Eau Claire-based PESI turns 40 this year, and the nonprofit continuing education provider got an early birthday present from our readers, who voted it Best Employer. This is the first appearance in the poll by PESI, which landed at No. 1 ahead of four-time first-place finisher Royal Credit Union, which has grown from its humble beginnings serving 100 Uniroyal employees to offering financial services to 200,000 customers. And Group Health Cooperative of Eau Claire offers nonprofit health plans with more than 75,000 members across the state, makes its third consecutive top-three finish in the poll. — Tom Giffey