Top Workplaces 2025: The Midwest Companies Cultivates Growth and Consensus
The Midwest Companies earned the 39th spot among small employers on the Chicago Tribune’s 2025 list of Top Workplaces. Founded in 1969 on a five-acre plot, the company has grown to manage over 700 acres of nursery operations in St. Charles and Virgil, Illinois, and Glenn, Michigan.
Through its division, Midwest Groundcovers, the company grows and supplies a diverse range of plants to landscape architects and professionals. Expanding over the decades, it established Midwest Trading Horticultural Supplies, which manufactures and sells soil products to nurseries and horticulture businesses.
The business remains family-owned, founded by Peter and Irma Orum, and is now managed by their daughter, Christa Orum-Keller, along with her husband, Craig. The ranking recognizes workplace culture and employee satisfaction, as measured by Energage, a Pennsylvania-based consulting firm.
Employees cultivate shrubs, flowers, and other plants that enhance landscapes throughout the Midwest, including notable projects such as Chicago’s Millennium Park and the Lurie Garden.
“Defining the company culture is vital to having a successful business and ensuring we find the best employees for the job,” said Christa Orum-Keller.
Author’s Summary
The Midwest Companies, a family-run horticultural group, has transformed from a five-acre nursery into a regional leader recognized for its strong culture and innovative growth.