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TOP WORKPLACES
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How the companies ranked LARGE (350+ EMPLOYEES) Rank
Company
1
Paycom
2
Founded
Ownership
Sector
Locations
Employees
1998
Private
Payroll and HR Technology
3
1,359
Encompass Home Health-Hospice
1998
Private
Health Care
18
543
3
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF)
1946
Private
Biomedical Research
1
391
4
Ben E. Keith Company
1906
Private
Wholesale Foodservice Distribution
2
475
5
Valir Health
2000
Private
Post Accute Care Rehabilitation and Hospice
20
515
6
Topgolf Entertainment Group
2000
Private
Golf entertainment facility
1
386
7
Yukon Public Schools
1901
Government
Public Education
1
898
8
US Cellular
1983
Public
Wireless Communication
30
749
9
Edmond Public Schools
1922
Government
Public School District
1
2,703
10
Oklahoma Health Care Authority
1993
Government
State Government
1
563
11
Whole Foods Market
1980
Public
Grocery / Organic / Healthfood
3
518
12
University of Central Oklahoma
1890
Government
Higher Education
2
1,451
13
Southwestern Medical Center
1907
Parent company
Hospitals
1
506
Ownership
Sector
MIDSIZE (125-349 EMPLOYEES) Rank
Company
Founded
Locations
Employees
1
Melton Truck Lines Inc
1954
Private
Distribution, Logistics, & Freight
1
275
2
Express Services, Inc.
1983
Private
Staffing
1
276
3
Hyatt Shared Service Center
1957
Public
Hotel Finance Center
1
224
4
Meridian Technology Center
1973
Public
Education
1
128
5
TBS Factoring Service
2004
Private
Financial Services & Insurance
2
130
6
Central Technology Center
1970
Government
Education
2
170
7
CEC
1921
Private
Engineering
3
165
8
GableGotwals
1942
Private
Law
2
148
9
Guernsey
1928
Private
Engineers, Architects and Consultants
1
145
10
Canadian Valley Technology Center
1970
Public
Trade School
4
225
11
Gateway Mortgage Group, LLC
2000
Private
Financial Services
8
244
12
FirstBank
1901
Private
Commercial Bank
5
165
13
Science Museum Oklahoma
1958
Non-profit
Museum
1
168
14
Airco Service Inc.
1961
Private
HVAC , Plumbing, Electrical
3
200
15
Santa Fe South Schools, Inc.
2001
Non-profit
Education - Primary / Secondary School
8
200
16
Metro Technology Centers
1966
Public
Education
1
286
17
OCOM
2002
Partnership
Hospitals
9
278
Ownership
Sector
SMALL (FEWER THAN 125 EMPLOYEES) Rank
Company
Founded
Locations
Employees
1
Cornerstone Home Lending
1988
Private
Mortgage
3
86
2
eXp Realty
2009
Public
Agents / Brokers
4
80
3
OptionOne
2011
Private
Alternate-Site Infusion Company & Specialty Pharma
1
52
4
Burns & McDonnell
1898
Private
Engineering/Architecture/Construction
1
38
5
EOG Resources Inc
1985
Public
Exploration & Production
3
77
6
Russell-Murray Hospice, Inc.
1988
Non-profit
Non-profit
4
61
7
The First State Bank
1902
Private
Community Commercial Bank
4
56
8
Air Assurance Company
1985
Private
Heating, Ventilation, Air Cond, ,Plumbing
1
79
9
Centek Inc.
2012
Private
Petroleum, Gas, & Petroleum Products
1
50
10
FTC Transportation, Inc.
1986
Parent company
Transportation / Trucking
1
44
11
Advantage Controls LLC
1994
Private
Electronic controls and pumps
2
115
12
NextThought
2011
Private
Education Software Technology
2
48
13
Bank2
2002
Private
Community Bank
1
66
14
Boardman, LLC
1910
Private
Custom Steel Fabrication
1
65
15
Robert Half
1948
Public
Staffing
2
45
16
Aerotek, Inc.
1983
Private
Staffing
2
48
17
Anadarko School District
1907
Public
Primary / Secondary School
1
50
18
JE Dunn Construction
1924
Private
Commercial Construction
1
74
19
Addison Group
1999
Private
Professional Services
2
52
20
Standley Systems, LLC
1934
Private
Office Equipment Sales, Leasing and Services
8
119
21
Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center
1983
Government
Education and Training
1
77
22
VI Marketing and Branding
1989
Private
Marketing and Branding
1
63
23
Oklahoma Water Resources Board
1957
Government
State Government
1
98
24
BIS
1986
Private
Information Technology
2
80
25
Star Building Systems
1927
Public
Building Products
1
107
26
Western Technology Center
1970
Non-profit
Education
5
100
27
Saxum
2003
Private
Integrated Marketing Communications
2
35
28
JourneyChurch.tv
2001
Non-profit
Religion
1
45
29
PHILLIPS MURRAH P.C.
1986
Partnership
Law
1
114
30
Cookshack
1962
Private
Electrical Equipment, Appliances, & Components
1
42
31
BKD CPAs & Advisors
1923
Partnership
Public Accounting
3
120
32
Malarkey Roofing
1956
Private
Building Products
1
106
33
Oklahoma Arthritis Center
2000
Private
Rheumatology Center
1
69
34
R.K. Black, Inc.
1952
Private
Office Technology
3
108
35
Stan Johnson Company
1986
Private
Agents / Brokers
1
66
36
Scott Rice
1920
Public
Furniture, Home Furnishings, & Accessories
2
69
37
Noria
1998
Private
Engineering Consulting
1
41
38
Wireless Vision
2004
Partnership
Wireless
10
54
39
Oklahoma Allergy & Asthma Clinic
1925
Private
Physicians Practice
5
107
40
Oklahoma Department of Labor
1907
Government
State Government
1
83
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
TOP WORKPLACES
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2016
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TOP WORKPLACES
Employees need reasons to stay BY DOUG CLAFFEY Chief Executive Officer WorkplaceDynamics
Despite the sluggish state economy hurt by low crude oil prices, workers still have more employment options than they did in the wake of the recession. And business leaders likely are to face some daunting HR challenges if they haven’t already. Those who aren’t doing everything they can to keep great employees risk watching them walk out the door. Nationwide, our research shows 37 percent of employees — more than one in three — considered pursuing a better job elsewhere in 2015. That figure is an increase over the previous year (35.7 percent). And keep in mind, we’re studying organizations that either qualify as Top Workplaces or aspire to get there. These are companies that reap the benefits of employee engagement at levels more than double the norm in the United States. What makes employees want to stay? When organizations focus on what really matters — connection, alignment and effectiveness. We see it in the WorkplaceDynamics survey comments, like this one from an employee at financial services company TBS Factoring Service said, “I love that leadership lets everyone
have a voice in making suggestions and being aware of where we are headed.” Healthy organizations thrive when people feel connected. Whose responsibility is this? Doug Claffey, CEO of Senior leaders. WorkplaceDynamics It is their role to ensure employees understand where the company is going and how it is getting there. Biggest challenge: Labor Connection should be a big concern for employers, because hiring and retention are not getting easier. Companies are citing a skilled labor shortage as their most serious long-term challenge. When the Employer Associations of America asked executives to express their greatest challenges for business growth in their industry, hiring tops the list. That’s especially a challenge with unemployment below 3 percent in some markets. Although Oklahoma unemployment rose to 5.2 percent in September, that’s still
Employees talk about their company’s strong points BELOW: Whole Foods produces colorful, letter-shaped yummy doughnuts to deliver an appreciation message to team members in Tulsa.
ABOVE: Oklahoma Health Care Authority employees staff a trade show booth. [PHOTOS PROVIDED]
These comments from employees are related to special awards won by their employers.
award for ethics: “All employees contribute to the satisfaction of the client — military, government, or some rural water district — the same values apply to all.”
Employee at Central Technology Center, which won a special award for managers: “He makes time to help even when he’s busy. He never makes you feel silly for an idea that might seem a little crazy or outside the box.”
Employee at Hyatt Shared Service Center, which won an award for clued-in senior management: “The managers care about everyone. We are a family and you can feel the love between each person here.”
Employee at OptionOne, which won an award for new ideas: “Employees are encouraged to quarterly submit at least three new ideas in exchange for their portion of the profits.” Employee at eXp Realty, which won an award for efficiency: “With the cloud all of the answers needed are at your fingertips literally!” Employee at Russell-Murray Hospice, Inc., which won an award for meaningfulness: “(We) show genuine concern for dying patients.” Employee at Burns & McDonnell, which won an
Employee at Ben E. Keith Co., which won an award for appreciation: “My opinions and suggestions are being heard and talked about. The top guys in the company know what’s going on and are encouraging us individually and as a whole.” Employee at Guernsey, which won an award for work/life flexibility: “Flex time is available. Appreciation for overtime spent is verbally and materially (like a token meal with the team) expressed.” Employee at Oklahoma Health Care Authority, which won an award for benefits: “Our whole benefits package is great.”
well below the post-recession highs of 7.1 percent in early 2010. While pay and perks can offer some happiness, they are part of what we consider “Me” factors in workplace engagement. And that’s not what earns organizations a place on The Oklahoman’s 2016 Top Workplaces list. What matters more are the “We” factors. With that connection, employees are willing to invest more of themselves. Without it, they are more likely to underperform or leave. The Oklahoman’s 2016 Top Workplaces show this sense of connection. It’s easy for their employees to explain why “I love my job.” For example, someone at wholesale food distributor Ben E. Keith Co. said, “It has a culture that emphasizes teamwork and partnership.” Organizational health pays off Nationwide, organizations that
ranked as Top Workplaces by WorkplaceDynamics reported, on average, a 67 percent employee engagement rate, according to our surveys in 2015. That compares with 32 percent employee engagement for all U.S. workers, according to the most recent Gallup poll. Engaged employees are motivated to do great work, loyal to the organization and recommend the organization to others. Lack of engagement hurts productivity, hiring, retention and, ultimately, it hurts profits. Those who “got it” years ago are well-prepared, while organizations without a solid retention plan are probably in trouble. Workplace culture and employee engagement are more important than ever before. When you combine the “Me” and the “We,” you’ve got the recipe for the organizational health to serve up long-term, sustainable performance.
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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2016
TOP WORKPLACES
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
TOP LARGE EMPLOYER
Fourth time’s a charm for Paycom BY PAULA BURKES Business Writer pburkes@oklahoman.com
After three years as runner-up, Paycom has nabbed top billing among large employers on The Oklahoman’s fourth annual Top Workplaces list. The Oklahoma City-based company — which has grown to 1,467 employees since its 1998 founding — offers cloud-based software services to help employers manage payroll, hiring, health insurance, retirement and other human resources tasks. Employee perks include individual health insurance coverage for only $1 per paycheck, free long-term disability, free $25,000 life insurance policies, free access to an on-site gym and $4 daily lunches catered from area restaurants. To celebrate employee accomplishments, Paycom hosts a year-end awards banquet — with giveaways, karaoke and other games — at an upscale hotel in Dallas, offering chartered bus transportation. In addition, the company sponsors a fall family event with pony rides and a mystery maze and a Winter Wonderland with Santa. But for all of the above, employees say it’s the company culture that keeps them there. Heidi Lively, a manager in backend service support, said Paycom, her employer of nearly seven years, gave her the financial and emotional support to start her family 10 months ago. “A co-worker who’s become a good friend and I had our daughters six weeks apart, and today they’re both at the same nearby day care,” said Lively, 29, of Yukon. Paycom subsidizes a portion of the child care costs. Lively, who took 12 weeks off for maternity leave, admitted she had reservations about going back to work. “But when I pulled in the parking lot, I thought, ‘OK, I’m home,’” she said. The new mom said her employer, which offers monthly support groups for moms and dads, realizes there’s no such thing as work-life balance. “Instead, it’s work-life integration,”
Lively said. “Sometimes, there’s way more family priorities than work and vice versa,” she said. Meanwhile, Customer Service Supervisor Hillary Yetter, 26, of Oklahoma City, credits her total compensation package for helping her to soon buy a home. Within weeks after she joined Paycom three and half years ago, her supervisor asked her about what she wanted to accomplish there, Yetter said. “They create a culture of eager people wanting to push themselves,” she said. For his part, trainer and two-year employee Gerald Goodridge, 30, celebrates Paycom’s commitment to community service, including supporting him in his weekly ministry with Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Hefner Middle School, as well as the company’s commitment to The Salvation Army. Last year, Paycom donated a record-breaking company-and-employee gift of $65,000, along with 14,638 nonperishable foodstuffs.“A lot of places say they have core values. But at Paycom, they also show they value us and the community,” Goodridge said. “Not a week goes by that our COO doesn’t sit down in my cubicle and ask, ‘How are you guys doing?’ ” “I call it M-by-WA: managing by walking around,” COO Stacey Pezold said. “It’s the easiest thing to do as a leader and the most important thing to do.”Pezold recently launched a new LEADer business breakfast program, which gives employees opportunities to work with her and other senior leaders to build business acumen and leadership skills. More than one-third of the staff have applied and been accepted into the program, including Lively, Yetter and Goodridge.“It’s become more than I ever imagined it could be,” Pezold said. “It’s not about position and title, but learning to lead from wherever you are in the organization.”
FROM TOP: It’s Paycom’s culture, not its perks, that keeps them there, say employees (from left) Gerald Goodridge, Hillary Yetter and Heidi Lively. The Paycom campus in has a large employee dining area. Employees attend a training class at Paycom’s campus in northwest Oklahoma City. [PHOTOS BY PAUL HELLSTERN, THE OKLAHOMAN]
Paycom President and CEO Chad Richison said the company’s Top Workplaces’ honor is especially meaningful because it’s based on employee feedback. “Like all successful companies, our greatest asset is our people,” Richison said. “We try very hard to improve the lives of our staff, and we are delighted that is reflected in these results.”
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TOP WORKPLACES
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
TOP MIDSIZE EMPLOYER
Family atmosphere at
Melton Truck Lines
drives employee satisfaction BY PAULA BURKES Business Writer pburkes@oklahoman.com
A monthly celebration of Tulsa-based Melton Truck Lines perhaps poetically shows why the company topped The Oklahoman’s Top Workplaces list for midsize companies for the second year in a row. The executive team brings employees together one Wednesday each month to share updates and other important news, but primarily to thank employees for their company contributions. “Can I ask all the drivers who are here to stand up?” asked Angie Buchanan, vice president of safety and human resources, who kicked off the October meeting. “We want to especially recognize you. You’re the folks who make our money.” Established in 1954, Melton Truck Lines transports building materials, machinery and other goods on flatbeds across the contiguous United States, Canada and Mexico. In addition to 1,200 drivers, the company employs 315, including roughly 275 who work from its corporate offices at 808 N 161 Ave. Melton offers competitive pay and a generous benefits package, along with an on-site gym and personal trainer, on-site doctor and dentist and on-site cafe with discounted prices for healthier entrees like turkey burgers. Staff even can get a haircut on site — for $5 every Friday. But despite all the bonuses and conveniences, employees say it’s Melton’s family atmosphere that attracts and retains them. It shows. At the Wednesday meeting, President Bob Peterson gave territory account manager Ronnie Hardiman a big hug when he recognized and congratulated him on his 38 years service. Employees, on their annual service anniversaries, are presented placards with their corresponding years service, to slide under the nameplates on their desks.
ABOVE: Melton Truck Lines President Bob Peterson, left, hugs veteran employee Ronnie Hardiman on his 38th service anniversary. RIGHT: Melton Truck Lines employees applaud coworkers’ service anniversaries and promotions. [PHOTOS BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN]
“Ronnie started as a trailer inspector in Shreveport, and we’re thrilled for Ronnie’s commitment to us,” Peterson said. Congratulating senior service technician Ricky Green on his 22 years, Peterson threw in that Green had lost 40-plus pounds. “I’m proud of you, Ricky. I want to brag on you,” Peterson said.Everyone in attendance whooped and hollered when day porter Curtis Davison
was recognized for one year of service. The applause continued for promoted co-workers and new hires.The names of about 40 employees with October birthdays were flashed on the same huge audiovisual screen. And Employee Services Manager Marilyn Surber reminded celebrants that their names would go into a drawing for gift certificates. Wellness Manager Bret Bringhman announced OU Medicine was bringing its mobile mammography unit to campus
for females employees 40 and older to take advantage of free, and that Saturday was the Tulsa Run, noting Peterson had agreed to reimburse all employees who finish the 15-kilometer run. Talking shop, Peterson told employees the company had bought 900 new trucks over the past two years; that the market for re-selling its older 4-year-old trucks had cratered, but that business was better to help defray expenses. Next year, Melton plans to buy some trucks, he said, and not all flatbed trailers to give customers new trailer options. In closing, he strongly urged employees to tutor at-risk Tulsa kindergartners through second-graders through the nonprofit Reading Partners. With their supervisors’ approvals, employees have his blessing to volunteer up to one and half hours a week on paid company time, he said. Employee Services Coordinator Matthew Kennedy, 25, of Tulsa, said, “We’re like family here. We can joke around and have fun, but everyone knows why we’re here and that we need to work hard and work together.” Tracy Schroeder, 44, of Verdigris, worked 16 years as office manager for two area dental practices before hiring on a little over a year ago as manager of Melton’s on-site company store. “From Day One, it hasn’t been work,” said Schroeder, who believes she has the best job because “I get to know everybody” — drivers, as well as corporate staff. Along with working in human resources and safety, Delaney Rea, 25, of Tulsa, likes the extracurricular activities Melton offers. “I never played sports growing up, but here, I’m encouraged to be an active person,” said Delaney, who last year trained for and completed the Tulsa Run with Melton co-workers. Now, she plays on the company’s indoor soccer team. “People who stay here are charismatic energetic people,” Rea said.
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
TOP WORKPLACES
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2016
7
TOP SMALL EMPLOYER
Cornerstone Home Lending
takes care of customers, employees BY PAULA BURKES Business Writer pburkes@oklahoman.com
“May I get you a complimentary beverage of your choice?” A receptionist at Cornerstone Home Lending in northwest Oklahoma City offers all visitors this hospitality, while handing guests an exquisitely printed, leather-bound menu. The minute one walks into the company’s sun-filled third-floor offices that overlook Gaillardia Golf Course, it’s easy to see the work space is people-centric — for employees, as well as customers. While young children of loan applicants play on the floor with company-provided toys, some employees relax in an open and modern break area, as others work from treadmill desks and new moms welcome the use of a designated nursing room. Home to 85 workers, the Oklahoma City branch of Houston-based Cornerstone has been named No. 1 among small employers on The Oklahoman’s Top Workplaces list. Cornerstone, which has 150 offices nationwide, including in Norman and Tulsa, pays 91 percent of employee basic medical coverage, 100 percent of basic life and accidental death and 100 percent of long-term disability. It also matches 50 percent of employees’ first 2 percent contributions to their 401(k) plans. But employees say it’s the intangible benefits that attract and retain them. “I’ve never seen anything like the energy here,” said administrative aide Farhayah Zahid, 24, of Oklahoma City. “It begins at the top, trickles down and is contagious.” Zahid said Cornerstone fosters personal, as well as professional, growth through a “Leadership Lit” book club with reads like “Eat That Frog” by Brian Tracy and “Raving Fans” by Ken Blanchard that have taught her valuable lessons, including to stop procrastinating and “do the hairier things first,” she said. “Today, I have zero messages in my inbox, and my weekends are free,” Zahid said. She works full time and is carrying a full load of online business classes through Southwestern Oklahoma State University. When CornerArea talent manstone Home ager Jason Allbaugh, Lending employ33, of Oklahoma City, ees goes above said he’s most wowed and beyond for by Cornerstone’s a customer, a service mentality. bell is rung to “We help people signal a pendwith what for many ing announceis the biggest transment about their action of their life, extraordinary and we don’t treat service. them as numbers,” Allbaugh said. “There’s no ambiguity of what’s expected — the standard of excellence,” he said. “And you just don’t see that with other companies, no matter the industry.” Senior Vice President and Regional
ABOVE: Seated from left, Cornerstone Home Lending employees Brian Bomar, Farhayah Zahid and Eric Smith. Standing are Jason Allbaugh and Sam Bursch. RIGHT: Cornerstone Home Lending employees enjoying their treadmill desks are (from left) Heather Bomar, Brian Bomar, Christina Bredeson, Kelsey Ruby and Reagan Cochran. [PHOTOS BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN]
Manager Brian Bomar, 35, and his wife opened the office nine years ago. Now, Cornerstone is the largest home lender statewide on the purchase side, funding $500 million annually, he said. “But we’re not content if just our numbers are successful,” Bomar said. “We want our employees to work no more than 40 hours a week, which is unheard of in this industry, and have healthy relationships and relationships with their kids,” the Edmond father of four said. “It’s not just about can we do the job, but about serving clients and each other,” he said, noting the digital screen in the company conference room is meant to put their customers at ease. “They can see pictures of us having fun with our family and friends, realize that we’re people, too, and hopefully trust us to take good care of them,” Bomar said. Company party pictures include employees celebrating monthly birthdays, dressed up for Halloween, playing paint ball, driving Go-Karts and eating barbecue chicken grilled on-site by Bomar. Loan officer Sam Bursch, 45, is amazed how the company has grown from six employees when he started eight years ago. “I gave myself a bit of a demotion to come here,” said Bursch, who had worked for a major bank competitor, “but I visited the corporate office and could see the vision.” “In the past, I had to curb the business I brought in, because it was more than the company could handle,” he said. “But Brian is good about hiring ahead of our production needs, so I can be confident in building my business.”
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TOP WORKPLACES
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
BEST OF THE REST LARGE EMPLOYERS No. 2: Encompass Home Health Hospice Encompass is one of the largest Medicare certified home health care services provider in United States. Services include skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and medical social services, plus home health aide services. Encompass has more than 215 office staff locations throughout the country. Employees enjoy a company culture that empowers them with a stateof-the-art electronic medical records system, and business model; supports them with a commitment to ethics and professionalism; and provides them with extensive training and development, career advancement opportunities, a comprehensive benefit package, company car programs and much more. It offers home health, hospice and pediatric home care. All Encompass employees are eligible to participate in the 401(k) savings plan. Full-time employees are eligible to enroll in one of three health insurance plans, one of two dental insurance plans, and voluntary vision insurance. Basic life insurance is free to the employee. Full-time employees accrue 30 paid days off per year. The Encompass Scholars program offers tuition reimbursement. A young scholars program benefits the children and grandchildren of employees. There also is an employee referral bonus program. Employees also can bank up to 450 hours in case of an extended illness affecting them or a family member. No. 3: Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institute dedicated to understanding and developing more effective treatments for human disease. OMRF scientists focus on such critical research areas as Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, lupus, multiple sclerosis and cardiovascular disease. The foundation offers several no-cost benefits to full-time employees, including group term life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, long-term disability insurance, and a retirement annuity program. Cost-shared benefits include medical and dental insur-
ance, an on-site fitness center, tuition assistance and an on-site cafe. Employee Comment: “I love my job because of the freedom to try new ideas and discovery.” No. 4: Ben E. Keith Co. Ben E. Keith is a wholesale distributor of food service products. The company distributes dry, refrigerated and frozen food products, paper goods, chemicals, equipment and small wares. The company offers holiday, vacation, sick and other paid leave (jury, bereavement, etc.); a credit union; major medical, dental and life insurance; an employee assistance program; and employee educational assistance. The company fully funds a retirement plan and a profit-sharing plan. The profit-funded Retirement plan transfers to an employee’s IRA upon retirement after vesting (100 percent in seven years). The profit-funded profit-sharing plan provides a monthly stipend upon retirement after meeting requirements (10-year employee, 50 years old or older), including 100 percent vesting after five years. Employees can’t contribute to either plan. Employee Comment: “The company has always kept their word and done what they said they would.” No. 5: Valir Health Valir Health is a comprehensive health care organization specializing in a full range of medical services, from inpatient and outpatient physical rehabilitation, employer contract services, PACE to endof-life care. Valir Health offers its employees a benefits package emphasizing choice, and giving employees the opportunity to design an overall package that meets their individual needs. Full-time employees receive paid time off, health, dental and vision insurance, life insurance, and short-term and long-term disability coverage. The plan includes flexible spending accounts and an optional longevity bonus plan. Employee comment: “Flexible schedule, wide variety of day-to-day tasks, confidence in integrity and know-how of the leader and members of my department.”
How we determined Oklahoma’s Top Workplaces Who determines Top Workplaces? Those who know them best: the employees. The Oklahoman partnered with Philadelphiabased WorkplaceDynamics, the employee research and consulting firm, to determine the region’s Top Workplaces rankings. Beginning in June, The Oklahoman ran articles and advertisements encouraging employees in the region to nominate companies as Top Workplaces. WorkplaceDynamics invited those companies, as well as other organizations in the region, to participate in the program. Anyone could nominate a company. The only requirement was that the organization must employ at least 35 people in Oklahoma. The organization could be public, private, nonprofit or governmental. WorkplaceDynamics invited 1,328 workplaces to participate and surveyed 92 of them. Only those organizations that agreed to participate were included in the surveys. The surveyed firms employ 25,533 people in Oklahoma. Of those employees who received questionnaires, 16,723 responded, either on paper or online. The employee survey seeks responses from 24 statements covering seven factors. Key to those are organizational health factors, which measure how well employees are working together toward a common cause: • Alignment — where the company is headed, its values, cooperation • Effectiveness — doing things well, sharing different viewpoints, encouraging new ideas • Connection — employees feel appreciated, their work is meaningful • My Manager — cares about concerns, helps learn and grow
“Time and time again, our research has proven that what’s most important to them is a strong belief in where the organization is headed, how it’s going to get there,
and the feeling that everyone is in it together,” said Doug Claffey, CEO of WorkplaceDynamics. In addition, the survey asks employees about other factors: • Employee Engagement — loyalty, motivation, and referral • Leader — confidence in company leadership • The Basics — Pay, benefits, flexibility
Statements relating to “Connection” and “Alignment” were among the most important to employees, while statements about pay and benefits rated among the least important. “While pay and benefits remain important to a point, they do not make a bad workplace better,” Claffey said. After employees completed the surveys, WorkplaceDynamics ran statistical tests to look for any questionable results. (It sometimes will disqualify a small number of employers based on those tests.) Employers were categorized into size bands, because “smaller employers tend to score higher than midsize employers, and midsize employers tend to score higher than large employers,” Claffey said. The employers were ranked within their size band based solely on employee responses to the survey statements. The top employers in each size band were selected as Top Workplaces in Oklahoma for 2016. WorkplaceDynamics also determined a list of special awards based on standout scores on specific survey statements. Why is a particular employer not on the list? Perhaps the company took the survey and scored too low. Or, it might have chosen not to participate. “We hope more Oklahoma employers take the time next year to survey their employees and see where they stand,” Claffey said. WORKPLACEDYNAMICS
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TOP WORKPLACES
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BEST OF THE REST MIDSIZE EMPLOYERS No. 2: Express Services Inc. Express Employment Professionals puts people to work. It generated more than $3.02 billion in sales and employed a record number of 500,002 people in 2015. Express ranks as the largest franchised staffing company and second-largest privately held staffing company in the United States. The company’s long-term goal is to put a million people to work annually. Its stated vision is to help as many people as possible find good jobs by helping as many clients as possible find good people. During its annual Brand It Blue Day in June, employees volunteered their time working and serving at their local food banks, pantries, and other nonprofit organizations. Headquarters employees and 235 Express locations donated more than 96,000 meals through food drives that were held leading up to the day of service. The Fun Committee at Express recently held a charity cook-off called Tasty Tunes, that combined some of the employee’s favorite dishes and a live music competition featuring employee talent. The event benefited Children’s Hospital Foundation. Fourth of July was a huge celebration for employees and their family members, complete with food trucks, games, outdoor activities and fireworks. Other events include the annual Halloween decoration contest, Secret Santa, sweater contest and the company’s annual Christmas party. Employee Comment: “I love my job because of what this company stands for — the job gives people hope everyday.” No. 3: Hyatt Shared Service Center Hyatt is designed to be a place of outstanding rewards, where talent opens doors to exciting challenges in the hospitality
industry. The Hyatt Shared Service Center provides accounting support for more than 150 Hyatt Hotels in North America and Latin America. Some of the accounting functions are: billing customer service, accounts receivable, accounts payable, sales and use tax, payroll and treasury. However, the functions the Hyatt Shared Service Center supports continue to grow. Hyatt’s full-time employees receive medical, dental and vision benefits and all colleagues are eligible for complimentary and discount nights, health club reimbursements, Hyatt Retirement Savings Plan, education assistance, advancement opportunities, community involvement and an employee stock purchasing program. Employee comment: “This is a great place to learn and grow.” No. 4: Meridian Technology Center Meridian Technology Center’s mission is: Educate. Enrich lives. Secure economic futures. Meridian Technology Center is part of a network of 29 career technology centers across the state. Since 1975, Meridian has been training individuals for success in the workplace. A wide variety of course offerings make career education possible for students from all walks of life. The Meridian Technology Center district covers parts of Lincoln, Logan, Noble, Pawnee and Payne counties, encompassing more than 900 square miles. The district includes residents in communities served by the following school districts: Agra, Carney, Glencoe, Guthrie, Morrison, Mulhall-Orlando, Pawnee, Perkins-Tryon, Perry and Stillwater. Medical and dental insurance is provided for full-time employees. Meridian Technology Center provides full-time employees with paid contribu-
SMALL EMPLOYERS tions to the Oklahoma Teachers’ Retirement System based on the employee’s salary. A fitness facility is available to current Meridian Technology Center employees and current board members. Spouses of current employees and current board members may use the facility when accompanied by the employee or board member. Additionally, children, 16 years of age and older, of a Meridian Technology Center employee or current board member may use the facility when accompanied by the employee. Employee comment: “I get to watch my students grow into professionals that will someday be in leadership positions of their own.” No. 5: TBS Factoring Service Factoring is a transaction in which a business sells its account receivable, or invoices, to a third-party commercial financial company, also known as a “factor.” This is done so that the business can receive cash more quickly than it would by waiting 30 to 60 days for a customer payment. TBS’s niche is transportation. Before a carrier transports/hauls a load, the factoring company makes sure the broker/shipper is creditworthy to pay the trucker’s invoice. TBS buys the invoice and advances the trucker up to 95 percent of the value of the invoice, less the discount. We keep records of all payments and collect payments from the broker/shipper, so the trucker doesn’t have to. Competitive pay, performance bonuses, 100 percent employer-paid benefits paid for employees, company picnic, holiday party, monthly Employee Appreciation Day (ice cream truck, massages, etc.), paid time off to mentor Junior Achievement students. Employee comment: “I am encouraged to take on new roles and responsibilities.”
No. 2: eXp Realty eXp Realty understands the paradigm shift in the real estate industry and is on the forefront of change. Completely paperless, 3-D immersive cloud office and some of the best tools, support for our agents make eXp a highly desirable place to work. The firm is designed to be a collaborative environment at which all of its agents are owners of the company. Its agent-centric model is unlike any other model currently in the industry, the company said. Employee comment: “I work when I choose. I have leadership and resources available to me at any time should I need them for my personal growth.”
to the office and gives each employee a 20-minute massage. Staff birthdays and company anniversaries are celebrated for employees along with a monthly office party celebrating all staff who’ve accomplished a milestone that month. Staff are encouraged to participate in the various company-sponsored athletic team sports or events throughout the year. Employees receive various discounts through company partnerships and are rewarded for their hard work with monthly “beer Fridays” where staff can enjoy a beer after hours and mingle with the owners and management team. Employee comment: “I get to work with heroes and overachievers who care about patients.”
No. 3: OptionOne No. 4: Burns & McDonnell The company’s mission is to improve the quality of life one patient at a time by providing personalized infusion solutions. OptionOne is a specialty infusion services provider committed to providing our patients with an exceptional level of personalize care. The company is independently owned and operated by experienced professionals who believe that optimal outcomes are achieved by integrating evidence based medicine, the latest generation of patient care technology and a comprehensive clinical approach to care, OptionOne said. Full-time employees receive full health and dental packages, along with an IRA program for which the company matches contributions up to 3 percent. Employees receive discounted gym memberships, prepaid legal services, along with monthly “massage Mondays” where a massage therapist comes
Burns & McDonnell is a 100 percent employeeowned company made up of more than 5,500 engineers, architects, construction professionals, scientists, consultants and entrepreneurs with offices across the country and throughout the world. With employee-owners working from more than 35 Burns & McDonnell offices, the firm’s key areas of focus include: power and energy, oil and gas, transportation, facilities and buildings, water and environmental. Its Oklahoma City focuses on pursuing projects related to facilities, environmental, electrical transmission and distribution, oil and gas, and process and industrial. Burns & McDonnell provides generous performance-based incentives to employee-owners at the end SEE SMALL, 14
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THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
LEADERSHIP AWARDS L A R G E C O M PA N I E S
M I D S I Z E C O M PA N I E S
Empowering employees produces value-added results for UCO
TBS Factoring Service looks to employee ranks for next-level leaders
Q: What are the leading skills and/or traits you seek in employees? A: UCO seeks to employ those who
are eager and willing to learn, adapt, innovate and collaborate. We strive to create an organizational culture that encourages our employees to use their discipline knowledge, their skills and abilities in an area that they are passionate about or care deeply about. Our diversity contributes to UCO’s continuing creative evolution based on ideas generated on campus every day. We know why we’re here, namely to help students learn and communities thrive, and to take care of each other. Q: What traits or behaviors disqualify employment in your organization? A: We perform our due diligence
from a human resource perspective, of course, but there’s no trait or behavior that specifically disqualifies someone from employment at UCO. During the interview stage, each department looks for traits
“UCO TAKES A MULTIFACETED APPROACH TO ASSIST IN OUR EMPLOYEES’ CONTINUING DEVELOPMENT. WE STRIVE TO CREATE TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCES FOR OUR STUDENTS, AND WE SEEK TO OFFER THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR EMPLOYEES”
and behaviors that meet their specific needs. It takes all of us connecting with one another to create this institution and its culture. Having said that, we strive to align with our Don Betz is the mission, vision and president of University of Cen- values so that the tral Oklahoma in relationships are Edmond. a good fit for all involved. Q: How do you develop employees? A: UCO takes a multifaceted
approach to assist in our employees’ continuing development. We strive to create transformative experiences for our students, and we seek to offer the same opportunities for our employees. UCO has a designated professional development team that offers specific programs in management and leadership development, as well as classroom and online training for employees at all levels of responsibility. We have gifted and dedicated faculty and staff that offer excellent leadership programs open to all at UCO. We actively encourage faculty and staff to take advantage of those personal and professional development opportunities. Also, we intentionally develop collaboration among this UCO team. When we connect across divisions or disciplines, we create a more resilient and effective community. Challenges are met, relationships are forged, and transformation of our perspectives and capacities occurs. Empowerment — encouraging an individual’s strengths to be utilized — has produced value-added results for the individual and for the university alike. PAULA BURKES, BUSINESS WRITER
Q: What are the leading skills or traits you seek in employees? A: As a leading provider of cash flow
to the nation’s small- to medium-sized businesses, TBS serves independence; that’s our passion. Independence is also something we look for in our employees — high-integrity self-starters eager to learn new things, with the problemsolving skills to get things done and keep our clients moving forward. Q: What traits or behaviors disqualify employment in your organization? A: Time is of the essence when dealing
with other people’s money. We work in very high volumes and we have to be able to work as a team to serve the customer and ensure that needs are met and nothing falls through the cracks. Our customers can be pretty demanding, which means we have to double down on energy and efficiency. One person with a negative attitude can bring the whole team down. With everyone working so hard, we pitch in for each other, so there’s no room for anyone with a siloed “not my problem” mindset. Q: How do you develop employees? A: We believe strongly in cross-training
and promoting from within our own ranks. With our rapid growth over the past several years we’ve had plenty of opportunities for advancement. To ensure that our
associates are aware of all of the opportunities within the company, their first few days on the job are spent in product training, rotating from department to department to understand what each Wood Kaufman is department does, and managing member how it relates to what of TBS Factoring they will be doing. It’s Service LLC. important for each associate to understand not only how to do their job, but also how their effort fits into the bigger picture so that they understand their contribution to our success. We offer web-based training and cross-company leadership development to discuss best practices and raise up our next level of leaders from within the ranks of existing associates. Additionally, we provide all of our associates with quarterly updates from senior management, sharing key performance metrics, as well as short- and long-term plans and strategies. We believe that if we’re going to ask them to help us achieve our strategic goals, we need to share those goals so we can work in alignment. PAULA BURKES, BUSINESS WRITER
S M A L L C O M PA N I E S
Air Assurance Co. develops team members individually Q: What are the leading skills or traits you seek in employees? A: Someone that meets our core values,
Q: How do you develop employees? A: Regular reviews,
(T = true Integrity, R = Respect and readily accepts change, U = Unsurpassed excellence, S = Safety, sales and service, T = Teamwork and Training; all = TRUST) has a good work ethic, supports the company and has great customer service skills.
encouraging each team member individually, developing relationships, caring for their families and life, continually training and leading by serving.
Q: What traits or behaviors disqualify employment in your organization? A: Not adhering to core values, consid-
ering only themselves and not the team.
Mike Rampey is president of Air Assurance Co.
PAULA BURKES, BUSINESS WRITER
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
TOP WORKPLACES
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2016
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TOP WORKPLACES
I love this job because ... Employees were allowed to comment on their employers during the surveys that determined which companies would be ranked as Top Workplaces. These are selected comments workers made about why they love their job. Addison Group We have the ability to control our career and our own desk, which allows us to control our earning potential, as well. Advantage Controls LLC I have a great manager who actually listens and empowers me to make decisions that are meaningful. He is open and truthful when asked anything. Aerotek Inc. I am getting amazing training and love the potential to grow financially with a great company. Air Assurance Co. I feel valued. Anadarko School District I can guide students toward a bright future, assisting them in “I HAVE college and NEVER career FELT SO choices. NEEDED AND SO WELCOMED.”
Bank2 We have a mission of BuildSanta Fe South ing Better Schools, Inc. Lives, which employee helps my focus on why we work hard. I feel that I don't just have a job, I am actually helping people.
up, flexibility to balance work and personal life, positive attitudes of those around me, longevity of most of the staff locally and in the firm, encouragement to always better yourself and the firm. Boardman LLC Boardman has a rich history and the employees understand the history and want to be part of something special. Canadian Valley Technology Center I feel like I make a difference. CEC I am treated with respect. Centek Inc. We are a family. Central Technology Center Central Tech has so many caring people that work together and help each other out. Cookshack The product I help make is unsurpassed in producing happiness.
through helping people become homeowners. I love the relationships I have built with my branches and the appraisers. Guernsey I am encouraged to learn new methods of doing things and provided with the training and technology to use these methods. Hyatt Shared Service Center This is a great place to learn and grow. JE Dunn Construction We get to do what we love and we have a lot of fun doing it. Metro Technology Centers I get to fulfill my calling. NextThought I learn something new everyday I spend at NextThought. Noria It's always active and new activities going on. OCOM The people are great including front line staff to senior leaders.
Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center The dedicated people I work with.
Oklahoma Allergy & Asthma Clinic We help people.
Edmond Public Schools Everyone works together as a team for the common good.
Oklahoma Arthritis Center It is a pleasure to work with people that care to make a positive difference in their employees and patients lives.
FirstBank It allows me to work with some incredible individuals who are like family.
Oklahoma Department of Labor I feel like I'm making a difference.
FTC Transportation, Inc. Good equipment, good living and good benefits.
Oklahoma Health Care Authority It allows me to use my full potential in a positive way.
BIS I am allowed to grow, think, plan, and achieve my goals with assistance from company leadership.
GableGotwals We care about how we obtain the end results for the client. It's a 'we' organization.
Oklahoma Water Resources Board I have an opportunity to address water issues and shape policy and regulation for future generations.
BKD CPAs & Advisors The ability to make decisions without always consulting higher
Gateway Mortgage Group, LLC My job loves me. I feel appreciated and a part of changing lives
Phillips Murrah P.C. There are more perks/incentives offered for the employees than
most or nearly all firms this size or larger. R.K. Black, Inc. I can be creative. I am responsible for what I do but not judged negatively if I make a wrong choice. Robert Half It gives me the opportunity to coach as well as learn each and every day.
Burns & McDonnell employeeowners volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. [PHOTO PROVIDED]
Russell-Murray Hospice, Inc. I am allowed to have flexible schedule and work independently. Santa Fe South Schools, Inc. I have never felt so needed and so welcomed. Saxum I feel genuinely valued. I love the people. I love that we're constantly striving to be better. Scott Rice I get to do what I enjoy and take pride in it and I have flexibility in my schedule to make all my kids' functions too! Southwestern Medical Center I am doing what I love for a company who values my service. Stan Johnson Co. The people, culture and flexibility. Star Building Systems Flexibility to work remote. TBS Factoring Service I am encouraged to take on new roles & responsibilities. The First State Bank I feel accomplished when I leave at the end of the day. TopGolf Entertainment Group I have made friends here.
University of Central Oklahoma I get paid to be around smart people and young people with great potential. I have the freedom to excel and build on my own strengths. US Cellular Because I’m empowered to provide the service my customers expect. VI Marketing and Branding We're growing, and I have a chance to grow with the company. The people are awesome. Company leaders only hire people who fit with the culture. We all work hard and play hard as hell. Company owners/leaders are genuinely good people who care about their employees and the community. Western Technology Center I like the challenges presented and the varied duties. Wireless Vision I like the team we have and the friendly atmosphere. Yukon Public Schools Where else would I be able to do what I love and share that passion with my students.
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THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
SNAPSHOTS
An engineer at Centek, which produces products for the petroleum industry, inspects a centralizer.
JourneyChurch.tv initiated a Journey On Campaign encouraging its church family to stay connected in community through their travels.
University of Central Oklahoma coeds cheer on the Bronco football team. Edmond’s UCO is one of Oklahoma’s Top Workplaces in the large category.
Oklahoma City employees of BKD CPAs & Advisors sort groceries at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.
Employees of CEC, an engineering firm, compete in the Oklahoma City Corporate Challenge. True to its name, the VI Marketing and Branding’s softball team, the Kings, won the championship trophy in this tourney.
The Phillips Murrah law firm rowing team, Law & Oarder, won bronze medals in the 2016 Oklahoma Regatta Festival.
P H OTO S P R OV I D E D
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TOP WORKPLACES
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DID YOU KNOW?
Interesting facts about some of the 70 winners of The Oklahoman’s Top Workplaces 2016 The history of FirstBank began in 1901, when the Antlers National Bank was chartered. In 1906, the bank moved to the location where FirstBank in Antlers still operates. During the Great Depression in the 1930s, many depositors of Antlers National Bank were given stock in lieu of their money. Two of those receiving stock were relatives of the present day owners. The Metro Technology Centers Springlake Campus is on the site of what used to be an Oklahoma City landmark — Springlake Amusement Park. This park was opened in 1922 and for more than 60 years, Oklahomans looked to Springlake as a local spot for entertainment, dancing and breathtaking rides, such as the legendary “Big Dipper” roller coaster. On June 28, 1982, VoTech District No. 22 purchased the 95-acre park for $1.1 million. CEO Renzi Stone started the marketing communications firm Saxum from his living room, keeping letterhead in the linen closet. When choosing a company name, he used the Latin word saxum, meaning “large stone.” A former basketball player at the University of Oklahoma, Stone, at 6 feet 10 inches, is indeed a large Stone. Canadian Valley Technology Center was the sixth “area vocational school” to open in Oklahoma in 1970 with main campuses in El Reno and Chickasha. The school added a third campus near Yukon in 2008 and has since embarked upon a major rebuilding project in El Reno in the wake of a 2013 tornado that destroyed nearly all of that campus. Centek Inc. takes its employees to random drug screens via limousine, and has never had an employee test positive. Employees design their own work areas, lead plant tours, participate in problem solving, root-cause analysis and implementation of solutions. Monthly communication meetings
include employee presentations covering safety, quality and improvements. Bank2 recently staged a hot dog eating contest that raised more than $5,000 to help buy a drilling rig for some Ugandan entrepreneurs to be able to drill more water wells. The CEO meets with every new employee, and takes employees to have lunch as part of a weekly event called “Burgers with the Boss.” Since its inception in 1994, Advantage Controls has undergone eight facility expansions, increasing its size from 900 square feet in 1994 to more than 100,000 square feet today. Company founder Dick Morris is more recognizable in the Muskogee community — particularly among children — as the Hi-Bi the clown. As part of the Bedouin Shrine clown unit, Hi-Bi has been spreading laughter and cheer since 1973. The First State Bank is Oklahoma’s oldest active state-chartered bank. It was founded in 1902 in Canute, where it still operates a branch. Cookshack was founded in 1962 by Gene and Judy Ellis. Gene Ellis built the company’s first smoker oven out of an old refrigerator. Aerotek Inc.’s president started as a recruiter, and the CFO started as a business operations associate. Aerotek offers a professional development and training program that includes more than 200 training events, and hundreds of online learning courses. Southwestern Medical Center in Lawton is the oldest hospital in the region, opening its doors in October 1907. It was with the first hospital in Lawton (1907), the first school of nursing (1907), the first operating room (1907), the first ambulance service in the area (1909), the first OB services (1912), the first ICU (1959), the first cancer center (1992) and the first cardiac cath lab (1995).
BIS owns a food trailer dubbed Mega Bites, and employees are routinely treated to impromptu meals and parties. BIS also owns a monster military vehicle that will be making appearances in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. In their downtime, team members can play Ping-Pong or various video games. Whole Foods Market supports microlending in rural communities around the world. The company provides a good deal of the funding for the loans and underwrites administrative costs so every dollar donated goes directly to those who need it most. Team members contribute more than $27,000 from their paychecks each pay period to Whole Planet Foundation, which totals over $7.9 million to date and has helped more than 230,000 people. BKD CPAs & Advisors has an OK Employee Engagement Council, which evaluates and develops improvements to the firm’s policies and programs to promote employee engagement and performance excellence in all areas. Among the developments are a Fitbit wellness program; candid discussion time with the managing partner; coworker “thank you” rewards, and an anonymous feedback channel. Founded in 1910, Boardman LLC has fabricated many different items including water stock tanks, farm implements, road graders, cotton gin equipment, bridges, anti-submarine net floats, destroyer escort smoke stacks and ventilators for the Liberty Ships, and bomb tail and fin assemblies during the Korean War. Boardman also developed the first “Auto-Page” drive-up book returns for Oklahoma City library patrons. Working graduates of Central Technology Center Central Tech earn an average annual salary $32,384, 25 percent more per hour than the average person entering the same occupation in this geographic area.
GableGotwals is owned by the attorneys who have reached “shareholder” status, so the firm has more than 50 owners.
started working for the company when he was 10 years old. A third generation of the family now working in the business.
Gateway Mortgage Group, LLC last year hired more than 350 new employees, opened 34 new branches and obtained licensing rights to conduct business in four new states.
Russell-Murray Hospice Inc. provides care to terminally ill patients whether they have a payment source or not.
Noria, an engineering consultation firm, offers training courses in 12 different languages in more than 40 countries.
Standley Systems LLC is an Oklahomabased, family-owned, document management company that started in Chickasha in 1934 as a typewriter sales and service business. It is the only remaining Oklahoma business machine company of that era that has successfully changed with the times and embraced every new technology that has evolved in man’s pursuit of faster and more efficient ways to put “ink on paper.”
The Oklahoma Health Care Authority was established by the Legislature in 1993. The agency became the single state Medicaid agency in 1995.
Star Building Systems and its parent company, NCI Group, were listed in the 2013 Information Week 500, a list of top technology innovators in the United States.
The Oklahoma Water Resources Board has facilitated more than $3.2 billion in financial assistance to Oklahoma cities, towns, and rural water districts for water and wastewater improvements while saving those groups more than $1 billion over conventional financing options. The board manages about 13,000 stream water and groundwater permits that allocate approximately 6.2 million acre-feet of water per year.
TopGolf Entertainment Group creates more than 150 full-time jobs with benefits at each location, including more than 15 management positions and 2 to 3 golf professionals. Most of Topgolf’s food is prepared from scratch daily.
JourneyChurch.tv was formed on Aug 5, 2001, when Pastor Clark Mitchell, his wife Robin, and 34 others gathered in a living room. Journey Church now has a community of thousands.
Jeff and Tracey Wills owned Canadian Valley Medical Solutions, which was acquired by Walgreens in 2005. They had a five-year noncompete agreement and then later started OptionOne in 2011. A large percentage of OptionOne’s staff worked at Canadian Valley Medical Solutions and left Walgreen’s to work for OptionOne. R.K. Black Inc., founded in 1952 by Bob and Lorraine Black, just started its 65th year of business. Chris Black, a second-generation owner,
After six months of consecutive employment with the University of Central Oklahoma, the school offers a tuition waiver of $750 per semester, up to $1,500 per year, to benefited employees and their dependents. The National Weather Service recently renewed UCO’s certification as a “StormReady University,” recognizing the institution for its established severe weather preparedness procedures. In June 2015, VI Marketing and Branding topped some of the world’s largest ad agencies and take home its first National Addy, thanks to its animation and special effects expertise. In 2016, the firm is expected to hit the 70-employee mark.
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THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
OVERVIEW
Top Workplaces lists include 17 newcomers, 13 four-year winners BY PAULA BURKES Business Writer pburkes@oklahoman.com
Of the 70 companies recognized on this year’s Top Workplaces lists, 17 are new, while 13 have made the cut all four years of The Oklahoman rankings. Newcomers claimed three of the 13 spots on the large employer list, including Top Golf Entertainment Group, No. 6; Yukon Public Schools, No. 7; and U.S. Cellular, No. 8. Among the 17 midsize companies listed, four are first-timers, including Hyatt Shared Service Center, No. 3; Science Museum Oklahoma, No. 13; Airco Service Inc., No. 14; and the Oklahoma Center for Orthopaedic & Multi-Specialty Surgery LLC (OCOM), No. 17. One quarter of the small-employer winners are new, including top-five performers Cornerstone Home Lending, No. 1; eXp Realty, No. 2; and Burns & McDonnel engineering, architecture and construction firm, No. 4. Meanwhile, veteran winners dominated six of the 13 large-employer spots, including Paycom, No. 1; Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, No. 3;
SMALL Continued from 9
end of the year. Performance appraisals form the basis for competitive salary adjustments, incentive bonuses, career planning and development, promotion transfers and training. The firm also provides 401(k) matching and the opportunity to earn health care premium discounts through our wellness incentive program. A companywide flextime program encourages work-life balance. Employees own 100 percent of the company. The employee stock ownership plan allows employee-owners to participate directly in the profitability of the company beginning on their first day
Employees at eXp Realty gather for a meeting. [PHOTO PROVIDED]
Ben E. Keith Company, No. 4; Valir Health, No. 5; Whole Foods Market, No. 11; and Southwestern Medical Center, No. 13. On the list for midsize employers, No. 10-ranked Canadian Valley Technology Center holds the distinction of being the only four-time winner. And among small employers, there are six that have made the lists all four
years: EOG Resources, No. 5; Bank2, No. 13; Oklahoma Water Resources Board, No. 23; Saxum, No. 27; BKD CPAs & Advisors, No. 31; and Oklahoma Arthritis Center, No. 33. Compared with last year’s rankings, the five companies that led in measurable improvements are small employers EOG Resources, No. 5, up from No. 20 last year; NextThought education
of employment at no cost to them. The company also offer insurance plans for medical, dental and vision. Short-term disability, life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment are provided at no cost. Employee-owners receive up to 15-25 days of paid time off depending on years of service, seven paid holidays, a floating holiday and bereavement leave. Employee comment: “As an employeeowned company, everyone pulls in the same direction for the benefit of all.”
development, production and marketing of crude oil, condensate, natural gas liquids and natural gas in the United States, Canada, offshore Trinidad, the United Kingdom North Sea and China. EOG does not own or operate refining operations. EOG sells its production to marketing and pipeline companies and direct consumers of crude oil and natural gas. EOG offers medical, dental, vision, long-term disability, employee, spouse and dependent child life insurance, AD&D, Health Savings Account and multiple flexible spending accounts. EOG has a comprehensive wellness program with participation incentives for employees and covered spouses. Participation in the EOG Savings and Retirement Plan is effective on the first
Nov. 5: EOG Resources Inc. EOG Resources Inc. is one of the largest independent, nonintegrated crude oil and natural gas companies in the United States. EOG engages in the exploration,
software technology company, No. 12, up from No. 31; and Advantage Controls, No. 11, up from No. 24; midsize employer Meridian Technology Center; No. 4, up from No. 7; and large employer Paycom, No. 1, up from No. 2. Specifically, EOG made its biggest strides in the areas of “we do things efficiently and well” and “senior managers understand what’s really happening,” 21 percent and 19 percent, respectively. NextThought did better in “I feel well-informed about important decisions” and “I’ve not considered searching for a better job in the past month,” 36 percent in both areas. Advantage Controls rose in “my benefits package is good compared to others in the industry,” 21 percent, and “I’ve not considered searching for a better job in the past month,” 20 percent. Paycom improved 28 percent in “My pay is fair for the job I do” and 24 percent in “I feel genuinely appreciated.” And Meridian improved in “There’s not a lot of negativity in my workplace” and “My manager makes it easier to do my job,” 29 percent and 14 percent, respectively.
day of employment and contributions are matched, dollar for dollar, up to 6 percent. In addition to the match, EOG also funds retirement contributions of 3 percent to 9 percent of base pay and bonus. Vacation benefits for full-time employees range from 4-6 weeks annually, based on age and years of service. Other benefits include up to six months of income protection due to short-term disability, fitness and tuition reimbursement, employee stock purchase plan, 10 paid holidays and a flexible work schedule with early release on Fridays. All employees are granted stock appreciation rights upon hire and are eligible for additional grants annually. Employee comment: “There are few limits, I am not confined to a box.”
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
TOP WORKPLACES
SPECIAL AWARDS
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2016
Leadership
Leadership
Leadership
I have confidence in the leader of this company
I have confidence in the leader of this company.
I have confidence in the leader of this company.
Large
Don Betz, University of Central Oklahoma
Direction
Midsize
Wood Kaufman, TBS Factoring Service
Small
Mike Rampey, Air Assurance Company
New ideas
Managers My manager helps me learn and grow.
I believe this company is going in the right direction.
Paycom
15
New ideas are encouraged at this company.
My manager makes it easier to do my job well.
OptionOne
My manager cares about my concerns.
Central Technology Center
Doers At this company, we do things efficiently and well.
eXp Realty
Meaningfulness My job makes me feel like I am part of something meaningful.
Ethics This company operates by strong values and ethics.
Burns & McDonell
Russell-Murray Hospice, Inc.
Clued in senior management Senior managers understand what is really happening at this company.
Hyatt Shared Service Centrer
Work /life flexibility I have the flexibility I need to balance my work and personal life.
Guernsey
Communication
1st
Appreciation I feel genuinely appreciated at this company.
I feel well-informed about important decisions at this company.
Ben E. Keith Company
US Cellular
Training
I get the formal training I want for my career.
Meridian Technology Center
$
Benefits
My benefits package is good compared to others in this industry.
Oklahoma Health Care Authority
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NEWSOK.COM