ATLANTA -

Of the more than 1,400 companies in the Atlanta area that applied to be included in the 2016 Top Workplaces honors given by The Atlanta Journal Constitution along with the 150 that were recognized, five winners are familiar names in the automotive space.

The rundown of companies receiving the honor on Monday included:

— CarMax and its auto finance division CarMax Auto Finance
— Equifax
— LeasePlan USA
— Lendmark Financial Services
— Navy Federal Credit Union

The Top Workplaces lists are based solely on the results of an employee feedback survey administered by WorkplaceDynamics, a leading research firm that specializes in organizational health and workplace improvement. Several aspects of workplace culture were measured, including alignment, execution, and connection.

“The Top Workplaces award is not a popularity contest. And oftentimes, people assume it’s all about fancy perks and benefits,” said Doug Claffey, chief executive officer of WorkplaceDynamics. “But to be a Top Workplace, organizations must meet our strict standards for organizational health. And who better to ask about work life than the people who live the culture every day — the employees.

“Time and time again, our research has proven that what’s most important to them is a strong belief in where the organization is headed, how it’s going to get there, and the feeling that everyone is in it together.” Claffey continued. “Without this sense of connection, an organization doesn’t have a shot at being named a Top Workplace.”

When learning about being included on the list that’s available here, CarMax leadership cheered the development.

“Being named one of Atlanta’s Top Workplaces is a wonderful achievement for CarMax and CarMax Auto Finance,” said Jon Daniels, senior vice president of operations at CarMax Auto Finance. “This award is a credit to the thousands of associates that together have built a culture of integrity, teamwork and transparency we believe is second to none.”

CarMax has nine stores in Georgia, and the Atlanta metro area is home to seven of them as well as to CarMax Auto Finance, which has been in operation since 1993. CarMax has more than 1,650 associates working in the Atlanta area, including 655 that are located at CAF.

“Behind every CarMax stress-free customer experience is a dedicated, hard-working team of associates,” said Kevin Cox, regional vice president and general manager of the Atlanta region for CarMax. “We place a strong focus on providing developmental opportunities for everyone in the company, and on taking care of our associates by offering a healthy work-life balance and excellent benefits.”

CarMax continues to grow and plans to open between 13 and 16 stores each year for the next two years. The company is currently hiring for more than 1,600 positions across the country including 64 positions in Atlanta store locations and 36 positions at CarMax Auto Finance.

Interested candidates can visit jobs.carmax.com to learn more and apply.