ANN ARBOR, Mich., Aug. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Domino's World Resource Center was named one of Michigan's "Cool Places to Work" by Crain's Detroit Business and the Grand Rapids Business Journal. The award will be presented at a luncheon held September 15, 2005, at the International Banquet and Conference Center in Detroit, Mich. The "Cool Places to Work" competition was established to honor 60 companies that recognize employees as their greatest asset. Winners of this first-of-its-kind competition are companies that work with imagination and conviction to create organizational value and business results through their policies and best practices in human resource management. Part of what makes Domino's a "Cool Place to Work" is its service-oriented culture. In 2000, Domino's created the Domino's Pizza Prep School, an intensive training program for office-based employees, during which they learn how to run a Domino's Pizza store. Not only do graduates of the program walk away with a better understanding of the business, but they are also trained pizza makers able to help a store during the nightly "dinner rush." Other "cool" Domino's programs include: * Annual holiday gift box -- employees receive a box with items for the entire family during the holiday season * Laff Staff -- a group of Domino's employees who coordinate special events, from organizing parties for 500 to more simple events like a visit from an ice cream vendor on a hot August afternoon * Annual REPPY (Recognizing Exceptional People) Awards -- annual recognition of exceptional employees nominated by their peers (award includes grant of company stock options) * Lunch with the CEO -- each month, employees are randomly selected to have lunch with the CEO to share ideas, ask questions, and learn about the company's priorities "We are thrilled to be acknowledged as one of the coolest places to work in Michigan!" said Patti Wilmot, executive vice president of PeopleFirst at Domino's Pizza. "It confirms our commitment to putting people first, by creating a fun environment where team members learn every day and are recognized for their contributions." Selection was based both on employee nominations and on numerical scores on a survey created by Southfield-based American Society of Employers, a membership organization that collects workplace data and offers training in human resource issues. Points were awarded based on responses to individual questions. Total survey scores were then derived by totaling the weighted scores in eight categories. The 60 companies have "created work environments that attract and retain quality workers, especially younger workers," Crain's Publisher Mary Kramer said. "It's very clear that employees prize a workplace that recognizes a balance between 'work' and 'life,' as well as one that offers training and opportunities to advance." About Domino's Pizza: Founded in 1960, Domino's Pizza is the recognized world leader in pizza delivery. Domino's is listed on the NYSE under the symbol "DPZ." Through its primarily franchised system, Domino's operates a network of 7,878 franchised and Company-owned stores in the United States and more than 50 countries. The Domino's Pizza(R) brand, named a Megabrand by Advertising Age magazine, had global retail sales of more than $4.6 billion in 2004, comprised of nearly $3.2 billion domestically and more than $1.4 billion internationally. Domino's Pizza was named "Chain of the Year" by Pizza Today magazine, the leading publication of the pizza industry and is the "Official Pizza of NASCAR(R)." More information on the Company, in English and Spanish, can be found on the web at http://www.dominos.com/ . Source: Domino's Pizza