WHAT IS NORTHCOAST 99?
NorthCoast 99 is an annual recognition program that honors 99 great workplaces for top talent in Northeast Ohio. The program was developed and is presented by the ERC. ERC is Northeast Ohio’s leading and largest professional organization dedicated to HR practices, programs and services. Since 1999, hundreds of organizations have been nominated and applied for the award, and the program has recognized over 300 organizations for their ability to maintain great workplaces that support the attraction, retention, and motivation of Top Performers.

Several past winners have also been recognized through other national programs such as the Fortune 100
Best Places to Work and Working Mothers 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers.

The program has been recognized in local and national publications, and the September Awards Dinner has
become one of the region’s most anticipated annual events. Best-selling business author, Tom
Peters, said that it was “…the best event I’ve attended in 20 years.”

WHAT IS A GREAT WORKPLACE?
Great workplaces excel in the attraction, retention, and motivation of Top Performers by maintaining a
foundation of organizational policies and practices that are designed to support the fundamental needs of
great talent. The NorthCoast 99 specifically examines policies and practices that address Seven
Fundamental Workplace Characteristics: Flexibility, Opportunity, Recognition, Development, Security,
Support, and Talent Integrity.

THE IMPORTANCE OF TOP PERFORMERS
Top Performers fuel the economy! Workplaces that excel in the attraction, retention, and motivation of
Top Performers have a competitive advantage in the marketplace. This competitive advantage helps
organizations become more innovative and successful. Successful organizations grow and create
opportunities for new jobs. Ultimately, an economy filled with great workplaces will attract great talent, be
more successful, grow, and create new jobs!

REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MODEL

Our economy needs more organizations dedicated to developing and maintaining great workplaces! If more organizations in Northeast Ohio work to refine and improve their ability to attract and retain the best talent, it will increase the probability that more Top Performers will seek job opportunities in our region. In turn, by employing great talent, organizations will have a higher probability of being more successful, growing, and creating even more jobs.

NorthCoast 99 is a registered trademark of the Employers Resource Council. Any use, description, reproduction or dissemination of NorthCoast 99 without the express written permission of the Employers Resource Council is strictly prohibited.