Local Businesses Named Best Places to Work

Dan Bodensteiner (left) and Mike Kruse hold the banner recognizing Church Offset Printing Inc. of Albert Lea as one of the 2008 Best Places to Work by the Southeast Minnesota Workforce Investment Board.

As job seekers look at career opportunities, they want to consider companies that have designed their organizations around retaining their top talent. Thanks to the Workforce Investment Board of Southeast Minnesota, job seekers now know which of those companies are in our region.

Five companies representing Freeborn, Mower, Rice, Steele, Goodhue, Olmstead, Houston, Dodge, Fillmore, and Wabasha Counties were recognized as the “Best Places to Work” in Southeast Minnesota. Three of those organizations are located in Albert Lea: In the “100 and Under” employee category, Alamco Wood Products Inc., Church Offset Printing Inc., and SAR Inc., all of Albert Lea, were recognized. In the “Over 100 ” employee category, Riverland Community College and Hearth & Home Technologies of Red Wing were recognized.

The “Best Places to Work” awards program was a study commissioned by Workforce Development Inc. The purpose of the program was to recognize some of the best employers in our local area and provide vital information to companies about the practices they use to attract and retain employees. Each company participating was required to complete a 40-question survey that allowed their employment practices to be analyzed by the consulting firm of Personnel Dynamics Consulting of Florida. Every company participating in the survey will receive a detailed 19-page report detailing the information on their company and the results of the survey. Those companies who are being recognized received a special award at the Best Places to Work Awards Banquet at the Rochester International Event Center on Dec. 9.
Data were measured on such parameters as: turnover, growth, employee training, development, and promotion rates; employee evaluations and feedback; percentage of employee injuries; diversity of management; benefits offered; average paid days off and increase in pay.

Workforce Development Inc., the Workforce Investment Board of Southeast Minnesota, is proud to bring the “Best Places to Work” program to Southeast Minnesota.

Albert Lea Tribune (Albert Lea, MN) © 2009 Albert Lea Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved.
A Boone Newspapers Inc. publication. Retrieved January 15, 2009 from www.albertleatribune.com