The Metro Detroit area and the state of Michigan as a whole is home to a plethora of companies who are excelling in the business arena and doing stellar work in establishing practices that serve their employees’ wellness well.
All of them do both things well, and the ones who do it best were honored recently at the 2025 Metropolitan Detroit’s Best and Brightest Companies To Work For and Michigan’s Best and Brightest In Wellness celebration.
Honors were handed out before a large and enthusiastic crowd at The Henry Autograph Collection in Dearborn.
“These companies have focused on making a meaningful impact in their culture,” said Jennifer Kluge, President and CEO of the National Association for Business Resources and the Best and Brightest Program. “Employees are their top priority, which has given these elite-thinking companies a competitive advantage.”
The ones who did it the best earned the prestigious “Best of the Best” distinction in their respective categories.
Metro Detroit Best & Brightest Winners
The top Metro Detroit Best & Brightest businesses included:
• The Best of the Best Large Business Metro Detroit, which this year – for the second consecutive year – was Barton Malow.
A key initiative for Barton Malow in the past year was the transformation of its performance review process. The new approach merges annual reviews with Career Conversations to create a holistic, forward-looking dialogue focused on growth, feedback, and leadership development, empowering employees to take ownership of their progress, while managers provide personalized support and guidance. The process is further strengthened by the integration of a Leadership Excellence Model, encouraging all team members to focus on specific leadership competencies.
“With added resources like development plans, learning calendars, and project delivery courses, they continue to invest in its people, careers, and culture,” said Fox 2’s Roop Raj, who served as the emcee for the awards presentation. “That makes it not just a great place to work, but one of the best.”
• The Best of the Best Medium Business Award went to Epitec, which boasts a wide range of amenities for their employees, including a professionally designed fitness facility, full-service kitchen cafe, a sundry shop, a florist, a conference facility, on-site dry cleaning and an outdoor courtyard with seating.
“We’re very proud of this award and of the team that helped us win it,” said Lisa Heitzmann, the head of human resources at Epitec. “This allows us to market ourselves and our employees as the best of the best.”
• The Best of the Best Small Business Award went to Acro Service Group, among whose efforts are the implementation of a groundbreaking best practice establishing remote resource groups in response to hybrid work. These groups serve as an innovative solution to keep their hybrid workforce engaged, connected, and interacting in a manner that promotes and strengthens individual and team relationships.
The company also plays a crucial role in helping their employees achieve financial security for retirement through their Financial Wellbeing program, which fosters long-term loyalty and engagement within the organization.
“This is quite an honor,” said Staci Dodson Beurer, Acro’s chief human resource officer. “It speaks to the quality of the team.”
Companies also captured honors in 11 additional “elite” categories, in which the winners demonstrated exceptionally innovative human resource and wellbeing practices, setting high standards for all Michigan businesses. The winners are selected based on their overall high scores and are then named an “Elite” winner in their respective categories.
The other “Elite” Best & Brightest in Metro Detroit winners included:
• Civility and Inclusion – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, being honored for the second straight year. BCBSM is an organization that truly exemplifies what it means to create a welcoming workplace, one where every individual feels accepted, valued, and included.
• Communication and Shared Vision – Lake Michigan Credit Union, a company honored for its outstanding ability to foster clear and transparent communication.
• Employee Achievement and Recognition – Total Quality Logistics, which was presented the award for its outstanding efforts in celebrating and rewarding employee accomplishments and fostering a culture of appreciation.
• Employee Enrichment, Engagement, and Retention – Enterprise Mobility, a company that has an outstanding commitment to creating a supportive and engaging work environment that promotes employee growth and loyalty.
• Recruitment and Selection – Towne Mortgage, which has demonstrated exceptional skill in attracting, identifying, and hiring top-tier talent through innovative and highly effective recruitment strategies.
• Community Initiatives and Corporate Responsibility – Community Choice Credit Union, for its dedication to creating a positive impact in the community, while also encouraging and giving employees the time to engage in meaningful ways.
• Employee Education and Development – EDSI, for its exceptional commitment to providing continuous learning opportunities and fostering professional growth for its employees.
• Work-Life Blend – UHY Advisors, Inc., for its exceptional commitment to fostering a balanced, supportive, and flexible work environment that enhances employee well-being and productivity.
• Compensation, Benefits and Employee Solutions – DTE Energy, for its outstanding commitment to offering competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and unique, customized solutions for its employees.
• Creative Wellness and Wellbeing Solutions – Walbridge, for its outstanding commitment to offering competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and unique, customized solutions for its employees.
• Leadership, Strategy, and Company Performance – Rehmann, for its exceptional ability to drive organizational success through visionary leadership, strategic planning, and outstanding performance.
Michigan in Wellness Winners
There was just as much high-quality performance in the Best and Brightest in Wellness competition, with three prestigious “Best of the Best” awards handed out, along with nine awards in “elite” categories.
• Best of the Best Large Business – Michigan State University, which delivers a comprehensive and inclusive wellness program that supports the holistic wellbeing of both office and field employees.
Through its Health and Wellbeing (HW) initiative, the organization offers a wide array of services that address physical, mental, emotional, and occupational health, including the SFIT program, which promotes lifelong healthy habits through physical activity and wellness opportunities.
“(The award) means we are fulfilling the needs of our students and our faculty,” said Dr. Alexis Travis, assistant vice president and assistant provost for University Health and Wellbeing.
• Best of the Best Medium Business – Consumers Credit Union, which knows that wellness isn’t “one size fits all” so they provide a bit of something for everyone and that is why they have 90% participation in their wellness plan.
Their program focuses on physical, emotional, financial, occupational and social wellness. They offer discounted gym memberships and … run multiple wellness challenges throughout the year and only offer healthy food options.
“It’s really a testament to our employees,” said India Hoskins, the credit union’s analytics manager.
• Best of the Best Small Business – Thornton and Grooms, an organization that exemplifies a deep commitment to employee wellness through a robust suite of initiatives designed to support both in-office and field-based team members.
From on-site wellness programs and accessible mental health resources to mobile-friendly tools and flexible support systems for remote staff.
“They ensure every employee, regardless of location has the resources they need to thrive,” Raj said.
Nine other elite awards were handed out, including:
• Culture and Environment – Lansing Board of Water and Light, for its exceptional efforts in creating a healthy workplace environment.
• Employee Input – Great Lakes Water Authority, for its exceptional commitment to actively involving employees in the design and implementation of their wellness initiatives.
• Financial Wellbeing – UHY Advisors, a company dedicated to supporting its employees’ financial health by providing a variety of financial tools and resources.
• Leadership Commitment – JW Marriott Grand Rapids, for its unwavering dedication to fostering a culture of health and well-being, driven by its leadership.
• Mental Health and Wellbeing Provider – Wedgwood Christian Services, an organization that’s taken a leading role in supporting mental health and fostering emotional wellbeing for children, teens, families, and adults.
• Onsite and Remote Offerings – Easterseals MORC, for its exceptional dedication to providing comprehensive wellness programs that cater to both onsite and remote employees, ensuring holistic support for their well-being.
• Outcomes, Evaluation, Analysis, and Tracking – W.K. Kellogg Foundation, which excels in evaluating and tracking outcomes for their wellness programs utilizing a variety of methods to monitor trends.
• Physical and Mental Health – Peckham Inc., which has delivered a standout performance in promoting holistic well-being, offering a dynamic range of physical and mental health programs that truly supports the person as a whole.
• Wellness Solutions Consultant – Kapnick Insurance, a company that provides the ultimate resources for employers looking to enhance their wellness program.
The National Association for Business Resources offers an array of recognition programs that celebrate excellence in various aspects of business, including workplace culture, wellness initiatives and leadership. Visit https://nationalbiz.org to obtain an application or for more information.
