SAN DIEGO, Dec. 2, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Healthyroads, the prevention and wellness management services subsidiary of national health and wellness company American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH), announced the winners of its first annual Fit Company Awards. Eleven companies were honored with either gold, silver, or bronze distinctions.
The list of Healthyroads Fit Company Award winners includes:
Small/Medium Business Category (under 1,000 employees)
* Gold: Kennedy/Jenks Consultants
* Gold: Biggs Insurance Services
* Silver: Cascade Bank
* Silver: Susan Polk Insurance Agency, Inc.
* Bronze: Port Blakely Companies
Large Business Category (over 1,000 employees)
* Gold: Citizens Memorial
* Silver: Lafarge North America
* Silver: Symetra Financial
* Silver: St. Rose Dominican Hospitals
* Bronze: Rain for Rent
* Bronze: Southern California Schools Employee Benefits
Association (SCSEBA) Joint Power Authority
As the top scorers in both categories, Kennedy/Jenks Consultants and Citizens Memorial are invited to attend ASH's corporate awards banquet this March in San Diego, where they will be recognized and awarded for their achievements.
Entrants were judged on a point scale according to their commitment to best practices in worksite wellness, unique or creative ideas that encourage a culture of health at the workplace, clarity and consistency of employee health promotion and communications, and participation and engagement levels of their employees in wellness initiatives.
Judges included industry veterans Dr. Cathy Baase (global director of health, Dow Chemical), Dr. Andrew Crighton (VP and chief medical officer, Prudential Financial, Inc.), and Dr. Gary Frost (CEO, Frost & Associates), in addition to ASH officers George DeVries (CEO and chairman) and Douglas Metz, DC (chief health services officer, executive VP). The process was chaired by Dr. Kenneth R. Pelletier, clinical professor of medicine at the University of Arizona and UCSF Schools of Medicine and VP, health affairs at ASH.
"With health care reform such a top national priority, we cannot-and should not-underestimate the critical importance of wellness programs in the workplace today," said DeVries. "Each one of these companies should be proud of their contributions to employee wellness and ultimately, the improved health of the nation."
About American Specialty Health and Healthyroads
American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH) is a national health and wellness company that provides population health management programs including prevention and wellness services, specialty network management programs, and fitness and exercise services to health plans, insurance carriers, employer groups, and trust funds. Based in San Diego since its inception in 1987, ASH has more than 700 employees and covers over 15.6 million members.
Healthyroads, Inc. is the prevention and wellness services subsidiary of ASH. Healthyroads offers a wide range of wellness solutions- including award-winning telephone-based coaching programs for a broad range of lifestyle areas, incentive management programs, challenges, worksite programs and its integrated Web site, Healthyroads.com. For more information about ASH health and wellness programs, visit www.ASHCompanies.com or call 800.848.3555.