Awards Descriptions

Impact Award | Presented by R.M. Moore
This award will be presented to an East Tennessee business that displays a commitment
to making East Tennessee a better place to live through the development and support of a
community project or program. The Impact Award winner should be able to demonstrate
the ability to improve community conditions that make a significant contribution or impact
on our region. Such contributions might include: improving education, improving
healthcare, pursuing environmental excellence, performing community service, and
influencing other organizations to partner for these purposes.

Innovator Award | Presented by Image Matters, Inc.
This award will be given to an East Tennessee business that has developed a new
technology, innovative product or service or applied a business system or service in an
innovative way. The winner will be able to quantify its growth and provide a detailed
explanation of the new product, service or system. Nominee should provide a description
of implementing innovative solutions to achieve operational efficiency and business
results.

Minority Business Excellence Award | Presented by Covenant Health
This award will be presented to an East Tennessee independently-owned minority
business that produced outstanding business results and growth while overcoming the
obstacles of race or sex. The winner will be selected based on the demonstrated ability to
compete in a non-diverse field.

Small Business Excellence Award | Presented by Bank of America
This award will be presented to an East Tennessee small business that has consistently
grown its workforce and revenue. Nominees should be businesses started in the Knoxville
region and have 50 employees or less company-wide. The winner will be able to
demonstrate its ability to overcome obstacles including access to capital, operational
efficiency, control of expenses, customer loyalty and distribution of products or services
and should provide a historical index of growth in revenues and workforce.

Business Excellence Award
Awarded to a company headquartered in East Tennessee or a company with a 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, while demonstrating leadership in the sector as well.
Nominated companies should have made significant investments in facilities and
employees. There will be two winners in this category, one for companies with 51-150
employees company-wide and another for companies with 151+ employees companywide.

Young Entrepreneur Award | Presented by Cariten Healthcare
This award will be presented to a young professional, 40 years of age or younger as of
April 25, 2008, who lives and works in East Tennessee and has achieved success while
overcoming obstacles, to become one of tomorrow’s top business leaders. The winner will
have started or is at risk in ownership in their business. They will have used technology or
new business practices to move a company from early growth to some maturity.