Chamber announces 2007 Pinnacle Award Winners
The Knoxville Chamber recognized the best of the best in business at the third annual Pinnacle Awards on April 27, 2006 at the Knoxville Convention Center. The awards honored recipients in six business categories and two individual categories. The categories recognize the range of businesses that make up the thriving Knoxville economy, and honor contributions to business enterprise and the greater community.
The winners are as follows:
Innovator Award, sponsored by Image Matters Given to a business that has developed a new technology, innovative product or service or applied a business system or service in an innovative way.
Nucsafe Inc., - Using a technology developed in Oak Ridge, the company manufactures radiation measurement systems for the homeland security market. Its detection products include backpack models, mobile products used in land, air and sea applications and stationary systems for pedestrian, vehicle and container monitors.
Small Business Excellence Award, sponsored by Bank of America Honors a small business having 50 or fewer employees that has consistently grown its workforce and revenue and overcome obstacles including access to capital, operational efficiency, control of expenses, customer loyalty and distribution.
Daytons Pest Control Services, Inc. In its twenty two years of existence, Daytons has grown from one employee to sixteen. The company is an early adopter of new technology and regularly invests in its employees and equipment to stay on the cutting edge of pest control services. It uses advanced pesticides to limit reapplications and potential exposure to clients and their pets.
Impact Award, sponsored by R.M. Moore Real Estate Company Presented to a business that displays a commitment to making East Tennessee a better place to live through the development and support of a community or program.
Knoxville News Sentinel The News Sentinels community involvement is extensive. In 2006, the paper topped previous efforts of supporting the United Way by raising $150,000 (an 18 percent increase over the previous year). In addition, Bruce Hartmann, publisher of the News Sentinel chaired the campaign and helped raise $12.5 million. This past year, Empty Stocking Fund baskets included more than 70 pounds of food. The papers Milk Fund and Mercy Fund provided dietary supplements and funds for emergency medical situations.
Minority Business Excellence Award, sponsored by Covenant Health Presented to a minority business that has produced outstanding business results and growth and overcome the obstacles of race or sex.
NetGain Corporation The Company has grown its annual revenues to more than $15 million by acquiring Department of Energy contracts in Oak Ridge and Albuquerque, New Mexico. The company also provides mobile drug and alcohol testing services, which reduce employee downtime and show an annual cost savings to NetGainss clients.
Business Excellence Award Awarded to a company headquartered in East Tennessee or a company with significant presence in East Tennessee that has shown remarkable profitability, growth and stability. Nominees must be recognized regionally, nationally and or internationally in their respective business sector and should have made significant investments in facilities and employees. Two awards are presented, one company with 51-150 employees company wide and one company with 151+ employees
Mid-Sized Molecular Pathology Laboratory Network, Inc. Since its inception, the company has been a leader in laboratory medicine continuously expanding testing services for oncology, obstetrics, gynecology, genetics, infectious diseases, internal medicine and gastroenterology.
Large Scripps Network The media company has developed five brands in ten years and is credited with previously unheard of growth in the cable television industry. In fact, two of its brands saw growth of more than 12 percent in 2006. Its three newest brands have all been recognized among the fastest growing in terms of viewership. Currently, the companys programming is seen in 170 countries on seven continents, and in 2006 the companys revenues topped $1.1 billion.
Young Entrepreneur Award, sponsored by Cariten Healthcare Presented to a professional forty or younger who is on track to be one of tomorrows top business and community leaders.
Chuck Witkowski, President of Protein Discovery Witkowski is president of a cutting-edge scientific company that develops advanced diagnostic tools that detect cancer before a tumor begins to grow allowing for treatment at the earliest stages.
James A. Haslam, II Leadership Award, sponsored by Lexus of Knoxville Awarded to a longtime business leader who exhibits strength in character, resolve, commitment to our community and exemplary success in business.
Bill Sansom, Chairman and CEO of H.T. Hackney Company and chairman of the board of the Tennessee Valley Authority. Sansom is a civil engineer and was president of American Limestone Company before becoming the Tennessee Commissioner of Transportation. He has also served as past president of the Knoxville Chamber, Tennessee Business Roundtable, Boy Scouts Great Smoky Mountain Council and chairman of the Knoxville Community Development Corporation.
Past Pinnacle Award winners are Construction Plus, CTI Molecular Imaging, First Tennessee, Impact Associates, Navarro Research & Engineering, Premier Building Maintenance, Radio Systems Corporation, Jimmy Rodefer, Rodney Lawler and John Tolsma.
The Pinnacle Business Awards is one of Knoxvilles marquee annual events and over 650 businesspeople attend the annual celebration sponsored by Regions Bank. This year, attendees were treated to an exciting evening marked by a reception and silent auction, followed by dinner, the awards presentation emceed by Robin Wilhoit, and post party featuring the band Rhythm Nation. The post party was sponsored by Rodefer Moss & Co., PLLC, and the entertainment sponsor was Wackenhut Services Oak Ridge team. Additional sponsors were the Knoxville News Sentinel, Bandit Lites, Inc., Knology of Knoxville, AT&T, NewsTalk 100-The Big Talker and Virtual Interactive Center.