Emeralds & Ice Honors Best of Business
The Knoxville Chamber recognized and celebrated the business community Friday evening during the Pinnacle Awards at the Knoxville Convention Center. Emeralds and Ice was the theme of the black-tie, marquee event sponsored by Regions Bank where six awards were presented to four businesses and two individuals who have made significant contributions to the Knoxville area business climate and community. Visit pinnacle.knoxvillechamber.com to learn more. We created this event because we recognized that the business community and the companies that make an impact on the area deserved to be honored. The immeasurable contribution that businesses make to our community, and our quality of life is a real reason to celebrate, said Mike Edwards, President and CEO of the Knoxville Chamber.
The Impact Award, sponsored by R.M. Moore Real Estate, was awarded to First Tennessee Bank. The award recognizes a business displaying a commitment to making East Tennessee a better place to live through the development and support of a community project or program.
The Small Business Award, sponsored by Bank of America, N.A., was awarded to Impact Associates, Inc. The award recognizes a business with 50 or fewer employees that has consistently grown its workforce and revenue and overcome obstacles.
The Minority Business Award, sponsored by Covenant Health, was awarded to Premiere Building Maintenance Corporation. The award recognizes a minority business that has produced outstanding business results and growth overcoming the obstacles of race and sex.
The Innovator Award sponsored by, Image Matters, Inc., was awarded to Radio Systems Corporation. The award recognized a business that has developed a new technology, innovative product or service or applied a business system or service in an innovative way.
The Young Entrepreneur Award , sponsored by Cariten Health Care, was awarded to Jimmy Rodefer, CEO of Rodefer Moss and Co, PLLC. The award is given to a young professional under forty that lives and works in East Tennessee and has achieved success, and stands to become one of tomorrows top business leaders.
The James A.Haslam, II Leadership Award, sponsored by Lexus of Knoxville, was awarded to F. Rodney Lawler, CEO of Lawler-Wood, LLC. The award is presented to a longtime business leader to exhibits strength in character, resolve, and commitment to our community and exemplary success regionally.
Nominations for the Pinnacle Awards were solicited from businesses and individuals across the Knoxville area, the judging panel consisted exclusively of members of the Chamber board of directors and past chairs.
In addition to the awards ceremony, a silent auction was held. The evening was capped by a post party sponsored by Asen Marketing and Advertising featuring live entertainment and dancing sponsored by Wackenhut Oak Ridge Team.
The event not only recognized excellence, but set the stage in a relaxed, elegant atmosphere for the business community to come together.
The Chamber would like to offer our special thanks to the donors to the Pinnacle Awards silent auction:
3 Gardens Center For Massage
A.C. Entertainment
Ashes Wines & Spirits
Barbizon Modeling
Bell South The Real Yellow Pages
Big Cabins.com
Black Bear Jamboree
Blaine Construction
Bliss Home+Art
Bonefish Grill
Bookers Home & Gift Accents
Bravo Cucina Italiana
Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway
Broadway In Knoxville
Canvas Hair Design
Carrabbas Italian Grill
Central Tee Times
The Comedy Zone
Connor Concepts, Inc.
Continental Airlines - Expressjet
Décor Outdoor
Dermatology Associates
Downtown Grill & Brewery
Earth To The Old City
Enterprise Rent-a-car
First Tennessee Bank
Fishknoxville.com
Gatlinburg Chamber
Gourmet¹s Market
Green Hills Grille
Hilton Knoxville
Jewelry Television
Knology
Knoxville Ice Bears
Lamar Outdoor Advertising
Maple Leaf Lodge
Marriott Hotels
Martha Washington Inn
Mcalisters Deli - Parkside Drive
Miracle Theatre
Morgan Keegan
Music Road Hotel And Convention Center
Ober Gatlinburg
Office Depot
Oodles Noodles & Wine Bar
Panera Bread
Parkside Tavern
Pellissippi State University
Petsafe Village
Pilot
Powell Florist, Gifts & Interiors
Prestige Cleaners
Radio Systems Corporation
Regal Entertainment Group
Regions Bank
Ripleys Aquarium Of The Smokies
Salon Visage Smg-knoxville Convention Center
Southeast Foods/pennant Foods
Stokely Hospitality Enterprises
Tennessee Riverboat Company
Tennessee Smokies Baseball Club
Tennessee Womens Athletic Dept.
The Edgewater Hotel
The Giving Basket
The Tomato Head
Three Ridges Golf Course
Through The Lens Gallery And Gifts
Towneplace Suites By Marriott
Travelhost Of Greater Knoxville
University Of TN Athletic Department
US LEC Of Tennessee, Inc.
UT Womens Basketball Hall Of Fame
WNOX
World Travel Service