(INDIANAPOLIS) -- A record number of Hoosier companies -- 70 in total -- are being honored as a "Best Place to Work in Indiana" for their strong workplace environment that values its employees. The program, in its fourth year, is managed by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and presented in partnership with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

Forty-three of the 70 companies received the same designation last year. For 23 companies that made the 2009 list, it was their first time taking part in the evaluation.

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, and large-sized companies consisting of 250 or more employees. Out-of-state parent companies were eligible to participate if at least 25 full-time employees are in Indiana.

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

"These companies represent some of our most outstanding Hoosier employers. They embrace the idea that a positive work culture that includes respect, communication, opportunity and being part of a team not only makes it a place in which employees want to work but also fuels the success of the company," states Indiana Chamber President Kevin Brinegar.

While making the list is a nice reward for a job well done, Brinegar emphasizes that taking part in the evaluation is the most important aspect.

"Employers get to see how employees really feel about their policies and procedures. That confidential feedback can be invaluable. Therefore, we are very pleased that many new companies participated in this evaluation and hope more do so next year."

The actual rankings of the top Hoosier companies will be announced at the Best Places to Work awards dinner on May 5 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in downtown Indianapolis. Winners will also be recognized via a special section of the Indiana Chamber's bimonthly BizVoice® magazine and through Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick - both of which reach statewide audiences. Additional program partners are the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and the Indiana Youth Institute. The 2009 Best Places to Work in Indiana awards dinner is open to the public. Individual tickets and tables are available at www.indianachamber.com.

Earlier in the day, a session on what makes a company a Best Place to Work will be featured as part of the Indiana Chamber's 45th Annual Human Resources Conference. To register to attend this HR session, visit www.indianachamber.com.

All companies that participated in the 2009 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.

Program sponsors for 2009, in addition to Anthem, are Ball State University, Crowe Chizek, Horseshoe Casino, Image Air Charter, Mussett Nicholas, Nucor Steel, Roche Diagnostics, Saint Clair Press and Tilson HR.

The 2009 Best Places to Work in Indiana companies listed in alphabetical order, no ranking:

Large Companies (250 or more employees)
1st Source Bank, South Bend
American Structurepoint, Inc, Indianapolis
Bingham McHale LLP, Indianapolis
Bowen Engineering Corporation, Indianapolis
BSA LifeStructures, Indianapolis
Centier Bank, Merrillville
Clark Memorial Hospital, Jeffersonville
Columbus Regional Hospital, Columbus
Crowe Horwath LLP, Indianapolis
Edward Jones, multiple locations
Ernst & Young, LLP, Indianapolis
ExactTarget, Indianapolis
Fort Wayne Metals Research Products Corporation, Fort Wayne
Good Samaritan Hospital, Vincennes
Goshen Health System, Goshen
Group RCI, Carmel
Hancock Regional Hospital, Greenfield
Ice Miller LLP, Indianapolis
Indiana Business College, Indianapolis
Interactive Intelligence, Inc., Indianapolis
Katz, Sapper & Miller, Indianapolis
M&I Bank, Indianapolis
Mike's Carwash, Inc., Indianapolis
Monarch Beverage Company Inc., Indianapolis
Schneck Medical Center, Seymour
Shiel Sexton Company, Inc., Indianapolis
St. Joseph Hospital, Kokomo
The Capital Group Companies, Inc., Indianapolis
Trilogy Health Services, multiple locations
Union Hospital Health Group, Terre Haute

Small to Medium-sized Companies (25-249 employees)
AIT Laboratories, Indianapolis
ANGEL Learning, Inc., Indianapolis
Ash Brokerage Corporation, Fort Wayne
August Mack Environmental, Inc., Indianapolis
Bamberger, Foreman, Oswald and Hahn, LLP, Evansville
Blue & Co., LLC, Carmel
Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company, Fort Wayne
Cannon IV, Indianapolis
Colliers Turley Martin Tucker, Indianapolis
Design Collaborative, Inc., Fort Wayne
Double-Take Software, Indianapolis
Employment Plus, Bloomington
eTapestry, Greenfield
First Harrison Bank, Corydon
Fusion Alliance, Inc., Indianapolis
Gregory & Appel Insurance, Indianapolis
Hall Render Killian Heath & Lyman PC, Indianapolis
Harding Poorman Group, Inc., Indianapolis
Hosparus Inc., New Albany
J.C. Hart Co., Inc., Carmel
Jackson Systems, LLC, Indianapolis
KPMG LLP, Indianapolis
Krieg DeVault LLP, Indianapolis
Matrix Integration, LLC, Jasper
Midwest Mole, Inc., Indianapolis
Milestone Contractors, LP, multiple locations
MJ Insurance, Inc., Indianapolis
Mussett, Nicholas & Associates, Inc., Indianapolis
Pepper Construction Company of Indiana, LLC, Indianapolis
Performance Services, Inc., Indianapolis
Public Safety Medical, Indianapolis
RW Armstrong & Associates, Inc., Indianapolis
Safety Management Group, Indianapolis
Schmidt Associates, Indianapolis
The Estridge Companies, Carmel
The Heavyweights, Inc., Indianapolis
Turner Construction Company of Indiana, LLC, Indianapolis
United Consulting, Indianapolis
VMS, Indianapolis
WestPoint Financial Group, Indianapolis

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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 more than 4,900 member companies employ 800,000 Hoosier workers.