Dechra takes top spot in ‘Best Places to Work in Maine’ rankings

The 2021 ranking of the “Best Places to Work in Maine” is out, and winners include two top contenders from 2020 — and a nonprofit that returns to the list after a few years.

The Maine State Council of the Society for Human Resources Management on Tuesday released the 16th annual rankings, which compared 100 employers that made an initial cut in August. Best Places applicants are evaluated on criteria that include employee benefits, workplace policies and employee responses to a satisfaction survey.

Taking the No. 1 spot in the large-company category (250 or more U.S. employees) was Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC, the British veterinary pharma company that acquired Portland-based Putney Inc. in 2016 for $200 million. Dechra ranked No. 3 on the 2020 Best Places to Work in Maine list.

After ranking near the top in 2017 and 2010, Jobs for Maine Graduates Inc. took the No. 1 spot in the medium-size company category (50-249 U.S. employees). The Augusta-based nonprofit, known as JMG, works to strengthen Maine’s workforce and help students reach their potential by partnering with public middle and high schools and the state’s higher education system. 

NIC Maine, formerly Maine Information Network, ranked No. 1 among small companies (15-49 U.S. employees). The Augusta company, which came in second last year, provides digital services to government clients and is a subsidiary of NIC Inc. NIC was acquired earlier this year by Texas-based Tyler Technologies (NYSE: TYL), which has operations in Falmouth and Yarmouth and employs 1,000 Mainers.

Because of the risks of COVID-19 spread, the Maine council of SHRM again opted not to announce the 2021 BPTW winners at the competition’s usual award ceremony. No event was held last year also.

Employers and their rankings are shown below in order of the highest scores in the evaluation process.

Endorsing partners of the 2021 Best Places program include the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, the Maine HR Convention and Mainebiz. Sponsors include KMA Consulting, Clark Insurance, HUB International, Pro Search, Machias Savings Bank, cPort Credit Union and Sebago Technics.

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to correct information about JMG’s previous rankings and the inadvertent omission of Machias Savings Bank from the list.

Best Places to Work: Large Companies (250+ U.S. employees)

1. Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC
2. Machias Savings Bank
3. Summit Utilities Inc.
4. Edward Jones
5. MMG Insurance
6. Bangor Savings Bank
7. The Granite Group
8. Darling’s
9. Consigli Construction Co. Inc.
10. Kennebec Behavioral Health
11. NFI North
12. Hancock Lumber
13. Hammond Lumber Co.
14. athenahealth
15. The Cianbro Cos.
16. TD Bank, N.A.
17. Androscoggin Home Healthcare and Hospice
18. Camden National Bank
19. Tyler Technologies Inc.
20. Cary Medical Center

Medium-Size Companies (50-249 U.S. employees)

1. JMG
2. Wings for Children and Families
3. SHP Management Corporation
4. Allagash Brewing Co.
5. Landry/French Construction
6. Colby Co. Engineering
7. CCB, Inc.
8. DeBlois Electric, Inc.
9. VividCloud
10. Evergreen Credit Union
11. Systems Engineering
12. Community Health Options
13. Dave’s World
14. Drummond Woodsum
15. RxAnte
16. Albin, Randall & Bennett
17. Knickerbocker Group
18. Infinity Credit Union
19. Allen Insurance and Financial
20. cPort Credit Union
21. Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine
22. Moody’s Co-worker Owned Inc.
23. James W. Sewall Co.
24. Downeast Credit Union
25. MaineHousing
26. PeoplesChoice Credit Union
27. Bernstein Shur
28. Maine Credit Union League/Synergent
29. Bath Savings Institution
30. Sebago Technics Inc.
31. Finance Authority of Maine
32. Trueline
33. Mainely Tubs
34. Haley Ward Inc.
35. Maine State Credit Union
36. Katahdin Trust Co.
37. Midcoast Federal Credit Union
38. SeniorsPlus
39. The Nonantum Resort
40. The County Federal Credit Union
41. Horch Roofing
42. GreenPages Inc.
43. University Credit Union
44. MAS Medical Staffing
45. Atlantic Federal Credit Union
46. Day’s Jewelers
47. Volk Packaging Corp.

Small Companies (15-49 U.S. employees)

1. NIC Maine
2. Acadia Benefits
3. Maine Rural Water Association
4. iBec Creative
5. Saco Valley Credit Union
6. Sevigney-Lyons Insurance
7. Spinnaker Trust
8. TruChoice Federal Credit Union
9. Maine Dentistry
10. Barrett Made
11. Planson International
12. Onpoint Health Data
13. Oxford Federal Credit Union
14. Arkatechture
15. Lebel & Harriman LLP
16. Chase Custom Homes
17. Chilton Furniture
18. Trademark Federal Credit Union
19. MPX
20. Main Eco Homes
21. Sweep & Slate
22. Nurse Anesthesia of Maine
23. Biddeford Internet dba GWI
24. Basham & Scott, LLC
25. Page One Web Solutions
26. Senior Planning Center, Inc
27. SFX AMERICA
28. Main-Land Development Consultants Inc.
29. Franklin-Somerset Federal Credit Union
30. Yokogawa Fluid Imaging Technologies Inc.
31. Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance
32. CedarWorks
33. Alternative Wellness Services