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What constitutes a great place to work? In compiling its recently published 2019 Best Places to Work list, the Washington Business Journal honed in on four primary attributes: benefits (including salary, healthcare and leave), perks, workspace and talent (including training and staffing).

It’s little surprise that the Business Journal rankings, based on an employee engagement survey conducted by Omaha, Neb.-based Quantum Workplace and compiled by Carolyn M. Proctor, include a host of Fairfax County firms.

Overall, the highest-scoring firm is Glassman Wealth Services, an investment services company in Tysons, which amassed 99.51 percent of possible points to top the Small Companies list (10 to 24 employees).

The Business Journal reported that perks, including a referral bonus of up to $50,000 (paid over five years), unlimited vacation, team outings, telecommuting options and, a fully paid PPO health plan are among the considerations putting Glassman at the top of the class.

The Herndon office of national customer relationship software firm Salesforce ranked first among Extra Large companies (250 or more employees) for the second consecutive year. Among the reasons: a relaxed work environment and remote work options. For those choosing to the office, that features an open floor plan, natural lighting and natural materials as well as readily available fruit, snacks and beverages.

In all, the Business Journal highlighted 103 companies from the region, including 30 from Fairfax County. Here’s a look at the local firms on the 2019 Best Places to Work list in four size categories:

	Glassman Wealth Services emerged as the highest-scoring firm in the Washington Business Journal’s 2019 Best Places to Work survey. (Bobbleheads of chairs of the Federal Reserve, Glassman Wealth Services)

Small Companies: Just behind Glassman is second-ranked VWG Wealth Management, also in Tysons. Business Engineering Inc. of Reston, which specializes in information technology services, ranked fifth and No.9 IronArch Technology (McLean) also cracked the top 10.

Also: No.11 Matrix Consulting(Reston), No.12 Invex Technology Solutions (Fairfax), No.13 ROCS Grad Staffing (Herndon), No.16 growth[period] (Tysons), No.23 Take2 Consulting (Tysons), No.27 Watermark Risk Management International (Fairfax) and No.29 Casey’s Automotive (Chantilly).

Medium Companies (25 to 49 employees): Two Reston-based companies, 16th-ranked accounting firm Wipfli and 22nd-ranked Triblio, which deals in  marketing software, placed highest among Fairfax County candidates. cBeyond Data, a business intelligence and analytics firm from Lorton, ranked 23rd.

Large Companies (50 to 249 employees): Fairfax County posted seven of the top 10 honorees in this category, led by No.2 Full Visibility of Tysons, an information technology company, No.4 Cassaday & Co. of Tysons, a financial services company, and No.5 Expel of Herndon, a cybersecurity firm.

They were followed by No.6 Sequoia Holdings Inc. (Reston), which specializes in software development and engineering services, No.8 iDirect Government (Herndon), which handles IP communications technology for federal and military clients, No.9 Clune Construction (Tysons), a general contractor, and No.10 REDLattice (Chantilly), a technology services provider.

The Herndon office of Salesforce retained its top ranking in the Extra Large Companies category. (Image, Salesforce)

Also ranked: No.12 AnaVation (Reston), No.13 Kforce (Reston), No.15 First Savings Mortgage (Tysons) and No.24 GoCanvas (Reston).

Extra Large Companies: Following Salesforce were No.4 Baker Tilly Virchow Krause (Tysons), No.8 Premium Distributors of Virginia(Chantilly), No.19 Jim Koons Automotive (Tysons) and No.13 Cvent (Tysons).

Head of the class: Two weeks ago, E-Bird Extra published an interview with Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Scott Brabrand, discussing some of the more innovative aspects that keep county schools among the national leaders in education.

Since then, 50 county schools have been recognized with Virginia Board of Education Excellence and Distinguished Achievement awards. Click here for the complete list.

Four schools — Chesterbrook Elementary (McLean), Carson Middle School (Herndon), Cooper Middle School (McLean)  and Longfellow Middle School (Falls Church area) — are among five schools statewide to earn the 2019 Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence, the highest recognition in the Virginia Index of Performance (VIP) awards for advanced learning and achievement.

Award winners:

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross (left) presents “E” Award for exporting excellence to MAC Aerospace COO Douglas Hardman and CEO Jay Rodriguez (Photo, MAC Aerospace)

MAC Aerospace of Chantilly was one of 48 U.S. companies and organizations recognized for contributions to American export growth with a 2019 President’s “E” Award on May 23. MAC Aerospace CEO Jay Rodriguez accepted the award from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross.

Canine Companions for Independence, the nation’s oldest and largest assistance dog organization, will honor PenFed Credit Union President and CEO James Schenck at its 16th Annual Hearts & Heroes Gala on June 13 in New York City. PenFed employees are raising three assistance dogs in-training in Tysons and will begin raising another dog in Omaha this summer.

	The rock band Smash Mouth will be Saturday’s headline performer on the Bud Light Main Stage at Celebrate Fairfax! (Photo, Celebrate Fairfax!)

June 7-9 Celebrate Fairfax!: Northern Virginia’s largest community-wide celebration will happen at the Fairfax County Government Center. The event includes nightly fireworks presented by Leidos, eight stages (featuring headline performers Better Than Ezra (Friday) and Smash Mouth (Saturday), the Innovation Health Children’s Avenue, a petting zoo, the Fairfax County Karaoke Championship, carnival rides, a pop-up brew-fest on Sunday and festival foods. Click here for complete information.

June 12: Security Tokens 101 — Blockchain-based Investing in Growing Businesses: This free event, presented by the FCEDA and the Chamber of Digital Commerce, will be held in Tysons and feature a panel discussion about security tokens as a blockchain-based way to invest in companies. Registration is required. Click here.

June 14-15: Taste of Reston: Consistently voted Northern Virginia’s Best Food Festival by Virginia Living magazine, the event presented by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce is expected to feature more than two dozen restaurants, wineries and breweries. There will be live entertainment, vendors, cooking demonstrations and a family fun zone. Garage parking at Reston Town Center will be free. Click here for full details.