Jobs City

Dallas companies top national list of best places to work

With mild weather, great-looking residents and ample employment opportunities, we always knew that the Lone Star State was the place to live.

But a recent report by WorkplaceDynamics reveals that it's also an unbeatable place to work: Eight of the top 10 companies on its National Top 150 Workplaces 2013 are Texas-based.

Three of those are located in the Dallas area: The Container Store (based in Coppell) at No. 2, Park Place Dealerships (in Dallas-Fort Worth) at No. 4, and Pioneer Natural Resources (Irving) at No. 6.

Other local businesses making the cut include Denbury Resources in Plano, Encompass Home Health in Dallas, and Cash America International, which is based in Fort Worth. The No. 1 spot on the list went to Quicken Loans in Detroit.

The list of top workplaces also reflects the strength of the Texas economy — with eight out of the top 10 and 30 of the top 150 headquartered in the state.

The National Top Workplaces were determined based on feedback gathered through anonymous, objective surveys sent to 1.7 million American workers in collaboration with 30 major publishers, the results of which were aggregated and ranked.

"This year's list reflects the strength of America's petroleum exploration and production industry which is going through a significant growth spurt. Oil and gas placed four companies in the 2013 top 10," concludes WorkplaceDynamics.

"The list also reflects the strength of the Texas economy — with eight out of the top 10 and 30 of the top 150 headquartered in the state."

The Houston area had a number of high-ranking businesses as well. Anadarko Petroleum Corp., headquartered in The Woodlands, ranked No. 3 on the national list, up from No. 4 last year; EOG Resources, an independent oil and gas company, ranked No. 5; and Mattress Firm ranked No. 7.

Rounding out the top 10 are Texas companies including Keller Williams Realty (in Austin) at No. 9 and NuStar Energy (in San Antonio) at No. 10.

Other Texas companies in the top 150 include TransCanada Corporation in Houston; Encompass Home Health Inc.; Insperity; Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union; St. David's HealthCare; Cash America International Inc.; Cook Children's Health Care System; Texas Health Resources; Whole Foods Market; Denbury Resources Inc.; AmerisourceBergen Specialty Group; Rackspace Hostin Inc.; Interstate Battery System of America; Wood Group Mustang; Statoil; Spectra Energy Corp.; Security Service Federal CU; Harlandale Independent School District; San Antonio Water System; Notable Energy Inc.; Kinder Morgan; and Mesquite Independent School District.

Park Place Dealerships ranked No. 4 in a national list of best places to work.

blog.parkplacetexas.com

Park Place Dealerships ranked No. 4 in a national list of best places to work.

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RIP Ray

Dallas lawyer and one-time club owner Ray Balestri dies at 64

Courtesy photo

Ray Balestri

Dallas lawyer and investor Ray Balestri, who circulated through Dallas' media and entertainment world, died on January 4; he was 64.

Balestri was an attorney at Bell Nunnally & Martin LLP, which issued a statement saying that he left behind a legacy of excellence, mentorship, and professionalism.

“We are deeply saddened by Ray’s passing. He was an invaluable member of our team, a mentor to many, and a trusted advisor to his clients," the statement said. "His contributions to the legal profession and the business community were extraordinary, and his legacy will endure.”

His brother-in-law Sean Macy, who posted the news of his passing, called him a good friend to all, a man bigger than life, and a devoted family man.

Balestri grew up in Rockford, Illinois, attended Harvard Law School, and taught classes at SMU's Cox School of Business. In addition to his roles as lawyer and private equity investor, he co-founded '90s Deep Ellum bar The Bone and occasionally wrote for publications such as D magazine, penning columns such as the one on how to fix America's income tax system. According to this 2000 Dallas Observer story, he became a multimillionaire after investing early in Broadcast.com, the company founded by Mark Cuban.

In more recent years, Balestri was prodigious on social media, posting anecdotes about his family and century-old home.

Friends and associates described him as a person who used his skills to make a difference as well as an inspiration to those around him.

He's survived by his wife Heather Macy Balestri and two sons Quentin and Julian, as well as brothers David and Brian, and sister Becky. A memorial service will be held on Monday, January 13 at 3 pm at Highland Park United Methodist Church.

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