital Group Companies, Inc. / Indianapolis
14 Union Hospital, Inc. / Terre Haute
15 M&I Bank / Indianapolis
16 Interactive Intelligence, Inc. / Indianapolis
17 RCI / Carmel
18 RW Armstrong / Indianapolis
19 Aprimo, Inc. / Indianapolis
20 Cassidy Turley / Indianapolis
21 Hancock Regional Hospital / Greenfield
22 AIT Laboratories / Indianapolis
23 Harrison College / Indianapolis
24 Clark Memorial Hospital / Jeffersonville
25 Hosparus Inc. / New Albany
26 Ash Brokerage Corporation / Fort Wayne
27 Hilliard Lyons / Evansville
28 Ice Miller LLP / Indianapolis
29 St. Vincent Health / Indianapolis
30 Blue & Co., LLC / Carmel
31 Schneck Medical Center / Seymour
32 KPMG LLP / Indianapolis
33 American Structurepoint, Inc. / Indianapolis
34 Parkview Health / Fort Wayne
35 Katz, Sapper & Miller / Indianapolis
36 Fort Wayne Metals Research Products Corporation / Fort Wayne
37 Columbus Regional Hospital / Columbus
38 Trilogy Health Services, LLC / Petersburg
39 OneAmerica Financial Partners, Inc. / Indianapolis
40 Teachers Credit Union / South Bend
41 Crowe Horwath LLP / Indianapolis
42 Draper, Inc. / Spiceland

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The Indiana Chamber of Commerce has been the state's largest broad-based business advocacy
organization for over 85 years.  The nearly 5,000 member companies employ 800,000 Hoosier workers.