Central Lee, Connection Bank among locals named to DMR Top Workplaces

LEE COUNTY  — The Des Moines Register has named the Central Lee Community School District as one of its 2025 Iowa Top Workplaces.
This recognition is based solely on employee feedback collected through a third-party survey conducted by Energage LLC, an employee engagement technology partner. The confidential survey uniquely measures aspects of the employee experience, including whether employees feel respected and supported, enabled to grow, and empowered to execute their work effectively.
Central Lee has now earned the Top Workplace award five times in the past seven years and is one of only a handful of school districts across Iowa to be recognized. In addition, the district was honored nationally this past summer by Energage as a Top Workplace nationwide within the education industry— its first national workplace culture recognition.
Central Lee, a prominent rural public school system, is renowned for offering a diverse range of academic and co-curricular opportunities to its students. It has emerged as the preferred choice for students in Lee County, with nearly 400 students enrolling in its schools through open enrollment each year.
Additionally, over half of Central Lee staff members are alumni, highlighting the deep connection that former students maintain with the district and community long after they graduate. Central Lee is also celebrated for its exceptional career and technical education programming at the high school level.
“This recognition reflects the strong culture we have built at Central Lee, made possible by the commitment of our staff and students,” said Dr. Andy Crozier, Superintendent. “Our success comes from a shared purpose, the dedication of our staff to carrying out our mission, and the meaningful relationships that thrive within our schools.”
Connection Bank has also been awarded a Top Workplaces 2025 honor. This was the first year Connection Bank was nominated for Top Workplaces, and they secured their spot in the Top 50 for their company size.
“Our employees are at the top of our priority list, along with our customers and our communities,” said Matt Morris, President and CEO of Connection Bank. “As we continue to grow and evolve, we keep raising the bar and investment in our corporate culture. We want to build a supportive atmosphere and create a place where people genuinely love to work.
“This recognition is all thanks to our employees. They took the time to share their thoughts, and we truly appreciate each and every one of them, Being named a Top Workplace is a big deal. Only 149 companies made this year’s list, and only 63 companies within our size... in the WHOLE state of Iowa! The best part is our own employees were the judges. What a win!"
MidwestOne and Edward Jones, along with Van Buren County, were also recognized in the annual award listing.
For more information and to view the complete list of 2025 Iowa Top Workplaces, please visit https://topworkplaces.com/award/desmoinesregister/ .