Best of Business Awards – 2018

Readers select their top choices in multiple categories

The votes were cast and tallied and the results are in for Northwest Indiana Business Magazine’s Best of Business survey for Northwest Indiana and Greater South Bend and Michiana. Beginning in February, magazine subscribers participated in the survey which listed a variety of areas of business.

These awards celebrate the extraordinary service of local businesses in the community. “It’s a survey that gives our readers a voice and the opportunity to say to businesses ‘you’re doing an amazing job, keep up the good work,’ says Northwest Indiana Business Magazine Publisher Troy Linker. “It’s a great feeling to inform businesses that they’ve been selected as a Best of Business, in their category. Everyone enjoys appreciation for the service they provide and it’s a great morale booster for business owners and their employees,” he added.

Northwest Indiana Business Magazine congratulates all 2018 award recipients for Best of Business!

Banking/Financial

Best bank for obtaining a business loan

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Centier Bank

Runner-up: Horizon Bank

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Centier Bank

Runner-up: Horizon Bank

Best wealth management advisory firm

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Oak partners

Runner-up: Lakeside Wealth Management

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Kotys Wealth Professionals

Runner-up: Lakeside Wealth Management

Best accounting firm

Northwest Indiana

Winner: McMahon & Associates CPAs

Runner-up: Swartz Retson

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Kruggel Lawton CPAs

Kruggel Lawton CPAs partners
Best Accounting Firm for Great South Bend/Michiana Kruggel Lawton CPAs of South Bend. Pictured are Kruggel Lawton CPAs partners.

“Being named the Best Accounting Firm in Greater South Bend and Michiana is a great honor for Kruggel Lawton”, says Barry Hall, Managing Partner. “It means even more knowing that our clients, business partners, and the community voted for us and felt we were deserving of the title. Being in a service profession, relationships are what matter the most. All of our nearly 100 employees have played an integral part in the firm receiving this recognition. It is very rewarding to know that we are hitting the mark by staying true to our core values of integrity, excellence, innovation, balance, and respect.”

Runner-up: Crowe Horwath

Best business investment firm

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Lakeside Wealth Management

Runner-up: Oak Partners

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Great Lakes Capital

Runner-up: Edward Jones Investments

Best credit union

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Tech Credit Union

Runner-up: Teachers Credit Union

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Teachers Credit Union

Runner-up: Notre Dame Federal Credit Union

Best bank for customer service

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Centier Bank

Runner-up: Horizon Bank

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Centier Bank

Runner-up: Horizon Bank

Best bank for business

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Centier Bank

Runner-up: Horizon Bank

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Centier Bank

Runner-up: Horizon Bank

Business/Services

Best employee staffing firm

Northwest Indiana
Staff Source of Hammond
Best Employee Staffing Firm for Northwest Indiana Staff Source of Hammond. Pictured are Owners Kari and Mirko Marich (front center) and employees.

Winner: Staff Source

“There is a great sense of satisfaction when we help someone find a rewarding career and in helping our client companies with finding people who become integral members of their staff and the success of their company”, says Kari Marich, Founder & CFO, Staff Source.

Runner-up: Express Employment Professionals

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Staff Source

Runner-up: Express Employment Professionals

Best commercial printer

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Miss Print

Runner-up: BoyConn Printers

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Zipp Printing

Runner-up: Insty-Prints South Bend

Best graphic/web design firm

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Group 7even

Runner-up: Safari Marketing

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Blackwood Creative

Runner-up: Vala Marketing

Best information technology consulting firm

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Chester, Inc.

Runner-up: KINETIC IT Solutions

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: US Business Systems

Runner-up: KINETIC IT Solutions

Best local telecommunications firm

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Midwest Telecom of America

Runner-up: NITCO

Best place to purchase office furniture

Northwest Indiana
Rita Bacevich
Best Place to Purchase Office Furniture, HDW Commercial Interiors in Merrillville which was also named Best Woman Owned Business. Pictured is Rita Bacevich, president.

Winner: HDW Commercial Interiors

“The HDW team offers a little extra spark to all of our projects. I feel this award reflects that effort”, says Rita Bacevich, President, HDW Commercial Interiors. Our driving force is always to bring cost effective, functional options to any size or type of project but our team takes special pride in thinking outside the box. In any commercial setting, we welcome the opportunity to bring design suggestions to the table – paint, flooring, and fabric choices can truly set the tone for a productive work environment.”

Runner-up: McShane’s – Kramer Leonard

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Office Interiors

Runner-up: HDW Commercial Interiors

Best ad agency/marketing firm

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Group 7even

Runner-up: Safari Marketing

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Vala Marketing

Runner-up: Spearhead Marketing

Best place to purchase office equipment and supplies

Northwest Indiana

Winner: McShane’s – Kramer Leonard

Runner-up: US Business Systems

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: US Business Systems

Runner-up: Adams Remco, Inc

Best local Internet provider

Northwest Indiana

Winner: NITCO

Runner-up: Midwest Telecom of America

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Comcast

Community/Education

Best woman owned business

Northwest Indiana

Winner: HDW Commercial Interiors

Runner-up: VIA Marketing

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Martell Electric

Runner-up: Specialized Staffing Solutions

Best minority owned business

Northwest Indiana
Dwayne Walker
Best Minority Owned Business ChicagoLand Popcorn located in Merrillville and St. John. Pictured is Dwayne Walker, Owner.

Winner: Chicagoland Popcorn

“Mogda and I are honored for our team to be recognized this year”, says Dwayne Walker, owner, ChicagoLand Popcorn. “We see this honor as a harvest off of seeds sown.  We try to keep things simple.  We value our employees, embrace our suppliers, and insist on expressing appreciation and gratitude to our customers.  We look at our business just like farmers might view their fields and crops.  Every time a guest interacts with a member of the ChicagoLand Popcorn team, whether in one of our stores or at an event in the community, we have the opportunity to plant seeds of excellent customer service, appreciation, and some great popcorn flavors.“

Runner-up: Rueben’s Mexican Grill

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: 7Gen Construction

Runner-up: WBBS, LLC

Best veteran owned business

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Veteran’s Cafe and Grill

Runner-up: JM2 Marketing

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Indiana Whiskey

Runner-up: INVOLVED Cleaning

Best company to work for (employee vote)

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Centier Bank

Runner-up: Horizon Bank

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Centier Bank

Runner-up: Horizon Bank

Best university to attain an MBA

Northwest Indiana
Micah Pollak
Best University to Attain an MBA Indiana University Northwest. Pictured is Micah Pollak, assistant professor of economics with the School of Business and Economics, leading an MBA class.

Winner: Indiana University Northwest

“We’re honored that IU Northwest has been chosen as the best university in Northwest Indiana to earn an MBA”, says, Cynthia Roberts, Dean of the School of Business and Economics, Indiana University Northwest. “As an AACSB-accredited program featuring award-winning faculty, we pride ourselves in offering a quality, affordable, and flexible program having weeknight and weekend options. Most importantly, we are committed to preparing our students for professional success.”

Runner-up: Purdue University Northwest

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Notre Dame University

Runner-up: Valparaiso University

Best university online degree program

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Indiana University Northwest

Runner-up: Purdue University Northwest

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Indiana University – South Bend

Runner-up: WGU Indiana

Best university for a technology degree

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Purdue University Northwest

Runner-up: Indiana University Northwest

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Purdue Polytechnic South Bend

Runner-up: WGU Indiana

Construction/Real Estate

Best engineering firm

Northwest Indiana

Winner: DVG Team

Runner-up: Global Engineering

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Lawson-Fisher Associates

Runner-up: Abonemarche Consultants

Best commercial real estate firm

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Commercial In-Sites, LLC

Runner-up: McColly Real Estate

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Holladay Properties

Runner-up: Commercial In-Sites, LLC

Best commercial landscaping firm

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Lakeshore Landscaping

Runner-up: Tim’s Landscape Services

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Pemberton Landscaping

Runner-up: Milestone Fence

Best commercial construction firm for remodeling or expansion

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Larson-Danielson Construction

Runner-up: Chester, Inc.

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Larson-Danielson Construction

Runner-up: Chester, Inc.

Best commercial architectural design firm

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Shive-Hattery Inc

Runner-up: Chester, Inc.

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Epoch Architecture + Planning

Runner-up: Chester, Inc.

Best residential real estate firm

Northwest Indiana

Winner: McColly Real Estate

Runner-up: Prime Real Estate

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Cressy & Everett Real Estate

Runner-up: Prime Real Estate

Best residential home remodeling construction firm

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Pressel Enterprises Inc.

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Danamike General Builders Inc.

Best residential home construction firm

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Olthof Homes

“We are humbled to receive this award from Northwest Indiana Business Magazine” says Todd Olthof, Owner, Olthof Homes. “Our staff, building trades and associates work hard to create exciting communities and build beautiful high-quality homes.  We’re proud to be a part of the Northwest Indiana community.”

Runner-up: Pressel Enterprises Inc.

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Olthof Homes

Runner-up: Steiner Homes

Best commercial construction firm for new construction

Northwest Indiana
Terry Larson and Tim Larson
Best Commercial Construction Firm Larson-Danielson Construction Co. located in La Porte. Pictured are Secretary/ Treasurer Terry A. Larson (left) and President Tim Larson.

Winner: Larson-Danielson Construction

“We are very pleased to again be recognized as the leading commercial contractor in Northwest Indiana by the readers of NWIBM”, says Tim Larson, president, Larson-Danielson Construction. “Our employees work hard every day to produce quality construction and we appreciate this recognition for their efforts and accomplishments.”

Runner-up: Chester, Inc.

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Larson-Danielson Construction

Runner-up: Chester, Inc.

Health/Wellness

Best healthcare facility for orthopedics

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Franciscan Health

Runner-up: Community Hospital

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Beacon Health

Runner-up: South Bend Orthopedic

Best fitness/wellness facility

Northwest Indiana
Fitness/Wellness Facility Franciscan Health
Best Fitness/Wellness Facility Franciscan Health, which was also named Best Healthcare Facility for Orthopedics, Facility for Cancer Treatments, Facility for Mental Health, Facility for Physical/Occupational Therapy, Facility for Urgent/Immediate Care, Hospital/Hospital Group, Cardiology.

Winner: Franciscan Health

Runner-up: Valparaiso YMCA

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Franciscan Health

Runner-up: Beacon Health

Best healthcare facility for cancer treatments

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Franciscan Health

Runner-up: Community Hospital

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Beacon Health

Runner-up: Goshen Health

Best healthcare facility for mental health

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Franciscan Health

Runner-up: Porter Hospital

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Oaklawn

Runner-up: Franciscan Health

Best healthcare facility for physical/occupational therapy

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Franciscan Health

Runner-up: Community Hospital

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: McDonald Physical Therapy

Runner-up: Michiana Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy

Best healthcare facility for urgent/immediate care

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Franciscan Health

Runner-up: Community Hospital

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Franciscan Health

Runner-up: Physicians Urgent Care

Best hospital/hospital group

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Franciscan Health

Runner-up: Community Hospital

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Beacon Health

Runner-up: Franciscan Health

Best healthcare facility for cardiology

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Franciscan Health

Runner-up: Porter Hospital

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Beacon Health

Runner-up: Franciscan Health

Legal/Insurance

Best insurance agency for business health & life coverage

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Pinnacle Insurance Group

Runner-up: General Insurance Services

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: 1st Source Insurance

Runner-up: The Healy Group

Best insurance agency for business property & liability coverage

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Pinnacle Insurance Group

Runner-up: General Insurance Services

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: 1st Source Insurance

Runner-up: The Healy Group

Best law firm for business acquisitions and mergers

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Burke Costanza & Carberry

Runner-up: Krieg DeVault

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: LaDue Curran & Kuehn

Runner-up: Tuesley Hall Konopa

Best law firm for corporate law

Northwest Indiana
Burke Costanza & Carberry partners and attorneys
Best Law Firm for Corporate Law Burke Costanza & Carberry LLP, which was also named Best Law Firm for Acquisitions and Mergers, Estate Planning, and Litigation. Pictured are the firm’s partners and attorneys.

Winner: Burke Costanza & Carberry

Runner-up: Hoeppner Wagner & Evans

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Barnes & Thornburg

Runner-up: LaDue Curran & Kuehn

Best law firm for estate-planning

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Burke Costanza & Carberry

Runner-up: Eichhorn & Eichhorn

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Tuesley Hall Konopa, Runner-up: Eichhorn & Eichhorn

Best law firm for litigation

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Burke Costanza & Carberry

Runner-up: Eichhorn & Eichhorn

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: LaDue Curran & Kuehn

Runner-up: Eichhorn & Eichhorn

Runner-up: Krieg DeVault

Meeting/Entertainment

Best event planner

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Happy Days Event Company

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Michael Angelos Events

Best golf course for charitable/business events

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Valparaiso Country Club

Runner-up: Innsbrook Country Club

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Blackthorn Golf Club

Best caterer for events

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Dimitri’s Catering

Runner-up: Progressive Dining Group

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Bistro 933

Runner-up: LaSalle Grill

Best meeting site for large groups

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Avalon Manor

Runner-up: Blue Chip Casino

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Gillespie Conference & Special Event Center

Runner-up: Four Winds Casino

Best meeting site for small groups

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Inn at Aberdeen

Runner-up: Gino’s Steakhouse

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: The Inn at Saint Mary’s

Runner-up: The Brick

Best photographer for events

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Photography by Pete Doherty

Runner-up: Bailey Warren Photography

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Peter Ringenberg Photography

Best restaurant for business entertaining

Northwest Indiana

Winner: Gamba Ristorante

Runner-up: Gino’s Steakhouse

Greater South Bend/Michiana

Winner: Bistro 933

Runner-up: LaSalle Grill

Click to read more from the Apr-May 2018 issue of Northwest Indiana Business Magazine.

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