Best of Northwest Indiana and Greater South Bend/Michiana Business

Our readers make their picks in dozens of categories.

“Do your best”–people are told that from preschool throughout the rest of life. Businesses want to be the best, too, and they judge their success by sales, profits, and perhaps the most gratifying, the opinions of satisfied customers.

That's what we try to reveal each year through Northwest Indiana Business Quarterly‘s reader survey… the high opinions of customers across the business community. To those honored businesses and organizations, we say “congratulations!” And we couldn't have done this without the countless readers who took time to vote in our online survey. Thank you!

Best Companies to Work For
Winners: Centier Bank; Community Health Care System; Franciscan Alliance hospitals; Porter Regional Hospital; and Peoples Bank.
Greater South Bend/Michiana Winner: Crowe Horwath.

Best Meeting Site for Small Groups
Winner: The Center for Visual and Performing Arts, Munster.
Runner-up: Avalon Manor, Hobart.
Greater South Bend/Michiana Winner: Gillespie Conference Center, The Inn at St. Mary's Hotel & Suites, South Bend.

Best Meeting Site for Larger Groups
Winner: Star Plaza, Merrillville.
Greater South Bend/Michiana Winner: Century Center, South Bend.

Best Hotel for Business Events
Winner: Star Plaza, Merrillville.
Greater South Bend/Michiana Winner: DoubleTree by Hilton.
Runner-up: Hilton Garden Inn, South Bend

Best Convention Site
Winner: Star Plaza, Merrillville.
Greater South Bend/Michiana Winner: Century Center, South Bend.

Best Hotel for Business Travelers
Winner: Star Plaza, Merrillville
Runners-up: Hampton Inns and Hilton Garden Inns, locations throughout Northwest Indiana.
Greater South Bend/Michiana Winner: DoubleTree by Hilton.

Best Restaurants for Business Entertaining
Winners: Cafe Borgia, Munster; Coopers Hawk, Merrillville; Gino's Steakhouse, Dyer and Merrillville; Gamba's Ristorante, Merrillville.
Greater South Bend/Michiana Winners: Cafe Navarre, South Bend; and LaSalle Grill, South Bend.

Best Bed & Breakfast for Business Travelers
Winner: The Inn at Aberdeen, Valparaiso
Runner-up: Arbor Hill Inn and Guest House.
Greater South Bend/Michiana Winner: Oliver Inn.

Best Caterer for Business Events
Winners: Comfort Catering, St. John; Great Lakes Catering, Michigan City; and Gamba's Ristorante, Merrillville.

Best Casino for Business Meetings and Events
Winner: Blue Chip Casino, Michigan City.
Runners-up: Horseshoe Casino, Hammond; and Four Winds Casino, New Buffalo.

BUSINESS SERVICES

Best Air Travel/Charter Services
Winner: Southwest Airlines, Chicago.
Runner-up: Gary Jet Center Inc.
Greater South Bend/Michiana Winner: Allegiant.

Best Accounting Firm
Winner: McMahon & Associates Certified Public Accountants, PC, Munster.
Runners-up: Swartz-Retson & Co., PC, Merrillville; Prasco & Associates, PC, Crown Point.
Greater South Bend/Michiana Winner: Crowe Horwath, LLP.
Runner-up: Kruggel, Lawton and Co., LLC.

Best Ad Agency for Website Design Services
Winner: Group 7even, Valparaiso.
Runner-up: AC Inc., Valparaiso

Best Ad Agency for a Business
Greater South Bend/Michiana Winner: J2 Marketing, Mishawaka.
Runner-up: Villing & Co., South Bend.

Best Commercial Printer
Winner: Largus Graphix Solutions (formally Largus Printing). “Our entire team is very proud to have been voted the No. 1 printing company this year,” says owner Tom Largus. “Just as important, we'd like to thank our customers for their continued confidence in our company and our expanding capabilities. We are looking forward to helping our customers reach new heights in print marketing every day.”
Runners-up: Lithographic Communications, Munster; Home Mountain, Valparaiso; and Accucraft, Hammond.

Best Technology Consulting Company
Winner: Impact Solutions, Valparaiso
Runners-up: Golden Tech, Valparaiso; and Chester Technologies, Valparaiso.

Best Bank for Business
Winner: Centier Bank. “We are thankful, for the 13th year in a row, to once again be honored by the readers of Northwest Indiana Business Quarterly Magazine, says Michael E. Schrage, chairman, president and CEO. “We are proud to help Indiana businesses thrive and are thrilled to be a part of that growth. As we celebrate 120 years in banking, we offer sincere thanks to our clients, associates and business partners for helping Centier continue to serve the communities of Indiana with independent, community banking for generations to come.”
Runners-up: Horizon Bank; Peoples Bank; First Financial Bank; First Merchants Bank; JP Morgan Chase; and Fifth Third (locations across the region).
Greater South Bend/Michiana Winner: 1st Source Bank. “1st Source is pleased to be recognized as Michiana's Best Bank for Business and the Best Bank for Obtaining a Business Loan,” says Jim Seitz, 1st Source president. “With our business and SBA lending expertise, we've been able to assist a wide range of businesses in our community, and it's an honor to be recognized.”
Runners-up: Centier and Lake City Bank

Best Bank for Customer Service
Winner: Peoples Bank
Runners-up: Centier; JP Morgan Chase (locations across the region); First Merchants Bank; First Financial Bank; Horizon Bank; and Peoples Bank.
Greater South Bend/Michiana Winner: KeyBank.
Runners-up: Centier and Lake City Bank.

Best Bank for Obtaining a Business Loan
Winner: Centier Bank (locations across the region).
Runners-up: Horizon Bank and Peoples Bank (locations across the region).
Greater South Bend/Michiana Winner: 1st Source Bank.
Runners-up: Centier and Lake City Bank.

Best Credit Union
Winner: Tech Credit Union, with several Northwest Indiana locations.
Runners-up: Teachers Credit Union (locations in Northwest Indiana and South Bend); and Regional Federal Credit Union.
Greater South Bend/Michiana Winner: Teachers Credit Union.
Runner-up: Notre Dame Federal Credit Union.

Best Investment and Financial Advisory Company
Winner: Edward Jones (locations across the region).
Runner-up: Oak Partners, Crown Point and Munster.

Best Wealth Management Advisory Company
Winner: Peoples Bank Wealth Management.
Greater South Bend/Michiana Winner: Centier Bank Wealth Management.

Best Commercial Construction Company
Winner: Tonn and Blank, Michigan City and Indianapolis.
Runners-up: Larson Danielson Construction Inc., LaPorte; and Hasse Construction, Calumet City, Ill.

Best Construction Company for Commercial Office Remodeling and Expansion Projects
Winner: Larson Danielson Construction Co. Inc., LaPorte.
Runner-up: Tonn and Blank, Michigan City and Indianapolis.

Best Commercial Architectural Design Company
Winner: Design Organization, Valparaiso.

Best Commercial Real Estate Company
Winner: Latitude Commercial Real Estate Services.
Runner-up: Commercial In-sites, Merrillville.
Greater South Bend/Michiana Winner: Bradley Co., South Bend. “We are honored to once again be chosen Best Commercial Real Estate Company of Greater South Bend/Michiana,” says Brad Toothaker, CEO of Bradley Co. “It is a tribute to the quality of service that our professionals provide.”
Runner-up: Cressy & Everett, South Bend.

Best Commercial Landscaping Company
Winner: Lakeshore Landscaping, Valparaiso.
Runners-up: Lakeshore Landscaping, Valparaiso; Tim's Landscaping, Griffith; Hubinger, Crown Point; and RV Property Enhancement, Valparaiso.

Best Corporate Law Firm, Best Law Firm for Business Acquisitions and Mergers and Best Estate Planning Practice
Winner: Burke Costanza & Carberry, LLP, Merrillville and Valparaiso.
Runners-up: Krieg & DeVault, LLP, Schererville; Eichhorn & Eichhorn, LLP, Hammond; Newby Lewis Kaminski & Jones, LaPorte; and Hoeppner Wagner &Evans LLP, Valparaiso and Merrillville.

Best Corporate Law Firm
Greater South Bend/Michiana Winner: LaDue Curran Kuehn.
Runners-up: Barnes & Thornburg, LLP, South Bend; and Tuesley Hall Konopa, LLP.

Best Law Firm for Litigation
Winners: Eichhorn & Eichhorn, LLP, Hammond and Indianapolis.
Runners-up: Krieg & DeVault, LLP, Schererville; Burke Costanza & Carberry; and Barnes & Thornburg LLP, Northwest Indiana and South Bend.

Best Insurance Agency for a Business
Winner: Meyers Glaros Group, Schererville.
Runners-up: General Insurance Services, LaPorte, Michigan City and Valparaiso; State Farm Insurance (locations across the region); and Pinnacle, Crown Point.
Greater South Bend/Michiana Winner: Healy Group.
Runner-up: Gibson Insurance.

Best Law Firm Specializing in Accidents and Personal Injury
Winner: Ken Allen, Merrillville.

Best Courier/Package Delivery Service
Winner: UPS (locations across the region).
Greater South Bend/Michiana Winner: FedEx.

Best Professional Employment Staffing Agency
Winner: Express Employment Professionals, Valparaiso.
Greater South Bend/Michiana Winner: Creative Financial Staffing.
Runner-up: Specialized Staffing

Best Commercial Interior Design Company
Winner: HDW Interiors, Inc. Merrillville and South Bend.
Runner-up: Design Organization, Valparaiso.

Best Place to Purchase Office Furniture
Winners: McShane's Business Products & Solutions, Munster; and Kramer Leonard, Chesterton.
Runners-up: Lincoln Office, Crown Point; and HDW Interiors Inc.
Greater South Bend/Michiana Winner: Office Interiors, Mishawaka.

Best Place to Purchase Office Equipment & Supplies
Winner: McShane's Business Products & Solutions, Munster.
Runners-up: Kramer Leonard, Chesterton; and Staples with locations throughout Northwest Indiana.

Best Local Telecommunications Company
Winner: MTA, Midwest Telecom of America Inc., Merrillville.
Runners-up: Comcast Business Services and Verizon.

Best University to Obtain an MBA
Winner: Indiana University Northwest, Gary. “An MBA from IU Northwest is actually one of the best programs in the state,” says Anna Rominger, dean of the School of Business and Economics. “AACSB International just renewed our accreditation for the next five years. Only 5 percent of all business schools in the world hold this distinction. We not only offer prestige, but also convenience for busy professionals who need flexibility to complete their MBA. Our weekend MBA, as well as a new hybrid option for weeknight MBA, allows for both online and in-person courses, and enables students to complete their world-class education while still advancing their career.”
Runners-up: Purdue North Central, Westville; Purdue Calumet, Hammond; and Valparaiso University, Valparaiso.
Greater South Bend/Michiana Winner: University of Notre Dame, Mendoza School of Business.
Runner-up: Indiana University, South Bend.

Best University to Obtain an Online Degree
Winner: Indiana University Northwest, Gary.
Runners-up: Purdue Calumet, Hammond; and Purdue North Central, Westville.

Best University for Obtaining a Technology Degree
Winner: Purdue Calumet School of Technology, Hammond.
Runners-up: Indiana University Northwest, Gary; Ivy Tech Community College locations in Northwest Indiana.

Best Chamber of CommerceGreater South Bend/Michiana Winner:
Winner: Crossroads Chamber of Commerce, Merrillville.
Runners-up: Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce; Schererville Chamber of Commerce; Munster Chamber of Commerce and Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce, Hammond.
St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce.
Runner-up: Elkhart Chamber of Commerce.

Best Economic Development Organization
Winner: Northwest Indiana Forum
Greater South Bend/Michiana Winner: St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce.

Best Business Leaders and Business Advocates
Winners: Calvin Bellamy, attorney, Krieg DeVault and Jon Schmalz, attorney, Burke Costanza Carberry.
Greater South Bend/Michiana Winner: Jeff Rea, St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce and John Phair, Holladay Properties, South Bend.

Best Women Owned Businesses
Winners: Group 7even, Valparaiso; HDW Commercial Interiors, Merrillville and South Bend; Prasco & Associates, CPAs, Crown Point.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Best Hospital
Winner: Community Hospital, Munster.
Runners-up: Franciscan St. Anthony, Crown Point; Franciscan St. Margaret Health, Dyer and Hammond; Porter Regional Hospital, Valparaiso.
Greater South Bend/Michiana Winner: Memorial Hospital of South Bend.
Runner-up: St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka.

Best Health Care Provider for Cardiology
Winner: Porter Regional Hospital.
Runners-up: Community Hospital, Munster; and Franciscan St. Margaret Health, Hammond and Dyer.

Best Health Care Provider for Treating Cancer
Winner: Community Hospital, Munster.
Runners-up: Franciscan Alliance Hospitals and Porter Regional Hospital, Valparaiso.
Greater South Bend/Michiana Winner: Michiana Hematology Oncology, South Bend, Westville and Crown Point. “We're humbled that patients consider us the best for cancer care,” says Rafat Ansari, M.D. “We think of our patients as part of our family. And it's a privilege to help them beat cancer.”

Best Occupational Health Practice
Winner: WorkingWell-Franciscan Alliance.
Runner-up: Health at Work-Porter Regional Hospital.

Best Urgent/Immediate Care Clinic
Winner: Franciscan Hammond Clinic, Hammond.
Greater South Bend/Michiana Winner: MedPoint, Memorial Hospital.

Best Health and Wellness Fitness Facility
Winner: Franciscan Omni Health & Fitness, Schererville.
Runner-up: Fitness Point, Munster.
Greater South Bend/Michiana Winner: Memorial Health & Lifestyle Center.

EXECUTIVE LIFESTYLE

Best Automobile Dealer for Business Executives
Winner: Schepel Buick, GMC and Cadillac, Merrillville.
Greater South Bend/Michiana Winner: Gurley Leep Automotive Group.

Best Residential Home Builder
Winner: Olthof Homes, St. John.
Runner-up: Steiner Homes, Valparaiso.

Best Golf Course
Winner: Briar Ridge Country Club.
Runners-up: Sand Creek Country Club, Chesterton; Youche Country Club, Crown Point; and Sandy Pines, Demotte; Lost Marsh, Hammond and White Hawk, Crown Point.
Greater South Bend/Michiana Winner: Morris Park Country Club.
Runner-up: Blackthorn, South Bend.

Best Golf Course for Charitable/Business Outings
Winner: Sand Creek Country Club, Chesterton.
Runners-up: Youche Country Club, Crown Point; The Course at Aberdeen, Valparaiso; White Hawk, Crown Point; and Innsbrook Country Club, Merrillville.

Best Place to Purchase Sporting Goods
Winner: Dick's Sporting Goods, Merrillville, Schererville and Highland.
Runners-up: Blythe's Sporting Goods, Valparaiso; Bass Pro Shop, Portage; and MC Sports; Highland and Schererville.
Greater South Bend/Michiana Winner: Dick's Sporting Goods, Mishawaka.