Small Business Winners Announced For The 2010 Annual Kosbe Awards

Dec. 4, 2010 - PRLog -- Kingsport, TN (December 3, 2010) — The winners of the 2010 Annual KOSBE Awards  have been named by the Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce Office of Small Business Development & Entrepreneurship (KOSBE).  

Picsee Studio LLC (Christy Steadman, et al.) took First Place in the category for Young Entrepreneur (under age 40).  There was no runner-up for this category.

Style Custom Framing & Gifts (Julie Gunn & Leslie May) took First Place for New Business (in operation for at least 12 months but not more than 36 months).  Fleet Feet Sports (Phil & Melissa Horner) was Runner-Up for a New Business.

SONALI Dayspa Medspa & Salon (Dr. Shari Rajoo, MD, et al.) took First Place for Minority Business Enterprise, a new category for 2010 for a business that is at least 51% or more minority-owned, managed, and controlled.  There was no runner-up for this category.

The Hair Benders Salon (Shelia Ferguson) took First Place for Woman-Owned Business, another new category for 2010 for a business that is at least 51% or more women-owned, managed, and controlled.  Rustic Country (Laura Begley) was Runner-Up for Woman-Owned Business.  

Performance Medicine (Dr. Tom Rogers, MD) took First Place for Business Excellence Employing Under 10 Employees.  We Run Events LLC (Hank Brown & Tyler Hobbs) was named Runner-Up.  

Cumberland Marketing (Chris Bowen) took First Place for Business Excellence Employing 10 Employees and Up.  Care Central Inc (Rita Ratliff) was named Runner-Up.  

Also, two new and completely unexpected awards were perceived by the expert judge panel as being necessary to truly complete the small business recognition program.  The new Innovation Award was presented to RLH JR Inc a/k/a Patient Scrubs (Nancy Hart, et al.).  Lifeforce Glass Inc (Thomas & Kristina Runciman) received the new Small Manufacturer Award.  There were no runner-ups for these two new awards.

Selections for the above awards were made based on reported past financial performance, growth in number of employees, business staying power and history, story of success overcoming adversity, community involvement, marketing creativity, and presented strategies for growth.

The recipient of the Impact Award for an outstanding individual and small business advocate was presented to Dava Snyder (The Village at Allandale).  Steven Todd Miller and the owners of The Village at Allandale nominated Dava Snyder because her commitment, vision, and hard work that has led to the success of their organization.  Miller wrote about Snyder: “Ms. Snyder deserves the Impact Award because of the impact she has had on elders, families, staff and the community.  Her goal in life is to enhance the lives of elders in their valuable later years when often people fail to give them the honor and recognition they deserve.”

Each winner received a KOSBE award on stage, and will receive recognition during Kingsport Chamber and KOSBE events, digital award emblem to display on their company literature and web site, spotlight on Kingsport Chamber and KOSBE web sites, and recognition in Times-News.  

Also during the ceremony, Kingsport Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, and KOSBE Chair Russ Adkins of Wilson Worley Moore Gamble & Stout PC presented Michael J. Reedy, keynote speaker and Co-founder and immediate past President and Chief Operating Officer of Pegasus Global L.L.C. and Founder and Chairman of Reedy Creek Vineyards, with an appreciation gift in recognition of his dedication to small business and future commitment to local community development.  Reedy’s interactive discussion at the event, which was moderated by George DeVault, President of Holston Valley Broadcasting Corporation, was centered around five key areas of focus:  Innovation, Perseverance, Sticking to Gut Instincts, Stamina/Staying Power, and Adaptability.

SunTrust Bank was the Title Sponsor of the 2010 Annual KOSBE Awards.  Top-Tier sponsors included: American Airlines, Brock Services, KNETIC Young Professionals, Pathway Lending, and Wilson Worley Moore Gamble & Stout PC.  Media sponsors were Holston Valley Broadcasting Group and Times-News.  Award sponsors were Clark & Company Custom Builders, Eastman Chemical Company, KNETIC Young Professionals, Leinbach Services, The Plastic Surgery Center of East Tennessee, Triten Insurance & Financial Services, and WorkSpace Interiors.  East Tennessee Eye Care was this year’s entertainment sponsor.  Other event partners included Café Excellence, Charter Business, Divine Café & Catering, Elixir Media Group, Express Signs, Flowers by CopperCreek, GTS Refreshment Services, Holston Distributing, Lake Pointe Advertising & Awards, Pristine Springs, Sam’s Package Store, and Urban Synergy.  

The awards ceremony was recorded by Past KOSBE Award Winner Elixir Media Group, a web design media marketing group in Tri-Cities, and will be shown on YouTube and the City of Kingsport's government access channel, MyTown Channel 16 TV, in the coming weeks.

KOSBE is a nonprofit economic development organization that represents a partnership between the City of Kingsport and the Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce, and a proud Strategic Resource Partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

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The mission of KOSBE is to actively assist in the establishment of new small businesses and the growth and development of existing small businesses in Kingsport, Tenn. KOSBE is a nonprofit economic development organization.