The Top Small Workplaces list, compiled in partnership with Winning Workplaces, a nonprofit whose mission is to help small and midsize organizations create better workplaces, showcases exceptional employers, including private, nonprofit and publicly held organizations that have built workplace environments that foster teamwork, flexibility, and professional growth while providing an atmosphere and benefits that encourage employee loyalty.

     “These small businesses are leading innovators and role models for larger companies,” said

     Larry Rout, editor of the Journal Reports, The Wall Street Journal.  “At a time when most employers are cutting back on employee benefits it is important to recognize those organizations that are creating environments that encourage productive behavior and expanding programs to keep employees happy.” 

     “The Top Small Workplaces have been in business an average of 42 years and have demonstrated that they can survive difficult economic times,” said Ken Lehman, Winning Workplaces’ founder and board chair.  “By building strong cultures and gaining employee commitment to the success of the business, these organizations have thrived in good times and weathered bad ones.  It is at times like these, with our nation facing almost unprecedented financial and economic challenges, that the real mettle of a strong workplace is demonstrated.”

     The Journal and Winning Workplaces began accepting nominations last fall, receiving 782 eligible nominations, which were pared down to 35 finalists.  To select the 15 Top Small Workplace winners, a national panel of small business experts chosen by the Journal and Winning Workplaces judged the finalists based on specific metrics and qualitative assessments of their success in creating workplaces that nurture, challenge and reward employees.  

 The 2008 Top Small Workplace winners include the following:

• ATA Engineering, San Diego, Calif.
• Decagon Devices, Pullman, Wash.
• Integrated Project Management Co., Burr Ridge, Ill.
• JA Frate, Crystal Lake, Ill.
• Jackson’s Hardware, San Rafael, Calif.
• Jump Associates, San Mateo, Calif.
• King Arthur Flour Co., Norwich, Vt.
• Landscape Forms, Kalamazoo, Mich.
• Lundberg Family Farms, Richvale, Calif.
• New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, Colo.
• Paducah Bank and Trust Co., Paducah, Ky.
• Phenomenex, Torrance, Calif.
• Rainforest Alliance, New York, N.Y.
• Resource Interactive, Columbus, Ohio
• Redwoods Group, Morrisville, N.C.

     News articles, slide shows and videos about the selection process and winners are available on wsj.com.  As part of its continuing coverage of this year’s Top Small Workplaces, the Journal will be interviewing leaders of the winning companies every week in coming weeks on “Independent Street,” WSJ.com’s small business blog.  

     Bill Main, President of Landscape Forms stated, “We are thrilled to receive this award, and developing our business according to the Scanlon Principles has helped us get here.  But this is also a reflection of our incredible workforce.  We’ve invested heavily in each other’s success, and I think the results speak for themselves. All of us at Landscape Forms look forward to continue learning from this proven method of creating and conducting business.”

     Landscape Forms is based in Kalamazoo, MI and the 40-year old company’s product list includes exterior seating systems, benches, tables and chairs, umbrellas, wheelchair-accessible picnic tables, planters, litter receptacles and ash urns. Clients include such well-recognized companies as Boeing, Cisco Systems, Hewlett Packard, Harvard University, Disney, Chrysler, Mayo Clinic, Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo, Sprint, American Airlines, LaGuardia Airport, Microsoft, Nike, United States Tennis Association and many others. www.landscapeforms.com.

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