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). When Jennifer, Becky and Christy started Picsee Studio they only had a dream and three cameras. They applied for credit at several banks but were turned down repeatedly. Refusing to be discouraged, they started the business from a home office. Today, Picsee Studio is located in a fully furnished office with up-to-date computer equipment in the heart of downtown Kingsport. They have created their own high-traffic blog and are also featured on several other high-end wedding blogs. 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). Julie Gunn and Leslie May came to open their shop after working together on community focused volunteer projects. They feel strongly that an exciting downtown is a vital part of a thriving community, so that is where they opened their business. They attribute their success to using an integrated marketing approach. For example, they have utilized TV, radio, direct mail, newspapers, magazines, Facebook, Twitter, and event marketing including but not limited to organizing a downtown “Men’s Night,” the Arts Crawl, and a Holiday Open House. Fleet Feet Sports (Phil & Melissa Horner) was Runner-Up for a New Business. Fleet Feet Sports is more than just a running store. They are committed to being a strong and recognized community partner. They are the creators of several new events including: Red White & BOOM! which is a 4th of July four-mile race in downtown Kingsport, and Chase the Turkey, a Thanksgiving morning 5k race. Fleet Feet Sports is located at Reedy Creek Shopping Center, in close proximity to the Greenbelt, Panera Bread and Starbucks Coffee Company.
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. Open since 2008, SONALI offers Massages, Haircuts, Hair Coloring, Manicures, Pedicures, Botox, Fillers, and Laser services. At the age of 18, the owner left her family in South Africa to pursue her dream of becoming a physician. Located at Reedy Creek Terrace, SONALI plans to expand their services in the future to include nutritional and behavioral counseling, wellness and fitness classes, body contouring services and hydrotherapy. 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. Located on Center St between Eastman Rd and Memorial Blvd, Hair Benders, which specializes in Hair, Skin, Nails, and Cosmetics, has been in business since 1976 under the ownership of Shelia Ferguson. Measuring customer satisfaction and handling issues is just part of their quality assurance process. They cover the cost of sending their top stylists to unique and intensive hands-on training in places like New York, Los Angeles, and Vegas because these locations are home to some of the biggest fashion houses in the world. Hair Benders has been recognized by Salon Today as a “Top 200 Fastest Growing Salon” for the past three years in a row. Rustic Country (Laura Begley) was Runner-Up for Woman-Owned Business. At the ripe old age of 21, Laura Begley is the owner-operator of Rustic Country. The judges were extremely impressed with this young woman’s business savvy and determination to be successful. She is a full-time student at ETSU, majoring in marketing and recently took a big step to relocate her store to Broad St in downtown Kingsport, where sales have exceeded her expectations and past performance.
Performance Medicine (Dr. Tom Rogers, MD) took First Place for Business Excellence Employing Under 10 Employees. The owner of Performance Medicine, Dr. Tom Rogers, says that the best measure of customer satisfaction is results. A representative sample of their HCG weight loss program showed an average weight loss of more than 16 pounds over the course of 26 days. For Fun Fest, Performance Medicine sponsored 18 couples who lost a combined total of more than 500 pounds in just eight weeks, and subsequently completed the Crazy 8s 8k Run. Dr. Rogers also volunteers his time as a physician for the Dobyns-Bennett High School Football Team. Performance Medicine has quickly become the recognized expert in weight loss and hormone therapy. We Run Events LLC (Hank Brown & Tyler Hobbs) was named Runner-Up. We Run Events specializes in Event and Sports Management. Including but not limited to the Crazy 8’s, Haunted Half Marathon, Blue Grass Half Marathon, Johnson City Turkey Trot, and Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, We Run Events will have timed or managed nearly 20 events by the end of 2010. Co-owners Hank Brown and Tyler Hobbs aren’t in business just for the money. In 2009, they wrote a check for $11,500 to the Neil Danehy Heart Foundation from the proceeds of Neil’s Walk, and raised thousands of dollars for the Kingsport Animal Shelter and Kingsport Dog Park.
Cumberland Marketing (Chris Bowen) took First Place for Business Excellence Employing 10 Employees and Up. Cumberland Marketing, in business for over 13 years, has grown from just selling promotional products to becoming a full-service 360° innovative marketing solution provider, providing everything from branding and communication strategies to digital animation to complete event planning. According to Cumberland’s owner, Chris Bowen, the company has added six employees over the past year, to maintain a diversity of talents and assure a continued high level of customer satisfaction. Cumberland provides intimate and personalized service and clients are never passed around from one staff person to another. Care Central Inc (Rita Ratliff) was named Runner-Up. Rita Ratliff is 100% equity owner of Care Central, which has been in business since 1998. Care Central is the only Senior Homecare company selected to provide the “Certified Companion Aid Training” and “Certified Hospice Aid Training” in the area. Rita says having a well-trained staff eliminates a lot of client problems. Over the years, Care Central has contributed to countless charities including ALS, CASA, Alzheimer’s Association, the Arthritis Foundation, the Diabetes Foundation, and St Jude, just to name a few.
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.). In April 2003, Nancy Hart’s husband was admitted to the hospital for heart surgery. It was there that she observed the medical staff and other patients, and discovered a need for a new level of function in patient attire that also offered more dignity. She stitched her first Patient Scrubs prototype for her husband to wear as an alternative to the traditional hospital gown. After many iterations, she has developed a product that is delighting her customers at their time of greatest need. Lifeforce Glass Inc (Thomas & Kristina Runciman) received the new Small Manufacturer Award. In 2005, Hurricane Ivan hit the Gulf Coast of Florida, where Lifeforce Glass was originally located. It took four PODS and several van loads, but Kristina and Thomas Runciman, the owners of Lifeforce Glass, and three dedicated staff members moved the company to their present location in Kingsport on Wexler St. Lifeforce Glass contracts with more than 50 independent sales reps around the country to sell their products to gift stores, hospital gift shops, Christian book stores, zoos, museums and many other outlets. They are even exporting their product to Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. 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.
About KOSBE
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).
Press Contact:
Aundrea Wilcox, Executive Director
Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce
Office of Small Business Development
& Entrepreneurship (KOSBE)
151 East Main St
Kingsport, TN 37662
Phone (423) 392-8801
Email awilcox@kosbe.org
www.kosbe.org
Aundrea Wilcox |
| Work: (423) 392-8801 | THE SMALL BUSINESS CONNECTION |
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