This award program was created to recognize innovative human resource best practices and tools for constant improvement demonstrated by the top companies in the area.

These companies put their culture, policies and human resource practices in front of a panel of judges, and as a result, they are being named ideal places for employees to work.

"We are excited to honor our inaugural winners of the Best & Brightest Companies to Work For in the Chicagoland area," said Jennifer Kluge, President of the NABR. "These companies place an extremely high value on their employees and have proved to be innovative when it comes to demonstrating their commitment to their team members."

The companies nominated this year represent the leading edge in human resources practices in industries as diverse as the automotive, insurance, hospitality, communications and non-profit. (See attached list of winners)

The winners of the 2005 "Chicago's 101 Best and Brightest Companies" are selected based on the following criteria: Diversity and Multi-Culturalism, Work-Life Balance, Communication, Compensation and Benefits, Employee Education and Development, Recruitment and Selection, Employee Engagement and Commitment, Recognition and Retention and Community Initiatives.

Nominated companies compete for the nine elite awards, one granted for each category above as well as an overall "Best and Brightest Company to Work For." The winners of these elite awards will be announced during the awards luncheon on June 10th.

The luncheon and award ceremony at 12:00 p.m. will be preceded by a series of interactive educational programs on human resources best practices starting at 8:45 a.m., with topics focusing on: "Becoming an Employer of Choice," "Achieving a Diversity Advantage," "Advancements in Selection" and "The Engaging Leader." This year's keynote speaker is John Cruickshank, Publisher, Chicago Sun-Times.

To attend this event or for more information, please visit http://www.nationalbiz.org/ or call 866-321-1822. The price for individual registration is $160 ($200 for non-members).

The "Chicago 101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For" competition is sponsored by The Chicago Sun Times, The Management Association of Illinois, Illinois Institute of Technology Center for Research and Service, DaimlerChrysler and Corporate Express.

About NABR

The National Association for Business Resources (NABR) is a newly formed organization specifically dedicated to the representation, enrichment and advocacy of smaller businesses and entrepreneurships throughout the United States. NABR specializes in providing businesses the benefits, programs, service, and assistance required to operate as efficiently and successfully as possible. Best-practice solutions are available to members in the areas of human resources, healthcare, legal, transaction, compliance, marketing and office services. For more information about NABR and its offerings, please visit, http://www.nationalbiz.org/ or call 1-866-321-1822.

                      CHICAGO'S 101 BEST & BRIGHTEST
                          COMPANIES TO WORK FOR

Of the hundreds of nominations received, the companies listed below met the criteria as a "Best & Brightest Company to Work For"

  2005 WINNERS

  Alterian
  American Academy of Pediatrics
  Ameripay Payroll Ltd.
  Argonne National Laboratory
  Atwell-Hicks
  Banco Popular North America
  Comprehensive Therapeutics, Ltd.
  Crowe Chizek
  DiamondCluster International Inc.
  Ernst & Young LLP
  Exhibit Works, Inc
  Fellowes Inc.
  Foote Cone & Belding
  Frontenac Company
  General Growth Properties Inc.
  Greeley and Hansen
  Griffin, Kubik, Stephens & Thompson, Inc.
  HarleyEllis
  Illinois Material Handling
  M.A. Mortenson Company
  MICA Consulting Partners
  Millennium Electronics, Inc.
  NationaLease
  North Suburban Library Systems
  O'Bryan Bros. Inc.
  Office Concepts
  PEAK6 Investments, L.P.
  Schaumburg Township District Library
  Schawk Inc.
  Scot Forge Company
  Service Express, Inc.
  Stout Risius Ross Inc.
  ThoughtWorks
  TimeMed Labeling Systems, Inc.
  Unitech Systems, Inc.
  United Scrap Metal Inc.
  Vapor Bus International
  Verizon Wireless
  VW Credit, Inc.
  Wheels, Inc.

Source: National Association for Business Resources

CONTACT: Jason Brown of Airfoil Public Relations, +1-313-887-7216,
brown@airfoilpr.com ; or Jennifer Kluge of National Association for Business
Resources, +1-866-321-1822, jkluge@nationalbiz.org

Web site: http://www.nationalbiz.org/