The United Way of Southwest Michigan is one of less than 50 organizations and companies named the “Best and Brightest in Wellness” in the nation by the National Association for Business Resources.

This program honors companies and organizations that recognize and celebrate quality and excellence in employee and worksite health.

The 2015 winning companies were evaluated by an assessment, created and administered by SynBella, the nation’s leading wellness systems firm. Company entries are examined statistically for quantitative data and examined on a point system based upon criteria to benchmark and improve wellness program effectiveness. They include outcomes, analysis and tracking, participation and incentives, benefits and programs, leadership, employee input, culture and environment.

“Having a healthy and happy workforce leads to a healthy company bottom line. This year’s winning companies represent high standards and an exceptional commitment to healthy employees, healthy families and a healthy community,” said Jennifer Kluge, NABR president.

Heather Cole, director of Be Healthy Berrien, has led the charge for United Way of Southwest Michigan, implementing a program called The 10/40 Challenge (10 weeks, 40 days of physical activity). Employees are encouraged to record their workout activity on a chart displayed in the office.

“We have employees here who went from very little exercise, to now exercising almost daily,” said Ryan Cheevers, of the local United Way. “All we ask is at least 30 minutes of exercise per day, which is just over two percent of our day.”

The companies that have been selected to be recognized nationally as the Best and Brightest in Wellness will be featured in the Jan. 21 online edition of Corp! Magazine.

The winning companies will also receive additional recognition and resources as a national winner.

The Best and Brightest in Wellness, a program of the National Association for Business Resources, is presented annually. Nominations are now being accepted for 2016.

Visit 101bestandbrightest.com to nominate.

The Best and Brightest in Wellness celebrates those companies that are making their businesses more healthy, the lives of their employees better and the community a healthier to place to live. The Best and Brightest program provides yearlong education, benchmarking, assessment tools and interaction amongst the best employers.

Winning companies for 2015 are:

• Able Engineering & Component Services

• Altarum Institute

• American Academy of Pediatrics

• Annese & Associates, Inc.

• BDO USA, LLP

• Butler Snow LLP

• City of Houston

• City of Kennesaw

• Crane Worldwide Logistics LLC

• CVS Health

• Daugherty Business Solutions

• FONA International

• Fusion OEM

• Gables Residential Services, Inc

• Hu-Friedy Mfg. Co., LLC

• Human Movement Management

• Inflow

• IQ Solutions

• L&L Products

• Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC

• McKinley, Inc

• MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital

• Mission Health

• Moffitt Cancer Center

• Montgomery College

• MSU Federal Credit Union

• NASA Exchange Johnson Space Center

• National Futures Association

• NYCM Insurance

• PBD Worldwide

• Peckham, Inc.

• Purchasing Power

• Quicken Loans

• Retrofit

• Ryan, LLC

• Secure-24 LLC

• Sikich LLP

• Stanford Health Care & Stanford Children’s Health

• Takeda Pharmaceuticals

• The CSI Companies

• TriNet Corporatiom

• United Way of Southwest Michigan

• Viverae

• Walbridge

• West Monroe Partners

• Wittenstein