Feb. 23, 2007 — Gallatin Steel was announced as a winner in the third annual Best Places to Work in Kentucky competition sponsored by Humana, Inc. The program is a multi-year initiative designed to motivate companies in the commonwealth to focus, measure and move their workplace environments toward excellence.

Announced by the Kentucky Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) State Council in conjunction with the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, the winners were selected for two categories: medium-sized companies of 25 to 249 employees, and large-sized companies of 250 employees or more. Gallatin Steel was one of the large-sized company winners.

The selection process, managed by Best Companies Group, is based on an assessment of the company’s employee policies and procedures and the results of an internal employee survey. All participating companies received survey feedback, which the companies can now use to develop plans and implement the steps necessary to create a great workplace and continue to improve their performance.

Numerous studies show a strong correlation between profitability and creating a good place to work. The Best Places to Work in Kentucky initiative is based on the famous Fortune magazine “100 Best Companies to Work for in America” list. In this issue, thousands of companies are assessed annually to compete for this honor. In addition to the positive effect the award has on their employee relations and recruitment, the driving force for companies to participate in this program is the remarkable effect that workplace improvements can have on their bottom line.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Kentucky has more than 14,000 privately-owned establishments with 20 or more employees. The goal of Best Places to Work in Kentucky is to raise the bar among the state’s employers and create excellence and employee satisfaction in the workplace that will attract talented people for years to come. This initiative is integral for Kentucky to compete in both national and global arenas.

The actual rankings will be announced at an awards dinner April 24, 2007, in Lexington.

The Kentucky SHRM organization consists of 14 local chapters throughout the state, with a membership of nearly 3,000 human resources and business professionals across all industries. Among the prestigious state and local entities endorsing the Best Places to Work in Kentucky project are the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Executives, Kentucky Community and Technical College System, Kentucky League of Cities, Kentucky Workforce Investment Board, Kentucky World Trade Center, Leadership Kentucky, Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and Commerce Lexington.