EARTHKIND, Inc., is a Finalist for the 2014 Community Impact Awards

MINNEAPOLIS (December 12, 2013) — The finalists for the 2014 Community Impact Awards by Minnesota Business Magazine have been announced. In each of the 13 categories, the judges chose companies and leaders with an exceptional track record of giving back and making a positive community impact. Each finalist will be profiled in the March 2014 issue of the magazine, and the winner of each category will be announced at a Feb. 27 awards event held at Aria in Minneapolis.

Listed below are the categories and finalists (in alphabetical order).

Best in Class Award: Large

Recognizes large companies (more than 500 employees) that have excelled at helping nonprofits or other worthy causes.

• Bell State Bank & Trust
• Bremer Bank
• The Mosaic Company

Best in Class Award: Midsize

Recognizes midsize companies (51 to 500) that have excelled at helping nonprofits or other worthy causes.

• Marsh & McLennan Agency Upper Midwest
• Sunrise Banks
• The Nerdery

Best in Class Award: Small

Recognizes small companies (50 or fewer employees) that have excelled at helping nonprofits or other worthy causes.

• StoneArch
• Worrell Design
• Versique

Creative Campaign Award

Recognizes pro-bono marketing campaigns by Minnesota creative agencies created for nonprofits or other worthy organizations.

• StoneArch
• Swim Creative
• WestmorelandFlint

Employment Award

Recognizes companies for providing jobs to Minnesotans — or purposefully keeping jobs in the state.

• Code42
• EarthKind^®
• Morrisey Hospitality Companies

Good Leader Award

Recognizes businesspeople whose excellence in character and leadership have made a positive impact.

• Mark Bergman, President/CEO, Bercom
• Jeff Gau, CEO, Marco
• Nancy Lyons, President/CEO, Clockwork Active Media
• David Reiling, CEO, Sunrise Banks
• John Wernz, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Wealth Enhancement Group

Long-Term Achievement Award

Recognizes companies that have shown at least 10 years of commitment to helping nonprofits or other worthy causes.

• Gray Plant Mooty
• Risdall Marketing Group
• Starkey Hearing Technologies

Mentoring Award

Recognizes company programs that help with the mentoring of rising talent in Minnesota.

• Fairview Health Services
• JNBA Financial Advisors
• PrairieCare

Pro-Bono Professional Services

Recognizes Minnesota companies that have performed pro-bono services for nonprofits or other worthy organizations. Examples could include consulting, accounting services, and legal work.

• Deloitte
• Leonard, Street and Deinard
• RBA

Social Entrepreneurship Award

Recognizes Minnesota companies that were created to address social, environmental or other issues.

• Finnegans
• Tech Dump
• Urban Ventures

Sustainability Award

Recognizes companies for offering their products or services in a way that’s better for the environment.

• EarthClean Corporation
• Relan
• Uponor

Workplace Giving Campaign Award

Recognizes a successful volunteer or employee-giving campaign for a nonprofit or other worthy organization.

• Carlson
• C.H. Robinson
• Eide Bailly

Youth Initiative Award

Recognizes events or programs by Minnesota companies that teach children skills, introduce them to fields of work, or inspire them to become the leaders of tomorrow.

• Baker Tilly
• H.B. Fuller
• Rêve