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Each year, the Best Companies Group examines Tennessee businesses and evaluates them to determine which ones stand out as the best employers. By considering many factors such as salary, tenure of CEOs, personal benefits and more, the Best Companies Group has assembled its 2006 list of the top 20 organizations to work for in Tennessee. The companies are listed alphabetically.

Beaman Automotive Group is a group of automobile dealerships headquartered in Nashville, including Beaman Pontiac GMC, Beaman Toyota, Beaman Lincoln Mercury in Nashville and Beaman Dodge in Murfreesboro. It was founded in 1945 by Alvin Beaman and is currently owned by his son, Lee A. Beaman. The family and the dealership are well known in the area for their customer-oriented business philosophy, generosity to the community and being a good place to work overall.

“Beaman Automotive has been fortunate to be recognized for excellence in many ways over the 60 years my family has been in the business,” says CEO Lee A. Beaman. “Manufacturers have recognized us for sales and customer satisfaction excellence and readers’ polls have voted us the best. But this recognition is especially close to my heart because it reflects how our associates feel about us. My business philosophy is to take excellent care of our associates first, and in turn they will be inspired to take great care of our customers who will reward us with repeat business. This award tells me our associates feel good about working for Beaman.” The privately held company employs 378 individuals full-time, across the state, with employees earning an average of $18,600 annually.

Cowan Benefit Services was formed in 1991 to provide benefit services for its employers. The privately held company offers benefit consulting, insurance brokers and benefit plan administration. Employees are experienced benefit experts with varied backgrounds. Many have worked as insurance company representatives, insurance brokerage specialists and corporate human resources directors, among other positions. Cowan, based out of Franklin, Tennessee, is one of the smaller of Tennessee’s top employers, with just 47 full-time employees. One of Cowan’s best loved benefits is its reimbursement of employees’ annual membership fees to join Sam’s Wholesale Club or Costco Wholesale Club. Matt Cowan, president of the company, says, “One of the key points of our mission is to make Cowan a good place for our employees to work. We believe it is critical to have satisfied employees to deliver the level of quality service we expect to deliver to our clients.”

Edward Jones, based out of St. Louis, is the largest financial-services firm in the nation in terms of offices, with nearly 9,000 U.S. branch offices. The firm serves more than six million clients, offering a variety of investments including certificates of deposit, taxable and non-taxable bonds, stocks and mutual funds. Branch offices consist of an investment representative (IR) and one or two branch office administrators (BOAs) and are located in cities and suburbs throughout the nation.

The firm’s primary clients are serious, long-term individual investors, many of whom include retired individuals and small-business owners. IRs promote a conservative buy-and-hold investment philosophy, offering relatively low-risk, high-quality investments. Edward Jones, the company’s founder, believed that employees should feel ownership over the company they work for, and that employees served as the root of a company’s success.

Says Ed Hood, the Tennessee regional manager for Edward Jones: “Being named one of the best companies to work for in Tennessee is a great honor and quite an accomplishment. We are especially proud of this achievement because it is the result of how our associates view Edward Jones. Except for our clients, there is no group whose approval matters more.”

Mentoring is one of the most treasured traditions at Edward Jones. Investment representatives don’t compete with one another; they mentor each other so that all can succeed. “Edward Jones is a partnership,” Hood concludes. “That structure is not just financial, it’s a philosophy. We work together, help each other and all share in the financial rewards. That brings out the best in everyone.”

ENA is a managed internet service provider (MISP) that creates technology solutions for school systems, libraries and governments. Since 1995, the Nashville-based company has established a reputation as an expert in the design, deployment, and operation of broadly distributed networks. Customers know ENA as a reliable partner with knowledge in internet connectivity, E-Rate and other funding sources, and value-added customized services.

Since it was founded in 1995, the privately held company has grown to a staff of 53 full-time and three part-time employees who earn an average of $35,880 (non-exempt). The company says it has been receiving 99% customer satisfaction ratings, and its customer retention rate is 97%. ENA works to support as much training and development as employees request, in order to improve their performance and the performance of the company. In addition, every employee is granted stock options upon employment.

“It is gratifying to be recognized among the best companies to work for in Tennessee,” says president and CEO David Pierce. “We do a lot of things to motivate our team, but the main motivator is that we all know that what we do has real meaning. Our employees are passionate about our mission—providing safe, reliable, affordable access to the vast learning resources of the Internet for K-12 schools across Tennessee. We all know when we come to work each day that we are making a real difference, helping teachers teach and children learn.”

Based in Memphis, Tennessee, First Horizon National Corp., formerly First Tennessee National Corp., is a nationwide financial services institution. As one of the top 30 largest bank holding companies in the U.S., its strategy is to offer a broad selection of products and services through its three major businesses. One facet of the organization, First Horizon Bank (still known as First Tennessee Bank within the Tennessee market), is a full-service provider of business and consumer financial products and services, and holds the most loyal customer base in Tennessee. In addition, First Horizon’s mortgage business is one of the nation’s top providers of mortgage originations and servicing. Finally, First Horizon’s full-service securities firm, FTN Financial, helps financial institutions increase their profitability and manage risk through five business units: capital markets, equity research, investment banking, correspondent services and strategic alliances.

The organization says that the unique combination of these businesses, and the way those businesses work together during periodic market fluctuations, allows First Horizon to create solid earnings and execute a unique national expansion strategy. Chairman and CEO Ken Glass says of the organization, “The people of Tennessee—as our employees, customers and often shareholders—have enabled us to grow into the national financial services company we are today, and we are proud that many Tennesseans have spent their entire careers working with this company. This award recognizes their efforts to make First Horizon National Corp. a great place to work.”

Kramer Rayson LLP is a full-service law firm based in Knoxville that provides legal services in labor and employment law, general and corporate law, business transactions, contracts, estates and taxation, health care law, medical malpractice, insurance defense, construction law, immigration law and personal injury. The privately held, family-based company employs 63 full-time and five part-time individuals. The average annual salary for those non-exempt employees is $40,000.

“Kramer Rayson LLP is thrilled to be recognized as one of the top places to work in Tennessee. The firm works hard to provide not only competitive wages and outstanding benefits, but also to show our lawyers, paralegals and staff how important they are to us. We are thankful that our efforts have been recognized,” says Edward Phillips, Kramer Rayson’s Managing Partner.

Lee Company describes itself as a group of dedicated people working together to provide superior design, construction and maintenance of mechanical systems. Its clients include residential, commercial, industrial and institutional users of heating, air conditioning, plumbing and electrical services. The company’s reputation for quality design and workmanship has allowed it the opportunity to work on major projects nationwide. Based out of Franklin, the Lee Company states that its corporate purpose is, “People, Building Excellence for People.”

The company has been family-owned for more than 60 years, and while it has grown to more than 500 employees, the goal is to maintain a family atmosphere. An annual chili cook-off, a summer homemade ice cream contest, and other people-oriented approaches aim to create a fun place to work. The standard, however, is excellence and professionalism. Of the Lee Company’s 505 full-time employees, 45 have served for 20 years or more. CEO Bill Lee says of the company, “My goal is to create an environment where employees can thrive, personally and professionally; a place where standards are held high and people are given the chance to meet those standards, thus giving them a sense of accomplishment and purpose. Lee Company is people—it’s the only real resource we have, and the recognition of that is the start of creating a workplace that’s good for us all.”

LifeWay Christian Resources is one of the world’s largest providers of Christian products and services, including Bibles, church literature, books, music, audio and video recordings, church supplies and Internet services through LifeWay.com. Established in Nashville in 1891, the company owns and operates 125 LifeWay Christian Stores throughout the United States, as well as two of the largest Christian conference centers in the country. LifeWay is a religious nonprofit organization that receives no funding from the denomination, instead generating income through the sale of goods and services.

“We at LifeWay are pleased to be included among the top 20 employers in Tennessee,” says Human Resources Manager Steve Lawrence. “LifeWay has been a part of the Nashville community for 115 years and a contributor to the city’s health and growth. Our employees are proud to be associated with LifeWay as an institution, and this recognition will help others know the great place we have at LifeWay to work and minister.” The company is home to more than 1,400 full-time employees nationwide and also offers ministry services at its retail bookstores.

McKee Foods Corp. is best known for its line of Little Debbie snack cakes, America’s leading snack cake brand. Headquartered in Collegedale, McKee works to provide consumers with quality products at a good value. The privately held company brings in more than $1 billion annually and employs more than 3,000 individuals full-time.

The company is family-run, and operates with a deeply rooted belief in the importance of doing business with integrity. The founding family and the current owners of the company, the McKee family, are actively involved in guiding the overall business direction as well as day-to-day operations. They have developed a family generational planning process in which family members learn all aspects of the business by spending a specified time working in different departments, starting in an entry-level role and progressing upward through the organization. The McKee family has expressed a commitment to remaining family owned, and for 44 consecutive years has annually shared profits with every employee who has worked for McKee Foods for at least two years.

“I’m thankful for all the employees who work hard every day to make this company successful, who realize that what’s good for the company is good for them, and who constantly look for a better way of doing things,” says Ellsworth McKee, chairman of the company’s board. Supervisor Ellie Cantrell emphasizes the importance of supporting the staff on a personal level. “I try to listen to people and work with them one-on-one,” she says. “After all, everyone is different, and we all have different personalities.”

Memorial Health Care System, based out of Denver, Colo., is composed of two acute care hospitals with 420 licensed beds total, a home health agency, freestanding outpatient surgery and imaging centers, a Center for Health in partnership with the YMCA to provide convenient locations for preventive cardiac rehab, and physical therapy and exercise programs for those with special needs like multiple sclerosis, arthritis, and obesity. Two community information centers are provided near area shopping malls to promote healthier living, and three primary care centers provide medical care in low-income neighborhoods.

Memorial Health Partners, the Chattanooga arm of the company, is the largest physician group of primary care physicians in the area, and leads the Chattanooga area in quality of cardiac, cancer and surgical care, according to Healthcare 21 Business Coalition’s Consumer Guide for Hospital Performance. In addition, Solucient recognized Memorial as one of America’s 100 Top Hospitals and 100 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals. Memorial is also recognized as family-friendly workplace with on-site child care, tuition reimbursement and other benefits for employees. Memorial is proactive in local, state and federal health care issues and provided more than $25 million in free community service in 2005 to benefit the community and low-income residents. “How wonderful to be named one of the best employers in Tennessee!,” says CEO Ruth Brinkley. “Our associates are our most valued resource at Memorial Health Care System, and we are committed to enabling them to reach their fullest potential by rewarding the contribution they make to our ministry of healing. Talented people with the best information and technology are essential to fulfill our sacred trust to care for those we serve and for each other.” The company is served by more than 3,000 employees, 700 physicians, and 500 active volunteers.

Formed out of Memphis, Mid-America Apartment Communities is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns and operates more than 130 apartment communities throughout the Southeastern U.S. and Texas. But the large, publicly held company works to nurture the close-knit feel of a small company. Each of its communities has a staff of six to 12 individuals working as a team, allowing associates to work in a very personal setting. The company says that there are few cubicles at Mid-America. Instead, associates work in decorated leasing offices with pool views and relaxing music playing throughout day.

“Our company culture is best defined by the first of five guiding principles that we have used over the last twelve years as a public company—Treat People with Respect,” says chairman and CEO Eric Bolton. “Mid-America Apartment Communities is in the business of providing high-quality apartments to the rental market throughout the Sunbelt region of the United States. Our success in exceeding the expectations of the residents and shareholders that we serve is totally a result of our associates at Mid-America and their high commitment to superior service and results. This level of commitment from our MAC Associates is not something we take for granted. It is not something you can buy solely through compensation and benefits. In many ways, our company success and commitment to our Mid-America Associates starts with that first guiding principle noted above.”

MidSouth Bank is a Rutherford County-based community bank offering a full array of financial services. In addition to offering innovative and competitive personal and business banking, MidSouth provides its clients and community with real estate lending, residential mortgage lending, and trust and investment services. The publicly held company is comparatively new, founded in 2004, and works to empower its leaders and team members to succeed, and to provide clients with first class service. By maintaining a “flat” organizational structure, Midsouth says its employees have easy access to senior management, fostering an environment of “oneness.”

“While MidSouth Bank is only two years old, we knew when we began organizing the bank that to be successful, our primary focus needed to be on creating a positive team through a family-oriented environment,” says chairman and CEO Lee M. Moss. “Corporate America too frequently focuses all of its energies on creating ‘shareholder value’ by making short-term cost reductions that have long term negative consequences, and we knew our focus needed to be on our team members. If our team was motivated, fulfilled, positive and happy, then they would ensure that the customers’ real needs were met. If customers’ needs are met, then the bank will grow and prosper, and shareholders will be rewarded. Therefore, it must start with your people, and our team members are our focus!”

Passport Health Communications provides real-time Internet-based, integrated and batch file processes to improve the administrative and financial performance of health care organizations. Passport Health Communications has evolved into a one-stop, comprehensive, administrative and financial management tool for hospitals, physicians, and alternate-site healthcare providers. The company, based out of Franklin, harbors a family-oriented culture. Passport cites an employee survey in which employees used such terms as “caring, relaxed and fun, but serious about results,” to describe the organization.

“From the formation of the company,” states Jim Lackey, Passport CEO, “we knew that our employees would be the key to success. We have tried to hire the best and to provide an environment and culture of openness and respect. Looks like it is paying off!”

Qualifacts Systems offers the nation’s leading integrated web-based clinical enterprise management applications for the health and human services community. With installations in 35 states and more than 20,000 users nationwide, Qualifacts supplies providers with the leading hosted solution. The Qualifacts solution, which has no upfront hardware costs for clients, can be implemented across all personnel using a standard Internet browser and Internet connection. Qualifacts and its staff are recipients of the following awards: Top Software Developer, Largest Nashville Area IT Employer and the Music City Future 50.

Headquartered in Nashville, the organization emphasizes courtesy and respect, as well as an appreciation of its diversity. It is a growing corporation, which it says makes each step forward exciting for employees. Says CEO Steven Mason: “It is a great honor to be selected as one of the top 20 employers in Tennessee. As a growing technology company, our success in the health care IT market is driven by the fantastic work that our employees do every day.”

Saratoga Technologies is a technology solutions company that offers both IT and communications solutions to businesses of all sizes. Based out of Johnson City, the company also has offices in Knoxville; Cape Town, South Africa; and London, England. Saratoga says its focus is not selling “stuff” or pushing product, but solving customers’ business problems with technology. It differs from traditional company models in its field, in that it offers the full range of solutions—from very basic to highly skilled—and focused solutions.

Saratoga says it became strong in many diverse areas by acquiring companies that offered some specialty that Saratoga did not, and by retaining the staff from those companies. Saratoga also has its own in-house financial company that provides a mechanism for customers to do business with ease. Saratoga utilizes an open management style where all information within the company is shared with all staff, and employees are empowered to do anything necessary to make sure a customer is happy.

“It is such an honor for us to be recognized as one of the top employers in the state,” says Saratoga Technologies president, David Temple. “Saratoga Technologies has, in just over four years, worked hard to become a prime source of good paying, high tech jobs for East Tennessee and it is now being recognized statewide. This achievement will assist our company’s efforts in finding, hiring and retaining quality staff and this will be vital to us in sustaining our record growth.”

Scripps has been a presence in Tennessee since we launched the Memphis Press on Nov. 1, 1906, so it’s an especially meaningful honor to be named to Tennessee’s Best Companies to Work For list while we celebrate our centennial anniversary as Volunteers,” says Kenneth W. Lowe, president and CEO of The E. W. Scripps Co. “Scripps is as much a part of Tennessee as ‘Rocky Top,’ and we’re looking forward to being one of the best companies to work for in Tennessee for many years to come” Scripps Networks, a facet of The E.W. Scripps Co., is comprised of the lifestyle television brands “Home & Garden Television,” “Food Network,” “DIY Network,” “FINE LIVING,” electronic retailer “Shop At Home” and county music network “Great American Country (GAC).” Scripps is the leading developer of lifestyle-oriented content for television and the Internet, where on-air programming is complemented with online content.

Headquartered in Knoxville, the corporate culture at Scripps Networks is recognized as one of the most attractive characteristics of the company. It is considered the “destination employer” in Knox County, company officials say, not just for benefits but also for the working environment and the way employees are treated. In the last two company-wide employee surveys conducted by E. W. Scripps, using the independent organization of Stanard and Associates, Scripps Networks rated highest in overall job satisfaction for the E. W. Scripps company when compared to the other divisions of E. W. Scripps. Employees routinely mentioned working environment, benefits and culture as being most important to their job satisfaction. Managers are encouraged to consider work/life balance when making decisions about work schedules and requests for time off. All managers are required to attend mandatory harassment & ethics training, which contributes to a positive work environment.

T-Mobile provides wireless telephone and data communications services to nearly 20 million customers. T-Mobile’s customer call centers receive telephone inquiries from customers regarding a variety of issues, including billing questions and requests for assistance with cellular telephones, service features (voicemail, text messaging, etc.), and network coverage. T-Mobile USA employs more than 1,000 individuals nationwide on a full-time basis.

T-Mobile says it aims to make a profound impact in the life of its customers and employees. It asks employees to take the opportunity on every call with every customer to truly understand their needs, to build a relationship and to provide world-class service. It also works to show every team member—in conversation and coaching—the value of his or her professional and personal success.

Unum Provident is the industry leader in disability income protection and one of the top providers of supplemental benefits in the nation. The corporation has led its industry for 29 consecutive years, ranking first in group income protection and individual income protection. Product lines include disability income protection insurance, supplemental benefits, life, and long term care. With primary offices in Chattanooga and Portland, Maine, the company employs more than 12,000 people worldwide.

UnumProvident recently conducted a work environment survey, in which most responses were above national averages, with 83% of employees electing to participate in the survey. In a question regarding overall satisfaction in the workplace, 77% of employees returned a favorable response.

“Since 1887,” says president and CEO Tom Watjen, “Provident Companies and now UnumProvident have been proud to call Chattanooga and the state of Tennessee home. At UnumProvident, we want to create an environment that allows us to attract and retain the absolute best people in the business, to be the ‘employer of choice’ in our different businesses and locations. To be named one of the top employers in the state of Tennessee is a wonderful affirmation of these efforts.”

Valenti Management operates over 110 Wendy’s restaurants throughout five states, including Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri and Pennsylvania, making it the third largest Wendy’s franchise license holder for the international company. Founded in 1999, the company is headquartered in Memphis and employs more than 2000 full- and part-time workers. The company’s culture mimics the values and legacies that Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy’s, promoted and lived each day.

“Being ranked as one of the 20 Best Employers in Tennessee is extremely meaningful to me as a business leader,” says Valenti’s CEO Peter J. Grant. “This honor confirms our success as an organization because it is based upon the first hand opinions and perspectives given by our employees. Our goal is to be the employer of choice in the QSR industry and to exceed the customers’ expectations. It is only when every employee is excited about their job and their impact upon the organization that Valenti Management will be functioning at its optimal level. At Valenti, we value each and every employee and promote their success by investing in training, providing opportunities for advancement, and encouraging employees to balance their personal and work life. Our employees are the reason for our success, and this survey is another validation that we are heading in the right direction.”

Through a company-wide ISO® 9001:2000 Certified Quality Management System, Walden Security has earned an award-winning reputation for business excellence and employee satisfaction through the delivery of contract security services to commercial and government facilities. Walden Security was founded as a family business, and that spirit prevails among its professionals who come together to ensure the security and protection of their clients’ assets. Walden combines local management, business development, human resources and administration to achieve its goal of providing total customer satisfaction and confidence. Since 1990, Walden Security has geographically diversified into 14 states across the United States, but it is headquartered in Chattanooga.

“I believe that people do business with people,” says Walden’s president and CEO, Michael S. Walden. “What makes our company special is that we recognize and reward every employee who shows a commitment to excellence. That’s why we provide industry-leading benefits, offer a comprehensive training program for our security officers and empower our people to pursue career advancement opportunities within the company. We believe that we have the best security professionals in the business, so being recognized for the second year as a Best Employer is an exciting accomplishment for Walden Security.”

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