August 25, 2025

Direct Recruiters, Inc. (DRI) has been named a 2025 NorthCoast 99 award winner by ERC, the Employers Resource Council. The NorthCoast 99 award honors 99 great Northeast Ohio workplaces for top talent. This is the 14th time that DRI has received the prestigious NorthCoast 99 award.

“Twenty-seven years ago, ERC launched the NorthCoast 99 awards program and event to help our region become a prime destination for companies and high-performing individuals,” said Samantha Marx, ERC’s Vice President of Strategic Projects, who oversees the NorthCoast 99 program. “Beyond being a sought-after accolade, this yearlong research initiative offers employers valuable insights and data into policies and practices that successfully attract and retain top talent.”

NorthCoast 99 winners participated in a rigorous application process that asked for detailed information on how their organization addresses top-performer attraction, development, and retention in the areas of employee engagement and talent development; employee well-being; organizational strategy, policies, and benefits; talent attraction, acquisition, and onboarding; and total rewards.

“Winning NorthCoast 99 is not easy. This group of 99 employers is constantly evolving, listening, and responding to the needs and desires of today’s talent. We commend the 2025 winners for setting a benchmark for excellence,” said ERC President and CEO Kelly Keefe.

The 2025 NorthCoast 99 awards program is sponsored by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield; CIBC; Cleveland Magazine; ERChealth; Maloney + Novotny; Meyers, Roman, Friedberg & Lewis; Oswald Companies; Staffing Solutions Enterprises; and WKYC Studios.