2022 BEST EMPLOYERS in NORTH CAROLINA.

• Position: BUSINESS NORTH CAROLINA'S

The battle for talent has never been more intense, making it more important to provide excellent employee benefits and creating a workplace culture that helps retain skilled employees and recruit new ones. Business North Carolina's annual list of Best Employers aims to highlight the state's companies that rank highly when it comes to motivating their teammates and attracting good employees.

Business North Carolina recognizes the state's best places to work with a unique awards program for small, medium and large companies. We partnered with the DataJoe market research company to create and implementa survey that polled employers and their employees.

The survey covered a variety of essential workplace topics, including organizational health, engagement, leadership, work-life balance, training, pay, benefits and corporate social responsibility. Employment numbers are as of Jan. 1, 2022.

LARGE employers (50+)

Edward Jones

various locations | financial services 1,470 employees Penny Pennington, managing partner

Nearly 75% of Edward Jones' general partners have taken its diversity, equity and inclusion foundations course. The St. Louis-based brokerage has more than 15,000 offices in North America.

Coastal Credit Union

Raleigh | financial services 596 employees Chuck Purvis, CEO

The credit union surpassed $4 billion in assets and 300,000 members last year, while its auto lending program ranked first in its 16-county market. The credit union's foundation surpassed $3 million in grants.

Bobbitt Construction

Raleigh | construction 76 employees Brian Denisar, CEO

Olly Olly Charlotte | digital marketing 82 employees

Gallagher

various locations | insurance 135 employees Patrick Gallagher, CEO

Gallagher's North Carolina teams implemented a new work model geared toward flexibility, while ensuring coverage and access to clients. This includes a hybrid schedule, no meetings on Fridays, one summer workfrom-anywhere week, and enhanced technology and communication tools.

HonorBridge

Winston-Salem | nonprofit 144 employees Danielle Niedfeldt, CEO

The group, which arranges organ and tissue donations, broke ground on a new Chapel Hill office. It implemented more flexible work options and provided a "thank you bonus" for all colleagues.

Epes Logistics Services

Greensboro | transportation 205 employees Jason Bodford, president

In May, the transportation company expanded in Georgia by acquiring A Cooper Logistics, based about 45 miles north of Atlanta.

TransImpact

Emerald Isle | supply chain 176 employees Berkley Stafford, CEO

Pella Windows & Doors of North Carolina and Southwest Virginia

various locations | manufacturing 175 employees Lee Way, owner Chad Chimiak, general manager and vice president

A candidate reached out to Pella through social media and said he wanted to be employed in some capacity after observing employee engagement posts.

National Jewelry and Pawn

various locations | pawnshops 150 employees Bob Moulton, president

Dauntless Discovery

Morrisville | consulting 85 employees Peter O'Hara, CEO and co-founder Jonathan Hanks, COO and co-founder

Dauntless Discovery doubled the size of its workforce in the past year, despite the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

L. J. Electrical Co.

Kinston | electrical contractor 260 employees Warren B. Hudson, president and managing partner

The company partnered with a national contractor for a multitude of technical installations at a silicon carbide wafer plant.

Ekos

Charlotte | craft beverage software 85 employees Josh McKinney, CEO

The company raised $21 million in a fundraising round completed in December.

National Coatings

Raleigh | commercial painting 117 employees Zebulon Hadley, president and CEO

National Coatings implemented an entrepreneurial operating system, allowing it to redefine core values. The system also encouraged employees to hold each other accountable, finish internal projects with accurate deadlines and create a defined culture of success.

MEDIUM employers (25-50)

Lee & Associates

Raleigh | commercial real estate 37 employees Moss Withers, CEO and principal

Founded in 2018, Lee & Associates was named the second-largest commercial real-estate broker in the area by the Triangle Business Journal in 2021.

Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina

Cary | trade association 31 employees Aubie Knight, CEO

In 2022, the association celebrates one year of InsurAcademy, a program to recruit people from diverse backgrounds into the insurance industry and provide them with scholarships for licensing certification.

The Brooks Group

Greensboro | sales training 33 employees Gary Fly, CEO

The Brooks Group has retained all but one of its top performers and has continued to grow, adding talent to its team.

Martin Starnes& Associates, CPAs, P. A.

Hickory | accounting 67 employees Victoria Martin, president and managing partner

The accounting firm has retained a majority of its employees by adapting to changing expectations as more work is done remotely. It also has met client needs among varying tax and accounting law changes and regulations.

Blackman & Sloop, CPAs, P.A.

Chapel Hill | accounting 38 employees Andrea Woodell Eason, managing partner

Blackman & Sloop has focused on employee needs and improving benefits while continuing to expand the firm.

Graham Personnel Services

Greensboro | staffing 53 employees Gary Graham Jr., CEO and president Will Graham, COO and vice president

In 2021, the staffing company placed 6,000 people in jobs, had double-digit percentage revenue growth and opened a new office in High Point. This year, it opened its Asheboro office.

Dummit Fradin Attorneys at Law

various locations | law firm 47 employees Jessica Culver, managing partner

Williams Mullen

various locations | law firm 64 employees Calvin W. Fowler Jr., president and CEO David F. Paulson Jr., managing partner, Carolinas

The law firm received its fifth consecutive perfect score on the 2022 Corporate Equality Index, a benchmarking survey on corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality.

Burns & McDonnell

various locations | construction and design 61 employees Ray Kowalik, CEO

Last year, the Kansas City, Missouri-based construction company had a record-breaking $5.7 billion in sales and worked on nearly 17,000 projects, supported by the growth of nearly 650 employees

Cornerstone United

Hickory | warranty services 62 employees Richard Swartzel, CEO

During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cornerstone United moved its operations to be fully remote, allowing it to keep all employees on staff. It more recently implemented a hybrid schedule based on employee feedback.

DMJPS

various locations | law firm 48 employees Ben Hamrick and Mike Gillis, Co-CEOs

Formerly Johnson Price Sprinkle PA, the firm merged with DMJ & Co. on June 1 to become a statewide CPA and advisory firm.

Stitch Golf Holdings

Apex | golf gear and apparel 50 employees Brad King, CEO

Stitch Golf Holdings prides itself on its employees' loyalty to one another.

Wetherill Engineering

Raleigh | structural engineering 65 employees Debora Wetherill, president; Eddie Wetherill, vice president

Working with the N.C. Department of Transportation, Wetherill is striving to provide more opportunities to small engineering firms in the state.

All American Entertainment

Durham | talent booking 35 employees Greg Friedlander, co-founder and CEO

All American Entertainment is celebrating its 20th year in business. The company was listed in Inc Magazine's Best Workplaces.

STG Solar Co.

Pisgah Forest | solar energy contractor 30 employees Mike Kilpatrick, CEO

This year, STG Solar achieved 720 megawatts of construction projects and expanded its services to include commercial rooftop solar.

SMALL employers (1-25)

Huck Cycles

Cornelius | electric bikes 15 employees Brett McCoy, founder and CEO

The electric bike retailer recently added a board of directors and new investors.

Dry Otter Waterproofing

Denver | waterproofing 20 employees Kevin Sanders, CEO

Despite inflation and weather challenges, Dry Otter Waterproofing still reports growth in 2022.

Tayloe Gray Agency

Wilmington | digital marketing 22 employees Nathan Tayloe, CEO

Tayloe Gray celebrated 13 years in business and purchased its 12,000-square-foot building in downtown Wilmington.

United Way of the Greater Triangle

Durham | nonprofit 24 employees Eric Cuckian, CEO

United Way raised $10.1 million for...