TLS.NET, Inc. Ranked in Indiana's Best Places to Work

In 2008 TLS.NET was asked to participate in the annual Best Places to Work in Indiana. TLS.NET and its employees are honored to have been awarded 4th place in the Small Business category. TLS.NET considers all of its employees a great asset and will continue to create unique benefits for them.

TLS.NET was honored for this recognition at the annual awards banquet for Indiana's Best Places to Work. At the ceremony, which was held on May 7, 2008 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom, TLS.NET appeared in a presentation by Gerry Dick.

TLS.NET is a privately held, national provider of Internet services, data center services, hosted VoIP and web-based software development. Headquartered in Columbus, Indiana, TLS.NET has been in business since 1986 and has earned an excellent reputation within an expanding client base. TLS.NET continues to show passion for the technology products and services it envisions that add value to its business relationships. With offices located on Henry Street in downtown Indianapolis, IN and headquartered within the state certified technology park in, Columbus, IN, TLS.NET delivers connectivity, development, and disaster recovery services to clients whose growth needs demand both creativity and experience.

TLS.NET, along with other Best Places To Work winners, was also featured in the May/June issue of the Indiana Chamber's BizVoice® magazine. The article about TLS.NET highlighted some perks TLS.NET employees enjoy, including lidded travel mugs, TLS.NET branded polo shirts, summer cook-outs, free beverages, free gum from a quirky gumball machine, and the exercise facility located in the building.

John Harpring, Customer Support Manager for TLS.NET, appeared in an article entitled, "Small Companies; Big Goals, Best Places to Work Trio Offers Guidance" by Tom Schuman in the Indiana Chamber's BizVoice® magazine. In the article, Harpring discusses the abundance of job applicants in the information technology field, but how the key is finding the right person that will be a good fit for the company. Harpring goes on to talk about how employees are involved in the decision-making process at TLS.NET. "One thing that I think our company does a real good job of is to try and facilitate a culture where people feel they're connected - that they have a say in every policy, every procedure."

Along with the growth of the overall company to 31 employees this year, Harpring also discusses the growth of individuals within the company. "People really just want an opportunity to know that they can advance. Within our company, we have so many employees that basically started at the ground level, and now they have a progression and they've worked their way to a higher position," he says. But the employees at TLS.NET aren't the only ones that are treated well; TLS.NET also works hard to make their customers happy by adding that "extra bit of personal touch". Harpring finishes by emphasizing the teamwork atmosphere at TLS.NET. "It's people going out of their way, helping other departments... the symbiotic feeling of we're all in this together."

Press Release from Indiana Chamber

Third Annual 'Best Places to Work in Indiana' Rankings Announced at Indiana Chamber Awards Dinner

May 7, 2008 (INDIANAPOLIS) - In a repeat performance, investment giant Edward Jones and Schmidt Associates, a full-service architectural firm in downtown Indianapolis, took top honors tonight in the Indiana Chamber of Commerce's third annual "Best Places to Work in Indiana" program. This marks the third time Edward Jones - with 356 branch offices in the state - has finished number one among the large employers, while Schmidt Associates has garnered first place both times its entered the small to medium-sized employer category.

The Indiana Chamber announced rankings for all 66 companies that made the Best Places to Work in Indiana list at an awards dinner at the Indiana Roof Ballroom attended by 800 Hoosier businesspeople. Names of companies on the list had been released February 25. The 2008 program was presented by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

The honorees were determined through employer reports and comprehensive employee surveys, with winners selected in two categories: small to medium-sized companies of between 25 and 249 employees, and large-sized companies consisting of 250 or more employees. Out-of-state parent companies were eligible to participate if at least 25 full-time employees are in Indiana.

The Best Companies Group has overseen similar programs in 18 other states. ModernThink, LLC, a workplace excellence consulting firm, handled the selection process. The basis for this initiative is Fortune magazine's noted "100 Best Places to Work for" list.

"Three factors stand out as to why Edward Jones and Schmidt Associates top the list," states Indiana Chamber President Kevin Brinegar. "Both are devout in their philosophy and make sure employees are onboard with it. They are also modern in their culture through open communication, making time for fun and encouraging teamwork. And, they foster opportunities for their employees to grow as professionals."

All companies making the list, Brinegar emphasizes, understand how important it is for the success of a business to make employees feel valued. "Each should be very proud of the positive environment they have created."

More information about the Best Places to Work companies is available via a special section of the May/June issue of the Indiana Chamber's BizVoice® magazine, a statewide publication released tonight and accessible online at www.bizvoicemagazine.com.

At the dinner, representatives from all designated companies were presented with Best Place to Work awards of excellence. In addition to the BizVoice® magazine feature, honorees were also recognized through the statewide media resources of Inside Indiana Business with Gerry Dick. Other program partners are the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, the Indiana State SHRM Council and the Indiana Youth Institute.

All companies that participated in the 2008 Best Places to Work program receive an in-depth evaluation identifying strengths and weaknesses according to their employees. In turn, this report can be used in developing or enhancing employee retention and recruitment programs. For more information on the Indiana Chamber's Best Places to Work program, go to www.bestplacestoworkIN.com. You can sign up to be notified by e-mail when application details for the fourth annual competition are announced this summer.

Companies ranked in all three years of the Best Places to Work in Indiana program: Ash Brokerage Corporation (Fort Wayne), Bowen Engineering Corporation (Fishers), Columbus Regional Hospital, Cripe Architects + Engineers (Indianapolis), Crowe Chizek and Company LLC (Indianapolis), Duke Realty (Indianapolis), Edward Jones (statewide), Emmis Communications (Indianapolis), Fort Wayne Metals, G & S Research (Indianapolis), Goshen Health System, Katz, Sapper & Miller (Indianapolis), KPMG LLP (Indianapolis), Morales Group (Indianapolis), Safety Management Group (Indianapolis), Somerset CPAs (Indianapolis), Sommer Barnard (Indianapolis), T2 Systems (Indianapolis) and VMS (Indianapolis).

Program sponsors for 2008, in addition to Anthem, are Baker & Daniels, Ball State University, First Merchants Corporation, French Lick Resort Casino, Hill-Rom, Professional Staff Management, Roche Diagnostics, Simon Property Group and FedEx.

The full list of the 2008 Best Places to Work in Indiana companies by ranking:

Small to Medium-sized Companies (25-249 employees)

1. Schmidt Associates, Indianapolis
2. ANGEL Learning, Inc., Indianapolis
3. VMS, Indianapolis
4. TLS.NET, Inc., Columbus
5. Gregory & Appel Insurance, Indianapolis
6. Sommer Barnard PC*, Indianapolis
7. The Heavyweights, Inc, Indianapolis
8. Bowen Engineering Corporation, Fishers
9. Lake County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Hammond
10. The Estridge Companies, Carmel
11. WestPoint Financial Group, Indianapolis
12. Bamberger, Foreman, Oswald and Hahn, LLP, Evansville
13. Katz, Sapper & Miller, Indianapolis
14. Morales Group, Inc., Indianapolis
15. Network Solutions, Inc., Granger
16. Cripe Architects + Engineers, Indianapolis
17. eTapestry, Greenfield
18. Somerset CPAs, Indianapolis
19. Employment Plus, Bloomington
20. Jackson Systems, LLC, Indianapolis
21. Ash Brokerage Corporation, Fort Wayne
22. Hall, Render, Killian, HEath & Lyman, PC, Indianapolis
23. Safety Management Group, Indianapolis
24. RW Armstrong, Indianapolis
25. Heartland Community Bank, Franklin
26. Matrix Integration, LLC, Jasper
27. AIT Laboratories, Indianapolis
28. United Consulting, Indianapolis
29. Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company, Fort Wayne
30. Elwood Staffing, Columbus
31. Double-Take Software, indianapolis
32. Keystone Group, LLC, Indianapolis
33. Krieg DeVault LLP, Indianapolis
34. Indiana Organ Procurement Organization, Indianapolis
35. ExactTarget, Inc., Indianapolis
36. KPMG LLP, Indianapolis
37. Colliers Turley Martin Tucker, Indianapolis
38. T2 Systems, Inc., Indianapolis
39. Fusion Alliance, Indianapolis
40. Aprimo, Inc., Indianapolis & G & S Research, Inc., Indianapolis

* New name of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP as of May 1

Large Companies (250 or more employees)

1. Edward Jones, Statewide
2. The Capitol Group Companies, Inc., Indianapolis
3. Shiel Sexton Company, Inc., Indianapolis
4. Columbus Regional Hospital, Columbus
5. Centier Bank, Crown Point
6. Interactive Intelligence, Inc., Indianapolis
7. Ernst & Young, LLP, Indianapolis
8. Clark Memorial Hospital, Jeffersonville
9. BSA LifeStructures, Indianapolis
10. St. Joseph Hospital, Kokomo
11. Duke Realty Corporation, Indianapolis
12. Bingham McHale LLP, Indianapolis
13. Fort Wayne Metals Research, Fort Wayne
14. Crowe Chizek and Company LLC, Indianapolis 
15. Baker & Daniels LLP, Indianapolis
16. Goshen Health System, Goshen
17. Emmis Communications, Indianapolis
18. Indiana Business College, Indianapolis
19. Clarian West Medical Center, Avon
20. Bose McKinney & Evans LLP, Indianapolis
21. La Porte Regional Health System, La Porte
22. FORUM Credit Union, Indianapolis
23. Monarch Beverage Company, Inc., Indianapolis
24. Cintas, Carmel
25. Angie's List, Indianapolis

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce has been the state's largest broad-based business advocacy organization for over 85 years. Today, it serves more than 26,000 members and customers.