Arkansas: Best Places to Work

Fifty businesses were nominated in 2006 for a Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award. The winners of the awards presented by the Arkansas Psychological Association provides them with the designation as being one of the best places to work in Arkansas. The criteria by which the organizations who completed an extensive application process is consistent with other psychological associations throughout the United States as supported by the American Psychological Association. A committee of Arkansas psychologists reviewed the evaluations of each organization’s employees, the organization's commitment to employees, and provided feedback to all those business groups that completed applications. Dr. McNeir, President of the Arkansas Psychological Association, said that this year's award winners are companies that demonstrated a commitment to programs and policies that foster employee health and well-being as well as organizational performance.

After the extensive list of criteria were evaluated by a panel of judges, comprised of a team of psychologists from the Arkansas Psychological Association, three central Arkansas organizations were determined to be the 2006 winners. Those winners were:

The Arkansas Educational Television Network (AETN) won in the category of non-profit government agency. AETN is a statewide public telecommunications network headquartered in Conway. Among other exemplary measures, employees noted that opportunity for leadership and creative expression was one of the most important components for them. Their award was presented at the Arkansas State Capitol by Psychologist Bob Doyle to (from right to left) Donna Smith, AETN Finance & Administration Director; LaVenia Craig, AETN Foundation President, from El Dorado; Dr. Bill Downs, AETN Commission Chairman, from Arkadelphia; Allen Weatherly, AETN Executive Director & CEO; and Dr. Doyle.
Legacy Capital Group captured the award in the financial services category. The Little Rock business was characterized by the evaluators as an entity that encouraged employees to participate in decision-making and to develop their particular individual talents.
In the small business category, Corky's Ribs & BBQ of North Little Rock was the winner as a representative of the Food Services industry category. According to the judges, Corky's emphasis on creating a sense of community among employees placed them out front of others in the food service industry. The success of the efforts was exemplified by data that showed employee retention at Corky's far exceeds the national standard in an industry with high turnover rates. The Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award was presented to the staff of Corky’s at the insistence of Partner and General Manager, Vincent Shallenberg by psychologists Bob Doyle and Kevin Rowell, pictured below with Mr. Shallenberg.