Within this post you will find the CBJ’s Best of the Corridor, a celebration of our region’s most beloved businesses, as voted on by our community.
This is the 18th annual list, encompassing 49 categories, ranging from the best professional firms to the best cultural attractions.
2023’s list includes a mix of established names and newcomers, with new categories to boot.
Seven different companies took home multiple first place awards this year. For example, IMS Branded Solutions was honored with Best PR/Marketing/Creative Agency, Best Specialty Marketing Products and Best Shop for Corporate Gifts. Skogman Companies was honored with four awards; Best Developer, Best Home Builder, Best Commercial Realty Company, and Best Residential Realty Company, and McGrath Family of Dealerships won three: Best Auto Dealer, Best Auto Fleet Dealer, and Best Auto Service Dealer.
New categories that were added this year include Best Place for Business Lunch, which was awarded to the Black Sheep Social Club in Cedar Rapids, and Best Brewery/Winery/Distillery, which Big Grove Brewery took home.
With more than 10,000 votes submitted this year, it’s safe to say that all of the businesses listed within these pages deserve recognition for the impact they have made on our community. We congratulate all winners, and runner-ups for joining this exclusive club and for keeping the Corridor such an amazing place to call home.
We hope you enjoy reading through the list and take notes on the local businesses that your community is rooting for.
–Alexandra Olsen, managing editor
2022 Best of the Corridor
Best Wealth Management Team: Accel Wealth Management
1st RUNNER UP: Basepoint Wealth
2nd RUNNER UP: United Iowa Financial
Best Engineering Firm: Axiom Consultants
1st RUNNER UP: HR Green
2nd RUNNER UP: Snyder & Associates
Best Brewery/Winery/Distillery: Big Grove Brewery
1st RUNNER UP: Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery
2nd RUNNER UP: BIT Brewery
Best Place for Business Lunch: Black Sheep Social Club
1st RUNNER UP: Zeppelins and Biaggi’s (TIE)
2nd RUNNER UP: Barrel House
Best Cultural Attraction: Brucemore
1st RUNNER UP: NewBo City Market
2nd RUNNER UP: Theatre Cedar Rapids
Best Bank: Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust
1st RUNNER UP: Hills Bank & Trust
2nd RUNNER UP: F&M Bank
Best Commercial Real Estate Lender: Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust
1st RUNNER UP: Hills Bank & Trust
2nd RUNNER UP: GreenState Credit Union
Best Printer: Cedar Rapids Screenprint
1st RUNNER UP: Tru Art Color Graphics
2nd RUNNER UP: IMS Branded Solutions
Best Accounting Firm: CliftonLarsonAllen LLP
1st RUNNER UP: RSM US LLP
2nd RUNNER UP: ESG Professional Accountants
Best Landscaping & Nursery: Culver’s Garden Center & Greenhouse
1st RUNNER UP: Fisher Property Care
2nd RUNNER UP: Cedar River Garden Center
Best Website/App Developer: de Novo Marketing
1st RUNNER UP: Meld Marketing
2nd RUNNER UP: Vortex Digital Business Solutions
Best Photographer/Videographer: de Novo Marketing
1st RUNNER UP: Joe Photo
2nd RUNNER UP: Kliks Photography
Best Trucking Company: Don Hummer Trucking Corp.
1st RUNNER UP: CRST International Inc.
2nd RUNNER UP: Heartland Express
Best Banquet/Event Facility: Eastbank Venue
1st RUNNER UP: Hyatt Regency
2nd RUNNER UP: Kirkwood Hotel
Best Golf Course: Elmcrest Country Club
1st RUNNER UP: Brown Deer Golf Course
2nd RUNNER UP: Cedar Rapids Country Club
Best Credit Union: GreenState Credit Union
1st RUNNER UP: Linn Area Credit Union
2nd RUNNER UP: Collins Community Credit Union
Best Residential Real Estate Lender: GreenState Credit Union
1st RUNNER UP: Hills Bank & Trust
2nd RUNNER UP: Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust
Best PR/Marketing/Creative Agency: IMS Branded Solutions
1st RUNNER UP: Meld Marketing
2nd RUNNER UP: de Novo Marketing
Best Specialty Marketing Products: IMS Branded Solutions
1st RUNNER UP: Bankers Advertising Company
2nd RUNNER UP: Marketing Innovations
Best Shop for Corporate Gifts: IMS Branded Solutions
1st RUNNER UP: Bankers Advertising Company
2nd RUNNER UP: Marketing Innovations
Best IT Support Company: Involta
1st RUNNER UP: Mediacom
2nd RUNNER UP: CliftonLarsonAllen LLP
Best Cybersecurity Company: Involta
1st RUNNER UP: CliftonLarsonAllen LLP
2nd RUNNER UP: ProCircular
Best Residential Interior Designer/Firm: Interior Perfection
1st RUNNER UP: Dwell Home Furnishings
2nd RUNNER UP: Mix Home Mercantile
Best Optometrist/Ophthalmologist: Iowa Eye Center
1st RUNNER UP: Iowa EyeCare
2nd RUNNER UP: Dr. Fitzgerald and Associates
Best Business Leader: Jason Smith – TrueNorth Companies
1st RUNNER UP: Jim Buie – Involta
2nd RUNNER UP: Jen Neumann – de Novo Marketing and
James Klein – Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust (TIE)
Best Walk or Run Event: JDRF One Walk
1st RUNNER UP: Especially for You Race Against Breast Cancer
2nd RUNNER UP: Alzheimer’s Association Walk
Best Auto Fleet Dealer: McGrath Family of Dealerships
1st RUNNER UP: Junge Automotive Group
2nd RUNNER UP: Lynch Ford Chevrolet
Best Auto Dealer: McGrath Family of Dealerships
1st RUNNER UP: Lynch Ford Chevrolet
2nd RUNNER UP: Junge Automotive Group
Best Auto Service Dealer: McGrath Family of Dealerships
1st RUNNER UP: Junge Automotive Group and Lynch Ford Chevrolet (TIE)
2nd RUNNER UP: Cassill Motors and Dave Wright Auto Group (TIE)
Best Local Internet Service Provider: Mediacom
1st RUNNER UP: ImOn
2nd RUNNER UP: South Slope
Best Hospital: Mercy Medical Center Cedar Rapids
1st RUNNER UP: UnityPoint Health – St. Lukes Hospital – Cedar Rapids
2nd RUNNER UP: University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
Best Senior Living Community: Meth-Wick Community
1st RUNNER UP: Grand Living
2nd RUNNER UP: Oaknoll
Best Commercial Cleaning/Janitorial Services Company: Midwest Janitorial
1st RUNNER UP: Clean Sweep
2nd RUNNER UP: Absolutely Clean and Premier Cleaning
Best Sign Company: Nesper Sign Advertising Inc.
1st RUNNER UP: IMS Branded Solutions
2nd RUNNER UP: CR Signs Inc.
Best Office Equipment & Supplies: Office Express
1st RUNNER UP: Staples
2nd RUNNER UP: Welter Storage Equipment Co.
Best Architectural Firm: OPN Architects
1st RUNNER UP: Legat Architects
2nd RUNNER UP: Horizon Architecture
Best Staffing/Temp Agency: Palmer Group
1st RUNNER UP: Skywalk Group
2nd RUNNER UP: Remedy Intelligent Staffing
Best Fine Arts Venue: Paramount Theatre
1st RUNNER UP: Hancher Auditorium
2nd RUNNER UP: CSPS Hall
Best Office Furnishings & Design: Pigott
1st RUNNER UP: Phelan’s Interiors
2nd RUNNER UP: Tallgrass Business Resources
Best Business Consulting: RSM US LLP
1st RUNNER UP: CliftonLarsonAllen LLP
2nd RUNNER UP: TrueNorth Companies
Best Developer: Skogman Companies
1st RUNNER UP: Twenty40 Building Concepts
2nd RUNNER UP: Hunter Companies
Best Home Builder: Skogman Homes
1st RUNNER UP: Advantage Home Builders
2nd RUNNER UP: Jim Buresh Construction
Best Commercial Realty Company: Skogman Realty
1st RUNNER UP: Urban Acres
2nd RUNNER UP: GLD Commercial and Lepic-Kroeger Realtors (TIE)
Best Residential Realty Company: Skogman Realty
1st RUNNER UP: Urban Acres
2nd RUNNER UP: EXIT Realty
Best New Restaurant: Sacred Cow
1st RUNNER UP: Taco Gato
2nd RUNNER UP: Copper Boar
Best Law Firm: Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC
1st RUNNER UP: Martin Diaz Law Firm
2nd RUNNER UP: Shuttleworth & Ingersoll, PLC
Best Business Insurance Brokerage: TrueNorth Companies
1st RUNNER UP: Accel Group
2nd RUNNER UP: Skogman Insurance
Best Home Health Care: UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Home Care
1st RUNNER UP: CarePro
2nd RUNNER UP: Mercy Home Care
Best MBA Program: University of Iowa Tippie College of Business
1st RUNNER UP: Mount Mercy University
