The results for Best Employer in this year’s poll may look like a jumble of high-scoring Scrabble letters, but they’re actually all sizable businesses with deep roots in the community. Making its first appearance at the No.1 spot on the list is jamf, the Eau Claire-founded software firm so cool they don’t even need capital letters in their name anymore. (They’re probably hidden somewhere in the networking code!) Second place goes to PESI, an Eau Claire-based nonprofit continuing education provider, whose employees create seminars, videos, and other tools for professionals worldwide. Rounding out the list of champions is Royal Credit Union (a.k.a. RCU), the Eau Claire-headquartered financial institution that aims to treat its members and workers like royalty. – Tom Giffey