Best large company with a promising future

Wells Fargo & Co.

As a diversified financial services company, Wells Fargo & Co. provides banking, insurance, investment, mortgage and consumer finance products at more than 5,900 offices, on the Internet and through other distribution channels across North America and elsewhere internationally.

Though its headquarters is in San Francisco, the company’s decentralized structure allows each office to act as a center for satisfying all of its customers’ financial needs.

Wells Fargo’s people have been the key component of the company’ success for the past 151 years, said Dick Kovacevich, chairman, president and CEO. “We have the most committed, talented, experienced, innovative and caring people in our industry,” he said. “The second reason is that for 15 years we’ve demonstrated that our business model — diversified financial services, not just banking — and earning all our customers’ business does work.”

With $397 billion in assets and 143,000 team members, Wells Fargo is among the 40 largest private employers in the United States. Among its peers, it ranked fifth in assets and fourth in market value of its stock as of March 31.

The company’s vision is to “satisfy all our customers’ financial needs, help them succeed financially, and become known as one of America’s great companies and the No. 1 financial services provider in each of our markets.”

Runners-up: Principal Financial Group Inc., Mid-America Group Ltd.

Best small company with a promising future

Storey Kenworthy

At Storey Kenworthy, “our employees know their part in our success,” said Marc Hollander, the company’s marketing manager. It’s one of the reasons, undoubtedly, that Business Record readers believe the small company has a promising future.

An example of Storey Kenworthy’s attention to detail: During a recent service call, an installation team noticed that one of the customer’s existing chairs was missing a part, so they made the repair during the same visit, Hollander said.

“That’s a terrific example of how our employees go above and beyond the call of duty to make sure our customer is comfortable in what they are sitting in,” he said.

Founded in 1936, Storey Kenworthy as grown to three Greater Des Moines locations, as well as stores in Ames, Fort Dodge, Mason City, Decorah and Spirit Lake. Last year, the company created a new division called Business Furniture Warehouse, which fills a niche for entry-level customers seeking value-priced office furniture.

The company supports two competing sales staffs through a shared back-office operation. Its Storey Kenworthy stores specialize in Allsteel furniture made by HNI Corp., while the company’s Workspace Inc. subsidiary sells Steelcase, a competing brand.

Now staffed with about 150 people, “we’ve been a strong point in the Midwest, as other furniture dealers have shut down or reduced staff,” Hollander said. “Overall, we’re just overwhelmed by being named (best small company with a promising future) — obviously the honor goes to our employees for the great work they do.”

Runners-up: Josephs Jewelers; FlynnWright

Best corporate financial services

Wells Fargo & Co.

Empowering its customers to succeed is Wells Fargo & Co.’s goal in offering corporate financial services.

“We attribute our success to the diversity of business lines which make us much more than a bank,” said Suzanne Herbst, Wells Fargo Institutional Trust Services vice president and managing director. “Many of our clients tell us it’s not just the convenience of one-stop shopping, it’s having a business partner who understands how each offering relates to their specific needs that makes the difference.”

The array of commercial banking products and services Wells Fargo offers range from retirement plans and 401(k) plan administration to insitututional asset advisers and asset-based lending and global trust and custody services, as well as traditional banking services such as credit, deposits and treasury management.

Runners-up: Bankers Trust Co.; RSM McGladrey Inc.

Best personal investment services

RBC Dain Rauscher Inc.

As RBC Dain Rauscher Inc. moves toward its goal of offering brokerage services in all 50 states, the company plans to continue growing its base of brokers in Greater Des Moines, says Kirk Abrahamson, managing director of the Des Moines branch office in Clive.

The broker-dealer’s parent company, RBC Dain Rauscher Corp., has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada since 2001, and serves individual investors and small business owners through offices predominantly in the western half of the United States, and capital markets and correspondent clients in select U.S. and international markets. In March 2002, Dain Rauscher merged with Tucker Anthony Sutro to form the nation’s ninth-largest full-service securities firm.

“With RBC acquiring Dain Rauscher, you’ve got a high-quality institution with a big asset base backing you,” Abrahamson said. “The acquisition of Sutro showed RBC’s commitment to this business; and you do achieve some scale — it doubled our size and expanded our footprint to 41 of the 50 states.”

“Some of the advantages we have right here in Des Moines are that as a firm we have a non-proprietary product menu, so you can be very objective in the advice that you provide,” he said. “One of the other features is that we have an in-house municipal bond trader; that’s a unique advantage for us both for our clients and for us as brokers. We are the largest issuer of municipal bond deals in the state in terms of number of deals.”

Currently, Dain Rauscher employs 18 brokers in Des Moines, and is looking to expand to have as many as 26 brokers. Wealth management represents the firm’s biggest growth area, Abrahamson said.

“What we try to have is individuals in the office who specialize in specific areas so we can match customers with the appropriate adviser.” .

Runner-up: Edward Jones

Best law firm

Belin Lamson McCormick Zumbach Flynn

The attorneys at Belin Lamson McCormick Zumbach Flynn consistently rank among the state’s leaders in their respective fields, and their expertise is recognized nationally. Eight of the firm’s 30 attorneys are listed in Best Lawyers in America. The firm is also listed in the Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers.

“The firm’s core strategy is to hire the best talent,” said Steven Zumbach, one of its partners. “The firm recruits top students from the best law schools in the country. That means the Belin firm is going head-to-head with the largest and best firms in the country for its talent.”

The full-service law firm is best known for its expertise in advising corporate clients on issues such as mergers and acquisitions, bankruptcy and taxation. Three of Central Iowa’s largest corporate acquisitions last year were handled by the firm: Medicine Shoppe International’s purchase of Medicap Pharmacies; Ruan’s sale of its truck leasing business to Ryder Systems Inc.; and Color Converting LLC’s sale to Siegwerk Group.

Belin was named the No. 1 firm in Iowa for corporate work by Chambers & Partners’ 2004 USA clients’ guide. Among its other specialties are intellectual property, environmental and employment law. Its clients include a broad range of Iowa corporations throughout the state, as well as national and multinational business clients that include numerous Fortune 500 companies.



Runners-up: Connolly, O’Malley, Lillis, Hansen & Olson; Davis, Brown, Koehn, Shors & Roberts PC

Best radio station for news

WHO 1040 AM

For news on the radio, Business Record readers say they’re tuned in to WHO 1040 AM.

WHO’s powerful signal, which can be easily heard throughout Iowa, gives the station the challenge of covering both local and statewide news well, says News Director Jim Boyd.

“As a radio station you’re supposed to be able to cover the news in your own back yard, but we also have a 50,000-watt ‘blowtorch,’ so we reach all 99 counties,” he said. “So we have to cover news of interest to the entire state.”

Each weekday, the station’s 10-person news staff begins broadcasting five news reports per hour from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., with hourly and drive-time reports during the day and updates at the top and bottom of each hour in the evening. The station, owned by radio giant Clear Channel Communications Inc., also broadcasts short news reports every half hour on the weekends.

WHO’s news staff also provides sports updates for Clear Channel’s sports station, KXNO, and newscasts for KISS FM. The text of its top stories of the day are also printed on its Web site, www.whoradio.com.

Runners-up: KRNT, WOI

Best automobile dealer

Betts Auto Campus

To get an idea of Betts Auto Campus’ dedication to its customers and product lines, just drive past its ever-expanding sales and service complex at 2121 N.W. 100th St. in Clive. The dealership expects to complete its new facility for Jaguars and Volvos by October, and has just begun construction on a new Hummer area, to be completed next March. The projects will allow Betts to offer sufficient space to display and service its newest lines, while not detracting from the space it needs to showcase the quality assortment of Cadillac and Lexus models that its reputation was built on.

Willis said when the construction is complete, Betts will have a total of 370 additional parking stalls – a combination of inside and outside spaces. Not only does this make room for new autos, but it will allow the dealership to have a wider variety of pre-owned models, he said.

“We are excited about the potential of having all of our construction completed by next spring, and have the campus as we intended it to be so that it is comfortable for our guests,” said Rich Willis, dealer principal.

The 57-year-old dealership has undergone a lot of growth and changes in the last few years, and plans to use its expanded size, staff and product lines to better serve its customers. “Our cup runneth over,” Willis said. “We are very blessed to have what we have.”

RUNNERS-UP: Jordan Motors; Dewey Ford.

Best company workforce

Principal Financial Group Inc.

When a lot of people want to work for your company, you have the opportunity to select the best. According to Mia Arter, who has been with Principal Financial Group Inc. for nearly 16 years, that’s one reason the financial services giant was chosen as having the best company workforce. “People want to work at Principal,” said Arter, who is an assistant director in the information technology department. “They recognize it for its values, its high integrity and the fact that it’s a company that cares about its employees.”

Once those applicants become employees, they make sure to do their part, Arter noted. “There are not a lot of clock-watchers at Principal,” she said. “We reflect the typical Midwestern work ethic of doing the job right and working until it’s done. Our workforce is known for going the extra mile to accomplish that.”

Although it might look like a business of pure numbers, Arter said Principal’s workforce doesn’t look at insurance and 401(k) management that way. “These are very personal things that we deal with, so it’s easy to put ourselves in the customer’s shoes. The customer has always been in the forefront in our values and our work processes.”

Women hold about 70 percent of the jobs at Principal, and in the opinion of Audrey Vaughn, second vice president of the medical management division, “I think we have some real special people on our staff, people who have genuine care and concern for each other, the community and the company.”

In her 20 years with Principal, Vaughn has seen the company “adapt to current life events or issues that employees are facing” with programs and benefits that produce happier and more valuable workers. For example, Vaughn said, “The company made it possible for me to go back to get my master’s degree, and I can’t tell you the value that brings back into the company.”

RUNNERS-UP: Iowa Health – Des Moines; Mercy Medical Center.

Best place to be a CEO

Principal Financial Group Inc.

Just as J. Barry Griswell, the chairman, president and chief executive officer of Principal Financial Group Inc., was named best CEO and best metro business leader in the 2004 “Best of Des Moines” poll, Principal was chosen as the best place to be a CEO.

As you see in a couple of other categories – best workforce and best place to work – Griswell’s employer has developed a fine reputation in Central Iowa, and that’s one factor in making the CEO job special, too. Leading a large and well-respected company adds prestige to the leader’s reputation.

And the money isn’t bad, either. In 2003, Griswell received $1 million in salary, $1.3 million as a bonus, and earned as part of his long-term compensation nearly $1 million in payouts plus options on 320,555 shares of Principal stock, currently valued at more than $32 per share.

RUNNERS-UP: Iowa Health – Des Moines; Mercy Medical Center.

Best decorated CEO office

J. Barry Griswell, Principal Financial Group Inc.

When he reports to work at Principal Financial Group Inc.’s headquarters at 711 High St., CEO J. Barry Griswell settles into an office that he and his predecessors have occupied since the building was constructed in 1940.

The room retains its traditional look with original art deco fixtures, mahogany paneling and cherry furniture, details that made Griswell’s office our readers’ choice as the best decorated CEO office in Des Moines.

A piece from Principal’s art collection hangs on one wall, and wood plantation shutters bracket the windows, which provide a view of downtown.

RUNNERS-UP: Marvin Pomerantz, Mid-America Group Ltd.; Art Wittern, Fawn Engineering Co.

Best place to work

Principal Financial Group Inc.

The city’s largest private employer repeated last year’s honor by being named the best place to work in Des Moines, and that’s no surprise to Carolyn Whitlatch. When she started working at Principal Financial Group Inc., she planned to stay one year. That was 29 years ago. “I love working for Principal,” said Whitlatch, a product portfolio consultant. “They offer me everything that I need, and I feel proud to be part of something that has been such a stable part of the community.”

The company provides a full spectrum of employee benefits, including on-site education and help with classes elsewhere; up-to-date technology; flexible work schedules; easy-to-use personal time off; an on-site financial center where employees can talk to advisers about planning for college expenses, retirement and other needs; and more – right down to free beverages on Mondays and blue jeans on Fridays.

Such benefits have attracted a solid group of employees who work well together, in Whitlatch’s view. “The people you work with here are outstanding people,” she said. “It’s a real team-oriented company, and we work well across our business lines. I’m not afraid to call a senior manager and ask a question; we have the openness to do that.”

Whitlatch also feels good about Principal’s community spirit. “They feel obligated to give back to the community that has made them so successful,” she said. “We have a strong volunteer network; we just did our annual Day of Caring, when the company gives employees four hours to go out and work in community. We have eight hours a year for VTO — volunteer time off – that you can spend at your church, a school or some social agency. I usually go to Polk County Youth Shelter or Youth Emergency Services Shelter.

“The company expects a lot from you, but it’s willing to give a lot in return.”

RUNNERS-UP: Iowa Health – Des Moines; Mercy Medical Center.

Best TV station for business news

KCCI

Business reporting has become a more prominent part of television news during Dave Busiek’s 25 years at KCCI-TV, and the local CBS affiliate handles the task well enough to be named the favorite of Business Record readers again this year.

“Business coverage came of age in the 1990s with the market boom and the prevalence of 401(k) plans,” said the veteran news director. “Now everybody has their eyes and ears open, and we do a lot more business stories than we used to. Part of our strength is that we have so many people who put roots down in the community; they find out more about what’s going on here.”

KCCI is one of 28 TV stations across the country owned or managed by Hearst-Argyle Television Inc. of New York. The station recently won an Edward R. Murrow Award for overall excellence and will receive the honor at a New York City ceremony in October.

RUNNERS-UP: WHO-TV; WOI-TV.

Best accounting firm

Ernst & Young LLP

After many years in Des Moines as a successful accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP is able to attract top college graduate and experienced employees, which enables it to continue to provide quality customer service, according to managing partner Chuck Rayburn.

Rayburn said Ernst & Young, located at 801 Grand Ave., is able to hire the best employees because it’s established a large market share. The combination of the service and success led Business Record readers to name it the best accounting firm in Des Moines.

“Success begets success and success attracts good people who want to be associated with that success,” he said.

The Des Moines office has a large number of insurance companies as clients, including Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, EMC Insurance Group Inc., AmerUs Group Co. and Principal Financial Group Inc. Ernst & Young also provides services for Maytag Corp. in Newton and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and ConAgra Foods Inc. in Omaha.

“What has made us successful in this marketplace is not only do we have real depth of service capabilities in Des Moines, but we can leverage the national level of expertise in these specialty areas,” Rayburn said.

Ernst & Young’s, which was formed through a 1989 merger of two accounting practices, provides a broad range of services, including accounting and auditing, tax reporting, tax advisory services, business risk services, technology and security risk services, transaction advisory services and human capital services.

RUNNERS-UP: McGladrey & Pullen LLP; KPMG LLP.

Best advertising agency

Flynn Wright Inc.

While Flynn Wright Inc. is busy completing projects for big-name clients throughout Central Iowa, it’s still performing pro-bono work for dozens of local charities.

The advertising agency’s attention to community needs helped it earn the “Best of Des Moines” status for the third year in a row.

“I think it’s from the amount of positive interaction and exposure that we have in the community,” said Andy Flynn, president and chief executive. “Not only are you doing work for your clients but also for some great organizations.”

The agency’s focus has been on representing some of the leading companies in the area, including Mediacom Communications Corp., MidAmerican Energy Co., Atlantic Bottling Co., Josephs Jewelers, Hubbell Realty Co., Holmes Automotive Group and Iowa State Bank.

Local charities and events, such as Easter Seals Iowa, Goodwill Industries of Central Iowa, American Red Cross, American Heart Association, the Metro Arts Alliance and the AAU Junior Olympic Summer Games, have also benefited from Flynn Wright representatives.

“To be involved in the community you have to have phenomenal people,” Flynn said. “The people here are very involved outside of the business.”

RUNNERS-UP: Strategic America; viva! communications.

Best public relations agency

Hanser & Associates

In one day, the staff at Hanser & Associates worked on projects all across North America, working with media outlets in eight major cities on behalf of its clients, all from the agency’s West Des Moines office.

Co-founder Ron Hanser said the public relations firm’s ability to reach out to local, national and international clients with innovation, creativity and excellent customer service puts Hanser & Associates among an honored list of Des Moines companies. Business Record readers named it the best public relations firm in Des Moines for the fifth year in a row.

“Being named once is a huge honor, and then a second year, a third year and fourth year. But a fifth year is an awesome honor by the readers,” Hanser said.

Hanser and his wife, Bonnie, founded the full-service public relations agency eight years ago. Its diverse client base includes several Central Iowa companies, such as Iowa Health System and College Savings Iowa. Hansen’s Omaha office is in its third year and experiencing consistent growth.

“It’s a thrill,” said Hanser, who has 32 years of experience in his profession. “We love what we do every day.” The company is the only nationally ranked public relations firm in Iowa, having won 34 awards in the past five years.

“We’re really revved up about what we do,” he added. “Our biggest satisfaction is in knowing we are helping our client companies be as successful as they can be, overcoming challenges and adversity,” he said.

RUNNERS-UP: Strategic America; Flynn Wright Inc.

Best video production company

Markey’s Audio Visual

What started off as a one-man operation with two regular customers has grown into a production and rental company that serves up to 100 customers on a regular basis. That growth has helped Markey’s Audio Visual become the best in Des Moines.

“Our level of customer service might help us to stick out from the rest because we emphasize that we are a company whose main business is customer service with an emphasis in audio, video, lighting, staging and special events,” said Doug Hanson, operations manager.

Hanson opened his store at 4934 Franklin Ave. in 1996 as a branch of Indianoplis-based Markey’s Audio Visual, which has operations in Indiana, Iowa, Florida and Ohio.

The Des Moines branch rents and sells presentation equipment, primarily to the convention and meetings industry. Most of the company’s work comes from renting equipment, whether for an annual convention at a hotel ballroom or an in-house business meeting. Markey’s also provides videotaping services to document business meetings and other functions.

RUNNERS-UP: Brackett Media & Event Services; Pratt Audio-Visual & Video Corp.

Best Iowa business school

AIB College of Business

With more than 900 students expected to enroll this fall, AIB College of Business will continue its tradition of educating future members of the Greater Des Moines workforce.

President Nancy Williams said the quality work performed by AIB graduates allows the school to continue being named the best business school in Des Moines by Business Record Readers.

“I truly believe it’s because we’re been an Iowa school and so many of our graduates stay in the Des Moines community,” Williams said. “So many businesses rely on our graduates.

The two-year school has operated for 84 years and offers 20 associate degree majors in 12 areas of study.

AIB is the only school in a six-state area that offers real-time reporting courses for students pursuing careers in courtroom reporting and closed captioning television programs for the hearing impaired.

“We try to stay on the leading edge of technology,” Williams said.

New this fall, AIB is offering off-campus classes in Urbandale and Panora and at Southeast Polk High School.

RUNNERS-UP: Drake University; University of Iowa Henry B. Tippie College of Business.

Best business consulting firm

The Performance Group LLC

During its 4 1/2 years history, The Performance Group LLC has used a wholistic approach to consulting, focusing on people, processes and strategies to help companies throughout Central Iowa, and now throughout the country, find solutions to help them grow.

“It’s real-world stuff, actionable stuff,” owner Jim Lobaito said of his feedback from clients. “It’s not pie-in-the-sky theory. Its stuff they can use to grow their company.”

That approach helped The Performance Group become the best business consulting firm in Des Moines, as voted on by Business Record readers.

“The differentiating factor appears to be that we help them discover what’s holding back their potential,” Lobaito said.

Lobaito worked as a consultant starting in 1987 until he founded The Performance Group in January 2000. That one-man business has grown to include five additional employees in its new location at 4171 N.W. Urbandale Drive in Urbandale.

“Our goal has been to help grow companies, which may be an overused term, but our approach is to work in the sales and marketing arenas, but take a wholistic approach to the company,” Lobaito said. “We take a look at all the different angles that are affecting it.”

By design, the company stayed in Central Iowa to grow locally. The last 18 months have seen a gradual lengthening of The Performance Group’s client list. And Lobaito and his employees are working to address an ever-changing business world.

“You have to stay on the cutting edge of business today because it’s moving to fast,” Lobaito said. “What worked 18 months ago isn’t going to work today.”

RUNNERS-UP: Capital Management Associates Inc.; RSM McGladrey Inc.