The next four
These workplaces round out the top five in the midsize-company division.
2. Wesleyan School
The Christian school in Peachtree Corners records its first appearance in the top five. An 8-to-1 ratio of students to teachers from pre-K through 12th grade makes it a welcome place for instructors. The attractive campus features three chapels, two dining halls, four gymnasiums and two libraries. Students and teachers collaborate on mission work, traveling to destinations around the world. (Nearly $5,000 was raised to build fresh-water wells in India.) College tours involving faculty scout out prospective institutions of higher learning. The school vibe is enlivened by a successful sports program (43 state team championships since 2000) and an active theater program (six plays or musicals per year.)
3. Choate Construction
The general contractor — rooted in Atlanta, with branches in five more southeast cities — recently toasted its 25th anniversary with a gathering for all employees in Asheville, N.C. Numerous charities are supported, some in imaginative ways to raise money, such as a car show and an “extreme” hike for cystic fibrosis research. The company funded and pulled off renovation of a dog shelter. It has accumulated awards for safety and behavioral finance innovation. Staff longevity is evidenced by 60 percent of the payroll on board for at least five years and eight percent for at least two decades. Generous benefits include an onsite gym, available at no cost to workers. Medical coverage is generous.
4. Dorsey Alston, Realtors
Billing itself as the oldest privately held residential real estate firm in the area, Dorsey Alston has blossomed from a roster of 26 realtors a decade ago to 220. Its first office outside of Buckhead — in East Cobb — recently opened. Community support has a strong youth component (KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools and Children’s Health Care of Atlanta, among others) but also includes the local food bank and Habitat for Humanity, along with the arts (Woodruff Arts Center, High Museum, Atlanta Symphony). Its offices are made available to groups such as the Emory alumni board and the Buckhead Coalition for meetings. The company offers to pick up the entire tab for health and dental insurance.
5. LocumTenens.com
It’s a repeat top-five performance for the company that arranges staffing for medical institutions, which was runner-up a year ago. Located in Alpharetta, with some 300 employees, it offers substantial healthcare coverage, with a retirement plan matching program and continuing education grants. An onsite wellness clinic provides free services to associates and their relatives. Fresh fruit is distributed daily at no charge, and an onsite gym includes personal training. Employees can unwind in a game room or on a putting green. They are awarded paid time off for volunteer projects. Some who enter an essay contest are selected to accompany physicians as assistants on medical mission journeys.
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