The University of Akron has been recognized as one of the 99 best places to work in Northeast Ohio by the Employers Resource Council (ERC). UA, and the other NorthCoast 99 Award recipients, were honored Wednesday, September 16, at a banquet in Westlake.

ERC, founded nearly 90 years ago, is now the largest organization in Northeast Ohio providing training and consulting to area companies on workplace programs and practices. Its mission is to help them attract and retain the most talented employees.

“The award signifies what we have long known — that UA is one of the very best places to work in Northeast Ohio, and that our programs, practices and opportunities for employees are on par with the best, enabling us to attract and retain highly talented people,” said Dr. Luis M. Proenza, president of The University of Akron.

In 1999, ERC launched the NorthCoast 99 Awards to annually recognize the “99 great workplaces for top talent in Northeast Ohio.” In the ensuing years, hundreds of organizations have applied for the award, and more than 300 workplaces have been honored for their efforts to attract, support and motivate talented employees.

This year, the University finds itself sharing the spotlight with a wide range of companies and organizations of all sizes. The list includes InfoCision, the Cleveland Indians and the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, along with many health care organizations, such as Summa Health System, Akron General Medical Center and University Hospitals. See the full list of 2009 award winners.

The application process is a rigorous one. Organizations are required to look at all aspects of the workplaces they have created by focusing on seven fundamental characteristics — flexibility, opportunity, recognition, development, security, support and talent integrity.

To learn more, visit the NorthCoast 99 site.

Media contact: Laura M. Massie, 330-972-6476 or massie1@uakron.edu