As we do each year, we asked our readers to cast votes for what Des Moines has to offer in a variety of business-related categories. We all know 2020 has been a bit different than past years. This year’s winners stuck out to our readers not just for the type of business or person they were in good times, but also in really tough times.
Here’s how it worked: You voted. We checked the data, removed any suspicious or erroneous votes, and then tallied the results for all 70-plus categories. All Greater Des Moines businesses, people and organizations are eligible to win categories. In other words, there was no cost to be listed as an option due to the survey being open-ended. You can’t pay to win a category.
This year, we followed up with the winners and asked them to submit how their company or organization faced challenges in the last year or what they felt were some of their biggest accomplishments. Many answers, as you might imagine, focus on companies pivoting due to the pandemic. We’ve included responses from those who were able to take the time to do so.
Best CEO
Winner: Dan Houston (Principal Financial Group)
Runner-up: David Stark (UnityPoint Health)
Runner-up: Tray Wade (EveryStep)
Best Metro Business Leader
Winner: Dan Houston (Principal Financial Group)
Runner-up: Jay Byers (Greater Des Moines Partnership)
Runner-up: Kyle Krause (Kum & Go)
Best Business Supporting Local Charity
Winner: Principal Financial Group
Runner-up: NCMIC
Runner-up: Bankers Trust Co.
Best Life Insurance Company
Winner: Principal Life Insurance Co.
Runner-up: Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co.
Runner-up: State Farm
Best Company for Women to Work For
Winner: Principal Financial Group
Runner-up: RSM US LLP
Runner-up: UnityPoint Health
Best Company for Diversity in the Workplace
Winner: Principal Financial Group
Runner-up: UnityPoint Health
Runner-up: Bankers Trust Co.
Best Large Company With a Bright Future
Winner: Principal Financial Group
Runner-up: Baker Group
Runner-up: UnityPoint Health
Best Politician on Business Issues
Winner: Kim Reynolds
Runner-up: Cindy Axne
Runner-up: Chuck Grassley
Best Up & Coming Business Leader
co-Winner: Tony Dickinson (NCMIC)
co-Winner: Tanner Krause (Kum & Go)
Runner-up: Chaz Allen (Iowa Utilities Association)
Runner-up: Adam Kaduce (R&R Realty)
Best Diverse Business Leader
Winner: Izaah Knox (Urban Dreams)
Runner-up: Deidre DeJear (Caleo Enterprises)
Runner-up: Austin Mac Nab (VizyPay)
Best City Government Conducive to Doing Business
Winner: West Des Moines
Runner-up: Des Moines
Runner-up: Urbandale
Best Nonprofit
Winner: Animal Rescue League of Iowa
Runner-up: EveryStep
Runner-up: Easterseals Iowa
Best Commercial Real Estate Company
Winner: Iowa Realty Commercial
Runner-up: CBRE|Hubbell Realty
Runner-up: R&R Realty
Best Residential Real Estate Company
Winner: Iowa Realty
Runner-up: Re/Max
Runner-up: Keller Williams
Best Residential Real Estate Agent (Individual)
Winner: Sonny Greene (Iowa Realty)
Runner-up: Shawntel Cooney (Iowa Realty)
Runner-up: Stephanie Anania (Re/Max Concepts)
Best Commercial Real Estate Agent (Individual)
Winner: Adam Kaduce (R&R Realty)
Runner-up: Kevin Crowley (Iowa Realty Commercial)
Runner-up: Tyler Dingel (CBRE|Hubbell Commercial)
Best Real Estate Property Management Company
Winner: Hubbell Realty
Runner-up: R&R Realty
Runner-up: Knapp Properties
Best Development Company
Winner: Hubbell Realty
Runner-up: Knapp Properties
Runner-up: R&R Realty
Best Homebuilder
Winner: Hubbell Homes
Runner-up: Jerry's Homes
Runner-up: Happe Homes
Best Architectural Firm
Winner: RDG Planning Design
Runner-up: ISG
Runner-up: Shive-Hattery
Best Engineering Firm
Winner: Shive Hattery
Runner-up: ISG
Runner-up: Baker Group
Best General Contractor
Winner: The Weitz Co.
Runner-up: Ryan Cos.
Runner-up: Dean Snyder Construction
Best Electrical Contractor
Winner: Baker Electric
Runner-up: Baker Group
Runner-up: Waldinger
Best Mechanical Contractor
Winner: Baker Group
Runner-up: Waldinger
Runner-up: Bell Brothers
Best Commercial Lender
Winner: Bankers Trust Co.
Runner-up: West Bank
Runner-up: Community Choice Credit Union
Best Bank
Winner: Bankers Trust Co.
Runner-up: West Bank
Runner-up: U.S. Bank
Best Executive Search Firm
Winner: Palmer Group
Runner-up: Raine Recruiting
Runner-up: RC Search Group
Best Temporary Employment Service
Winner: Palmer Group
Runner-up: Raine Recruiting
Runner-up: Robert Half
Best Training and Development Company
Winner: Dale Carnegie
Runner-up: Tero International
Runner-up: ATW Training Solutions
Best Health Insurance Company
Winner: Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Runner-up: UnitedHealthcare
Runner-up: Health Partners UnityPoint Health
Best Property/Casualty Insurance Company
Winner: EMC Insurance Cos.
Runner-up: State Farm
Runner-up: Nationwide
Best Place to Buy Office Furniture
Winner: Triplett Cos.
Runner-up: Pigott
Runner-up: Storey Kenworthy
Best Security Company
Winner: Per Mar Security
Runner-up: Baker Group
Runner-up: Strauss Security Solutions
Best Manufacturing Company
Winner: John Deere Des Moines Works
Runner-up: Vermeer
Runner-up: Cemen Tech
Best Credit Union
Winner: Veridian Credit Union
Runner-up: Community Choice Credit Union
Runner-up: Green State Credit Union
Best Commercial Printer
Winner: Beeline and Blue
Runner-up: Christian Printers
Runner-up: Universal Printing Services
Best Computer Consulting Company
Winner: RSM US LLP
Runner-up: Aureon
Runner-up: Little Dog Tech
Runner-up: BerganKDV
Best Local Internet Service Provider
Winner: Mediacom
Runner-up: CenturyLink
Runner-up: Aureon
Runner-up: Mi-Fiber
Best Web Developer
Winner: Webspec Design
Runner-up: Blue Compass
Runner-up: Trilix
Best Social Media Company
Winner: Webspec Design
Runner-up: Happy Medium
Runner-up: Trilix
Best Company to Work For
Winner: NCMIC Group Inc./Professional Solutions
Runner-up: RSM US LLP
Runner-up: UnityPoint Health
Best Small Company With a Bright Future
Winner: NCMIC Group Inc./Professional Solutions
Runner-up: VizyPay
Runner-up: Trilix
Best Company for Young Professionals
Winner: RSM US LLP
Runner-up: Principal Financial Group
Runner-up: UnityPoint Health
Best Wealth Management Company
Winner: RSM US LLP
Runner-up: Foster Group
Runner-up: Bankers Trust/BTC Capital Management
Best Accounting Firm
Winner: RSM US LLP
Runner-up: McGowen Hurst Clark Smith
Runner-up: LWBJ
Best Tech Startup With a Bright Future
Winner: VizyPay
Runner-up: MakuSafe
Runner-up: LenderClose
Best Auto Dealership
Winner: Willis Automotive
Runner-up: Bob Brown Chevrolet
Runner-up: Karl Chevrolet
Best Place for Auto Repairs
Winner: Willis Automotive
Runner-up: Drake Garage
Runner-up: Car X
Runner-up: Shade Tree Auto
Best Law Firm
Winner: Davis Brown Law Firm
Runner-up: BrownWinick
Runner-up: Nyemaster Goode PC
Best Advertising Agency
Winner: Flynn Wright
Runner-up: LS2 Group
Runner-up: Choice Creative
Best Public Relations Firm
Winner: LS2 Group
Runner-up: Wixted & Co.
Runner-up: Flynn Wright
Best Video Production Company
Winner: Trilix
Runner-up: Lessing Flynn
Runner-up: Studio Iowa
Best MBA Program
Winner: Iowa State University
Runner-up: University of Iowa Tippie College of Business
Runner-up: Drake University
Best Place to Hold a Business Conference
Winner: FFA Enrichment Center
Runner-up: Hy-Vee Hall, Iowa Events Center
Runner-up: Hilton Downtown
Best Bar to Entertain Clients
Winner: The Republic on Grand
Runner-up: Hello, Marjorie
Runner-up: Iowa Taproom
Best Caterer
Winner: Catering by Cyd
Runner-up: Taste! to Go Catering & Events
Runner-up: Great Caterers of Iowa
Best Restaurant for Conducting Business
Winner: Centro
Runner-up: 801 Chophouse
Runner-up: Bubba – Southern Comforts
Best Coffee Shop for Conducting Business
Winner: Smokey Row
Runner-up: Scenic Route Bakery
Runner-up: Caribou Coffee
Best Place to Buy Wine and Spirits
Winner: Hy-Vee
Runner-up: Ingersoll Wine and Spirits
Runner-up: WineStyles
Best Sporting Event for Entertaining Clients
Winner: Iowa Cubs
Runner-up: Iowa Wild
Runner-up: Principal Charity Classic
Best Restaurant to Take Out-of-Town Guests
Winner: Centro
Runner-up: Tursi's Latin King
Runner-up: Table 128
Best New Restaurant
Winner: Clyde's Fine Diner
Runner-up: St. Kilda's Surf and Turf
Runner-up: Blue Sushi Sake Grill
Best Happy Hour
Winner: Eatery A
Runner-up: Bar Louie
Runner-up: Blue Sushi Sake Grill
Runner-up: Django
Best Hospital/Health Care System
Winner: Iowa Methodist Medical Center (UnityPoint Health)
Runner-up: MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center (MercyOne Central Iowa)
Runner-up: Iowa Lutheran Hospital (UnityPoint Health)
Best Florist
Winner: Boesen the Florist
Runner-up: Hy-Vee
Runner-up: Plaza Florist and Gifts
Best Recycling/Waste Company
Winner: Metro Waste Authority
Runner-up: Ankeny Sanitation Inc.
Runner-up: Waste Management Inc.
Best Jewelry Store
Winner: Josephs
Runner-up: Anglo
Runner-up: Christopher's Fine Jewelry
Best Men's Clothier
Winner: Mr. B's
Runner-up: Von Maur
Runner-up: Badowers
Best Women's Clothier
Winner: Von Maur
Runner-up: Talbots
Runner-up: The Funky Zebras
Best Golf Course
Winner: Des Moines Golf and Country Club
Runner-up: Waveland Golf Course
Runner-up: Wakonda Club
Best Exercise Facility
Winner: YMCA of Greater Des Moines
Runner-up: Lifetime Fitness
Runner-up: Power Life Yoga
Best Thing to Happen to Central Iowa in the Past Year
Winner: Water trails moving forward
Runner-up: USL Pro Iowa announcement
Best Thing That Will Happen to Central Iowa in the Upcoming Year
Winner: COVID-19 ends/vaccine/back to normal/reopening
Best Cultural Attraction
Winner: Pappajohn Sculpture Park
Runner-up: Des Moines Arts Festival
Runner-up: Iowa State Fair