At Comcast the priority – as it is for the most successful companies – taking care of and understanding employees is a high priority.
And it’s not just the full-time staffers. For instance, Comcast recently conducted extensive surveys with thousands of current and former interns, trying to understand the internship experience from recruitment through virtual work experience.
That effort, among many others, helped propel Comcast to the “Best of the Best” elite award among large businesses at the annual Best and Brightest Programs celebration.
The 21st annual Chicago-area Best and Brightest program Wednesday, which drew some 200 people to the Chicago Marriott Oak Brook Wednesday, honored dozens of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For, including nearly more than a dozen “Elite” winners.
To become a “Best of the Best,” a company must score in the top 5 percent of all categories.
“Comcast has received this award for several years … it really means a lot to us to not be complacent and continue to put our best foot forward,” said LaTanya Copeland, Senior Director of Human Resources for Comcast.
Comcast has raised its internal standards, fostering a culture of excellence and positioning the organization for long-term success.
The company’s most recent effort was the introduction of a Financial Wellness Benefit available to all employees.
It offers support for a wide range of financial needs at no cost and, according to company leadership, feedback on the program has been “overwhelmingly positive.”
“Comcast does a great job of listening to our employees,” Copeland said. “We have annual surveys and we have mini-surveys every two months, getting feedback from our employees and making sure we act on that feedback to continuously make comcast a great place to work.”
The event included panel discussions on managing a business through change, and a CEO panel discussion of leadership challenges facing businesses today.
Best of the Best – Medium Business
Epitech, a business-to-business staffing company, was honored as the Best of the Best among medium-sized businesses. The firm was recognized for living the part of a great workplace every day.
Epitech’s employees remain at the top of importance for the company’s leadership. The strategic implementation of a new applicant tracking system has streamlined recruitment and positioned the company to leverage advanced technology to assist in enhancing operations.
It was through the collaborative efforts of team members that allowed this strategic plan to come to life. Establishing a dedicated point of contact within HR and finance has significantly improved key areas such as labor relations, compensation and benefits administration, employee relations, and performance management.
With HR being assigned to specific employees, this has made the employee experience more personal and tailored to each individual’s needs, growing the connection and trust within the organization.
Lisa Heitzmann, senior manager for Human Relations for Epitech, said winning the award was a team effort.
“It took all of our team to get this honor,” Heitzmann said. “We’re so grateful to our employees for the effort they put into winning this award.”
Best of the Best – Small Business
Honigman LLP, a business law firm with offices in Chicago, has been around for 75 years and has not only reached, but remained at the forefront of innovative services by creating new client service approaches and continuously adding value for their clients and their team members.
Company officials designed a strategic plan timeline, and they’ve stuck to it. The first phase one has been successfully implemented, helping to enhance and streamline employee support while also providing rewarding development opportunities.
In the past 12 months, officials said, a new program was implemented called the “Onboard 30/60/90 Program” to ensure a seamless onboarding and integration experience for new hires. The program includes personalized check-ins, goal setting, reviews, mentorship, support, and continuous improvement through regular feedback loops and assessments.
Leadership believes the combination of elements of that program further strengthens the firm’s retention and commitment to fostering a culture of growth, development, and excellence.
“Our firm takes an award like this very seriously,” said Erin Arnoux, office administrator for Honigman. “It’s an honor for us to win it.”
Elite Winners
In addition to the prestigious “Best Of” categories, winners were chosen for a variety of “Elite” awards, including:
- Civility and Inclusion — Shure Incorporated. Over the past 12 months, this award-winning organization has actively strengthened its commitment to civility and inclusion through learning, development, and employee engagement initiatives. A key highlight is the launch of their global IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access) initiative, which brings together Associates from around the world. They’ve also introduced and expanded several “Associate Resource Groups,” known as VIBEs — which stands for Values, Inclusion, Belonging, and Equity.
- Employee Achievement and Recognition – LRS. The customized online recognition platform developed by LRS empowers team members to celebrate one another’s achievements through peer-to-peer recognition and personalized rewards. Employee recognition events are hosted throughout the whole year, including a summer event for all employees and their families and a winter awards ceremony. Employees who live the corporate values are honored monthly and spotlighted on social media and the company’s internal internet. By honoring innovation, dedication, and outstanding contributions across all levels of the organization, this reinforces the company’s commitment to valuing its people every day.
- Communication and Shared Vision – Thresholds. The company stands out for its transparent and accessible communication practices, reaching all levels of the organization. Thresholds actively engages with employees through email, social media, and digital platforms. The organization supports continuous learning and collaboration through in-house workforce development, Microsoft Teams, and virtual Town Halls, while also integrating strategic planning with employee involvement and managerial training which assists in relaying the strategic plan to their employees and connecting the employees’ work with their overarching strategic goals.
- Creative Wellness and Wellbeing Solutions – CBIZ. CBIZ prioritizes the health and well-being of its team members by offering a robust and comprehensive wellness program built around five key pillars: physical/emotional, financial, social, community, and purpose. Employees who participate in the Wellbeing Program receive discounts on health insurance premiums, reinforcing the company’s commitment to proactive care. CBIZ also provides a range of employee support services including counseling, financial planning assistance, and legal services helping team members navigate life’s challenges while maintaining overall well-being.
- Employee Enrichment, Engagement, and Retention – AmTrust Financial. This organization has implemented a wide range of initiatives to elevate employee engagement, including continuous professional development, mentorship and individual coaching programs, consistent recognition and rewards, and multiple open communication channels. By investing in employee growth and well-being, they’ve cultivated an empowered and engaged workforce where individuals feel supported and equipped to excel in their roles.
“We’re dealing with constant change,” said AmTrust’s associate vice president for Coverage Strategy Sonia Odirczenko. “This recognition means a lot to our organization.”
- Recruitment and Selection – NOW Health Group. The company has embraced creativity and innovation in its hiring practices. It stands out for its bold approach, including “Walk-In Wednesday” hiring days, where candidates can enter the manufacturing facility, interview directly with supervisors, managers, directors, and HR, and—if they’re a strong cultural and role fit—receive a job offer on the spot. What truly sets them apart is their commitment to promoting from within—a core philosophy that prioritizes internal mobility and career growth whenever possible. By blending accessibility, trust, and opportunity, this company has created a recruitment strategy that not only fills roles—but builds a stronger, more connected workforce.
- Community Initiatives and Corporate Responsibility – Plexus Corp. This team has created a custom-built initiative that encourages team members across the organization to regularly engage in volunteer opportunities. One of their standout efforts is an annual charity campaign that empowers employees to support causes they care about, with the company offering a 100% match on donations made through payroll contributions or one-time gifts.
“I’m heavily involved in the community,” said Erin Minervini, program manager for Plexus, who is new to the Chicago area. “We’ve been trying to make inroads into the community. This helps get the Plexus name out there.”
- Employee Education and Development – Zeigler Automotive. With their own growth and development program or, “university,” Zeigler has equipped its employees with a robust and comprehensive set of resources to ensure they thrive in their roles. Employee education and development directly translates to a better work-life balance and creates top performance at work. This organization includes a training portal accessible to all employees with over 4,000 videos geared towards mastering their craft but also personal endeavors such as investing and personal finance.
- Work-Life Blend – Marsh McLennan Agency. The company has crafted a benefits package and perks that put employee well-being front and center. Their newly devised “Future of Work” plan, permits employees to work from home whenever they like, only coming into office four days a month even for just a few hours. With a flexible Paid Time Off bank, they can take time off without explanation because trust is part of the script. In addition, new parents enjoy up to 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave, and the company’s commitment to wellness takes center stage with an onsite fitness center, plus bonuses and reimbursements for healthy living.
- Compensation, Benefits and Employee Solutions – One Digital. A cornerstone of their philosophy is the We’ve Got Your Back Fund, a vital initiative that provides financial assistance to employees facing unexpected hardships. In addition to this fund, the company offers 100% paid parental leave, adoption assistance, pet insurance, long-term care coverage, identity theft services, and legal planning resources.
- Leadership, Strategy, and Company Performance — Wheels. The company believes employee experience and customer satisfaction operate in sync. Their HR department is directly integrated in all aspects of strategic planning, ensuring that employees are supported through the company’s decision making about processes and plans. By executing their “Annual Incentive Plan,” every employee can obtain rewards by hitting individual and corporate measurements ultimately tied to financial metrics and strategic objectives impacting the company’s success.
Brilliance Winners
Also recognized were Brilliance winners, companies which have earned a place on Chicago’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For list every single year since the program’s inception — a 21-year streak. Those included:
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- HED
- Mortenson Construction
Iconic Winners
The event also honored Iconic winners, companies which have earned the Elite award five or more years as part of Chicago’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For.
- Marsh McLennan Agency
- Turner Construction Company
- Milhouse Engineering and Construction
Best and Brightest Winners
There were dozens of other “Best and Brightest Companies” winners, including:
- AmTrust Financial
- Helping Hand
- Home Run Inn
- NFP, An Aon Company
- Wespath Benefits and Investments
- ENC Construction & Development
- LRS
- RATIONAL USA
- Turner Construction Company
- Wheels
- Digital Third Coast
- Epitec
- MarshMcLennan Agency
- Calder Capital, LLC
- New Moms
- PSM Partners
- OneDigital
- ATS Automation LLC
- Blackline IT
- Inspire Greatness Within, Inc
- Mortenson Construction Company
- Scott Byron & Co, Inc
- The Fruitful Yield
- City Staffing
- Digitas
- Red Caffeine
- Royal United Mortgage
- WOW! Internet, Cable, and Phone
- XL.net
- CoreFX Ingredients
- Globetrotters Engineering Corporation
- HED
- Milhouse Engineering and Construction, Inc.
- National Futures Association
- The Radio Flyer Company
- Automated Business Designs
- Bronswick Benjamin P.C.
- CKL Engineers LLC
- North Shore Senior Center
- PLTFRM/PRESENCE
Panel discussions
Two panel discussions captured the interest of the audience. The first, moderated by NABR Executive Vice President Alicia Wilson, talked about leading a business through significant change.
The conversation focused on the various challenges that businesses face in a rapidly evolving business landscape.
The second was a panel of CEOs talking about business best practices during which several CEOs shared their insights on the most pressing leadership challenges and opportunities shaping the future of business.
The discussion was moderated by Nicole Martin, the CEO of HRBoost, a Chicago-based human resources outsourcing and consulting services firm.
Martin said the insights shared by panelists are interesting because they come with the CEO perspective.
“It’s really something hearing what they share,” Martin said. “They understand it’s a two-way process. They really look for that reciprocity before they make a decision. That’s evidence in the things they shared today.”
The event provided networking opportunities for the people who attended, but also for the five vendors who pitched the qualities of their companies.
Mike Harris, the head of recruiting for NOW Health Group, which is a Best and Brightest winner, said these types of events help NOW increase its brand awareness.
“We like the recognition part of it,” Harris said. “It helps with recognition when you can show that ‘Best and Brightest’ tag.”
