Radio Flyer, Performance Services, Link Logistics Real Estate top Best Places to Work in Illinois 2022
Brian Ondyak went to Wednesday's Best Places to Work in Illinois 2022 luncheon with one goal in mind.
Just bring a second straight first-place award back to Performance Services' Lombard office.
“We've been in Illinois for the past 12 years and we threw our hat into this competition last year,” said Ondyak, general manager of the construction company. “I thought we could compete well. We ended up winning last year, so it's really exceptional to repeat.”
Performance Services was rated No. 1 among midsized companies of between 100 and 499 U.S. employees. Wednesday's awards luncheon at Abbington Distinctive Banquets in Glen Ellyn was hosted by Daily Herald Suburban Business. The luncheon was sponsored by Signature Bank, a previous recipient of American Banker's “Best Banks to Work For.”
It was the Daily Herald's first in-person event since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. Celebrating in person added to the excitement of the winners.
“It really feels great,” Ondyak said. “We really dive into the data of employee satisfaction, customer satisfaction, take it very seriously. On the employee side, surveying our employees, understanding what we can do better. Having each individual sit down with a supervisor quarterly to receive that feedback, understand that individual's personal development plan, where they want to go.”
Ondyak said the company has many social events. He also said that if certain goals are achieved, the company offers a paid trip to Cancun with that employee's spouse, adding the award suggested the company was off to a good start in that respect.
Chicago-based Radio Flyer was ranked No. 1 in the small companies category defined as 15-99 U.S. employees. Radio Flyer, a maker of well-known little red wagons and other products since 1917, also was ranked No. 1 for millennials.
“I know for some of you these past two years have been years of many, many, many changes,” Radio Flyer Chief People Officer Amy Bastuga said, recognizing a room full of honorees. “And what comes with that is the need to be resilient. So I want to congratulate all of you for your resilience and your leadership because you made a choice to step up to be a great place to work when people needed it the most.”
In the large company category for businesses with 500 or more employees, Link Logistics Real Estate earned first-place honors.
As a new company undergoing significant growth, Link Logistics opted to enter the awards figuring it would at least be interesting to see the data and see how the company is doing, said Chief People Officer Maria Kappel. The first-place award is a bonus.
“I couldn't be happier to share this recognition with the team members that are here,” she said.
• Look for more coverage, full rankings and select company profiles in a Daily Herald Suburban Business special section on Sunday, June 26.