Top Workplaces 2023: See all 146 Orange County company winners
Despite economic headwinds, this year's honorees are emphasizing people over problems.
From left, Virginia Robinson and Millie Hargis celebrate as they accept the 1st place award for a midsize business on behalf of Jobot during the annual OC Top Workplaces at the Improv in Irvine on Wednesday, December 6, 2023. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
After a year headlined with the daunting words “inflation,” “recession” and “layoffs,” Orange County executives are reaching above economic headwinds and elevating their people instead.
Rather than focus on somber forecasts, companies honored in the 16th annual Top Workplaces program embraced these words instead: strong, elite, winning, family.
“We have to be strong in this market because this is a time when companies tend to get fearful, and we’ve chosen not to focus on fear but rather on change,” says Mike Hickman, chief executive at Seven Gables Real Estate, the No. 1 large company winner this year. It was Seven Gable’s second year in a row in the top spot.
“It’s one of the most important for us,” says CEO David King. “It’s most important for me because it relates to our employee experience — and if you don’t have a good one, you’re going to fail.”
Sidepath co-founders Jim Andronaco and Patrick Mulvee, center, and their team are photographed at the headquarters in Laguna Hills on Thursday, October 26, 2023. Sidepath is selected as one of the Top Workplaces for 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mike Hickman is the President and CEO of Seven Gables Real Estate in Tustin, on October 20, 2023. The company has been recognized as a Top Workplace for nine consecutive years. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Some of the workforce at Experian in Costa Mesa. For the 11th consecutive year, the company has earned a spot in Orange County Register’s Top Workplaces survey.
CEO Jennifer Schulz said Experian North America participates in the Top Workplaces contest each year because company leaders want feedback from their employees, which includes more than 1,000 people in Orange County. on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Michael Moffett is the general manager and CEO of Moffett Plumbing in Orange, CA. Moffett Plumbing was named one of the Orange County Register’s Top Workplaces for 2023. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Harbor Distributing General Manager Mike Ciriza, center front, with the sales leadership team at their offices in Huntington Beach, CA on Friday, November 3, 2023. They are one of the Orange County Register’s Top Workplaces for 2023. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Harbor Distributing General Manager Mike Ciriza, center in suit, with the warehouse team at their headquarters in Huntington Beach, CA on Friday, November 3, 2023. They are one of the Orange County Register’s Top Workplaces for 2023. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Raising Cane’s Manager Melissa Campbell, front right, at their store in Mission Viejo, CA on Thursday, November 2, 2023. Raising Cane’s is one of the Orange County Register’s Top Workplaces. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Brandon Avila, CEO, and Todd Avila, COO, facing from left, talk with colleagues at Priority Plus Financial in Costa Mesa, CA on Thursday, November 2, 2023. The company was named a Top Workplace by the Orange County Register. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Todd Avila, COO, and Brandon Avila, CEO, from left, and their company Priority Plus Financial were named a Top Workplace by the Orange County Register. The brothers are at their offices in Costa Mesa, CA on Thursday, November 2, 2023. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Heidi Golledge, at her company offices in Newport Beach, CA on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, is CEO and founder of Jobot. Jobot is one of the Orange County Register’s Top Workplaces. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Anvil Real Estate team members with founders Dan and Melody Smith, center front, in Laguna Hills on Wednesday, November 1, 2023. The company is again one of the Register’s Top Workplaces. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Robert Anderson founded the RBA Builders, a commercial contracting company as a startup in February 2007. His company does construction work for aerospace, medical and entertainment industries. He was photographed in his offices in Fountain Valley CA on November 03, 2023.
Photos by Michael Goulding
Joone Kim-Lopez, left, GM of the Moulton Niguel Water District, in a meeting at the district headquarters in Laguna Hills on Thursday, November 2, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Joone Kim-Lopez, GM of the Moulton Niguel Water District in Laguna Hills on Thursday, November 2, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Todd Avila, COO, and Brandon Avila, CEO, from left, and their company Priority Plus Financial were named a Top Workplace by the Orange County Register. The brothers are seen here at their offices in Costa Mesa, CA on Thursday, November 2, 2023. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
John Patterson and his OC Auto Team have landed in the Top Workplaces program for the third year in a row on Thursday, November 2, 2023. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
John Patterson and his OC Auto Team have landed in the Top Workplaces program for the third year in a row on Thursday, November 2, 2023. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
David King, CEO of Optima Tax Relief, at the company’s new, upgraded office in Santa Ana on Wednesday, November 1, 2023. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Anvil Real Estate team members with founders Dan and Melody Smith, center front, in Laguna Hills on Wednesday, November 1, 2023. The company is again one of the Register’s Top Workplaces. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
In total, 146 companies were honored this year as Top Workplaces. The process begins in early summer, first with a nomination. Then employees are surveyed by the Register’s program partner, Energage in Philadelphia.
Newcomers in the list of winners in 2023 include Anthem Tax Services, ASICS America, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast, Ensign Energy Services, Microchip Technology Inc., Northwestern Mutual Orange County and TaxRise.
“It’s something that, especially for the Costa Mesa area team, we watch with bated breath.” says the division CEO Jennifer Schulz. She says Experian NA reviews every comment, using the anonymous insights “to continually improve company culture.”
Honorees told us that keeping a firm grip on a positive company culture and listening to the team were key.
And for John Patterson’s OC Auto Group, the work comes down to connections made. “Our business model is much more than selling and servicing cars. It’s about giving back to the community,” says John Patterson.
Here’s how the list of honorees breaks down by category:
17 large companies out of 20 survey participants (500 or more employees)
46 midsize companies out of 65 participants (100-499 employees)
83 small companies out of 116 participants (99 or fewer employees)
To read more about the 146 organizations named in the Top Workplaces survey, go to ocregister.com/business.
The awards given during the annual OC Top Workplaces at the Improv in Irvine on Wednesday, December 6, 2023. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Employees of the Moulton Niguel Water District celebrate after winning the 3rd place award for a midsize business during the annual OC Top Workplaces at the Improv in Irvine on Wednesday, December 6, 2023. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Experian North America accepts the 2nd place award for a large business during the annual OC Top Workplaces at the Improv in Irvine on Wednesday, December 6, 2023. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Employees of Seven Gables Real Estate pose for a photograph after winning the 1st place award for a large business at the annual OC Top Workplaces in Irvine on Wednesday, December 6, 2023. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
OC Register senior editor Todd Harmonson speaks during the annual OC Top Workplaces at the Improv in Irvine on Wednesday, December 6, 2023. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Michael Hickman of Seven Gables Real Estate accepts the 1st place award for a large business during the annual OC Top Workplaces at the Improv in Irvine on Wednesday, December 6, 2023. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
RBA Builders celebrate after winning the 2nd place award for a midsize business during the annual OC Top Workplaces at the Improv in Irvine on Wednesday, December 6, 2023. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Ron Hasse, the publisher of the Southern California News Group, speaks during the annual OC Top Workplaces at the Improv in Irvine on Wednesday, December 6, 2023. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
