These companies take top honors in large, midsize and small categories

Dorsey Alston realtors & employees enjoy a catered lunch for the Variety during a break in continuing education classes at their Buckhead location. For the Top Workplaces section (Photo by Phil Skinner)

Credit: Phil Skinner

Credit: Phil Skinner

Dorsey Alston realtors & employees enjoy a catered lunch for the Variety during a break in continuing education classes at their Buckhead location. For the Top Workplaces section (Photo by Phil Skinner)

Nearly 3,000 companies were nominated or asked to participate in the 2020 Top Workplaces contest by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and its partner, Energage. Employees across the metro area responded to print and online solicitations that began appearing in September. 

Using survey results, a list of 150 workplaces was compiled, consisting of 22 large companies (500 or more employees), 63 midsize companies (150-499 employees) and 65 small companies (149 or fewer employees). 

Top large workplace: Atlanta-based Arrow Exterminators is the sixth largest pest control company in the nation and a place where multigenerations of families choose to work. Family culture is the greatest asset of Arrow, employees say, and that's what helped launch it to the top ranking among large workplaces. The company placed second last year in the same category.

Top midsize workplace: Real estate agents want to work for Dorsey Alston, Realtors, AJC's top-ranked midsize workplace. They're not micromanaged, and they like the perks, like the Peloton bike and unisex showers at the East Cobb office. A consistent AJC Top Workplace, Dorsey Alston has ranked among the top five in the midsize company category for the past five years. The residential real estate company is again number one among midsize employers.

Top small workplace: At Supreme Lending Southeast Region there's something bigger going on than closing a loan, said John Ragland Jr., a producing sales manager. Personal goals are as important as professional ones, and co-workers spur one another on, providing accountability and support. Inspirational messages are regularly heard on a live-stream broadcast. The residential mortgage broker is ranked first among small employers and previously took top honors in 2017 and 2018.