The South Carolina Top Workplaces survey results are out, and two of last year’s top three companies retained their spots this year, while a first-time honoree tops the list for small companies.

The No. 1 company among large businesses, those with 300 or more employees, is Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices C. Dan Joyner REALTORS, which took the top spot last year and has been ranked in the survey every year since the survey’s inception eight years ago.

The No. 1 midsize company, a ranking that includes businesses with 150 to 299 employees, is Pinnacle Financial Partners, which also was No. 1 in its size category last year. Pinnacle Financial Partners has made the list for six consecutive years.

The No. 1 small company, representing businesses with 149 or fewer employees in the region, is Charter Institute at Erskine.

Pinnacle Financial Partners also received a special award for Direction, scoring highest in the category “I believe this company is going in the right direction.” Among the comments from employees about the company: “The growth strategy Pinnacle has is attainable, and there isn't the high pressure of trying to sell products that may not be a good fit for customers” and “We do what we say, we say what we do. We maintain the culture daily!”

In addition, C. Dan Joyner REALTORS received the award for New Ideas, and employee comments included “Always asking for feedback. Can tell your broker anything, and they take it seriously” and “Open door for expressing ideas and concerns.”

The Communication award went to Charter Institute at Erskine, which scored highest in the category “I feel well-informed about important decisions at this company.” Employee comments included “I appreciate knowing changes that pertain to my department as quickly as they appear. This allows me to mentally prepare for the best form of success with the upcoming necessities.”

Here are some facts about each of the top three companies:

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices C. Dan Joyner REALTORS: The real estate brokerage firm, which is headquartered in Greenville, was founded in 1964, and its current CEO, Danny Joyner, is the son of the founder. The company has 475 employees, with offices in Greenville, Anderson, Spartanburg, Clinton, and Simpsonville.

Pinnacle Financial Partners: The commercial bank, which provides banking, investments, trust, and insurance services, has its U.S. headquarters in Nashville. Pinnacle has 23 South Carolina locations and 232 employees in the Palmetto State.

Charter Institute at Erskine: The organization that helps to create charter schools in the state is headquartered in Columbia and is a first-time Top Workplaces honoree. The organization’s mission is “to authorize high-quality charter schools that elevate educational opportunities through innovation and creativity,” its website says. Charter Institute at Erskine has 39 South Carolina employees.