FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — September 25, 2026 — Twenty-five years of workplace excellence took center stage today as business leaders, human resources professionals and community partners gathered for the 25th Anniversary Best Places to Work Awards Celebration, hosted by the Personnel Dynamics Consulting & HR & Business Leaders Council of Florida (HRBLC) at voco Sandpiper All-Inclusive Resort in Port St. Lucie.
The milestone celebration recognized the organizations named among St. Lucie County’s 2026 Best Places to Work and honored local human resources leaders Corrie Johnson of the City of Port St. Lucie and Sarah Torres of Treasure Coast Food Bank as 2026 HR Professionals of the Year.
2026 Best Places to Work Award Recipients
Small Employer Category
Loblolly
Manpower
United Way of St. Lucie & Okeechobee
Mid-Sized Employer Category
Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County
Sandhill Cove
St. Lucie County Tax Collector
Large Employer Category
St. Lucie County Fire District
St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office
City of Port St. Lucie
For 25 years, Best Places to Work has recognized St. Lucie County employers demonstrating strong human resources practices and a commitment to creating workplaces where people can thrive.
The program goes beyond simply presenting an award. Participating organizations complete a comprehensive organizational survey measuring key workforce practices and receive individualized information that can help them benchmark their organization, identify opportunities for improvement and learn from effective practices being used by other employers.
Over its 25-year history, Best Places to Work has recognized employers representing businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, schools and other organizations throughout St. Lucie County. Many organizations have returned to the program year after year, making the Best Places to Work designation an enduring symbol of an organization’s investment in its workforce.
“This 25th anniversary gives us an opportunity to celebrate not only this year’s winners, but 25 years of organizations choosing to invest in their people,” said Sarah Torres, SHRM-CP, President and Co-Founder of the HR & Business Leaders Council of Florida. “A great workplace doesn’t happen accidentally. It is built through leadership, culture, opportunity, trust and the everyday decisions organizations make about how they value their people. The employers recognized today are helping raise that standard throughout our community.”
25 Years of Best Places to Work
Best Places to Work was created by workplace expert Gerry Hoeffner, who has spent decades helping organizations better understand the connection between people practices and organizational performance.
The St. Lucie County program has historically evaluated participating employers across dozens of workforce measurements, including employee turnover, organizational growth, employee development, advancement opportunities, insurance and retirement benefits and other practices that influence an organization’s ability to attract and retain its workforce.
The program’s impact can also extend well beyond the awards ceremony. Organizations earning the Best Places to Work designation can use the recognition to strengthen their employer brand, celebrate employees, communicate their workplace culture and differentiate themselves when recruiting and retaining talent.
“As employers, we’re competing for talent every day—not only with the organization across the street, but with employers throughout South Florida and beyond,” Torres said. “Being able to demonstrate that your organization is genuinely committed to its people matters. Best Places to Work gives employers an opportunity to evaluate what they’re doing well, learn where they can improve and, for those receiving this recognition, proudly tell that story.”
2026 HR Professionals of the Year
The celebration also recognized Corrie Johnson of the City of Port St. Lucie and Sarah Torres of Treasure Coast Food Bank as the 2026 HR Professionals of the Year.
The HR Professional of the Year Award recognizes leaders whose leadership, innovation, integrity and commitment to people have made a meaningful impact within their organizations, the human resources profession and the greater community.
Johnson and Torres were honored for their contributions to the human resources profession and the workplaces and communities they serve.
HR professionals often work behind the scenes—supporting employees through difficult moments, developing leaders, strengthening culture, navigating change and helping organizations succeed. The HR Professional of the Year Award brings that work to the forefront and recognizes leaders whose impact extends beyond their HR departments.
Celebrating the Past — and Building What’s Next
The 25th anniversary represents both a celebration of the program’s history and an opportunity to continue strengthening workplaces throughout St. Lucie County.
Through Best Places to Work and its broader programming, HRBLC seeks to bring HR professionals and business leaders together to share ideas, strengthen leadership practices, develop talent and address workforce challenges affecting employers throughout the Treasure Coast.
Twenty-five years is an extraordinary milestone, but today isn’t only about looking backward. It’s about asking what the next 25 years of great workplaces in St. Lucie County can look like—and continuing to challenge ourselves as leaders to make them even better.
About the HR & Business Leaders Council of Florida
The HR & Business Leaders Council of Florida (HRBLC) brings together human resources professionals, business leaders and community partners through professional education, strategic networking, leadership development and social impact. HRBLC works to create opportunities for leaders to learn from one another, build meaningful professional relationships and strengthen the organizations and communities they serve.
