Three N.H. firms on national ‘Best Companies’ lists

Three New Hampshire companies are included in the 2006 Great Place to Work Institute’s list of “Best Companies to Work for in America.”

The names of the businesses were announced June 26 in Washington, D.C., by members of the Society for Human Resource Management.

Northeast Delta Dental, the Concord-based dental insurance company, was ranked fifth on the list of “Best Small Companies to Work For.” It was the third year in a row the 175-employee Northeast Delta Dental has been included in the list.

“We’re all really on cloud nine,” said Thomas Raffio, president and CEO of Northeast Delta Dental. “The award is a reflection of our corporate culture. it’s a reflection of the employees’ beliefs and trust in the company and what it stands for.”

Also on the list was Schleuniger Inc., an international machine manufacturer, which ranked 15th among the 25 best small companies to work for. The machine and equipment manufacturer employs 60 people at its Manchester headquarters, and promotes a highly communicative and motivating work environment, according to company President Mike Rizzo.

“We believe we treat our employees fairly, encourage them to be involved and contribute to the decision making process, provide a fun environment, and are sincere when we offer support to our employees,” Rizzo said. “It is not always about the dollars spent to do the extra things. We have been fortunate to have a core team who like to come up with unique ways to keep the environment fun.”

Hypertherm Inc., a manufacturer of plasma cutting systems with 629 employees, most of them in Hanover, ranked sixth on the list of “Best Medium Companies.”

Companies employing between 50 and 250 people are considered for the “Best Small Companies” list. Companies employing between 251 and 999 people are considered for inclusion on the list of top 25 medium companies.

Companies are chosen for inclusion on the lists by the Great Place to Work Institute based on responses to an employee survey and a two-part management questionnaire created by the institute.

“The organizations on this year’s list demonstrate that smaller companies can compete with large organizations in terms of how to effectively incorporate strategies that make the most effective use of the workforce,” said Robert Levering, cofounder of the Great Place to Work Institute. “These companies stand out because their employees find them to be places where they can trust the management, have pride in their work and have fun at work.” – TRACIE STONE