KOSBE Announces 2013 KOSBE Award Finalists and Tickets
October 09, 2013
Kingsport Office of Small Business Development & Entrepreneurship (KOSBE) News Release
Wednesday, October 09, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Dana Glenn
Administrative & Marketing Coordinator, KOSBE
Kingsport Chamber of Commerce
Ph: (423) 392-8811
dglenn@kingsportchamber.org
KOSBE Announces 2013 KOSBE Award Finalists and Tickets
KINGSPORT, Tenn. – The Kingsport Office of Small Business Development & Entrepreneurship (KOSBE) today announced 29 area small businesses as finalists for the 19th Annual KOSBE Awards.
The 2013 KOSBE Awards finalists:
At a special recognition event on Thursday, December 5th, from 6 to 9 PM, at The Club at Ridgefield’s in Kingsport, Tennessee, winners will be revealed in the following categories: young entrepreneur, new business, business excellence, minority-owned, woman-owned, veteran owned, multiple store or franchise, manufacturer or fabricator, home-based, rural business and the impact award.
Selections will be made based on customer relationship strategy, story of success overcoming adversity, community involvement, financial strength, best practices, marketing creativity and presented strategies for growth.
Tickets are $65 per person and must be purchased in advance in person at the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce, or by calling (423) 392.8811. This event has been sold out for the past three consecutive years. Seating is limited and early ticket purchases are recommended. All ticket sales are final and non-refundable. The public is invited to attend.
This year’s awards chair, Darren Eskind, Manager of Operations at Jacobs Field Services North America, Inc. said, “We are not going to allow a government shutdown or anything else to keep us from recognizing and rewarding our excellent businesses.” Eskind further stated, “Small business owners work tirelessly to provide for themselves and their employees and to build strong communities. At KOSBE, we are passionate about helping small businesses succeed and grow. Winning one of these awards can help a business stand out and attract more customers.”
“Each year, I am impressed not only with the new entrants but with the companies that have made the decision to try again. This demonstrates their commitment to excellence and shows there is no room for complacency in their business,” said KOSBE Executive Director, Aundrea Wilcox. “This competition is not just for new businesses. In fact, I welcome long-standing businesses to compete. They are the ones with a story to tell about where they’ve been, and how and why they continue to stay in business.”
In addition to naming the winners of the business competition, KOSBE will also announce the recipient of the Impact Award for an outstanding individual and small business advocate who is nominated by one of the above businesses. The Impact Award nominees are:
Sponsors include: Centurylink, Cumberland Marketing, Dykes Trucking, F & L Limo & Livery, Phil's Dream Pit, Barberitos of Kingsport, ChamberZone, East Tennessee Eye Care, Eastman Chemical Company, Food City, Hair Benders Salon, Hunter Smith & Davis Attorneys at Law, Pathway Lending, Picsee Studios, Kingsport Times News, Times Digital Group, Triten Insurance, The Business Journal, Thompson Metal Services, VIP Seen Magazine, Wilson Worley Moore Gamble & Stout PC, Holston Valley Broadcasting Group, Advicoach, Beyond Engagement Social Media Solutions, Fish Window Cleaning, SunTrust Bank, and The Angel Roundtable.
Event Partners include: Action Rentals and Sales, Express Signs, Flowers by CopperCreek, Holston Distributing Company, Lake Pointe Advertising & Awards, Pristine Springs, The Club at Ridgefield’s and Sam’s Package Store.
About KOSBE Awards
Inaugurated in 1994, the Annual KOSBE Awards is the longest running and most recognized small business-focused awards program in the Tri-Cities area.
About KOSBE
The mission of KOSBE is to be the go-to organization in the Tri-Cities for small business owners and entrepreneurs who want to start or grow their business, by creating and developing the right tools and resources and cultivating the right partnerships.
KOSBE is proud to be the Kingsport Affiliate Office of the TSBDC at ETSU. The TSBDC Network is comprised of over 40 locations throughout the state of Tennessee, whose primary function is to provide counseling services and educational opportunities to entrepreneurs and “for profit” new and existing small businesses.
The cooperative agreement between KOSBE and East Tennessee State University is partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). SBA’s funding is not an endorsement of any products, opinions or services. SBA funded programs are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Additional funding is provided by the Tennessee Board of Regents and the state of Tennessee.
To learn more, please call 423-392-8811, or visit www.kosbe.org.
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