Small Business Excellence Award (Sponsored by Bank of America, the award is given to a provider of top quality products or services with a demonstrated ability to build a niche, adapt to change and make a profit.)
Construction Plus, Incorporated – founded in 1988 it currently has 10 employees and is a leading construction management service provider. Over the past four years the company has nearly doubled its revenues by building partnerships and implementing a marketing plan focused on local school projects.
Minority Business Excellence Award (Presented to a quality, growing business that serves as a leader and resource to other minority-owned businesses.)
Navarro Research and Engineering, Incorporated – a Hispanic woman-owned business providing environmental, engineering and safety services to government and commercial clients. Navarro has been recognized by Inc magazine as one of the fastest growing companies in the nation three years in a row and by Hispanic Business Magazine as the 9th fastest growing Hispanic-owned business in the country. Parlaying its quality reputation with Oak Ridge Department of Energy clients into contracts with other government contractors across the country, the company has grown annual revenues over its existence from $300,000 to $30 million today.
Visionary Award (is awarded to a professional 35 years old or younger, who is on track to become tomorrow's top business leader.)
2005’s Visionary Award Winner is John Tolsma, president of erroyo. As an MBA student at Harvard he developed a business plan that challenged the traditional notion of learning and proposed that learning could be profitable too. He theorized that we could all learn while being entertained. A year later, he opened that Harvard-planned business here in Knoxville. The company uses videos, CD-ROMS, the Internet and other interactive media to develop customized learning tools. His company’s clients range from school systems and universities to Fortune 500 companies.
Impact Award (Sponsored by R.M. Moore Real Estate Company, this award honors the company that displays leadership in giving back to the community.)
Pilot Travel Centers – Pilot’s commitment to the community takes many forms and includes the United Way Celebrity Pumpers campaign that raises nearly $50,000 annually, volunteering for Junior Achievement, supporting fundraising at the Boys and Girls Clubs, sponsorship of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra’s free Independence Day concert which draws 10,000 attendees, and many, many others. In addition, Pilot employees logged nearly 1,200 volunteer hours in 2004.
Innovator Award (given to a "trailblazer" or trailblazing team that has taken a financial risk and turned a business dream into a successful reality through innovation and determination.)
CTI Molecular Imaging, Incorporated – the oldest and most innovative manufacturer of medical imaging equipment in the world. CTI is a shining example of how to put the technological expertise that exists here, in the “Knoxville-Oak Ridge Innovation Valley”, to profitable use. The company was founded in 1983 by former Oak Ridge National Lab researchers. The founders are also the inventors of the proprietary, PET scanning equipment that the company manufactures. The equipment helps doctors pinpoint such ailments as cancer, brain disorders and heart disease. The company had net revenues in 2004 of more than $400 million and employs over 1,000.
Chairman’s Leadership Award (presented to a longtime business leader who exhibits strength in character, resolve and commitment to the community by providing his or her time and talent to community projects and inspiring others through his/her leadership.)
2005’s Chairman’s Leadership Award winner is James A. Haslam, II. Haslam has been involved in the arts and music – he’s endowed dance and symphony companies; social services – he’s chaired fundraising campaigns and events; education – he’s supported the University and it’s growth and the improvement of primary and secondary education for students from all walks of life; economic development – he’s led the effort to recruit businesses and support existing companies. Through his contributions to social, cultural and economic development initiatives he has touched the lives of every Knoxville area citizen.
