Top Workplaces 2025: Midwest Companies Cultivates Growth and Consensus
The Midwest Companies ranked 39th among small employers in the Chicago Tribune’s Top Workplaces list. Established on a 5-acre nursery in 1969, the company now operates 700 acres across locations in St. Charles and Virgil, Illinois, and Glenn, Michigan.
Expansion and Business Operations
The company supplies plants to landscape architects and professionals through Midwest Groundcovers. It recently expanded by launching Midwest Trading Horticultural Supplies, which produces and sells soil to other nurseries and horticultural businesses. Both operate under the family-owned Midwest Companies, founded by Peter Orum and his wife, Irma.
Leadership and Company Culture
Today, leadership has passed to Peter’s daughter, Christa Orum-Keller, and her husband, Craig. Orum-Keller emphasizes the importance of a strong company culture to attract and retain the best employees, which she believes is key to the company's success.
Notable Projects
Employees care for shrubs, flowers, and various plants used in landscaping projects. Their plants have been featured in parks and buildings around Chicago, including Millennium Park’s Lurie Garden, and throughout the Midwest.
"Defining the company culture is vital to having a successful business and ensuring they find the best employees for the job." – Christa Orum-Keller
Author's summary: Midwest Companies leverages decades of experience and family leadership to grow sustainably while fostering a strong culture that supports employee and business success.