Benco Dental Honored As “Best Place to Work” Five Years Running

WILKES-BARRE, PA (November 28, 2007) — Benco Dental, the nation’s fastest-growing independent distributor of dental products and equipment, was named one of the Best Places to Work in Pennsylvania for the fifth consecutive year.

The Best Places to Work program is a joint effort organized and sponsored by the Central Penn Business Journal, Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Team Pennsylvania Foundation and Modern Think.

A rigorous two-part assessment process determines the winners. Part one surveys each company’s policies, practices, and demographics while part two consists of a detailed questionnaire that must be answered by a random sampling of employees.

“To be honored five years in a row is very gratifying – and exceptional,” said George Rable, Benco Dental’s Vice President of Culture & People. “The list tends to be very volatile, so being able to maintain our inclusion is evidence that our continual efforts to make Benco Dental a rewarding place to work are successful.” Seventeen companies from last year’s list failed to make the cut in 2007, while another sixteen moved down one or more spots in the rankings.

Among Benco Dental's progressive associate satisfaction efforts is a program in which money is added to its profit sharing pool for each employee-submitted suggestion that is implemented. In addition, employees are rewarded for exceptional performance with reward points that can be redeemed for gift certificates and merchandise from stores like Macy*s and Best Buy. Benco Dental also empowers employees to improve their department’s processes through participation in systems analysis events similar to those used by companies like Toyota.

Benco Dental again competed in the “large” business category. To be classified as a large-sized company, a firm must employ over 250 employees. Benco Dental employs over 1,100 associates in 32 states with approximately 420 in Pennsylvania.