Three Albert Lea businesses were named among the 2016 Best Places to Work in southeastern Minnesota this week in a commissioned study by Workforce Development Inc.

The purpose of the program is to recognize some of the best employers in the area and to let companies know about practices to recruit and retain employees, according to a news release.

Recognized from Albert Lea were Freeborn Lumber Co., CliftonLarsonAllen; and Innovance Inc.

The companies received an award at a banquet on Thursday.

Each company participating was required to complete a 40-question survey that allowed their employment practices to be analyzed by a consulting firm. Some of the data measured were turnover, rate of growth, promotion rates, employee evaluations and feedback, percent of injured employees, diversity of management, benefits offered, among others.

The participating companies will receive a detailed 20-page report with the information on their company and the results of the survey. They can use it as a tool to recruit and retain workers.

The following is the full list of the companies recognized:

 

Small employer (under 75 employees)

• Commercial Water Distributing, Zumbrota

• Freeborn Lumber Co., Albert Lea

Hilton Garden Inn, Rochester

POET Biorefining, Preston

Southeast Service Cooperative, Rochester

 

Mid-size employer (76 to 250 employees)

• Alvin E. Benike Inc., Rochester

• Cooperative Response Center, Austin

• Gauthier Industries Inc., Rochester

• GEOTEK Inc., Stewartville

• Smith Schafer & Associates, Rochester

 

Large employer (over 250 employees)

• Berquist: A Henkel Company, Cannon Falls

• CliftonLarsonAllen, Albert Lea, Austin, Owatonna

• Hearth & Home Technologies, Lake City

• Innovance Inc., Albert Lea

• Pace Dairy, Rochester