We’ve all heard the grumblings and read the headlines. The Miami Valley is a dismal place to live and work. The region’s days as a strong center of commerce are over. The business community is a shell of its former self. We are well on our way to oblivion.

That’s bull.

Our Top Workplaces section shows that there’s a lot going right in the Miami Valley.

This is the first Top Workplaces special section produced by the Dayton Daily News and the Springfield News-Sun. It recognizes 60 successful area companies that offer the opportunities, management, vision, pay and benefits that make living and working in the Miami Valley a joy.

Last fall, the newspapers teamed with WorkplaceDynamics to identify the large, midsize and small companies and organizations in the Dayton-Springfield area that truly shine when it comes to employee satisfaction. More than 10,000 area workers responded to WorkplaceDynamics’ survey.

They answered questions about whether their employers are heading in the right direction, whether their employers operate efficiently, and whether employees are listened to and given opportunities to grow. Participants also were asked about their pay and benefits, among other things.

Here’s what some of those surveyed had to say about their employers:

“First, I get to work with such wonderful people every day! Second, I get to work on projects that have a direct effect on the company’s success. Third, MacAulay-Brown is pretty organized when it comes to processes and vetting opportunities before pursuing (them). Coming from a background at companies that pursued anything and everything, it is wonderful to know that what I am working on is something that is truly a good opportunity for the company.”

“The people I work with are great, always willing to help, and Sibcy Cline provides all the tools necessary to succeed.”

“I am given the flexibility and resources to improve current practices and explore new business opportunities. Senior leaders (at Modern Technology Solutions Inc.) are level-headed, truly believe in taking care of people and encourage innovation and risk-taking.”

These people are genuinely excited about the work they do. They are grateful for everything their employers provide them. That kind of excitement and gratitude can be infectious and inspiring.

Look at the stories, charts and lists in this section and you will see some familiar names and some that are not so familiar. The point is they all are great places to work, as judged by the people who work there. These people are your neighbors, acquaintances, friends and business associates.

The section also shows how our business community is diversifying. We are no longer overly reliant on manufacturing and related industries. Sure, there are manufacturing firms on this list, and I applaud them for their ongoing success. But there also are tech firms, service businesses, schools, nonprofits and health care companies. The more diverse our local employment business base is, the better our region can handle economic storms.

And many of these companies are hiring. By the end of this year, these companies plan to add nearly 1,000 new employees to their payrolls. One Top Workplace, Comfort Keepers, reports it has hired 250 people in the past 12 months and plans to hire another 250 this year. We don’t see many hiring projections like that anymore.

Today, the Dayton Daily News and Springfield News-Sun, in concert with WorkplaceDynamics, recognize 60 great places to work. They are the source of great things to come.