Chamber Honors Business Excellence at 2009 Pinnacle Business Awards
A Toast To Excellence!
Chamber Honors Businesses at 2009 Pinnacle Business Awards
Winners in eight categories were honored May 1 at the 2009 Pinnacle Business Awards presented by BB&T. Nearly 600 members of Knoxville’s business community helped recognize the winners. Dinner and a silent auction preceded the awards ceremony. A packed Knoxville Convention Center ballroom gave Regal Entertainment Group chairman Mike Campbell a standing ovation as he was presented the James A. Haslam II Leadership Award, which is given annually to a business leader who exhibits strength in character, resolve, and commitment to the community and success in business.
“When I started Regal 20 years ago, I really had no idea the company would grow to the size that it is today,” Campbell said. “However, I did know one thing for sure: I wanted to operate this company from Knoxville.”
Campbell said his company has been encouraged to move its headquarters to Los Angeles or New York over the years but his response is always, “I was born in this community, I love this community, and we’re going to stay in this community.”
Regal Entertainment Group is the largest U.S. theater company with 6,773 screens in 549 theaters located in 39 states and Washington, D.C.
Michael Strickland, CEO and founder of Bandit Lites – the 2009 Large Business Excellence Award Winner – expressed similar sentiments.
“The main reason our company has been successful is because all of us remain close to our roots,” he said. “The East Tennessee values each of us exhibit are what have allowed us to transcend and to succeed in the global business community.”
Bandit Lites provides professional lighting for events across the country and around the world. The company’s client list includes Garth Brooks, Jimmy Buffett, WWE, Queen, MTV, VH1, ESPN, NASCAR, Super Bowl halftime shows, and presidential inaugural balls. The company also manufactures power distribution equipment sold under the ProPower label.
Other winners recognized during the 2009 Pinnacle Awards Gala were:
Young Entrepreneur Award
Sean Christman, president and founder of Slamdot, Inc.
Impact Award
Food City, K-VA-T Food Stores, Inc.
Minority Business Excellence Award
Information International Associates, Inc.
Small Business Excellence Award
AC Entertainment
Mid-Sized Business Excellence Award
Prestige Cleaners, Inc.
Innovator Award
UT-Battelle, LLC
The Pinnacle Business Awards is one of Knoxville’s marquee annual events. Attendees were once again treated to an exciting evening that included a reception and auction, followed by dinner and the awards presentation emceed by Robin Wilhoit. Additional sponsors included Wackenhut Services Oak Ridge Team; EnergySolutions; Greater Knoxville Business Journal; Bandit Lites, Inc.; Cariten Healthcare, a Humana Affiliate; Rodefer Moss & Company, PLLC; Aqua-Chem, Inc.; Toyota/Lexus of Knoxville; Covenant Health; Sperry Van Ness/R.M. Moore; Knoxville News Sentinel; WNOX; Virtual Interactive Center; and WBIR-TV.
