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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