Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County has been recognized as one of the top 100 Best Places to Work in Orange County by the Orange County Business Journal (OCBJ).

The awards program was created in 2009 and is a project of the OCBJ and Best Companies Group. Winners were selected based on a two-part process that included an evaluation of each employer’s workplace practices and an employee survey.

This marks the second year in a row that Big Brothers Big Sisters has been named one of the Best Places to Work by the OCBJ. In 2017, the organization was ranked 17th in the medium employer category. This year, Big Brothers Big Sisters jumped 7 spots and was ranked 10th.

“It’s such a progressive environment, and from the moment I started here, I feel like my voice is being heard,” said Isaac Stock, community engagement coordinator. “I have never worked in a culture that truly exudes such evenly balanced qualities between work, personal life and overall sense of well-being.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters distinguishes itself from other local workplaces with its emphasis on culture and collaboration. The nonprofit celebrates staff in many ways such as empowering team members through the Gallup CliftonStrengths assessment; honoring standout employees with all-star awards and milestone recognition; and encouraging collaboration through retention, engagement and wellness committees. This forward-thinking approach has helped its three programs evolve.

“Employees here are as passionate about helping the next generation succeed as they are about building each other up,” said Tivoli Jensen, who has been part of the fund development team for over a year. “It’s truly no wonder we are a top place to work.”