Watch: North Bay Best Places to Work 2020 awards event

September 27, 2020

North Bay Business Journal on Sept. 23 recognized 114 winners of the 2020 Best Places to Work awards this year, the 15th such event since 2006. The vision has been to recognize exceptional employers and highlight the best workplace practices.

Chat messages during the event

  • 4:06 p.m.: Paul Pastorino: Best Places to Work winners rock! Congrats to the 2020 field from the marketing team at The Business Journal! 😀
  • 4:06 p.m.: Kate Kelly: Thank you Paul! Sonoma Clean Power is honored to be recognized again!
  • 4:11 p.m.: Janelle Coultre: What a great video, Ghirardo CPA!
  • 4:12 p.m.: rick sustek: Fun video! 😀
  • 4:13 p.m.: Alicia Cordova: Amazing video! Congratulations Ghirardo CPA!
  • 4:13 p.m.: Shirley Clark: Congratulation Canine!!!!!
  • 4:18 p.m.: Gina Batti: WOOHOO! GO RRBC!!!!!!!!
  • 4:20 p.m.: Michelle Head: woo hoo! go YMCA!
  • 4:21 p.m.: Michelle Head: Woo hoo! congrats, YMCA and all the honorees! Sonoma County rocks!
  • 4:22 p.m.: Nicole Smartt Serres: Congratulations to all the winners!
  • 4:22 p.m.: rick sustek: I miss all the hooting’ and hollerin’ from the in-person event! Root! Root! 😉
  • 4:22 p.m.: Nicole Smartt Serres: Congratulations to all the winners!
  • 4:22 p.m.: Erica Vogel: YMCA!!!!! Yes!!!! COngrats!!!
  • 4:23 p.m.: Shirley Clark: I love Amy's food. I am invested!
  • 4:23 p.m.: Mariah Shields: Such beautiful videos and 6 word inspirational messages - thank you to all of the winners!
  • 4:23 p.m.: Cynthia Sanderlyn: Congratulations Everyone...
  • 4:23 p.m.: Bex Randles: what an amazing place we live in to be surrounded by so many great businesses!
  • 4:23 p.m.: Erica Vogel: Love Amy's. We are so lucky to have this great pioneer and company in our community!
  • 4:24 p.m.: Bex Randles: congratulations!!!
  • 4:24 p.m.: Sue Perkins: Great video!
  • 4:24 p.m.: Janelle Coultre: Lovely video, Amy's!
  • 4:24 p.m.: Paul Pastorino: Amy's Drive thru... new sweet potato fries are THE BEST!
  • 4:25 p.m.: rick sustek: Nice viddy Amy’s!
  • 4:25 p.m.: William Seppi: Great video...Amy's, thanks for leading the way!
  • 4:25 p.m.: Marifi Bumatay: What a sweet couple!! Congratulations Amy!!!
  • 4:27 p.m.: Michelle Head: Great video Amy's! Congrats to all the winners! Sonoma County is lucky to have so many inspiring, caring leaders in our community!
  • 4:27 p.m.: Erica Vogel: YAY Community Matters!!!
  • 4:27 p.m.: Erica Vogel: Yay Lisa!!!
  • 4:27 p.m.: Sue Perkins: Community Matters! Congratulations
  • 4:28 p.m.: Molly: Love Amys
  • 4:28 p.m.: Stephanie Hess: Congrats Community Matters! What an incredible asset for children, schools and parents!
  • 4:28 p.m.: Suzanne Watkins: Congrats to Community Matters and all the great local businesses here today!
  • 4:28 p.m.: Molly: We are so excited for Henrys Original! First Cannabis company to lead the way in Best Place to Work !!
  • 4:29 p.m.: Stephanie Hess: Congrats SMT!
  • 4:30 p.m.: Nicole Smartt Serres: Congrats, Chris Denny and team!
  • 4:30 p.m.: Aaron Jobson: Congratulations Engine Crew!
  • 4:30 p.m.: Nicole Smartt Serres: Way to go, Blair and team! Woohoo!
  • 4:31 p.m.: William Seppi: Congrats TM!
  • 4:31 p.m.: Gabriella Ambrosi: Congratulations to all BPTW winners!!!
  • 4:31 p.m.: Susi Lynam: Congratulations Traditional Medicinals from the team at Kiosk!
  • 4:33 p.m.: Christine Hunter: Love Amy's
  • 4:34 p.m.: Susi Lynam: Congratulations Traditional Medicinals from the team at Kiosk!
  • 4:34 p.m.: Shirley Clark: Congratulations Michael and the Burnham team!!!!
  • 4:35 p.m.: Eric Briese: Woohoo! EAC!
  • 4:36 p.m.: Marifi Bumatay: Congratulations to us, Eckhoff and Company!!!!
  • 4:37 p.m.: Lynn Cibrian: Yay, Meritage! Congrats.
  • 4:37 p.m.: Celena Moreno: Yahoo Meritage!
  • 4:40 p.m.: Marifi Bumatay: Congratulations Eckhoff and Company!!!!
  • 4:40 p.m.: Wrynn Valentine Reynoso: Congratulations YWCA! So very deserved!
  • 4:41 p.m.: Annette Wirick: Congrats to BPM!
  • 4:42 p.m.: Paul Pastorino: Traditional Medicinals Throat-Coat tea... scrumptious anytime!
  • 4:42 p.m.: Ciera Pratt: Yes! The videos are so fun to watch, they are so good!
  • 4:42 p.m.: Hayley Hicks: Congrats Beyser Costin & Simon!
  • 4:43 p.m.: William Seppi: HLC - Congrats!
  • 4:43 p.m.: Eric Lucan: Thanks everyone — Mike’s Bikes!
  • 4:44 p.m.: Annette Wirick: Congrats Mike's Bikes, thanks for helping keep us entertained through SIP!
  • 4:44 p.m.: Wrynn Valentine Reynoso: Oliver's - Thank you for your commitment to our communities (and your staff)!
  • 4:45 p.m.: William Seppi: Great job Oliver's Markets! From all of us at Costeaux!
  • 4:45 p.m.: Mariah Shields: Power to the all the working parents who are now helping with school from home. You are amazing
  • 4:46 p.m.: Paul Pastorino: We appreciate our Winner's sponsors!... not an event without you (thumbs up!)
  • 4:49 p.m.: Shirley Clark: Go Arrow!!!! Congratulation!!!!!!
  • 4:51 p.m.: Kari Hamilton: Congrats Mengali!!!!
  • 4:51 p.m.: Nicole Smartt Serres: Yay, Renee! So excited for you and your team!
  • 4:52 p.m.: Erica Vogel: Woo Hoo RESIG team!!!
  • 4:53 p.m.: Michelle Head: Congrats Anita & SAY! :)
  • 4:53 p.m.: Wrynn Valentine Reynoso: Way to go SAY! What an amazing organization!
  • 4:54 p.m.: Kari Hamilton: Wooo Hoooo DH Wine Compliance, congrats to an amazing place to work!
  • 4:55 p.m.: Annette Wirick: Thank you to the sponsors - Trope, Exchange Bank, Nelson & Kaiser your support is invaluable to our community!
  • 4:57 p.m.: Bernadette Sproul: Yay 4C's!
  • 4:58 p.m.: Lara Magnusdottir: Yay for 4Cs Sonoma!
  • 4:58 p.m.: Cynthia Sanderlyn: Yeah InterWest...We are a great company....
  • 4:59 p.m.: Nicole Smartt Serres: Yay, Sama!!
  • 4:59 p.m.: Mariah Shields: Nice job Kiosk!
  • 4:59 p.m.: Mariah Shields: YAY STAR - Go Nicole and All of Star Staff!
  • 4:59 p.m.: Sama Davis: Yay Nicole! COngrats!
  • 5:00 p.m.: Nicole Smartt Serres: Congrats Star Staffing - so proud of you.
  • 5:00 p.m.: William Seppi: Congrats Nicole and Star Staffing team!
  • 5:00 p.m.: Nicole Smartt Serres: Thank you, Will.
  • 5:00 p.m.: luz zavala: Congratulation Star Staffing Team
  • 5:00 p.m.: Susi Lynam: Thank you NBBJ and the sponsors! Kiosk is honored to be recognized again, thanks to our awesome employees!
  • 5:00 p.m.: Bernadette Sproul: Yay Pisenti & Brinker!
  • 5:00 p.m.: Sama Davis: Thanks Nicole!
  • 5:00 p.m.: Erica Vogel: Well done Pisenti and Brinker!!!! Congrats from your friends at Community Matters.
  • 5:01 p.m.: Ciera Pratt: Thrilled to be an 8 time winner - grateful to the Star Team!
  • 5:01 p.m.: Eric Briese: Yay RJ! EAC!
  • 5:01 p.m.: Carli Ortiz: congrats Nicole! ✨
  • 5:03 p.m.: Roni Brown: Congratulations one and all. We are honored to be among you.
  • 5:04 p.m.: Kari Hamilton: Congrats Star Staffing!
  • 5:04 p.m.: Daphna Polack: Congratulation EAC!!!
  • 5:05 p.m.: Joe Murphy: So many great companies out there, congratulation to all the winners.
  • 5:05 p.m.: Natalie Cilurzo: Congratulations, Costeaux! We love gluten, too, at Russian River Brewing!
  • 5:05 p.m.: Paul Pastorino: Costeaux: I am addicted to their multigrain batard! You can get it at Oliver's... another BPTW winner.
  • 5:05 p.m.: Annette Wirick: Congrats Wil & all at Cousteaux! Yum!!!!
  • 5:06 p.m.: Erica Vogel: Congrats to Friedemann, Goldberg, Wargo & Hess from your friends at Community Matters! Keep up the great work!!!
  • 5:06 p.m.: Kari Hamilton: Congrats Will and Costeaux!
  • 5:06 p.m.: William Seppi: Thank you Paul and we are honored to be in such great company here in the North Bay
  • 5:07 p.m.: Sama Davis: Congrats to the entire St. Francis team!
  • 5:07 p.m.: Kim Sustek: Congratulations to St. Francis Winery!!
  • 5:12 p.m.: Kathie Powell: Yay Petaluma Health Center!!!
  • 5:12 p.m.: Ciera Pratt: Go PHC!!! Congrats!
  • 5:13 p.m.: Aaron Jobson: Thank you NBBJ from the QKA Family. We are proud to be recognized!
  • 5:15 p.m.: Brigeetty Jimenez: Go George Petersen, cheers from Schurter
  • 5:15 p.m.: Erica Vogel: Congrats Exchange Bank & George Peterson Insurance! Great job!
  • 5:17 p.m.: Brigeetty Jimenez: go Moss Adams,
  • 5:18 p.m.: Roni Brown: Thank you North Bay Business Journal for recognizing all the shining stars!
  • 5:18 p.m.: Brigeetty Jimenez: Go Schurter !
  • 5:21 p.m.: Jennifer Rafferty: Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to North Bay Business Journal for recognizing all of these wonderful businesses in our communities.
  • 5:22 p.m.: Susi Lynam: Hurray Bank of Marin! Congratulations from the team at Kiosk!
  • 5:22 p.m.: Emily Wallace: congratulations to Bank of Marin!
  • 5:24 p.m.: Kim Sustek: Hooray for Sonoma Technologies!!!
  • 5:24 p.m.: Paige Wray: congratulations everyone!
  • 5:25 p.m.: Erica Vogel: Way to go BPM!!!!
  • 5:26 p.m.: Erica Vogel: YES! Congrats from your friends at Community Matters. You are more than a bank, you are a community partner. Thanks for all you do!
  • 5:26 p.m.: Susi Lynam: Congratulations Ghirardo CPA from the team at Kiosk!
  • 5:26 p.m.: Emily Wallace: congrats Ghirardo and team
  • 5:27 p.m.: Erica Vogel: Congrats Kaiser from your friends, partners and clients at Community Matters!
  • 5:28 p.m.: Ashleigh Higgins: Congratulations everyone!
  • 5:28 p.m.: Emily Wallace: 👏👏👏👏👏👏
  • 5:28 p.m.: Paul Pastorino: Woohoo.... clapping!!
  • 5:28 p.m.: Kathie Powell: Congratulations everyone!
  • 5:28 p.m.: Ciera Pratt: Congrats everyone!!!!
  • 5:28 p.m.: Mariah Shields: CLAPPING
  • 5:28 p.m.: William Seppi: We are clapping!! WHOOHHOO
  • 5:28 p.m.: Eric Brown: Great job everyone!
  • 5:28 p.m.: Bernadette Sproul: Congratulations everyone!
  • 5:28 p.m.: Karleen Arnink-Pate: congrats to all!!
  • 5:28 p.m.: Bailey Barton: Congrats!!!
  • 5:29 p.m.: Marifi Bumatay: Congratulations to all!!!
  • 5:29 p.m.: Holly Bast: Thank you NBBJ! Great Event!
  • 5:29 p.m.: Lori Zaret: Congratulations to all the winners making our community great!
  • 5:29 p.m.: Joanna Briese: Congratulations to all the winners!
  • 5:29 p.m.: Wrynn Valentine Reynoso: Congrats all! Together we make an awesome community!
  • 5:29 p.m.: David Brown: Congratulations to all winners!!
  • 5:29 p.m.: Hayley Hicks: Congratulations to all! 👏
  • 5:29 p.m.: Yi Yang: Congratulations everyone. 👏
  • 5:29 p.m.: Kim Sustek: Congratulations to ALL the winners!
  • 5:29 p.m.: Margaret Iske: Congrats to Everyone. Great job!!
  • 5:29 p.m.: Goretti Hamlin: Congrats to all!
  • 5:29 p.m.: Matt Martin: Congratulations to all the winners!!
  • 5:29 p.m.: Dawn Gatley: Congratulations to everyone!!
  • 5:29 p.m.: Shirley Clark: Wooohooooo……, Congratulations all winners!!!!!!!
  • 5:29 p.m.: Martha Gómez: Congratulations to all!!!
  • 5:29 p.m.: Annette Wirick: Great job Brad & NBBJ team!
  • 5:29 p.m.: Chet Laws: Great event today. congratulations to all from InterWest Insurance.
  • 5:29 p.m.: CArol OHARA: Congratulations to all the winners. Great shirt Brad!
  • 5:29 p.m.: Susi Lynam: Congratulations to all the winners! Here’s to all the great work being done in the North Bay.
  • 5:29 p.m.: stacy holland: Exceptional People sends congrats! to all you EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE! From Stacy Holland
  • 5:29 p.m.: Erica Vogel: Thank oyu
  • 5:30 p.m.: Bernadette Sproul: Great job!

This year, there were nine first-time winners and seven special 15-time recipients.

2020 winners

Click on the links below to read about the winners

  1. Adobe Associates Inc.
  2. All Weather Architectural Aluminum
  3. Amy’s Kitchen
  4. Anova Center For Education
  5. Arrow Benefits Group
  6. AUL Corporation
  7. Bank of Marin
  8. Becoming Independent
  9. Beyers Costin Simon
  10. BKF Engineers
  11. Blentech Corporation
  12. BPM LLP
  13. Burnham Benefits Insurance Services
  14. Canine Companions for Independence
  15. Carlile Macy
  16. The Center for Social & Environmental Stewardship
  17. Central Valley (Builders Supply)
  18. Centric General Contractors
  19. Child Parent Institute
  20. Clif Family Winery & Farm
  21. Coast Landscape Management
  22. Coldwell Banker Brokers of the Valley
  23. Community Child Care Council of Sonoma County
  24. Community Matters
  25. Community Support Network
  26. Cork Supply USA Inc.
  27. Cornerstone Properties
  28. Costeaux French Bakery
  29. Dal Poggetto & Company LLP
  30. DH Wine Compliance
  31. Dickenson, Peatman & Fogarty
  32. Don Sebastiani & Sons
  33. Earthtone Construction Inc.
  34. Eckhoff & Company
  35. Eleven Engineering Inc.
  36. The Engine Is Red
  37. EO Products
  38. Exchange Bank
  39. The Family Coppola
  40. Friedemann Goldberg Wargo Hess LLP
  41. GC Micro
  42. The Galley
  43. General Dynamics Ordnance & Tactical Systems
  44. George Petersen Insurance Agency
  45. Ghilotti Bros. Inc.
  46. Ghirardo CPA
  47. Goodwill Redwood Empire
  48. Healdsburg Lumber Company
  49. Hennessy Advisors Inc.
  50. Henry’s Original
  51. The Hess Collection Winery
  52. Hilton Garden Inn–Sonoma County Airport
  53. Hogan Land Services Inc.
  54. Intelisys, a Scan Source Company
  55. Interwest Insurance Services LLC
  56. Jackson Family Wines
  57. Joanna’s Nannies
  58. Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center
  59. Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center
  60. Keegan & Coppin Company Inc.
  61. Keysight Technologies
  62. Kiosk
  63. KLH Consulting Inc.
  64. La Tortilla Factory
  65. Ledson Winery & Vineyards
  66. Linkenheimer LLP CPAs & Advisors
  67. M.A. Silva USA
  68. Mengali Accountancy
  69. Meritage Medical Network
  70. Mike’s Bikes
  71. MKM & Associates Structural Engineering
  72. Moore Home Services
  73. Moss Adams LLP
  74. Mr. Rooter of Sonoma County
  75. North Coast Title Company
  76. Nova Group Inc.
  77. O’Brien Watters & Davis LLP
  78. Oliver’s Market
  79. Parkpoint Health Clubs
  80. Peju Province Winery
  81. Pepperwood Foundation
  82. Petaluma Health Center
  83. Pisenti & Brinker LLP
  84. Poppy Bank
  85. Private Ocean Wealth Management
  86. Psychstrategies Inc.
  87. Quattrocchi Kwok Architects
  88. Redwood Credit Union
  89. RESIG (Redwood Empire Schools Insurance Group)
  90. Russian River Brewing Company
  91. Schurter Inc.
  92. Sequoia Senior Solutions
  93. Smith Dollar PC
  94. Social Advocates For Youth
  95. Soiland Company Inc.
  96. Sonoma Clean Power
  97. Sonoma County Family YMCA
  98. Sonoma Jet Center
  99. Sonoma Technology Inc.
  100. Spaulding Mccullough & Tansil LLP
  101. St. Francis Winery & Vineyards
  102. Star Staffing
  103. Summit Engineering Inc.
  104. Summit State Bank
  105. Sutter Instruments
  106. Terra Firma Global Partners
  107. TIV Branding
  108. TLCD Architecture
  109. Traditional Medicinals
  110. W. Bradley Electric Inc.
  111. Whistlestop (Vivalon)
  112. Woodruff-Sawyer & Co.
  113. WRA Inc.
  114. YWCA Sonoma County

The selections this year were made from nearly 6,700 employee surveys, out of about 19,800 who work for the nominees. That was below the record in 2019 but remarkable considering the communication challenges of remote work combined with severe economic headwinds.

One measure of how engaged employees were in this year’s satisfaction survey: the average score rose from 4.39 out of 5 to 4.50.

Several companies reported 100% employee survey participation, an indicator that they saw Best Places to Work as a mechanism to engage employees and build morale during an incredibly challenging time.

What these facts about the 2020 Best Places to Work indicate to us — and it was obvious from the many hundreds of employee-written comments — is that these organizations were standing with their employees as the pandemic stressed every aspect — indeed, the very fiber — of their business.

Co-hosts of the Sept. 23 event were Exchange Bank, Kaiser Permanente and Nelson. The underwriter was Trope Group.

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