The team at JP marketing from left, Josh Durham, Michele Meisch, Jane Olvera Majors, Jeanna Antonino and Christina Chann with Ken Ramos, executive vice president of Central Valley Community Bank.

The room was buzzing Tuesday evening at Pardini’s in Fresno as The Business Journal honored the companies that came out on top of our annual reader voting contest.

An invite-only crowd of 100 people representing winners and finalists gathered to find out who the readers crowned in our ninth annual Best of Central Valley Business Readers Choice Awards.

From very humble beginnings in 2014 when we received a total of 22,000 votes, this year’s contest caught fire with about 210,000 votes — up 40% from last year. Voters had from Sept. 1 to Oct. 31 to weigh in at thebusinessjournal.com with their favorites in 35 categories.

Be sure to flip through the Friday print edition of The Business Journal to read more about the winners.

Several companies made an inaugural appearance in the winner’s circle. These include Mayor Jerry Dyer, Fortune Associates, Keller Williams, Dyson Janzen Architects, Precision Civil Engineering, Fresno Lexus, Moss Adams, First American Title and Harris Ranch Inn & Restaurant.

We always welcome feedback on the contest or suggestions for new categories. Please contact Marketing Manager Abner Garcia at abner@thebusinessjournal.com.

Here are your 2022 winners and finalists:

 

Best Company to Work For

London Properties

1st finalist: De Young Properties

2nd finalist: JP Marketing

 

Best Business Supporting Local Charities

Granville Homes

1st finalist: DeYoung Properties

2nd finalist: Gar Bennett LLC

 

Best Homebuilder

Granville Homes

1st finalist: Lennar Homes

2nd finalist: Gary McDonald Homes

 

Best Politician on Business issues

Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer

1st finalist: Assemblyman Jim Patterson

2nd finalist: Rep. Jim Costa

 

Best Commercial Real Estate Company

Fortune Associates

1st finalist: RC Commercial

2nd finalist: Newmark Pearson Commercial

 

Best Nonprofit 

Marjaree Mason Center

1st finalist: Central California Food Bank

2nd finalist: Fresno Mission

 

Best Architectural Firm

Dyson Janzen Architects, Inc.

1st finalist: Darden Architects

2nd finalist: Paul Halajian Architects

 

Best Property Management Company

Manco Abbott

1st finalist: Granville Homes, Inc.

2nd finalist: Liberty Property Management

 

Best Residential Real Estate Firm

Keller Williams

1st finalist: Guarantee Real Estate

2nd finalist: DeYoung Properties

 

Best Business Bank

Central Valley Community Bank

1st finalist: Chase Bank

2nd finalist: Fresno First Bank

 

Best Employment Service

PrideStaff

1st finalist: Hire Up Staffing Services

2nd finalist: Denham Resources

 

Best Engineering Firm

Precision Civil Engineering

1st finalist: Provost & Pritchard

2nd finalist: BSK Associates

 

Best Auto Dealership 

Fresno Lexus

1st finalist: Hedrick’s Chevrolet

2nd finalist: Haron Jaguar Land Rover Volvo

 

Best Credit Union

Educational Employees Credit Union

1st finalist: Noble Credit Union          

2nd finalist: Golden 1 Credit Union

 

Best Property/Casualty Insurance Company

DiBuduo & DeFendis Insurance Brokers LLC

1st finalist: Cal Valley Insurance Services

2nd finalist: Burns and Whitaker Insurance

 

Best Bar to Entertain Clients

Pismo’s Coastal Grill

1st finalist: Fleming’s

2nd finalist: Elbow Room

 

Best Local Lunch Spot

Pismo’s Coastal Grill

1st finalist: Max’s Bistro

2nd finalist: Mediterranean Grill

 

Best Accounting Firm

Moss Adams LLP

1st finalist: Moore Grider & Co.

2nd finalist: Nunes & Nunes CPA

 

Best Law Firm

McCormick Barstow LLP

1st finalist: Hatmaker Law Group

2nd finalist: Pascuzzi, Pascuzzi & Stoker

 

Best Hospital

Clovis Community Medical Center

1st finalist: Kaiser Permanente

2nd finalist: Fresno Surgical Hospital

 

Best Shopping Center

River Park Shopping Center

1st finalist: Fig Garden Village

2nd finalist: Marketplace at El Paseo

 

Best Technology Company

Bitwise Industries

1st finalist: Breadcrumb Cybersecurity

2nd finalist: J-I.T. Outsource

 

Best Chamber of Commerce

Fresno Chamber

1st finalist: Clovis Chamber

2nd finalist: Fresno Metro Black Chamber

 

Best Office Equipment Company

California Business Machines

1st finalist: Cal Bennetts Office Furnishing Planning & Design

2nd finalist: Caltronics Business Systems

 

Best Woman-Owned Business

La Tapatia Tortilleria Inc.

1st finalist: JP Marketing

2nd finalist: Hire Up Staffing

 

Best Catering Company

Pardini’s Catering

1st finalist: Meat Market

2nd finalist: Love & Garlic

 

Best Commercial Printing Company

Dumont Printing

1st finalist: Fastsigns

2nd finalist: Central Valley Business Forms

 

Best Security Company

Matson Alarm Company

1st finalist: Geil Enterprises

2nd finalist: Fresno County Private Security

 

Best Marketing Agency 

JP Marketing

1st finalist: JSA

2nd finalist: Five Creative Group

 

Best Golf Course to Take a Client

Fort Washington Country Club

1st finalist: Copper River Country Club

2nd finalist: Eagle Springs Golf & Country Club

 

Best Title Company

First American Title

1st finalist: Old Republic Title Co.

2nd finalist: Chicago Title Co.

 

Best Family-Owned Business

Harris Ranch Inn & Restaurant

1st finalist: Selma Auto Mall

2nd finalist: The McCaffrey Group

 

Best Interior Design Firm

Darden Architects

1st finalist: Facility Designs

2nd finalist: Erin Melkonian Designs

 

Best Morning Drive Radio Show

KMJ 580 AM

1st finalist: Soft Rock 98.9

2nd finalist: Mega 97.9

 

Best Local Annual Event to Attend

The Big Fresno Fair

1st finalist: Fresno Greek Fest

2nd finalist: Clovis Rodeo