Pinnacle Business Awards Honor Best in Business

The 2008 Pinnacle Business Awards on Friday honored nine Knoxville businesses and individuals for excellence in their fields and in the community.

The winners are:

Innovator: Molecular Pathology Laboratory Network, Inc.
Small Business Excellence: Studio Four Design, Inc.
Impact: Goody's Family Clothing
Minority Business Excellence: (tied) ES&H, Inc. and Visionary Solutions, LLC
Business Excellence Awards:
- Mid-Sized Business Excellence: Merit Construction, Inc.
- Large Business Excellence: Pilot Travel Centers, LLC
Young Entrepreneur: Chris VanBeke, President and CEO, Tennetic Ventures, LLC
James A. Haslam, II Leadership: Pete DeBusk

Mike Hamilton, Chairman of the Chamber's Board of Directors, said, "Tonight is an occasion to honor the nominees and winners in the eight award categories. The businesses and businesspeople that will receive awards tonight are outstanding representatives of the greater Knoxville business community. But, I hope you will remember that they are emblematic of all the fantastic businesses and hard working businesspeople in our region."

The event, held at the Knoxville Convention Center, was attended by more than 650 people. The presenting sponsor was Region's Bank. Other sponsors include the Greater Knoxville Business Journal, Bandit Lites, Wackenhut, Energy Solutions, the Knoxville News Sentinel, Citadel Broadcasting, GraceWorks Studio, and WBIR-TV.