What makes a great place to work?
It might be the people you look forward to seeing every morning. A leader who takes the time to listen. An opportunity to grow. A team that celebrates the wins together and shows up for one another when things get tough.
Whatever it looks like, we know a great workplace is about much more than where you spend your Monday through Friday. And last week, we had the opportunity to celebrate some of the very best at the 2026 Big Country Best Workplace Awards, presented by Hendrick Health.
As I looked around the room, I was reminded that the businesses and organizations represented there aren't just creating jobs. They're creating places where people can build careers, find purpose, support their families and put down roots right here in the Big Country.
That matters.
When people love where they work, the impact doesn't stop when they clock out. It carries into our neighborhoods, schools, nonprofits and local businesses. Great workplaces help us keep talented people in our community and give others a reason to choose Abilene as the place they want to build their future.
This year, we were proud to recognize four outstanding organizations as our 2026 Best Workplace Award winners:
Non-Profit: Abilene Better Business Bureau
Small Business: Clear Creek RVs
Medium Business: Eide Bailly LLP
Large Business: Arrow Ford Inc.
Congratulations to each of our winners, and to every organization nominated this year. Each represents something worth celebrating: employers who understand that their greatest investment will always be their people.
At the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, we spend a lot of time talking about what it takes to grow our community. We talk about jobs, economic development, workforce and attracting new opportunities to the Big Country.
But growth isn't only about what we bring to Abilene. It's also about what we build right here.
And when we build workplaces where people feel valued, challenged and proud of what they do, we're building the kind of community people want to be part of.
Thank you to Hendrick Health for presenting this year's awards and helping us celebrate the businesses and organizations that are setting the standard across our region.
To our winners and every nominee: thank you for investing in your people. You're not only making your workplace better. You're making the Big Country better.
Onward!