West Michigan's 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For Named by Michigan Business and Professional Association

WARREN, Mich., March 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Every year companies throughout West Michigan compete to be named "West Michigan's 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For." Only companies that distinguish themselves as having the most innovative and thoughtful human resources approach can be bestowed this honor. These select companies will be honored by the Michigan Business and Professional Association (MBPA) on Thurs., May 3 at the Pinnacle Center in the Grand Rapids area.

This year's winners practice innovative strategies and represent best practices in human resources in industries as diverse as the automotive, insurance, hospitality, communications and nonprofit. (See the attached list of honorees.)

An independent research firm evaluates each company's entry based on key measures in various categories.  They include Compensation, Benefits and Employee Solutions; Employee Enrichment, Engagement and Retention; Employee Education and Development; Recruitment, Selection and Orientation; Employee Achievement and Recognition; Communication and Shared Vision; Diversity and Inclusion; Work-Life Balance; Community Initiatives; Strategic Company Performance and the Best of the Best Small Business.

The winning 101 companies also vie for 11 elite awards, one granted for each category. Also, an overall winner that has excelled in all categories will be honored with a "Best of the Best Overall" award. The award winners will be announced during the luncheon.

The annual human resources symposium and awards program will begin with registration, networking and an exhibit gallery at 7:30 a.m. Educational workshops will follow at 8 a.m. The topics of this year's sessions will include "Best Practice Session: Solutions and Considerations," and "A Look Into the Future: What Skills and Talents Will We Need?" The luncheon and awards ceremony begins at 11 a.m.

"We are honored to recognize the efforts of this year's 101 Best and Brightest companies. These companies have created impressive organizational value and business results through their policies and best practices in human resource management. This award has become a designation sought after by hundreds of West Michigan area companies and is a powerful recruitment tool in the drive to attract and retain exceptional employees," said Jennifer Kluge, MBPA president.

Tickets for the symposium and awards lunch are $110 for MBPA members; $130 for non-members. A member table of 10 is $1,100; non-member tables are $1,300.  Sponsorships are also available.

Sponsors of the "West Michigan's 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For" include Grand Rapids Business Journal, WOOD Radio, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, The Employers' Association, Staples, Davenport University, Spectrum Health, Rehmann, AT & T Michigan and McGraw Wentworth.

The "101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For" a program of the Michigan Business and Professional Association is presented annually in several markets: Metro Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston and West Michigan. Nominations are now being accepted for 2013. Visit www.101bestandbrightest.com to obtain an application.

Contact the Michigan Business and Professional Association at 586-393-8800 or visit www.101bestandbrightest.com to register or for more information. 

Based in Warren, Mich., the Michigan Business & Professional Association (MBPA) is the largest business organization of small to medium-sized businesses in Michigan, representing more than 20,000 members who employ over 200,0000 persons. Members include attorneys, physicians, architects, accountants, construction companies, banks, retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers and the like.  Member businesses receive numerous benefits including free legal and financial consultations; discounted technology, automotive and office products; employee training and recruitment assistance; and competitive insurance rates. The MBPA is a sister association to the Michigan Food & Beverage Association (MFBA) with more than 3,400 members. Visit them online at www.michbusiness.org or www.michfood.org.

101 BEST AND BRIGHTEST COMPANIES TO WORK FOR IN WEST MICHIGAN 2012 WINNERS

A PROGRAM OF THE MICHIGAN BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION

a.j. Veneklasen, Inc.
Acoustics By Design, Inc.
Advantage Health Physician Network
Aerotek
American Axle & Manufacturing
Andy J. Egan Company
Aspen Surgical
Baker Spindler Holtz, CPAs and Advisors
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Baudville, Inc.
BDO USA, LLP
Beene Garter LLP
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Borgess Health
Bronson Battle Creek Hospital
Carson City Hospital
Cintas
Clark Construction Company
Clark Retirement Community
Coldwell Banker AJS Schmidt
Comcast
CompHealth
Consumers Credit Union
Crowe Horwath LLP
CSM Group Inc.
Dan Vos Construction Company, Inc.
Deloitte, LLP and its subsidiaries
DFCU Financial
DK Security & Investigations
Easter Seals Michigan
Elzinga & Volkers Construction Professionals
Employment Plus, Inc.
Ernst & Young
Experis
Express Employment Professionals
Fifth Third Bank
Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber, Inc.
Fleis & VandenBrink Engineering, Inc.
Flexco
Gentex Corporation
Grand Rapids Community Foundation
Greenleaf Trust
GreenStone Farm Credit Services
Hastings City Bank
Hastings Mutual Insurance Company
Herman Miller, Inc.
Holland Hospital
Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP
Hope College
Hungerford, Aldrin, Nichols & Carter, PC
Kendall Electric, Inc.
KSS Enterprises
Lake Michigan Credit Union
LeanLogistics
Life EMS Ambulance
Macatawa Bank
Marquette General Health System
Mercantile Bank of Michigan
Mercy Health Partners
Metro Health Hospital
Michigan Office Solutions
Mika Meyers Beckett & Jones PLC
Mill Steel Company
Mindscape at Hanon McKendry
MSU Federal Credit Union
Next Generation Enrollment, Inc.
Nucraft Furniture Company
Open Systems Technologies
Orthopaedic Associates of Michigan
OtterBase, Inc
Pennock Health Services
Plante Moran, PLLC
Porter Hills Retirement Communities & Services
Professional Benefits Services
Progressive AE
Rapidparts Inc.
Rehmann
Rockford Construction Company Inc.
Saint Mary's Health Care
Schupan & Sons, Inc.
Seaman's Mechanical
SecurAlarm Systems, Inc.
Seniors Helping Seniors
Service Express, Inc. (SEI)
Skanska
Southwest Michigan First
Spartan Stores Inc
Specialty Heat Trating, Inc.
Spectrum Health
Springthrough Consulting
Stahlin Enclosures
The Campbell Group, A division of Acrisure
Triangle Associates, Inc.
Trillium Staffing
Trivalent Group
Valley Oak
Warner Norcross & Judd LLP
Wesco Inc.
Willis Law
Worksighted
Yeo & Yeo, CPAs and Business Consultants

For Further information:
Contact:  Sue Voyles (734) 667-2005
-or- Jennifer Kluge (586) 393-8800

SOURCE Michigan Business and Professional Association