Hard Knox Pizza Recognized as Woman-Owned Business Excellence Recipient at Pinnacle Business Awards

The Knoxville Chamber is pleased to announce Hard Knox Pizza as the recipient of the Pinnacle Business Award in the Woman-Owned Business Excellence category. Hard Knox Pizza is a hand-crafted, wood-fired pizza restaurant with locations in Hardin Valley, Bearden, and on Central Street. The Woman-Owned Business Excellence Award, sponsored by WorkSpace Interiors, is presented to an outstanding East Tennessee woman-owned business.

“This award means a win for all my female leaders who work alongside me. The award is not a win for me, but a win for my team, and all of Hard Knox Pizza,” said Alexa Sponcia, owner. “There are females that I have surrounded myself with to empower and show them the possibilities of being in this industry. The Woman-Owned Business Excellence Award is something to show all the females around me that they have a seat at the table.”

The Hard Knox vision is to re-introduce neighborhoods to old-world culinary methods, through modern concepts, while fostering community experiences in unique re-purposed spaces. Their mission is to create an unforgettable culinary experience through pizza.

In 2015, Sponcia developed the School of Hard Knox. The program exposes under-resourced school students to local chefs and community members and introduces them to new foods. Through exposure and education on topics like resumes and interviews, the School of Hard Knox provides opportunities, hope, and careers to youth in Knoxville.

“Winners of the Pinnacle Awards exemplify our unique business community,” said Mike Odom, Knoxville Chamber president and CEO. “I am thankful for the contributions being made by companies like Hard Knox Pizza that contribute to our area’s civic furniture.”

The annual Pinnacle Business Awards, presented by Pinnacle Financial Partners, celebrate regional business excellence, honoring outstanding professionals in nine categories for their contributions to the greater Knoxville economy. Winners are selected by the Knoxville Chamber Board of Directors. Over 80 companies were nominated for 2023 recognition.

“Congratulations to all Pinnacle Business Award winners. When local businesses thrive, so do the communities they serve. That’s why Pinnacle Financial Partners set out to be a small business and commercial bank from the very beginning,” said Mike DiStefano, Pinnacle’s Knoxville president. “We know how hard it is to run a company, much less make it successful, and we’ll do everything we can to help build that success. It’s an honor to be part of this program and help recognize the home-grown players in Knoxville’s economy.”

For in-depth video interviews and more information on the 2023 Pinnacle Business Award recipients, visit www.knoxvillechamber.com/pinnacle.